Where is the Xiaomi Mi 9 positioned? This is a flagship with some of the best specs to date. That is to say, it's not the best, but it is available on the market at a more affordable price. In it, we see a top processor from Qualcomm, three cameras, 6th generation Gorilla Glass protection, and the display is SuperAMOLED from Samsung and supports HDR technology.
Xiaomi Mi 9 Specifications
- Release date: 2019, February
- Colors: Lavender Violet, Ocean Blue, Piano Black
- Dimensions: 157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm.
- Weight: 173 g.
- Screen: 6.39" in, 1080 x 2340, Super AMOLED
- Camera : Triple, 48MP
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
- Memory: 64/128 GB, 6/8 GB RAM
- Battery: 3300, Non-removable Li-Po
- Network: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
- Operating system: Android 9.0 (Pie)
- Sensors: Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
If you are curious to find out all the details before reading the full review, visit the page for Xiaomi Mi 9 Specs, where you will find even the smallest detail about the phone.
Design
During the presentation of the model, the Chinese company spent a lot of time on its appearance. While the design of the Xiaomi Mi 9 looks typical, there was a lot to say about it. First, the smooth shapes and smooth curves of the body were highlighted. Second, the Xiaomi Mi 9 received Gorilla Glass protection, which gives a dose more security to the device's sturdiness. We also see an oleophobic coating on the screen, which is quite qualitative.
The frame of the smartphone is made of metal and the rear panel has been noticeably transformed. A special texture now shines through under the glass. There is no fingerprint scanner on the back. In the Mi 9, it is full-screen and with a large enough area.
Display
For this model, Xiaomi has decided to go with a teardrop notch screen. You can recognize it at first glance. The screen diagonal of the Xiaomi Mi 9 is 6.39 inches, the resolution is 2340x1080 pixels at a density of 400 ppi. The SuperAMOLED matrix is provided by the company Samsung. HDR is supported. The viewing angles are maximum.
Performance and memory
Xiaomi Mi 9 comes with 6 GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage. The manufacturer has not provided memory card support.
This Xiaomi model is based on the top processor of the American company Qualcomm - Snapdragon 855, which was introduced in December last year. It is the one at the heart of quite a few flagship smartphones on the market. The chip is built on a 7nm tech process. It carries 8 cores under the Prime Core scheme, i.e. one high-performance Kryo 485 Gold core stands out, running at a clock speed of 2.84 GB, 3 more Kryo 485 Gold cores have been given 2.42 GHz, and the remaining 4 Kryo Silver cores - 1.8 GHz each. The Adreno 640 GPU with Vulkan 1.1 API support (4K 10-bit) is responsible for the beautiful and uncritical graphics.
We will mention here that in the Mi 9, the Chinese have brought back the infrared port for bit control. Yes, there is no 3.5mm headphone port, but you can connect to other peripherals via USB Type-C port.
Cameras
We know 2019 is the year of the three cameras. Quite a few manufacturers have moved towards offering this solution, and of course, there have been some that have started to ramp up the modules in earnest.
What does the Xiaomi Mi 9 offer us? Three cameras:
- 48 MP, Sony IMX586, 1.2 inch sensor size, f/1.75. This lens consists of 6 lenses;
- 12 MP, Samsung S5K3M5, 1/3.4 inch sensor size, f/2.2, double optical zoom;
- 16 MP, Sony IMX481, 1/3-inch, f/2.2, 117-degree wide angle.
The Chinese company has also provided laser focus.
If we look at the DxOMark rating, the Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphone gets a high score and the photo quality is in the top positions. In real life, the results depend on the abilities of the user. Tentative: the photos during the day are amazing. The dynamic range is wide, the detail is excellent. If you love taking pictures with your phone, you can bet on this model.
As the evening sets in, the photos become a little lower quality. This can be noticed most clearly in fine detail. With more practice, you can achieve unique shots at dusk as well.
With the wide-angle module the user can take perfect macro photographs. Similar optics are available in the Huawei Mate 20/20 Pro.
The front camera of Xiaomi Mi 9 is 20-megapixel. It takes excellent pictures and can be described as one of the best selfie cameras in 2019.
As for the video shooting, it also impresses. Especially 4K at 60 frames per second. Due to the absence of an optical stabilizer, the image deteriorates slightly. If you shoot with a wide angle the negative effect is almost not noticeable.
Quick unlock
The in-display fingerprint scanner no longer amazes anyone, but for a mid-range flagship it is a rare occurrence. In Xiaomi Mi 9, the optical scanner is the fifth generation. It responds to touch instantly. Ultrasonic is so far only available in the Galaxy S10.
In the Mi 9, we see visible progress in facial unlocking. In Xiaomi Mi 8 user had an infrared camera for backlight in the dark, in Mi 9 it has been removed. The scanner works great in the light. In the dark, it often refuses to recognize the device owner the first time.
For the practical
In Xiaomi Mi 9, the manufacturer has provided a small LED indicator for incoming messages. This innovation is convenient, although the user also has the Always-On Display mode. The flashing of the light is visible from a distance.
Autonomous operation
Engineers from the Chinese company in this flagship representative have decided to use a battery with a capacity of 3300 mAh. As a capacity it is at an average level. A similar feature has Honor 10, Xiaomi Mi 8 and Nokia 8.1. Xiaomi Mi 9 compensates for the battery capacity with the size of the new processor and system optimization. As a result, the autonomy is decent. You can confidently use your phone throughout the day and recharge at night.
With the Xiaomi Mi 9 in hand, you can watch a video at maximum brightness for 20 hours or play a game for 10 hours.
The smartphone supports Qi wireless charging.
The most important innovation in Mi 9 is the support of ultra-fast wireless charging with 20W power. However, the charging station is sold separately.
Conclusion
Xiaomi Mi 9 is spectacular on the outside and staggeringly powerful on the inside. It will delight photography enthusiasts! Moreover, it is affordable in terms of price.
This phone is worthy of becoming a people's favorite. With a Snapdragon 855, a triple camera on the level of the iPhone XS Max and superfast wireless charging, this ambition is feasible.
Pros:
- Quality screen;
- High performance that will serve you for several years;
- Excellent autonomy, despite the battery capacity;
- Excellent communication capabilities;
- The cameras are also top notch!
- Fast fingerprint scanner under the screen;
- Super fast wireless charging.
Cons:
- Absence of optical stabilization;
- Lack of memory card slot;
- It also lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack;
- Does not offer water protection.
Xiaomi Mi 9 video review
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Xiaomi Mi 9 and third-party sources. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, readers should keep in mind that this is a subjective assessment. The writing of this article was not paid for or sponsored by Xiaomi.
