Redmi 9 review - Value for money or just cheap (Update - UK sales open) - Android

Update, August 14, 2020 (11:00 AM ET): The Redmi 9 is now available to buy in the United Kingdom. It has one variant in the UK — the one with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage — and has a suggested retail price of £159 (~$209).

However, Xiaomi is running a great deal from now until August 23. The deal gets you the Redmi 9 plus a free Mi Smart Band 4 for a discounted price of £149 (~$196). In other words, you save some scratch while simultaneously getting something for free. Not bad!

To grab that Redmi 9 deal before August 23, click here. Not interested in that or miss the deadline? Click below to grab the Redmi 9 on its own.

Original article, August 7, 2020 (05:47 AM ET): Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand focuses on entry-level and mid-range devices, and the Redmi 9 is the epitome of its quest. The Redmi 9 is aggressively priced at just $160 — give or take a few dollars. That’s seven or eight times less than a leading flagship device. The question is, do you get seven or eight times less of a smartphone? Or — to put it another way — what does $160 buy you and what’s missing?

Find out in the Android Authority Redmi 9 review.

Redmi 9 review: It’s all about price

The Redmi 9 is the latest model in the vanilla Redmi series, which is the series that started the Redmi brand back in 2013. Price remains the key factor. However, that hasn’t stopped Xiaomi from including four camera sensors, a Full HD display, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, USB-C, quick charging, reverse charging, and an IR blaster on the Redmi 9.

To hit its low price point, the Redmi 9 will differ from more expensive devices when it comes to performance, RAM, and storage. The price also reflects the construction, with no fancy alloys, no chamfered edges, and no curved display. There’s lots of plastic and the overall feel is simple. However, that doesn’t mean the build is lacking in quality. The Redmi 9 feels sturdy. I always handled it with confidence, and never worried that it was about to split apart at the seams.

See also: Best budget phones

What is it like to use the Redmi 9?

Taking into account the context, which is price and value for money, the Redmi 9 is surprisingly good. I must confess that I did groan a little when I heard I would be reviewing the device. However, having used the Redmi 9 for a while I must chastise myself for prejudging it. I wasn’t expecting such a pleasant experience from a $160 smartphone. Don’t misunderstand me. This isn’t a Samsung Galaxy S20 or a OnePlus 8. But if my budget was small and I was parting with my hard-earned cash, then I would be pleased with the Redmi 9.

The back of the phone is plastic, but Xiaomi turned this into a plus point. There is an interesting circular design around the camera module that Xiaomi says, “gives a sense of balance and elegance.” This actually isn’t a bad way to describe it. Kudos to the copywriter. The back is textured, which enhances the grip and prevents fingerprints.

The Redmi 9 comes in three colors: Carbon Grey, Ocean Green, and Sunset Purple. Each has a gradient design, reducing the blandness significantly.

14/08/2020 03:00 PM

androidauthority.com