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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Review / Test

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On this page:
Price Redmi Note 9
Unpacking
First configuration
Finish
Specifications
CPU / GPU Performance
Benchmark Antutu/3DMark
Network performance
Wifi performance
GPS performance
Battery range
Photo camera test
Audio quality
Screen quality
Biometry
Operating system
Test / Review conclusion
Test Reviews

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Review / Test


Published on: 06-06-2020 / Modified: 28-04-2021
Every year, Xiaomi launches new smartphones and each time they bring a little more confusion because they change names, product lines and launch competing models. There is almost a Xiaomi phone in every price range and sometimes it's a detail that sets them apart.

The Redmi Note 9 is an entry-level model that like its predecessors (Redmi Note 7 / Redmi Note 8) will probably become a blockbuster. The positioning of the Redmi is very clear: offering a maximum for the lowest price.

So far, Xiaomi has never disappointed, will the Redmi Note 9 make life even harder for its competitors? That's what I'm going to show you in this test.

Manufacturer web site:
https://www.mi.com

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.

Price Redmi Note 9

The list below shows the prices for the Redmi Note 9 from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.

The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!

Timeline

29/05/2020 purchase of the Redmi Note 9 on Edway Buy, it's my first purchase on this site
04/06/2020 I received the Redmi in only a few days, that's very fast for a chinese shop.

Why this phone?

Just two years ago, nobody knew about Xiaomi, let alone the Redmi brand. Today, tests and articles about Xiaomi can be found on almost all specialized websites. Each new generation of Redmi is a must-see event for those interested by smartphones.

So far, I have bought the Redmi Note 5, the Redmi Note 7, the Redmi Note 8, the Redmi Note 9s and the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The Redmi Note 9 is the 6th Redmi that I am testing.

Xiaomi usually launches two Redmi ranges per year, the first wave brings something new and the second wave just brings minor evolutions. The Redmi Note 9 is in the first category, so it should bring something new and the first novelty is its size and format. The Redmi range has grown and gained weight to offer an ever larger screen and a battery with even more battery life. The control buttons have become very thin, it's very aesthetic but not always practical. The back of the phone goes in a delirium of colors where previous models offered a more sober configuration. This Redmi Note 9 confirms that this is a big evolution.

The Redmi Note 9 comes with the Redmi Note 9s and the Redmi Note 9 Pro, these devices look very similar and the differences are not very obvious. Usually the difference between the normal scale (Redmi Note X) and the pro scale (Redmi Note X Pro) is much more pronounced.

Unpacking

Xiaomi uses the same packaging for most of its phones. The box does not contain anything unusual, you will find the phone, a protective case, a small manual, the charger and a USB cable type C.



First configuration

The configuration of the Redmi Note 9 follows the same principles as the configuration of most Android phones but some changes have appeared on this Redmi Note 9 compared to the Redmi Note 9s I just tested.

The most noticeable change is the screen that proposes which search engine you want to use. It's the first time I see this choice appearing and it's not insignificant. I imagine that Xiaomi wants to try to take some distance from Google after what happened between Google and Huawei but the proposed engines are not yet valid alternatives to reduce the importance of Google in our daily lives.

The application recovery procedure also offers a new option based on an image that must be identical to the one displayed on your old device. The transfer allows you to resume your applications but also the accounts used on the other phone, this can be very convenient if like me you regularly change phone.

Facial recognition has disappeared from the initial configuration, but it is still available in the device settings.

Just at the end Xiaomi will try to place its cloud service but you will only have to pass a screen.

I got two error messages in the process but I suspect my router is responsible for this problem because my router blocks what it considers to be advertising and these calls to Google or Xiaomi are therefore blocked.



Finish

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis recensione opinion revision 7


As I wrote above, this new generation of Redmi comes with a new chassis and Xiaomi decided to apply the same recipe to the Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9s and Redmi Note 9 Pro. There is however a difference between the Redmi Note 9 and the two others, the Redmi Note 9 is a little bit shorter and a little bit wider, this gives it a more massive look. It is also slightly thicker but lighter.

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis recensione opinion revision 15


At the top of the phone you will find the infrared diode that will allow you to use the phone as a remote control, you will also find what could be a sound sensor that I find on many other Xiaomi.

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis recensione opinion revision 14


The lower part of the phone has a classic configuration with a speakerphone, a USB type C port and a jack type audio connector.

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review opinion recensione prueba 3


On the sides there is the SIM drawer on the left (2 SIM cards + 1 memory slot) and the usual volume and start buttons on the right. The configuration is classic but the start and volume buttons are thinner than usual, I sometimes confuse the volume buttons because I can't always distinguish them by touch. The phone also gives the feeling that these buttons are higher than usual but in reality they are the same distance from the top of the phone as the previous models. What changes is that the phone has grown and the distance from the bottom of the phone has therefore mechanically increased.

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis recensione opinion revision 10


On the back of the phone, we find the camera positioned in the middle like the Redmi Note 9s or Pro, this sensor comes out a few millimetres but its central positioning reduces the feeling of having a phone in perpetual imbalance. Contrary to the 9s or 9 Pro, the fingerprint sensor has made its way back to the back of the phone just below the photo sensor.

The Redmi Note 9 offers several colors that come with two color gradients, I'm not a big fan of this kind of gradient, it reinforces the feeling of having a plastic object in hand but it's just a subjective impression.

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review opinion recensione prueba 1


The screen occupies 83% of the available space, it's a score in the middle, it's one percent less than the 9s. The borders are visible but this is also quite common in this price range. The pixel density is above average because the Redmi Note 9 offers the same resolution as the Redmi Note 9s on a smaller area.

The finish level of this Redmi Note 9 is quite correct, don't forget that this is an entry-level phone that you can already find for 150€ in China. For this price you probably won't find better.

Specifications


The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.On a daily base, the phone performs without any problem all the common tasks, I note a slight delay in the display compared to a Redmi Note 9s but this is logical because the latter offers a performance almost 50% higher.

I tested the 3Gb / 64 Gb version which answers to the code name "Merlin" and the MT6768 version. Here are the characteristics of the phone:



CPU / GPU Performance



The Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a Mediatek G70 processor where Redmi's are usually equipped with a Snapdragon processor. This processor offers similar performance to the Snapdragon 710 found in the Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite.

Graphically, the Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a Mali G52 GPU that is also found in the Honor 9x. This GPU offers a graphics performance equivalent to an Adreno 610 also found in the Motorola G8 Power or the Redmi Note 8.

This combination should offer sufficient performance for all applications as well as 3D games with sometimes a limitation in the level of graphics.

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

I got a score of 191,000 points with Antutu v8. With this kind of score, the Redmi Note 9 offers a performance 10% higher than the previous model while remaining in the same price range. The jump in performance is usually greater between two generations, so this Redmi Note 9 does not stand out clearly from the previous model.

The performance increases a little bit in the processor and the graphics chipset but it is especially on the UX indicator that the Redmi Note 9 is ahead of the previous model. This element should bring more comfort in daily use.



I couldn't get 3DMark to work on the Redmi Note 9, this is the first time this has happened to me. The phone may still be too new.




Gaming

To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.The Redmi Note 9 is not a phone designed for gamers, you will be able to play most of the games available in the Play Store with sometimes some concessions in terms of graphics but overall the phone offers enough performance to play in good conditions.

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Network performance

The Redmi Note 9 is compatible with most frequencies in Europe. It even offers compatibility with the 700 Mhz frequency (B28), which will be useful for Bouygues and Free customers in France.


Signal 4G (before december 2020)

The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance.


I made 1785 measurements in 4G to obtain an average signal of -100.79 dBm. This level of sensitivity to the network is in the low average of the ranking. If I compare the result with what I had obtained with the Redmi Note 8, I see that the Redmi Note 8 scores better. However, I cannot rule out a change in the network that would explain the degradation.

With this level of signal you will not experience any problems when the coverage is good but the phone may lose contact with the network faster when the network coverage is lower.

Signal 4G (from December 2020)

I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.

To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.

Overview of the phones tested with this methodology



Download/Upload speed

To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.

I got a download speed of 60 Mbps and also 60 Mbps in upload. I know that the network used is capable of doing better because I have obtained much higher speeds with other phones. The fact that the speed seems to be capped at 60 Mbps would indicate that the limitation comes from the phone.

The Redmi Note 9 is clearly not one of the fastest phones but I have had fairly similar results with previous models. With a speed of this type, you will be able to stream in HD without any problem.

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.


Wifi signal

I measured -19 dBm near the router, that's one of the best scores I've gotten so far. From a distance I measured -77 dBm, which is far below the average. The Redmi Note 9 offers a very good performance near the router but when you move away the quality degrades faster.





Download/Upload speed

To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.Good signal quality often translates into good performance in download speed and this can be verified with Redmi Note 9. I got a download speed of 207 Mbps, that's a very good score. With this kind of performance you will be able to use this phone for both downloading and watching HD movies.




GPS performance


To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal.
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The Redmi Note 9 has a GPS accuracy of 1m, which is a very good score. The GPS positioning is good but when you move from an uncovered area to a covered area (e.g. tunnel or underground car park) it may take a few seconds to recover the signal.


Battery range

[battery product="xiaomi-redmi-note-9" capa="5020" lg="en"]
The Redmi Note 9 has a 5020 mAh battery, which is well above the average in this price range. I think only the Umidigi F2 does better with its 5150 mAh.

The Redmi Note 9 has the same battery capacity as the Redmi Note 9s but I am not sure if it is the same battery as the Redmi Note 9s as the performance is much better on the Redmi Note 9 both in terms of charging time and range. The difference could also be explained by a less bright display, the test with the probe should validate or invalidate this hypothesis. It could also be that the Mediatek processor is less greedy than the Snapdragon.

The Redmi Note 9s offers a good battery performance but the Redmi Note 9 is much better. It lasted 30 hours with the screen on at 50%.

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.

Hardware

The Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a Samsung S5KGM1 sensor that is found on many other phones such as the Redmi Note 7 or the Redmi Note 8. Xiaomi has not made a big effort on this side, so it remains to be seen if they have made improvements in image processing that could make a difference. This sensor produced good results on the Redmi Note 7, I remember in particular the night mode I tested in Stockholm, the result was amazing. So I'm curious to see if Xiaomi has managed to improve this sensor a year after the launch of the Redmi Note 7.

Default app

If you've used a Xiaomi before, you'll have no trouble adapting to the default photo application. Xiaomi has standardized the photo experience on most of her models. This makes the transition from one phone to another easier, but the defects of the application are present in all phones at the same time.

Overall this application works well, I can't really complain but where most manufacturers are moving towards a simpler photo application, Xiaomi persists in its choice to offer many options and sometimes you have to search for a particular option.

What always annoys me with their application is the presence of zoom icons on the main screen. These icons are small and therefore difficult to read, nor do they offer sufficient contrast to see them when the scene to be photographed is very brightly lit. So you have to press several times to hope to touch one of the zoom buttons.

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Photo quality


Photo test / studio

First example: ƒ/1.79 1/461 4.74 mm 100 ISO
xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review recencione prueba photo test studio 2

Exposure: almost correct
Sharpness: good
Colours: slightly too warm
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The Redmi Note 7 using the same sensor had not produced good results in the studio, the Redmi Note 9 does a better job here. The photo is better exposed but Xiaomi chose for a warmer rendering and under the artificial light of the studio it is clearly visible. The sharpness zone is on the character in white and Harry potter, the sharpness in this zone is good.

Second example: ƒ/2,2 1/244 1,65 mm 111 ISO
xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review recencione prueba photo test studio 4

Exposure: good
Sharpness: slightly smooth
Colours: a little too cold
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The ultra-wide angle sensor of the Redmi Note 9 produces a very different type of photo, it produces cooler but closer to reality photos and loses some sharpness at the edges. Ultra-wide-angle sensors often produce underexposed photos, but this is not the case here.

Third example: ƒ/1.79 1/494 4.74 mm ISO 101
xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review recencione prueba photo test studio 3

Exposure: almost correct
Sharpness: good
Colours: slightly too warm
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The zoom is a digital zoom, it is made from the main sensor, so the photo has the same characteristics as the first photo.

Fourth example: ƒ/1.79 1/500 4.74 mm 100 ISO
xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis review recencione prueba photo test studio 7

Exposure: good
Sharpness: good
Colours: too cold
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

I wanted to see if the warmer colours came from the sensor or from a processing done by the device. So I took a picture in manual mode by forcing the color temperature to 4500K. The result shows that the sensor is perfectly capable of reproducing colder photos which means that Xiaomi made a choice for these warm colors. The good news is that this choice can be modified from the photo application if you don't like the color temperature.

Photo test / sunny

First example: ƒ/1.79 1/3690 4.74 mm 105 ISO
redmi note 9 avis test review recencione prueba opinion qualite photo 1

Exposure: almost OK
Sharpness: good
Colours: lack of saturation
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The sun was hidden by the clouds and the scenery was not very bright. However, I note a lack of saturation and a too cold colouring. This result does not correspond to what I was able to obtain with previous models that used the same sensor. As for the studio photos, I immediately suspected a problem with the default photo application. To test what the sensor can do, I took the same picture with the Open Cam application in RAW mode. This mode produces very neutral photos where you can then push the photo to the desired result. Here's what I get with the Redmi Note 9 and Open Cam:

redmi note 9 test quality photo raw 1


You'd think the picture was taken with another phone, but it's not, it's the Redmi Note 9.

Second example: ƒ/1.79 1/1996 4.74 mm 103 ISO
redmi note 9 avis test review recencione prueba opinion qualite photo 2

Exposure: almost OK
Sharpness: good
Colours: overexposure of whites
Depth of field: good
Distortion: none
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

The photo does not present any great difficulty and you can see that the phone has chosen to calibrate the image according to the darkest part of the photo. This choice leads to an overexposure of the sky. Here again, I took an almost identical picture with Open Cam to see what the sensor is able to do:

redmi note 9 test quality photo raw 2


The setting I used in Open Cam was probably a bit too aggressive because the sky took an unrealistic coloring, the rest of the picture shows however the level of detail and the richness of colors that the camera is able to reproduce.

Third example: ƒ/2.2 1/10753 1.65 mm 120 ISO
redmi note 9 avis test review recencione prueba opinion qualite photo 3

Exposure: correct
Sharpness: correct
Colours: lack of saturation
Depth of field: good
Distortion: slight
Chromatic aberration: none
Vignetting: none
Digital noise: none

I was positively surprised by the level of detail of the wide angle sensor because usually this type of sensor produces too smooth pictures. The photo clearly lacks saturation and it's a pity because with just a little more saturation you can get a very different result.

redmi note 9 avis test review recencione prueba opinion qualite photo 4


How did I get this picture? It's very simple, I opened the photo in the gallery, used the editing tool and set the improvements to "auto". With a single click and directly on the phone, you get a much better result.

What should I think of the photo quality? I don't know what Xiaomi did, but I note here a regression from the previous model. This regression is not hardware related because when I use another application, I get a much better result. I feel like Xiaomi threw this phone at the hurry-up and neglected the photo part.

Here are a few more examples that show that sometimes the picture is good and sometimes not:



For the bravest among you, you can get much better pictures with a few manipulations using OpenCam in RAW mode. Then you just have to bring the colours back to where they should be and here are some examples:



The score I will give to the photo will not take into account this possibility of improvement because I start from the point of view that a phone should produce beautiful photos without effort.

Photo test / cloudy

xiaomi redmi note 9 test avis recensione opinion revision clouds 1


When the brightness is not very good, the Redmi Note 9 produces photos that are not up to what the Redmi Note 8 was capable of producing. The photo is underexposed and the colour temperature is not good. These are in fact the same faults found in daytime photos but these faults are much more visible when the brightness drops.

Test photo / night

Main sensor
redmi note 9 test quality photo raw night 1


The night photos produced by the main sensor are not too bad, I was expecting a less good result considering the problems found for the day photos.

The photo lacks sharpness and the grain is visible but it is not dramatic.

Ultra wide angle sensor
redmi note 9 test quality photo raw night 2

The ultra wide angle sensor does not expose the photos enough, so the photo is too dark. Sharpness is also poorer, especially at the periphery of the photo. These defects are the same on most ultra wide angle sensors, so the Redmi Note 9 is neither better nor worse than the others.

Night mode
redmi note 9 test quality photo raw night 4


The Redmi Note 9 has a night mode like its predecessors. This night mode enhances sharpness and combines multiple photos to improve exposure. The picture is sharper and the exposure is actually better, but the processing of the picture is a bit too strong. The street lighting seems to be surrounded by a gas and the grain is even more visible than in the photo taken without the night mode.

These problems are not too serious for a camera in this price range but the night mode of the Redmi Note 7 was more effective.

Video quality


Stabilisation

The Redmi Note 9 does not seem to offer video stabilization. On the other models of the brand, there is a possibility in the settings to enable or disable stabilization, this possibility does not exist on the Redmi Note 9. This is a curious choice, it is also a regression from the previous model.

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Video normale conditions
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The Redmi Note 9 is capable of capturing 1080p video at 30 fps, which is quite common in this price range. The sharpness of the videos is really good but the adjustments to changes in brightness are visible, the image sometimes seems to jump. The colour temperature is not correct, this was already the case on photos taken with the main sensor.

Video low light

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The night videos produced by the Redmi Note 9 are quite noisy, the grain is highly visible. As for the daytime video, the change of exposure is quite visible and for this night video, the Redmi seems to be looking for the area where it has to focus. The exposure is not very good either.

The night videos of the Redmi Note 9 are not very good but we must not forget that in this price range it is the same for all phones and I would even say that the Redmi does better than the others.

Audio quality

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.
The Redmi Note 9 is equipped with a simple speaker at the bottom of the phone like most phones in this price range. This speaker does not produce a very powerful sound and the high frequencies are quite pronounced. The maximum volume is more than enough to listen to music but the volume is lower than the average of the phones I tested.

With headphones, the maximum volume is always below what I tested. On the other hand, the sound is better, the sounds are more balanced.

Frequency Response

This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line.
redmi note 9 frequency respons


The Redmi Note 9 reproduces the frequencies quite faithfully and offers a more stable rendering than the Redmi Note 9s. This confirms what I perceived when listening to music with the headphones.

Dynamic Range

This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.
redmi note 9 dynamic range

Here too, the Redmi Note 9 offers a stable performance but with a clear deficit in volume, which I had perceived from subjective listening is also true here.

Noise Level

This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.
redmi note 9 noise level

Redmi Note 9 reproduces sound without interference and offers stable performance across all frequencies, for this test the frequency reproduction is similar to Redmi Note 9s at a lower volume.

The Redmi Note 9 delivers a midrange sound performance with distortion in the midrange as well. It is at the volume level that Redmi Note 9 makes a difference by offering a volume about 20% lower than the average.

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.

Colorimetry

redmi note 9 screen calibration


The Redmi Note 9's screen is not properly calibrated due to its default setting of "vivid color" mode. If you change this setting to switch the phone to "normal" mode you will get very good colorimetry and in this price range you probably won't find better.

The white has a temperature of 6100k, this gives it a little cold look but it is not very far from the norm (6500k).



Brightness / Contrast

L'écran du Redmi Note 9 est nettement moins lumineux que les modèles précédents. Avec une luminosité normale, le téléphone produira un peu plus de 230 cd/m et si j'inonde le capteur de lumière pour simuler la lumière du soleil, la luminosité monte à 310 cd/m. Le Redmi Note 7 pouvait monter à 433 cd/m, le Redmi Note 9 régresse donc par rapport à la génération précédente.

Avec 310 cd/m vous aurez du mal à lire votre écran en plein soleil.

By measuring the contrast with my probe, I obtained a contrast of 1056:1. This is a below average contrast level, I got much better results with previous models.

Biometry

Xiaomi has probably already tried everything when it comes to biometrics, the Redmi Note 9 goes back to a classic configuration with a fingerprint sensor on the back and 2D facial recognition.

The rear fingerprint sensor is fast and it's a real pleasure to find a phone with this type of sensor because the sensors on the side or on the screen are less efficient.

Operating system

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When I bought the Redmi Note 9 it was running on MIUI 11 but it was quickly upgraded to MIUI 12. If you buy it and it also runs on MIUI 11, you will probably get an update fairly quickly.

MIUI 12 works very well on the Redmi Note 9, so you get the same functionality as on the more expensive models. I just noticed a slowdown in the camera menus.

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested

Accessories Redmi Note 9

Compare Redmi Note 9 with the others

Test / Review conclusion

I was expecting a big evolution with this new generation of Redmi but this evolution didn't happen, I'm a bit disappointed. Xiaomi had until now managed to set the bar higher with each generation, this is not the case with this Redmi Note 9 but I think it was a deliberate choice.

Why is this? The Redmi Note 9 is available at a lower price, this makes it possible to position the Redmi Note 9s at a slightly higher price and then a Redmi Note 9 Pro a little bit higher. Xiaomi tries to occupy all price ranges. There's the Redmi 9A under 80€, the Redmi 9C under 100€, the Redmi Note 9 under 150€, the Redmi Note 9s under 200€ and the Redmi Note 9 Pro under 250€. 4 months after the launch of the Redmi Note 9, there are even Redmi Note 9s close to €100 in China.

Is the Redmi Note 9 a bad device? No, but it regresses compared to its predecessors on several points. This regression is accompanied by a more aggressive price and if you look at the competition in this price range, Xiaomi still manages to stand out.

In the end, my biggest disappointment with this phone is the camera's colour management. The Redmi Note 9 uses the same photo sensor as the Redmi Note 8 but the photo processing is not as good. In principle, Xiaomi should be able to fix this problem with an update.

Strengths

Reference battery life
GPS signal accuracy
Good screen colorimetry
Sharpness of photos/videos

Weaknesses

Colour temperature photos/videos
Photo quality in bad weather
Screen brightness

Alternatives to this product

If I take the following criteria:
- price less than 150€.
- battery higher than 4000 mAh
- antutu score above 150,000
- release date
With these criteria I should find the competitors of Redmi Note 9 and with these criteria I only find exotic Chinese brands such as Oukitel, Ulefone or Cubot. As I said above, I think that Xiaomi wanted to position its Redmi Note 9 lower, I don't find any competition in this range.





Laurent Willen LAURENT WILLEN
Head of myself on this blog

I share my passions on my blog in my free time since 2006, I prefer that to watching nonsense on TV or on social networks. I work alone, I am undoubtedly one of the last survivors of the world of blogs and personal sites.

My speciality? Digital in all its forms. I have spent the last 25 years working for multinationals where I managed digital teams and generated revenues of over €500 million per year. I have expertise in telecoms, media, aviation, travel and tourism.
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The Redmi Note Pro range has always been characterized by good performance and good pictures, the Redmi Note 10 Pro will hit even harder with an Amoled display and a 108 million pixel photo sensor!
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: test / review
After a somewhat disappointing Redmi Note 9, Xiaomi is back in force with a very promising Redmi Note 10 that will probably once again shake up the competition.
Umidigi Bison : test / review
After the Ulefone Armor and the Doogee S58 Pro, I decided to test a third rugged phone with the Umidigi Bison. On paper it offers a very good performance/price ratio. Will this new Umidigi outperform its competitors?
Poco M3 : test / review
Poco woke up in 2020, after the F2 Pro and the X3, here is the M3 which comes to attack the entry level with a floor price that will undoubtedly shake up the smartphone market.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite test / review
Every year I test the new version of the Xiaomi Mi XX Lite, I have started my tests with the Mi 8 Lite and with each iteration Xiaomi takes the level a little higher but how far can they go?
Test, review and comparison of GPS trackers/tracers (Invoxia vs Hangang TK901)
With a GPS tracker you can track your vehicles or people on a map as in the movies but what is this type of object really worth?
XGIMI Mogo Pro: test, reviews and prices
The Mogo Pro is my second projector from XGIMI, it is one of the first portable projectors in 1080, will it succeed in establishing itself as a reference on the market?
Nvidia Shield TV 2019 test / review
The Nvidia Shield TV is the king of all Android TV devices, it litterally chews anything you throw at it (local video, streaming, games, music,...). It's also one of the most expensive product, is it worth the money?
Nebula Cosmos Max 4k test & review
A 4k projector below 1000€? It's a first, I had to test it. Will it compare with the other projectors I've tested?
Xiaomi Mi Laser TV 150 test / review
For a long time laser projectors were out of price and it is again Xiaomi who breaks the prices with a very interesting machine but which will not be adapted to all types of use.
Doogee S58 Pro test / review
The Doogee S58 Pro is in a class of phone that I am not used to testing, this phone is designed to be shock resistant and you could almost knock someone out because it is so heavy.
Samsung Galaxy A21s test / review
The Samsung Galaxy A21s is a competitor to the Redmi range but will it be able to outperform the value champion?
Poco F2 Pro review - comprehensive and objective test
I'm not used to testing phones in this price range but on paper the Poco F2 Pro can take on a Samsung Galaxy S20 without blushing. What about in reality?
Xiaomi Redmi Rating 9 test / review
The Redmi 2020 vintage has arrived. The Redmi has grown and gained weight to offer a bigger screen and better battery. Will it be enough to face the growing competition?
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro : test / review
I tested the Mi 9T Pro in 2019 and concluded that it was one of the best phones in its price range. The Mi 10T Pro costs an extra €200 at launch, so I had to break my piggy bank to buy it. Will it do better than its predecessor?
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T : test / review
Xiaomi has just scrambled things up again with the Redmi Note 9T which comes in a little bit above the Poco X3 with some new features and a bit of old things.
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite : test / review
Xiaomi has managed to blur the lines even more by adding the Mi Note range to its catalogue with this Lite version of the Mi Note 10 released at the end of 2019.
Redmi 9A test / review
Redmi is tackling the price bracket below €100 with a smartphone that seems to stand up to the competition. Is this really a good deal?
Redmi 9C test / review
Redmi is attacking the price range below €100 with a smartphone with reasonable specifications. Is this really a good deal?
Samsung Galaxy S20: review/test
I don't often test the top end, but I sometimes make a few exceptions to get an idea of what's going on in this segment. This time, my victim is the S20.
Rock Space repeater/extender: test / review
Your wifi signal is not good? Maybe you need a repeater/amplifier to get a better range and a better wifi signal.
Xgimi H1 test - review one year after buying
Xgimi H1 is a new chinese video projector coming from crowd funding. Is it any good? Let's check.
Sonic Soak test and review
Sonic Soak is a new gadget cleaning almost everything with ultrasound, does it deliver its promise ? Let's check out!
Samsung Galaxy S10 + : objective test, reviews and prices
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has it all, it doesn't lack anything (except you maybe). At this price level, we expect the best, but how different is it from the competition?
Amazon Fire TV Stick review/test
Amazon has successfully packaged a lot in its Fire TV stick. This small object will transform your TV or projector experience. On paper, nothing beats the Stick but what is it worth in reality?
Amazon Fire TV Stick: full and objective test, reviews and prices
Amazon has successfully packaged a condensed technology in its Fire TV stick. This small object will transform your TV or projector experience. On paper, nothing is done better. What is the reality?
Test / Avis mini pas pas cher (moins de 200€)
J'ai testé un mini pc de 12 cm de côté, totalement silencieux, consommant 25W max et suffisamment performant pour la bureautique et home cinéma.
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