At present, Redmi Note 9 Pro will face direct competition from Realme 6 series and Samsung’s latest M-series in the market, which are not much different from Redmi Note 9 in terms of specifications and features. In such a situation, we Redmi Note 9 Pro And rather than looking at small specification differences between it and its rivals, we should look at how better the new phone is as a complete package at a lower price.
Let’s start with the design of the Redmi Note 9 Pro. Xiaomi Xiaomi has launched this phone with its ‘Aura Balance’ design style, in which the pattern and gradient finish has been removed and this time a simple and plain finish has been given. The phone has a square camera module at the back, in which the flash is also set. There is a Redmi logo in the middle at the back. According to Xiaomi, the weight of the phone has been distributed equally, so it does not feel heavy in the hand.
The Redmi Note 9 Pro is offered in Aurora Blue, Interstellar Black and Glacier White colour options. Its finish is quite glossy and reflective. Even our Aurora Blue unit looks glossier than the picture shown in the box. This finish catches fingerprints easily. The frame of the phone is made of polycarbonate.
Overall, the Redmi Note 9 Pro feels premium. However, the device is not comfortable to hold and use. The phone is 8.8 mm thick and weighs 209 grams, which is definitely heavy. The good thing is that the back of the phone is not very slippery.
This phone has Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and back. Its large size and heavy weight are largely attributed to its 6.67-inch screen and 5020 mAh battery. This is the largest screen and battery in the Redmi Note series so far.
Xiaomi has used a 60Hz 1080×2400 pixel IPS LCD panel on the phone, which is a bit surprising, as competitors are currently pushing high refresh rates. Xiaomi told Gadgets360 that this is an unnecessary feature that many people may not even realize. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor is not high-end. Here Xiaomi and Realme have taken different paths, so it will be very interesting to find out the difference between the two. We will find out in the Redmi Note 9 Pro review.
The front camera is set on the hole-punch on the phone’s screen. This cutout is given in the middle of the display and is undoubtedly quite large. There is also a fingerprint sensor in the power button on the right side of the phone, which left-handed users will definitely not like to some extent. The volume buttons are placed above the power button. It is difficult to reach the volume buttons easily with the thumb while holding it in the hand.
You get a USB Type-C port, speaker and 3.5mm audio socket at the bottom. The tray on the left houses two nano-SIMs as well as a microSD card. Xiaomi’s trademark infrared emitter is placed on the top.
Coming to the hardware specifications, Xiaomi says that the new Snapdragon 720G processor works well and is a great upgrade over the 600-series Snapdragon chipsets. You can buy Redmi Note 9 Pro with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage for Rs 12,999. Its high-end variant comes with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage, which is priced at Rs 15,999.
You get an 18W charger in the box and the Redmi Note 9 Pro also supports standard USB Power Delivery chargers. Another interesting thing is that the phone supports the Indian NavIC satellite navigation system. Apart from this, the phone comes with Wi-Fi ac and Bluetooth 5, MIUI 11 based on Android 10.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with a 48-megapixel primary rear camera that uses the new Samsung Isocell GM2 sensor. The company says that it has made changes to the colour profile of this sensor for Indian users. This camera has an f/1.79 aperture and can record 960fps slow-motion videos as well as 4K 30fps videos. The other three cameras include an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. You get a 16-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
The Redmi Note 9 Pro is designed with content creators in mind, especially those who regularly post stories and TikTok videos. There is electronic stabilization for the front and rear cameras, a 21:9 aspect ratio option, and a Pro Color option to enhance contrast and saturation.
Considering all these features and the price, this phone feels like a great deal and we can understand why Xiaomi has ignored some of the features that other brands offer in their phones. If you find this phone lacking a bit, Xiaomi has also launched the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max in the market along with this phone, which is almost identical but gives you a 64-megapixel rear camera, 32-megapixel front camera, 33W fast charging (including charger) and more RAM.
For more details on the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s performance, software, usability, camera, battery life, and other hardware and features, wait for our review and stay tuned to Gadgets 360.