The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is the latest budget smartphone from the Chinese price fighter. The device wants to distinguish itself with substantial specifications for little money, but is that possible? In this Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review, we take a closer look at the 250 euro phone.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
MSRP € 269, –
Colors White, gray and green
OS Android 10 (MIUI 11)
Screen 6.67 inch LCD (2400 x 1080) 60Hz
Processor 2.3 GHz octacore (Snapdragon 720G)
RAM 6 GB
Storage 64 or 128 GB (expandable)
Battery 5,020 mAh
Camera 64, 8, 5 and 2 megapixels (rear), 20 megapixels (front)
Connectivity 4G (LTE), Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 5, NFC, GPS, Infrared
Format 16.6 x 7.7 x 0.9 cm
Weight 209 grams
Website www.mi.com 8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Complete specifications
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Nice and large screen
- Negatives
- Average camera, moderate in the dark
- MIUI software
- Casing is crying out for cover
Xiaomi sells the Redmi Note 9 Pro in the Netherlands in two versions, with 64 GB and 128 GB storage space respectively. The device is available in the colors gray, white and green. I tested the latest version with 128 GB of memory.
Design
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is made of plastic and feels solid, although the housing will quickly appear dirty due to your fingerprints. At 209 grams, the device is also heavier than average, which is due to the larger battery. The housing is splash-proof, contains a 3.5mm headphone jack and a fingerprint scanner in the power button on the right side. The scanner is accurate and fast. A point of attention is that the camera module on the back protrudes, so that the phone does not lie flat without a cover and can damage the cameras more quickly.
Screen
The screen of the Redmi Note 9 Pro is 6.67 inches larger than average, and you notice that. For example, I cannot operate the smartphone with one hand. The large screen is excellent for typing with two hands, gaming and watching movies. The full HD resolution makes the image look sharp. The LCD panel delivers excellent colors and high brightness, but cannot match the OLED screen of a comparable Samsung smartphone. In a hole in the screen is a 16 megapixel camera that shoots ‘just good’ selfies.
Hardware
There is nothing to complain about the performance. The Snapdragon 720G processor used is smooth and works with a generous 6 GB of RAM. That is more than average (4 GB) in this price segment. The device can handle popular games perfectly, albeit at lower settings than on an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S20.
Interesting is the 5020 mAh battery, also larger than average (3500 to 4500 mAh). The battery lasts for one and a half to two and a half days, which is a nice score. Also nice is the powerful USB-C charger supplied, which has a power of 30 watts. You charge the battery in just under two hours. Other noteworthy functions are the infrared sensor (to operate your TV) and nfc chip, so that you can pin contactlessly in shops.
The storage memory of my test device is, as mentioned earlier, 128 GB and that will be enough for many people. Xiaomi also offers a 64 GB version, which costs 25 euros less. Looking at the small price difference, I think the 128 GB variant is the best buy. Both models also have a micro-SD card slot to expand the memory.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro camera
There are no fewer than four camera lenses on the back of the Redmi Note 9 Pro. It concerns a primary camera of 64 megapixels, an 8 megapixel wide-angle lens, a 5 megapixel macro camera and a 2 megapixel depth sensor. A versatile combination that takes nice photos and videos in enough daylight. The pictures look sharp but could have had more realistic colors and a better contrast. The photos are good enough for social media. In the dark, the camera is disappointing, also compared to the competition. The optional night mode does not change that much.
Software with advertising
The Redmi Note 9 Pro runs on Android 10, the latest version, at the time of writing. You only notice little of that, because Xiaomi’s MIUI 11 shell changes the software radically. From menus and settings to the appearance of the notification screen; actually looks nothing like the standard Android version. Although Xiaomi adds a number of useful features – including a one-handed mode – I prefer a less present shell. It is good to know that the MIUI shell contains advertisements. You can indicate whether these can be personalized – I wouldn’t do that. Xiaomi can sell its smartphones at competitive prices, partly thanks to advertising revenues. The MIUI software also installs many apps and games from Xiaomi and partners such as Facebook, Aliexpress and Netflix. As far as I am concerned, that could have been less.
Xiaomi’s update policy is not as transparent as that of competitors like Samsung and Nokia, which is a concern. Looking at the past years, the brand is rolling out at least one Android update, which means that the Redmi Note 9 Pro can count on Android 11. Experience shows that Xiaomi continues to support its smartphones for years with new MIUI versions, which are not linked are on Android updates.
Conclusion: buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is an attractive budget smartphone with a nice screen, good performance and a long battery life. The main point of attention is the radical MIUI software, which for some will be reason to ignore the device. If you are willing to give MIUI a chance, you can buy a device for 250 euros that you can use for years. Interesting alternatives are the Samsung Galaxy M21, Motorola Moto G8 Power, Samsung Galaxy A41 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 9.
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