Redmi Note 9 Pro review: Great value, even against strong competition
The importance of Note series phones in the Redmi range cannot be overestimated. It is the phone that put the company on the map and helped Xiaomi achieve massive global momentum. Redmi Note 4 sold over 10 million units in its product cycle, and last year Redmi Note 7 Pro was India’s best-selling phone for Rs. 10,000 or more categories. Suffice it to say that it is necessary for the brand to do this product well.
Of course, the competition followed Xiaomi’s rise closely and competed strongly in the opposite direction. Realme is by far the strongest competitor and has developed a really excellent range of products that meet and sometimes exceed the Xiaomi specifications.
Redmi Note 9 Pro Design
Last year, Xiaomi campaigned for a completely new direction for Aura Balance. Redmi Note 9 Pro is a direct extension of the design language introduced with Note 7 Pro and then continued with Note 8 Pro.
Redmi Note 9 Pro rear panel has a fetching design, but keeping it clean is a chore.
The most striking and versatile design element should be the back of the phone. The color gradient is over and instead, you get a glossy and shiny panel made of Gorilla Glass 5. We have the Aurora Blue version and, at right angles, it could act as a mirror if needed. Of course, this makes it a fingerprint and a wear magnet. Using the supplied cabinet is almost a must if you don’t want to remove stains all the time. It’s a shame because the phone stands out in some way despite countless repetitions despite similar design principles.
As with the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the camera module is centered. Instead of the vertical arrangement, however, the four sensors are enclosed in a raised rectangular section with the flash below. The raised module has a phone, although I found it in my jeans pocket. The big change this time is the switch to a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It has a built-in power key and I found that the phone lock can be unlocked very quickly. The button is positioned intuitively and is also very easy to reach with one hand. What is not so intuitive is the non-segmented volume control. It’s set too high, so it’s almost impossible to reach it without grabbing the phone with both hands or moving it too hard.
You will find the USB-C connector below and the headphone jack. On the left side is a combined slot for dual nano-SIM cards and a microSD card for memory expansion and redmi note 9 pro has an IR blaster .
In front, it looks less different. It has a slightly larger 6.67-inch screen with a higher aspect ratio of 20: 9, and cuts the camera to the front. The resolution is maintained at Full HD +, and the panel offers default punch colors. However, compared to the Stablemate Poco X2 and rival Realme 6 Pro, there is no panel with a high refresh rate. While the benefits of a 90Hz or even 120Hz midrange panel are controversial, there is no doubt that this is a missed opportunity for the Redmi Note 9 Pro to come out in the background against rivals. set free.
All in all, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is a conservative but aesthetic advance. However, I have a problem with the weight of the phone. At 209 g Note 9 Pro, it can be difficult to hold for a long time. No, the phone is not waterproof. However, it maintains the P2i coating, which should offer some splash resistance.
Redmi Note 9 Pro Performance
With the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the company returns to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform. Although the Redmi Note 8 Pro used the Mediatek Helio G90T, this time the Snapdragon 720G is connected to the phone. The chipset combines two Kryo 465 Gold cores and six Kryo 465 Silver cores. There is also an Adreno 618 GPU that handles graphics tasks.
As with almost all midfielders today, the daily performance is more than satisfactory. MIUI is well connected to hardware and provides a stylish and elegant experience. There is no evidence of delay or cooking and we did not expect it.
Performance is not an issue, but I would like to be out of the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 4GB RAM conversion.
Depending on the option you choose, RAM may be a problem. I would advise gamers to stay away from the basic version of the phone with just 4GB of RAM. In fact, for the future, it wouldn’t be the best option if you plan to stay on the phone for a few years.
Although the Snapdragon 720G is a mid-chip chipset, it is more than capable of running any application or game you throw at it. I asked to test PUBG with maximum graphics without too much jerking.
Big battery, slow charging
Xiaomi pioneered the introduction of large 4,000 mAh phone batteries, and the Note 9 Pro goes one step further. This time, the phone has a 5,020 mAh cell that is more than a day-long enough to be used and more.
The phone provided more than 6 hours of screen time in our torture test, but it takes time to download the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Running through the Android Authority battery test, which runs the SpeedTest G torture test cycle, delivered a decent 6-hour and 22-minute battery. Suffice it to say that you will not be using this player all day. Unfortunately, charging speeds are limited to 18 W, and adding a battery from scratch took a good 140 minutes.
Software: Same old, same old
One of the reasons Xiaomi manages to keep device prices low is the inclusion of software services and ads in the operating system. MIUI 11, based on Android 10, Note 9 Pro, has the same things as ever, good or bad.
At its best, MIUI immediately integrates a world full of features and optimizations. The ability to tweak gestures, add themes, set rotating wallpapers for lock screens, competent file management, and a program that lets you share files quickly with other users are many cool additions here if you aren’t too picky about A Standard Android is like an experience.
Continuous bloatware and spam in the notification bar are at least annoying.
However, the large number of third-party applications remains discouraging. App closures seem to increase with each subsequent release, and not all can be removed. If you add spam to this notification bar, the experience you expect from your new phone will be lost quickly. Of course, you can dive into settings and disable most of these applications. However, most users do not have to expect this.
Redmi Note 9 Pro Specifications
| Display | 6.67-inch IPS LCD, 20:9 aspect ratio, camera cut-out, Full HD+ (1,080 x 2,400) resolution, 84.5% screen-to-body ratio |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 720G 2 x 2.3GHz Kryo 465 Gold 6 x 1.8GHz Kryo 465 Silver Adreno 618 |
| RAM/Storage | 4GB/64GB 6GB/128GB microSD expansion |
| Camera | Rear: 48MP main (Samsung GW2), f/1.8, 0.8-micron pixel size, PDAF 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 120-degree fov, 1.12-micron pixel size, 1/4-inch sensor 2MP macro, f/2.4, 1.75-micron pixel size, 1/5-inch sensor 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4, 1.75-micron pixel size, 1/5-inch sensor 4K video at 30fps, Full HD video at 30/60fps and slo-mo at 120fps, HD video at 30fps and slo-mo at 720p, 960FPS Front: 16MP, f/2.0, 1.0-micron pixel size, Full HD video at 30fps |
| Battery | 5020mAh 18W charging Quick Charge 4.0 and USB-PD support USB-C |
| Dimensions | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm |
| Weight | 209g |
| Colors | Aurora Blue, Glacier White, Interstellar Black |
| Biometrics | A side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Sensors | Proximity sensor, In-screen ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic compass, Vibration motor, IR blaster |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Connectivity | LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 LTE TDD: B38/B40 WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8 GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8 Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz): 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Direct/Wi-Fi Display Bluetooth 5.0 NFC GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
Redmi Note 9 Pro Camera Review
The Redmi Note 9 Pro is equipped with four camera settings, including a 48MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright GM2 primary sensor. This sensor is a successor to the Samsung GM1 and can be used on other devices, including the Samsung Galaxy M30. Other cameras include an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera with a 119-degree field of view, a 5-megapixel macro camera with autofocus, and finally a 2-megapixel depth sensor. There is a 16-megapixel camera for selfies on the front of the Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have no choice but to skip the detailed camera review and continue to do so as the situation relaxes. In the meantime, here are some photos that were taken with various R Redmi Note 9 Pro camera sensors.
Primary Camera
12MP vs 48MP
Night mode
Wide-angle
Macro
Selfies
Verdict: Reinforcing value
As often happens, the choice of a phone really depends on your priorities. Redmi Note 9 Pro delivers value successfully. The above-average camera, first-class facilities, and beautiful design at an affordable price of Rs 12,999 () are sure to be attractive.
If you like gaming, the Poco X2 with the Snapdragon 730 chipset and 120Hz display is the best choice for you. At the same time, the performance of Realme 6 has been reduced, but it gives you a great imaging experience. You’ll also shorten the battery life along the way, but hey, at least you can enjoy this gorgeous 90Hz panel.
It looks like the competition is finally up with Xiaomi and the options speak for themselves. There’s something for everyone, and the Redmi Note 9 Pro defends itself against more and more high-end mid-range smartphones. Who do you choose? Let us know in the comments.
