Xiaomi Redmi 9 (Prime) review

Wrap-up

The Redmi 9 is an excellent budget phone that seems easy to recommend. It has one large screen perfect for multimedia, shoots great photos, and its battery will last you days no matter what you are doing.

The performance is mediocre, and the screen is hardly usable under bright sunlight, though nobody really should have expected gaming skills from a €130 phone. And yet, gaming is possible if you are okay sacrificing the graphics quality.

Still, for what the Redmi 9 was made for, it delivers, and even goes even beyond expectations here and there, which .

Alternatives

If the Redmi Note 9S can fit in your budget, then it surely is the better alternative. The Note 9S is about €60 more expensive, but it will offer you a better screen, much faster hardware, and improved image and video quality.

If all you need is slightly better quality images and perhaps Night Mode check out the Redmi Note 9. About €45 more expensive than the Redmi 9, it is basically the same phone as the Redmi 9, but with a 48MP primary camera, a 13MP selfie shooter, and faster charging adapter included in the box.

The Realme C3 costs about €140 and is the cheapest phone Realme is selling in Europe right now. It has a 720p screen and slightly lower grade Helio G70 chip, while also omitting the ultrawide camera on the back. For an extra €20 Realme will fix most of these omissions with the Realme 5i, though its screen will remain at 720p resolution. The lower pixel count does help in games, but if social networks and streaming take priority, the Redmi 9 is the better bet.

Huawei has a phone that's priced the same as the Redmi 9, but offers more gaming power - the P40 Lite E. It has a 720p display but with a smaller notch, offers faster hardware, similar camera skills and promising battery life. The only caveat - you'll have to manage without Google Play Services.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 • Realme C3 (3 cameras) • Realme 5i • Huawei P40 lite E

The verdict

The Redmi 9 is a budget offer that none can quite match at this time. If your budget is around €120 you probably won't find a better phone. With a high-res screen, high-quality camera, and impressive battery life - the Redmi 9 exceeds the expectations.

The Redmi 9 is not that snappy, but it's not bad enough to be a deal-breaker. At this price levels, the performance is as expected rather than disappointing. There are snappier options around, but you'll have to sacrifice screen resolution and likely also battery life and camera quality.

Overall, the Redmi 9 is yet another masterstroke by Xiaomi in the budget segment and if it matches what you want to spend you won't regret getting it.

Finally, if you live in India, your Redmi 9 Prime will also enjoy a water-repellent coating hence matching the Realme competitors.

Pros

• Beautiful and grippy plastic body
• Large, sharp LCD screen with high contrast, GG3
• Remarkable battery life
• Good photo and video quality for the class
• Latest Android
• Wireless FM radio, NFC (global model), 3.5mm jack, microSD, IR blaster

Cons

• Low screen brightness
• UI occasionally lags, mediocre gaming performance
• Sluggish charging
• Not even basic water protection