Ditching My Xiaomi Mi 9 for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S: A Budget-Friendly Upgrade That Surprised Me

Hello there!

I was on the hunt for a new phone, but not a primary one – more of a secondary one. When it came to choosing the perfect device, Xiaomi was my top pick. I didn't need a super expensive phone, but I had some specific requirements in mind, so I settled on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S. It's definitely a mid-range smartphone. First off, the massive display, powerful processor, unique fingerprint sensor placement, and 5020mAh battery all caught my attention.

Key specs

Display: IPS, 6.67 inches, 2400x1080, 395 ppi, 450 nits of brightness; OS: MIUI 11 based on Android 10; Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, 8 cores, 2x 2.3 GHz, 6x 1.8 GHz; GPU: Adreno 618; Internal storage: 64 GB/128 GB; RAM: 4 GB/6 GB; Wireless connectivity: GSM, WCDMA, LTE, Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0; Primary camera: 48 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP; Front camera: 16 MP; Slots: 2 nano-SIM + microSD (up to 256 GB); Battery: 5020mAh, 3.8V, 18W fast charging; Dimensions: 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm; Weight: 209 grams.

Unboxing and packaging

The phone comes in a standard white cardboard box with minimal information on it.

When I first took the phone out of the box, I was blown away by its sleek design. Inside the box, I found the phone itself, a silicone case, documentation, a SIM ejector tool, a USB Type-C cable, and a charger. The packaging was almost complete, and I was surprised to find that the phone didn't come with earbuds. To be honest, it didn't bother me too much, but it was still a bit of a letdown. I'd already had a similar experience with the Mi 9, where there's no headphone jack, so I'd switched to Bluetooth earbuds anyway. The Phone

I opted for the neutral blue color, which looks great in person.

The thing that really caught my eye is how unique and winning it looks. The front is almost entirely taken up by a massive screen. Its diagonal is 6.67 inches, which is plenty big. The frames on the sides and top are almost nonexistent. I noticed right away that the screen is covered in Gorilla Glass 5, which is a special coating that repels water droplets. The back panel looked a bit slippery to me. Plus, it's got the same Gorilla Glass 5 protection, which makes the phone pretty slippery and leaves fingerprints everywhere. So, I've decided for myself that I'll only use the phone with a case. At the bottom, you'll find the audio output jack, USB Type-C port, microphone, and speaker. On top, there's an infrared port that lets you use the phone as a remote control. You'll need to download the Mi-remote app from Xiaomi for that. On the right side, you'll find the volume control and power button, which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. It's a new design for me, and it's definitely a unique look. I'm still getting used to this feature, but it's definitely interesting. So far, it's been working flawlessly and the fingerprint recognition is instantaneous. What's more, you can choose between two recognition modes in the settings: touch recognition and full-press recognition. I prefer the latter. If you're not a fan of button unlock, you can use facial recognition instead. I like that option better, but it does require good lighting and clear recognition.

Camera

When it comes to cameras, we're looking at a layout that's not entirely familiar – the cameras are centered, not on the sides. This particular phone has four cameras, excluding the front-facing one.

When it comes to camera quality, I've been comparing it to the Mi 9, and I have to say that the Redmi Note 9S camera is better, at least based on the shots I've taken. And that's despite the fact that the pixelization of the cameras is the same.Here's an example of a shot taken with the Mi 9:

And here's an example of a shot taken with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S:

Standard photo modeHigh-quality photo modePortrait modeNight modePanorama modePro modeI've gotta say, the modes are pretty standard: you've got your run-of-the-mill photo mode, high-quality photo mode, portrait mode, night mode, panorama mode, and pro mode. Based on all that I've said about the camera, I'd say that the smartphone industry is just churning out the same old thing every year, with slight updates, but the quality of the camera just isn't the same. That's what gets me to buy the latest model.

The Verdict

So, after all that, I'd say that for 17,000 rubles, I'm pretty happy with the smartphone. The main features work great, the camera is a step up from its predecessor, and despite being a flagship model, it's still a great value for money. Would I recommend it? That's up to you, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Thanks for reading!

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