Xiaomi Redmi 9T review

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is an entry-level phone that shares many similarities with its counterpart, the Poco M3. However, there are some notable differences that set it apart. The design, for instance, boasts a glossy metallic finish and a splash-proof build, making it a great option for those who want peace of mind. The device also features NFC support, which is not available on the Poco M3. Under the hood, the Redmi 9T sports a Snapdragon 662 chipset, which provides decent performance but falls short in GPU-intensive tasks. This is likely due to the phone's 1080p display, which can be demanding on the processor. Despite this, the device manages to deliver excellent battery life, with our proprietary tests yielding an impressive 150 hours of usage. The cameras on the Redmi 9T are a mixed bag. The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera is a welcome addition, but its photos lack detail and sharpness. The main camera takes good photos during the day, but struggles in low light conditions. Night mode does improve the quality, but it's still not up to par with other phones in this price range. In conclusion, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers a great balance of features for its price. While it may not excel in every department, it makes up for it with its splash-proof build, NFC support, and excellent battery life. For those looking for an entry-level phone that ticks all the right boxes, the Redmi 9T is definitely worth considering.

Build Quality and Design

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is one of the latest entry-level phones from Xiaomi, and as such, it boasts a sleek and modern design that's sure to turn heads. While it may not be the most premium-looking phone on the market, its glossy metallic finish and star-shaped pattern are certainly eye-catching. The vinyl-like texture on the back adds an extra layer of grip, making it comfortable to hold in your hand. One notable feature of the Redmi 9T is its splash-proof build, which offers peace of mind for those who like to use their phone in wet conditions or near water. While it's not IP-rated, the added protection is still a welcome bonus. Compared to the Poco M3, the Redmi 9T has a few notable design differences. The most significant one is its glossy metallic finish, which gives it a more premium feel than its Poco counterpart. Additionally, the Redmi 9T has NFC support and an additional 8 megapixel ultrawide camera on the back. In terms of build quality, the Redmi 9T feels solid and well-constructed, with no creaks or flexes when applying pressure. The phone's overall weight is also satisfactory, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods. The design of the Redmi 9T may not be perfect, but it's certainly a step up from its Poco M3 counterpart in terms of visual appeal and features. While some may find the glossy finish too reflective or the vinyl texture too rough, most users will appreciate the added grip and premium feel that comes with the Redmi 9T. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T's build quality and design are a major strength of this phone. With its splash-proof build, NFC support, and additional camera features, it's clear that Xiaomi has put a lot of thought into making this phone as user-friendly and feature-rich as possible.

Battery Life

In an era where battery life is becoming increasingly crucial, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T's performance in this area is truly impressive. With a massive 6000mAh battery, this phone can easily last for days on a single charge. In our proprietary tests, we were able to achieve an astonishing 150 hours of runtime, making it one of the longest-lasting phones in its class. While the Redmi 9T's battery life is undoubtedly a highlight, it's worth noting that charging this large battery takes longer than usual. The phone supports up to 18W fast charging, but the bundled charger only manages to charge the phone from zero to 25% in half an hour. This means you'll have to wait for around an hour and a half to fully charge the phone. Despite this minor drawback, the Redmi 9T's incredible battery life makes it an excellent choice for those who need a phone that can keep up with their daily demands without requiring frequent recharging. Whether you're a heavy user or someone who just wants peace of mind knowing your phone will last all day, the Redmi 9T's impressive battery life is certainly something to brag about. In summary, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T's battery performance is one of its standout features, making it an excellent option for those who value a long-lasting device.

Display

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T boasts a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The screen has a respectable 1080p resolution and a dot drop notch, making it a notable improvement over many entry-level phones that only offer 720p resolution. The colors on the display are accurately represented depending on your color settings, and the contrast is decent enough for an LCD panel. In terms of brightness, we measured over 430 nits maximum with the slider, which is satisfactory but might not be sufficient on a very sunny day. One notable feature of the Redmi 9T's screen is its ability to support stereo speakers. The audio quality is excellent, with loudness that measures well on our charts and full, clear sound. Additionally, there is a 3.5mm jack for plugging in traditional headphones as well as FM radio support. While not necessarily a game-changer, the Redmi 9T's display is a solid offering for its price point. The IPS LCD panel provides decent visuals, and the presence of Gorilla Glass 3 adds some level of protection against scratches and drops. In comparison to other entry-level phones, the Redmi 9T's screen holds its own in terms of resolution and brightness. However, it falls short in terms of color accuracy and overall display quality when compared to higher-end devices. Overall, the display on the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is a solid addition to this budget-friendly device. While not perfect, it gets the job done for casual users who just need a reliable and functional screen.

Camera

The camera setup on the Xiaomi Redmi 9T is a mixed bag. On the plus side, you get an additional 8-megapixel ultrawide camera compared to the Poco M3, which adds some flexibility when taking shots. However, this camera's performance is underwhelming. Daytime photos from the main camera are decent, with good sharpness, contrast, and detail. However, there's visible noise, and portrait shots taken with the main camera and depth sensor are excellent for this price range, with convincing edge detection and a well-exposed subject. The ultrawide camera takes photos that match the color rendition of the main camera, but its wider perspective is not enough to make up for its soft and low detail quality. The 2-megapixel macro camera is also underwhelming, lacking autofocus, and requiring plenty of light to take usable shots. In low-light conditions, the main camera's performance is disappointing, with washed-out colors, low detail, and excessive noise. However, turning on night mode does make a significant difference, brightening up exposure, controlling noise, and improving shadows and highlights. Unfortunately, the ultrawide camera performs poorly at night, lacking detail, being underexposed, and often blurry. There's no night mode support to help mitigate these issues. Selfies taken with the 8-megapixel front-facing camera are decent, with some detail, but they can be noisy, have an off-white balance, and result in an underexposed and soft subject. Video recording is limited to 1080p resolution at 30fps without stabilization. The quality from the main camera isn't great, lacking sharpness and detail, while the ultrawide camera's footage is even worse. Overall, the Redmi 9T's camera setup has its moments, but it falls short in low-light conditions and video recording. While not the worst in this price range, it's a compromise you'll have to make if considering purchasing this device.

Price and Value

In the world of entry-level smartphones, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T stands out for its impressive feature set and premium design. Priced at around €140, it's one of the most affordable options in its class. While not drastically different from its cousin, the Poco M3, the Redmi 9T offers a few notable upgrades that make it worth considering. The main differences lie in the phone's design, which features a glossy metallic finish and a vinyl-like texture on the back for added grip. The Redmi 9T also boasts NFC support and an additional 8MP ultra-wide camera. However, these enhancements come at a price – literally. The Redmi 9T is slightly more expensive than the Poco M3, with a price tag of €140 compared to the Poco's €120. Despite this slight increase in cost, the Redmi 9T remains an excellent value proposition. Its large 6.53-inch IPS LCD display offers good contrast and color accuracy, while its stereo speaker setup delivers loud and clear audio. The phone also boasts a massive 6000mAh battery, which provides some of the best battery life we've seen in this price range. In terms of performance, the Redmi 9T's Snapdragon 662 chipset is nothing special, but it gets the job done. While gaming and demanding tasks may encounter some hiccups, everyday use remains smooth. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T offers a compelling blend of features and value. While not perfect, its premium design, good display, and impressive battery life make it an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable entry-level smartphone.

Performance

The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is an entry-level phone that boasts a plethora of features at an affordable price. While its design and camera capabilities have been discussed, it's time to dive into the performance aspects of this device. Under the hood, the Redmi 9T runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset, which is built on an 11nm process. Unfortunately, this processor doesn't quite live up to expectations, especially considering its price point. In benchmarks, the phone mostly holds its own against competitors, but its GPU performance falls behind due to the demanding 1080p display. Real-world usage reveals a similar pattern - while things run generally decently, you may encounter occasional hiccups when playing games or swiping through the UI. This is largely due to the chipset's inability to handle the demands of the device's 6.53-inch screen and various features. Despite this, the Redmi 9T's performance is still respectable for its price range. It can handle everyday tasks with ease, and even moderately demanding apps like social media and office software run smoothly. However, when pushing the phone to its limits - be it gaming or video editing - you'll start to notice some sluggishness. Battery life, however, is a different story altogether. The Redmi 9T's massive 6000mAh battery ensures that you can go about your day without worrying about running out of juice. It's one area where the phone truly excels, delivering an impressive 150 hours in our proprietary tests. In conclusion, while the Xiaomi Redmi 9T's performance may not be its strongest suit, it still manages to deliver a smooth and enjoyable user experience for most users. Its battery life is a notable highlight, making it a great option for those who want a device that can last all day without needing to be recharged.

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