Mobile telephony has been the fastest growing consumer technology sector for more than a decade and has the greatest impact on our daily lives. Brands like Xiaomi have bet very lucky for it although they continue to create an ecosystem of accessories around them.
In the last twelve months we have seen many mid-range models launched within the Redmi Note family. First came the Redmi Note 9, then the Redmi Note 9 Pro, later the Redmi Note 9S and now it is the turn of what we assume will be the last of them, the Redmi Note 9T that was leaked in November.
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Redmi Note 9T features
- Performance:
- Processor: Mediatek Dimensity 800U.
- RAM:
- 4 GB + 64 GB UFS 2.1.
- 4 GB + 128 GB UFS 2.2.
- Expansion by microSD cards up to 128 GB.
- Screen:
- Diagonal: 6.53 inches.
- Type: IPS LCD.
- Resolution: FHD + (2340 x 1080).
- Cameras:
- Main 48 Mpx with 1/2 ”sensor, 1.6μm pixel, f / 1.79, AF …
- 2 Mpx macro sensor with 1.75μm pixel.
- 2 Mpx depth sensor with 1.75μm pixel, f / 1.79.
- 13 Mpx front camera.
- Drums:
- Capacity: 5000 mAh.
- 18W fast charge (22.5W charger in the box).
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS….
- Others:
- Headphone jack.
- Infrared port.
- NFC.
- Side fingerprint sensor.
- Dimensions: 161.96 x 77.25 x 9.05 mm.
- Weight: 199 grams.
- OS: Android 10 with MIUI 11.
Using plastic the right way
This terminal is one of the cheapest of the firm, at least within the family, taking into account that it has 5G. We comment on it because although there are models with metal frames and glass on the back, this time the finish is in plastic.
However, Xiaomi has opted for a matte finish with a rough texture that makes it very comfortable to hold in hand, preventing it from slipping or trapping fingerprints.
We always say that the premium finishes are glass or metal but plastic, well executed, is a great option.
The front part has considerable frames for a 2021 mobile, although it is compressible given the category of the model. There is a perforation in the screen, but being LCD it has a slight dark halo, something that we have seen on occasions, but that does not stop attracting attention.
Let’s not forget that for a while now Xiaomi has begun to give more relevance to sound and has implemented two speakers in this terminal. No, they are not two equally powerful speakers, and the sound is good but not spectacular, but we applaud the gesture. I wish all terminals already had a double speaker.
Also noteworthy is the presence of the charging port, USB C of course, and the headphone jack. Oh, and the infrared emitter, something undervalued that curiously this time we have used a lot as the remote control of one of the televisions that we have used in the week in which we have had this terminal has broken.
The rear part stands out for its rough finish, but also for the camera module, one that I personally don’t like and that is reminiscent of the Poco X3. There are three cameras, the fourth element is the LED flash.
Finally, note the presence of a fingerprint sensor on the right side, useful if you use the mobile with that hand but not so much if you are left-handed.
Performance is too tight
It seems obvious that what Redmi has wanted to do with this mobile is to offer a 5G device as cheap as possible. For this he has opted for a Mediatek processor, the Dimensity 800U. This chipset offers 5G connectivity in addition to other options that have not been activated here.
The problem is that this processor, with the 4 GB of RAM that all the variants of the Redmi Note 9T have, is not the most suitable for gaming. We have had problems using Genshin Impact to a point where we have stopped using it. Other demanding titles like Honkai Impact Third do well, but even in some apps we have seen how the power is not the best.
In addition, having 4 GB of RAM we have had it impossible to jump between three applications without the first one closing, something that with 6 GB models is usually possible.
we have even occasionally had some lags and intermittent connectivity problems with Wi-Fi networks.
This is not a terminal designed to demand a lot of power and play, although to be honest it does not seem that it has been designed for it.
Somewhat elevated reflections
The Redmi Note 9T screen is made up of a 6.53-inch diagonal panel and IPS LCD technology. The resolution is FHD +, specifically 2340 x 1080 px.
The positive part is the resolution precisely and is that many competitors opt for HD panels that have less sharpness. The negative is that the reflections in certain circumstances are high, and we have tested it in winter, not in the sun in summer.
In addition, as we have mentioned before, there is a slight excess in the perforation of the camera, which with white backgrounds looks bad.
Three cameras that are one
It seems that one of the bad trends of 2020 remains that year. The need for brands to boast that their phones have three cameras means that they include sensors that are useless. And here we have it in duplicate.
On the one hand we have a main sensor of 13 Mpx, with just enough quality to be able to be used but with a fairly short dynamic range as you can see in the photo gallery of this analysis. Of course, the videos stabilize them well despite not having an OIS.
The other two cameras are completely expendable, due to their resolution and their function. Both sensors have 2 Mpx, serving one to take macro photography and the other to calculate the blur of portraits.
No, we do not have a wide angle, something that we find shocking since it is something that more and more people value. It would have been more logical to eliminate those two sensors and put a wide angle, even if it was of adjusted resolution, with 5 or 8 Mpx.
Good autonomy, but without fanfare
The 5000 mAh of this Note 9T we believed would give us a greater autonomy than that obtained. Make no mistake, the battery complies and does not leave us stranded, but it seems that either the system uses too much energy or that the processor does not optimize enough.
In the first battery test we have been playing games and using social apps on Wifi and 4G. We have done 2 hours of tethering with an iPad. We have reached 6 hours of screen with 30 hours of autonomy.
In the second battery test We have been playing and using social apps again but exclusively on 4G. We have gone out to take photos and a short video and we have used tethering with an iPad for more than 4 hours. We have reached 4 and a half hours of screen with 24 hours of autonomy.
In the third battery test we have used the mobile much more indoors, with Wi-Fi, and outdoors to listen to music and podcasts. We have reached 6 hours of screen with 36 hours of autonomy.
The Redmi Note 9T comes with Android 10
There are still a few months until we start to see mid-range phones with Android 11 and this Redmi Note 9T proves it.
We have MIUI 12 and Android 10 and although we have not seen reboots, lags, closures or anything similar, each time we get the feeling that MIUI is denser, heavier, and that it somewhat weighs on the performance of the terminal.
Aesthetically we do not have many complaints, especially since we can customize the interface a lot. Also, features like Mi Share (Xiaomi’s Nearby version) are useful, and the implementation of face unlock helps to avoid always having to use the fingerprint sensor.
Conclusion: the bet of the Redmi Note 9T is the 5G
Xiaomi has such a large catalog of terminals that it is difficult not to compare each new launch with the previous options. In this case the simplest choice: If we value 5G a lot, this is the Redmi to chooseIf not, any of the other options makes more sense if we look at the value for money given that the Redmi Note 9T 4 + 64GB costs 249.9 euros and the 4 + 128 GB 269.9 euros.
The entry Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T, analysis: the 5G as a distinctive element appears first in The Free Android.
