Content
- Positioning
- TECH SPECS
- Appearance
- Screen
- Battery
- Performance
- Camera
- Communication capabilities
- Shell MIUI 12
- Impression and competitors
Positioning
Formally, the Redmi Note 9T is an affordable 5G smartphone that aims to give users access to the latest generation of mobile technologies without overpaying. In Russia, so far there are no 5G networks, nor the need for them, so the key feature of Redmi Note 9T does not play in our market. For this reason, we will consider Redmi Note 9T simply as a solid smartphone.
For new readers – a few words about the Redmi brand. In 2013, Xiaomi introduced the Redmi brand as a range of more affordable smartphones compared to the original Mi-series. The new brand was needed for two reasons. Firstly, cheaper components were used there, which hypothetically meant a higher scrap rate. And Xiaomi did not want to spoil the image. Secondly, Xiaomi initially understood that playing a product of the first price is a disastrous undertaking. And Redmi was needed so that Xiaomi would not be associated with cheap smartphones.
However, the story turned out differently. It turned out that the level of technical development is quite high and defects, even in smartphones with cheap components, are rare. And buyers, having tried Redmi, realized that smartphones are cheaper, but not worse than the headline MI models. Xiaomi noticed this and began to actively develop the brand, launching whole lines of smart technology. And among smartphones Redmi there are models for different price segments. The Redmi Note line in the company’s portfolio is responsible for the mid-price segment. By the way, the K-series is responsible for the premium, and it is not yet officially on sale in Russia.
The company highlights the following as the main selling points of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T:
- The Dimensity 800U Chipset is MediaTek’s latest 5G chipset featuring 7nm technology. If you go to a country where there is 5G, then you will appreciate the support of both standards (NSA and SA), dual standby of 5G + 5G with two SIM cards and dual VoNR, as well as 5G aggregation of two carriers. If without 5G, then this is just a nimble and energy efficient 8-core processor, consisting of two Arm Cortex-A76 cores operating at 2,4 GHz, and the second one of six Arm Cortex-A55 cores operating at 2,0 GHz …
- Three-camera system with 48MP main camera. Ultra high resolution camera and creative toolbox.
- 6,53 Inch DotDisplay with FHD + Resolution. Low blue light display certified by TUV Rheinland. Widevine L1.
- Stereo speakers with automatic left / right switching. For the first time in the Redmi Note lineup.
- 5 mAh battery. Increased number of charge cycles.
- UFS 2.2 memory. 100% faster than the previous generation. Increased write speed. Launch apps with lightning speed and capture high-definition photos.
- And also NFC support, nano-coating that protects the device from splashes, plus a 3.5 mm jack.
TECH SPECS
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G (7nm), Octa-core (2 × 2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6 × 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), Mali-G57 MC3 graphics
- Operating system: Android 10, shell MIUI 12
- Memory: 4 GB / 64/128 GB, separate microSD slot
- Screen: 6.53 inches, IPS LCD, resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, aspect ratio 19.5: 9, dot density 395 ppi, brightness 480 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, fast charging 18 W, 33% in 30 minutes
- Main camera:
- 48 MP, f / 1.8, 26mm (wide), 1 / 2.0 ″, 0.8µm, PDAF
- 2 MP, f / 2.4, (macro)
- 2 MP, f / 2.4, (depth)
- 4K @ 30fps video recording, 1080p @ 30 / 60fps
- Front camera: 13 MP, f / 2.3, 29 mm, 1 / 3.1 ″, 1.12µm
- SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
- Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NFC, IrDA, USB Type- C 2.0
- Sensors: Fingerprint scanner (side), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass
- Other: FM radio with recording function, NFC, 3.5 mm jack, 5G support
- Materials: Gorilla Glass 5 front, plastic frame, plastic back cover
- Dimensions: 161.2 x 77.3 x 9.1 mm, weight 199 g
- Price: from 20 490 rubles
Classic equipment: smartphone, case, charger and Type-C wire, clip for the SIM card tray, as well as documentation
Appearance
- Right side: fingerprint scanner combined with power button, volume rocker
- Left-hand side: slot for 2 nano-SIM cards and 1 microSD
- Upper butt: speaker, infrared, microphone
- Bottom end: 3.5 mm jack, microphone, USB Type-C, speaker
- Back panel: plastic, 3-camera system and flash
- Front panel: 6.53-inch IPS LCD screen, embedded camera, factory-applied protective film
In general, the smartphone is of a standard size. Perhaps a little thicker. It lies perfectly in the hand. It will be comfortable for owners of hands of all sizes. I had a dark colored model. A purple dawn option is also available. The colors are calm and not defiant, so I recommend taking a closer look at the purple option. Read all other comments about the appearance in the captions to the photographs.
The back cover is made of dense textured plastic (it does not bend even if you press it), so there is no need to worry about the smartphone slipping out of your hand.
Another plus is that there are no fingerprints on the surface.
However, the set includes a silicone case. Dense, good, perfectly protects the device and the screen.
Xiaomi separately highlights the design of the smartphone camera module. It looks nice. The module is not very large. The smartphone can lie flat on the table. If you put on the case, the cameras do not stand out at all.
There is an infrared port on the top end. With it, you can control your TV or other household appliances.
At the bottom there is a 3.5 mm jack.
Fingerprint scanner on the right side. Good accuracy, quite convenient location. Don’t forget that there is also face unlock. In winter, when your hands are in gloves, it is more comfortable.
It’s great that they did not save money and made a slot for 2 nano-SIM cards and 1 microSD
The factory film is glued to the screen. I do not recommend taking pictures right away. The film is good, fingers glide perfectly both when typing and playing games.
Screen
The smartphone is equipped with a 6.53-inch IPS LCD matrix protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. They did not become wise, and here the standard refresh rate is 60 Hz. Perhaps it should be clarified that today you can easily find smartphones in this price segment, where the refresh rate is 90 Hz or even 120 Hz. You don’t have to go far for an example. There is Poco X3 NFC, where the screen is 120 Hz. Redmi Note 9T uses a standard screen, as they were looking for a balance on how to make an inexpensive but high-quality 5G smartphone (5G chipsets are more expensive than the usual 4G)
In the specifications, the brightness is 450 nits. In manual measurement, I got 454 nits, and up to 476 nits, the screen accelerates only at auto brightness. This brightness is quite enough to use the smartphone outdoors on a clear day. Formally, Xiaomi is great, as it gives an even brighter screen than stated in the specifications. The device was with me on a trip to Lake Baikal, and, in general, there are no complaints about the brightness. Although, of course, I would like the matrix to be 550 nits, then it would be easier to do photography.
Redmi Note 9t on the left, direct sunlight from the window. On the right is the Poco X3 NFC, which has a screen of just over 600 nits.
The rest of the screen is beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Excellent color rendering, high dot density of 395 PPI. The display has been certified by the German laboratory TUV Rheinland for low blue emission. It should be noted here that the screen has no PWM, the minimum brightness is 3.6 nits, and there is also a dark theme. So the smartphone is perfect if you want to read before bed.
The rest of the screen settings are standard. You can set a schedule for when the dark theme starts and the level of blue light decreases, choose a color scheme or which applications will run in full screen mode (that is, the content will bend around the front camera). Perhaps we can only highlight the new checkbox “Day mode”. Then the smartphone will adjust the screen brightness in bright ambient light even when auto brightness is turned off. In general, the principle of operation is that the user sets the minimum brightness level, below which the smartphone will not go down.
Finally, I guess it’s worth noting that the screen is Widevine L1 certified. The first level (L1) means that the smartphone can play content from streaming platforms (for example, Netflix) in HD quality and higher (4K). L3, by comparison, is only standard quality (580p). in general, all modern smartphones are Widevine L1 certified. I suppose the reason why Xiaomi emphasizes this point separately is that the company once released the Pocophone F1, which did not have this certificate. This happened due to the fact that initially the smartphone was intended only for China, where this certification is not needed (because why, if the same Netflix is already blocked). Users from other countries were outraged, and Xiaomi was very upset and now they always specifically emphasize the presence of such a certificate. Here, by the way, there is a moment that if you like to buy versions of smartphones intended for the Chinese market, then check the availability of Widevine L1, so as not to be upset later.
Battery
The 5 mAh battery is highlighted as one of the selling chips of the device. Xiaomi says it is putting high quality batteries in the Redmi Note 000T, which can withstand up to 9 recharge cycles without a noticeable decrease in capacity. As you understand, I had no opportunity to verify such a statement.
It should be borne in mind that the user is also responsible for the operation of the battery. If the battery overheats or cools too much, this affects its lifespan and useful capacity. For example, during a trip to Lake Baikal, the smartphone froze and even notified that because of the cold it was impossible to use serial photography. It is unlikely that the battery suffered catastrophic losses in a week, but obviously this is not an ideal use case.
The smartphone comes with a 22.5 W power supply. This is a standard unit for Xiaomi. However, the smartphone itself supports 18 W fast charging, so it turns out that they gave an adapter with a power reserve.
The battery life of the smartphone is good. In this case, the PC Mark test is indicative, which simulates everyday workload (browser, photo, video, etc.). In the mode of maximum manual brightness and with Wi-Fi turned on, the smartphone lasted almost 9 hours, that is, we can talk about 1.5-2 days of work on a single charge. If you measure by playing a video file in airplane mode at maximum brightness, then the smartphone will last 11 hours and 20 minutes, refreshing the page via Wi-Fi 5 GHz at maximum brightness in the Edge browser – about 15 hours (calculated indicator based on 2 hours of measurement).
The games can be played for about 7 hours. It all depends on the game itself and the brightness of the screen.
Charging time, in general, is standard for a battery of similar capacity – 2 hours from 0 to 100%. In 30 minutes the device can be charged, as advertised, by 30%. Here it should be understood that we are talking about charging from 0%, since as it fills, the speed of the charge decreases. That is, it will not work to charge from 70% to 100% in half an hour. It will turn out to 88%. This is how all batteries work. I thought it was a well-known fact, but it turned out not.
Performance
In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 9T pleases. Xiaomi did not stint. We installed a good chipset and fast memory and storage. The sensations from use are purely positive. Everything flies, there are no lags or friezes. You can play any games and run any applications.
The smartphone has very fast RAM and storage. The numbers are more typical for smartphones of the flagship segment.
Here are the synthetic benchmarks for AnTuTu and PC Mark.
Here is a throttling test. The smartphone gets warm, but not hot.
Camera
The smartphone has a system of cameras – 48 MP + 2 MP (depth) + 2 MP (macro). To some extent, 2 MP cameras are marketing and an easy way to visually embellish a smartphone. Like, 3 cameras shoot better than 1 or 2. Google Pixel users know that this is not the case. And photography has long become computational, when algorithms are better at transmitting colors and completing objects in optics.
The appearance of the camera application is standard for all Xiaomi smartphones. The only thing I noticed is that the HDR function is turned off every time you leave the Camera app, and you need to turn it on.
They shoot Redmi Note 9T perfectly. I used my smartphone with great pleasure and was glad that today users can get good pictures without spending money on flagships.
The smartphone has AI. In general, his role is that he “twists” the colors. Somewhere it is appropriate, but somewhere it is not. Here are some examples.
AI can be used from time to time. So, for example, with AI, ice becomes bluer, borscht – more red, and bread – more ruddy.
Or, for example, a photo of a sunset. Of course, AI makes the shot more interesting.
Now some complex light frames. For my taste, everything is fine here. Let me explain, by “wonderful” I mean not looking at photos under a magnifying glass, but what can be shown on a large TV, can be posted on social networks, can be sent to relatives to tell about the trip. In general, I would say that completely night photos on a smartphone are worse than photos at dusk.
The smartphone takes portraits and selfies perfectly.
In addition to the standard modes, the smartphone has options to shoot blogs, slow-motion videos, there is a setting to make it easier to shoot text documents. Slow motion videos can be uploaded to Instagram, but when copied to a computer, the slowdown disappears. I couldn’t think of anything better than just putting it on my phone.
Communication capabilities
Obviously, on a smartphone with a 5G chipset, in terms of communication capabilities, everything is fine. The speaker is loud, the voice sounds clear. Couriers and pizza delivery men heard me clearly and clearly. The smartphone catches satellites quickly, as the navigator works perfectly. In the store, you can pay via NFC. And it also knows how to distribute Wi-Fi at a frequency of 5 GHz.
Of the pleasant features, it should be noted that the recording of telephone conversations has returned. And then there is VoLTE, but VoWiFi was not delivered by default. However, if you enter the secret code * # * # 869434 # * # *, then the option in the menu will immediately appear.
However, if you enter the secret code * # * # 869434 # * # *, then Wi-Fi calls will immediately appear in the menu.
Shell MIUI 12
MIUI 12 is a great shell. Read the full review in the feature article. Recently, an update arrived on the smartphone. I noticed that after it ads disappeared from standard applications. Previously, when launching a pre-installed app for music or video, it was not uncommon to display an ad splash screen. Now there is no such thing, and this is very good. In general, there are no ads in the smartphone, which is unusual, but super cool.
Impression and competitors
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is an interesting and balanced device. Long battery life, good cameras, modern hardware. And advertising has completely disappeared somewhere. So now, it seems that ads have only remained on Samsung smartphones. Unexpected, right?
If you buy, then Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T will delight you. Instead of talking about competitors, which, given the price of 20 thousand rubles, a wagon and a small cart, I urge you to wait next week, when the text-comparison with Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC will be released. In my opinion, this is the main competitor, which, moreover, is now being sold at a price of 1 rubles cheaper.
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