Intro
In 2013, Xiaomi introduced the Redmi brand as a series of smartphones that are more affordable compared to the original Mi series. Today, the active development of the brand offers quite a wide assortment. In 2020, the Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9s and Redmi Note 9 Pro were introduced. The main focus fell on the latter model, but the more affordable Redmi Note 9 also deserves attention. It impresses with cameras, a boost in graphics performance and processor power, enviable battery life and a contemporary design.
Before reading the full review, you can familiarize yourself with the detailed Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 specs or watch the video below the article.
Specifications
- Release date: 2020, April 30
- Colors: Forest Green, Midnight Grey, Polar White
- Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.2 x 8.9 mm.
- Weight: 199 g.
- Screen: 6.53" inc, 1080 x 2340, IPS LCD
- Camera : Quad, 48MP
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
- Memory: 64GB 3GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
- Battery: 5020, Non-removable Li-Po
- Network: GSM / HSPA / LTE
- Operating system: Android 10; MIUI 11
- Sensors: Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Design
The Redmi Note 9 comes in three colours - white, grey and green. It comes with a charger, USB-A to USB Type-C cable and a plain transparent case. The smartphone is not small at all. It might even seem wide. Its dimensions are 162.3 x 77.2 x 8.9 mm. It weighs almost 200 grams. Unlike the Redmi Note 9 Pro, here the fingerprint scanner is located below the camera. Because of the four-camera unit, it feels like a heavier device.
Display
The smartphone houses a 6.53-inch, IPS LCD screen, with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. The aspect ratio is 19.5:5. The pixel density - 395. The screen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Its brightness is sufficient for comfortable work on a sunny day.
Performance
Unlike the larger smartphones in the series running on Snapdragon 720G chipset, the Redmi Note 9 uses a chipset from MediaTek: Helio G85 (12 nm), consisting of 8 cores 2.0 GHz. The graphics is assigned to Mali-G52 MC2.
Redmi Note 9 is the first smartphone to run on the MediaTek Helio G85 single-chip system. It was announced in April 2020. There is nothing unique about the processor. It is a more powerful version of the Helio G80.
On the market, you will find two modifications of the Redmi Note 9 - with 3/64 GB or 4/128 GB of memory. The internal memory can be increased using microSDXC, for which a separate slot is provided.
Scanners
The smartphone can be unlocked in three ways: via fingerprint scanner, facial recognition or via Bluetooth. The fingerprint scanner will delight you with its speed and accuracy. It takes half a second to access your phone's contents. For facial recognition, you have to be more patient. Almost a second and the system will recognize you.
Cameras
In the Redmi Note 9, we find an attractive combination of cameras. Their technical features always excite. The main camera module is 48 MP. It is a wide-angle with an aperture of f/1.8, 26mm. An 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module complements it. The other two modules are 2 MP, each of which has its own task. One is designed to create macro shots, while the other measures the depth of the frame.
Miracles, of course, should not be expected. At night, it is quite possible to take good pictures. If you don't forget to activate the AI mode, you'll enjoy results that you can share on social networks. Smart algorithms add colors and saturation.
The front camera is a single, 13 MP with an f/2.3 aperture. It supports HDR and panorama. It can record videos at 1080 pixels resolution.
Autonomous operation
The battery has a capacity of 5020 mAh. This is one of the biggest trump cards of the Redmi Note 9. Its key feature. It can be used as an external battery, i.e. you can recharge other devices from it. The reverse charging power is 9W. This feature is quite useful and you will often take advantage of it - if not for yourself, then for acquaintances.
With one battery charge, you can count on 16 hours of HD video at full brightness, 16 hours of web browsing, or 9 hours of gaming.
Despite having 18W fast charging technology, it will take you 2 hours and 40 minutes to restore the charge from 9 to 100%. In half an hour, you get 35% charge, which you'll be able to use without a problem for another 8 hours.
Conclusion
Redmi Note 9 is a modern device at an affordable price that has retained the merits of its predecessors. It is a typical representative of smartphones of its budget class. There are quite a few competitors in the market that it can beat on some parameters and not on others. Here, the specific needs of the person play an extremely important role. The smartphone is suitable for users of any age. It is easy to work with, the menu is intuitive, and the dimensions predispose to one-handed operation.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 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.
