I recently told you about the new Redmi 9 smartphone, which I really liked. Today we will talk about an even more budget model called Redmi 9A.
In this review, I will share with you the main technical features, advantages and disadvantages of this smartphone.
Before we get into the detailed review, let's talk about the price. Currently, the Redmi 9A smartphone is already officially on sale in the Chinese market. Therefore, buying or ordering a device will not be problematic. The issue price will be $100.
Redmi 9A with 20% discount
★★★★☆
$99,00
$123,75
Buy
Aliexpress.com
I also want to remind you that the price tag for Redmi 9 is only $18 more than the starting price of this inexpensive version.
As for the technical features, everything is not so bad here. For example, Redmi 9A received a large 6.53-inch screen, a MediaTek Helio G25 processor with a modification of 2/32 GB of memory and a 5000 mAh battery.
As for a modern device, the technical content is not very strong, but I liked some of the features. Such as high battery capacity, modern chipset and large bright screen.
Redmi 9A: Specifications
| Xiaomi Redmi 9A: | Characteristics |
| Display: | 6.53 inches IPS with 1720 x 1600 pixels |
| CPU: | MediaTek Helio G25 Octa Core 2.0 GHz |
| GPU: | PowerVR GE8320 |
| RAM: | 2 GB |
| Inner memory: | 32 GB |
| Memory card: | up to 256 GB |
| Cameras: | 13 MP main camera and 5 MP front camera |
| Wireless connections: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, 3G, 4G, Bluetooth 5.0 and GPS |
| Battery: | 5000 mAh |
| OS: | Android 10 (MIUI 12) |
| Ports: | MicroUSB |
| Weight: | 194 grams |
| Dimensions: | 164.9 x 77 x 9 mm |
| Price: | $ 99 |
Detailed technical specifications
Make and model
Make and model of the device, and alternative names (if any).
| Brand Device manufacturer company. | Xiaomi |
| Model Device name. | Redmi 9A |
Design
Appearance of the device including dimensions, weight, volume, colors and materials.
| Width The horizontal side of the device when used in standard orientation. | 75.9 mm (millimeters) |
| Height The vertical side of the device when used in standard orientation. | 164.4 mm (millimeters) |
| Thickness The cross-sectional size of the device. | 9.1 mm (millimeters) |
| Weight How much does the device weigh excluding the case, SIM and memory cards and other additional elements. | 196 g (grams) |
| Volume Approximate value calculated using the formula: length times width times height. | 113.55 cm³ (cubic centimeters) |
| Colors What colors is the device available in? | Granite Gray Peacock Green Sky Blue |
| Housing materials What materials is the body made of? | Plastic |
System on a Chip (SoC)
A system on a chip, a single-chip system (System on a Chip, SoC) is when several systems performing different device functions are connected on one chip.
| System on a Chip (SoC) A single-chip system that contains components such as a processor, graphics accelerator, memory units, communication interfaces, etc., as well as software for the operation of the system. | MediaTek Helio G25 |
Central processing unit (CPU)
| Central processing unit (CPU) The main component of the device is responsible for calculations and data processing. | Cortex-A55 |
| Technical process What technological process is used to make the chip? The smaller the process technology, the better - the chips consume less power and generate less heat. | 12 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor size Processor capacity is a parameter that indicates how many bits of data a processor register processes in 1 clock cycle. This is usually 32 or 64 bits. | 64 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instruction set architecture (ISA) is a programmable part of the microprocessor core used by software to control the operation of the processor. | ARMv8-A |
| Number of processor cores The processor can be either single-core or multi-core. The performance of the processor depends on the number of cores (threads). The more cores working simultaneously, the higher the power consumption, so in mobile devices all cores are used only under high load. | 8 |
| CPU clock speed Clock speed is the number of operations per second that a processor or its core can achieve. The higher the frequency, the higher the overall performance of the device, but performance also depends on the processor architecture and the number of cores. | 2000 MHz (megahertz) |
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The graphics processing unit (GPU) is used to process and display graphics - 3D effects, games, interfaces and other visual elements. Due to the pipeline architecture, the GPU is many times more efficient in graphics processing than the processor. | IMG PowerVR GE8320 |
| GPU clock speed Clock speed is the number of operations per second that the GPU or its core is capable of achieving. The higher the frequency, the higher the speed of the processor, and therefore the number of tasks it can solve. | 650 MHz (megahertz) |
Random access memory (RAM)
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) RAM (Random Access Memory, RAM, RAM) is temporary memory (works only while the device is running), which stores data and code for the operational operation of programs and applications. The more RAM, the more programs you can run simultaneously without loss of performance (there will be fewer “brakes”). | 2 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of RAM used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels 1 is a single-channel RAM operating mode, basic, when 1 memory module is used. 2 is already a two-channel mode - a mode of parallel operation of 2 modules or pairs of modules, memory channels - this mode is 2 times faster than a single-channel one. 3 – three-channel mode is 3 times faster than single-channel mode. | Single channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines the speed of RAM, or rather the speed of data transfer and reception. In theory, the higher the frequency, the more powerful the RAM. | 933 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Most mobile devices have built-in Flash memory, which is used as a storage for system data, the operating system, as well as user data - photos, videos, recordings and much more.
| Built-in memory capacity The higher the amount of built-in memory, the more games, programs, music, videos and your other files will fit in the device, especially the amount of memory is important when the device does not support memory cards. | 32 GB (gigabytes) —- eMMC 5.1 |
Operating system
A mobile operating system (OS) is pre-installed software with a well-thought-out interface for user control of device functions.
| Operating system (OS) The operating system installed by default by the device manufacturer, as well as its version. | MIUI 12 (Android 10) |
Battery
To operate autonomously, a mobile device requires a battery that powers all its components.
| Battery capacity The main characteristic of a battery is its maximum capacity, that is, the charge it can store. Capacity is measured in mAh (mAh, milliamp-hour). The higher the capacity, the longer the mobile device can work. | 5000 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Battery type Many types of batteries have been used in portable devices, but NiCd (nickel-cadmium), NiMH (nickel-metal hydride), and even more so SLA (lead-acid) batteries are already considered obsolete. Instead, modern mobile devices use Li-Ion (lithium-ion) and Li-Pol, Li-Poly (lithium-polymer) batteries. | Li-polymer |
| Power adapter Characteristics of the charger (adapter, power supply) included in the standard package of the mobile device. More precisely, the output voltage in volts (V) and the output current in amperes (A). | 5 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) |
| Fast charging Fast charging is when the device charges very quickly. For example, up to 50-70% of a full battery charge in ten minutes. | Yes |
Screen
The screen (display) is the main element for displaying graphic information.
| Technology The technology used to make the screen. There are many types of display manufacturing with their pros and cons. | IPS |
| Diagonal The screen diagonal of a device is measured in inches (inch, in or simply ″), and 1″ is equal to 2.54 cm. | 6.53 in (inches) 165.86 mm (millimeters) 16.59 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 68.06 mm (millimeters) 6.81 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 151.25 mm (millimeters) 15.13 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio Aspect ratio is the ratio of the shorter side of the screen, which is considered to be 1, to the longer side, which is denoted by a decimal fraction indicating the ratio to the short side. | 2.222:1 |
| Screen resolution Screen resolution is the number of horizontal pixels (dots) multiplied by the number of vertical pixels. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be. | 720 x 1600 pixels |
| Pixel Density The number of pixels per inch or PPI (pixels per inch) indicates the density of pixels per 1 inch (2.54 cm) of the screen. The higher the PPI, the sharper the image, and the less visible or even invisible “squares and dots” (pixels). | 269 ppi (pixels per inch) 105 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Color depth means how many bits are used in 1 pixel to display color (bits per pixel). | 24 bit 16777216 colors |
| Screen area Approximate usable area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. The higher the percentage, the narrower the frames around the display or the smaller the “chin with bangs.” | 82.77% (percent) |
| Touch screen A touch screen is a device that usually covers the display and is a touch input tool. In fact, in mobile devices, the touchscreen is a replacement for the keyboard and mouse. | Yes |
| Touch screen type There are many types of touch screens, with their pros and cons. Mobile devices often use capacitive touchscreens, but technology does not stand still and new types of sensors are appearing. | Capacitive |
| Multi-touch Touch screen support for two or more touches. For example, zooming photos with two fingers. | Yes |
| Impact-resistant protective glass of the display The screen and touchscreen of a mobile device are usually covered with protective tempered glass (sometimes plastic or film is used instead of glass) to protect the display from impacts and scratches. Many companies are engaged in the production of such protection, but the most famous are Corning - Gorilla Glass and Asahi - Dragontrail. | Yes |
| 2.5D screen 2.5D is a display with rounded edges. Device manufacturers use a 2.5D screen as a design element, for a pleasant tactile sensation, or to add durability, dust and moisture protection. | Yes |
Main camera
The main camera, usually built into the rear of the device, is designed for creating photo and video content.
| Maximum image resolution This is the maximum number of pixels (dots) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be. Resolution can also be indicated in megapixels - this is the total number of pixels that can be in the image, calculated by the formula: vertical pixels multiplied by the number of horizontal pixels and divide the resulting amount by 1 million. | 4160 x 3120 pixels 12.98 MP (megapixels) |
| Matrix type There are two main types of photomatrix, CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) and CMOS (Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor). Mobile devices mainly use a CMOS matrix - it requires less space, has low power consumption and heating. Recently, new types of sensors have begun to appear, for example PureCel from OmniVision. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Matrix pixel size Pixel size is one of the matrix parameters that determines what size pixels are used in the matrix. The larger the size, the better - less noise and a larger light-sensitive area. | 1.12 µm (micrometers) 0.001120 mm (millimeters) |
| Diaphragm Aperture (f-number, f) is used to control the light flux passing through the lens. The aperture is indicated by a fraction, and the smaller the fractional number, the higher the aperture passing through the lens. The more light that passes through the lens, the better overall, less noise in your photos and better night photography. | f/1.8 |
| Flash type Most mobile devices are equipped with light-emitting diode (LED) flashes, but there are also xenon flashes. As a flash, xenon is better - it is more powerful, but LED is more versatile (can work as a flashlight) and consumes less electricity. | LED |
| Maximum video resolution This is the maximum number of pixels (dots) horizontally and vertically. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image will be. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| FPS video recording at maximum resolution FPS (Frames per Second, frame rate) is the number of frames that changes in 1 second. The higher the number of frames per second, the smoother the image will be. In this case, we mean the number of frames that the camera can achieve at its maximum resolution; the lower the resolution, the higher the FPS can be. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
| Presence of flash Incorporating a flash into a mobile device allows you to take pictures in low light conditions. Creates the necessary lighting and compensates for the lack of natural light. | Yes |
| Digital zoom With digital zoom (zoom, enlargement), the subject is brought closer due to software image algorithms. The higher the magnification with digital zoom, the worse the image quality (noise, blur) will be compared to a non-zoomed one. | Yes |
| Focus on face Function of auto-detection of living objects and autofocus on their face or head. | Yes |
| Panoramic shooting mode Panoramic photography is a series of frames where each subsequent frame is a continuation of the previous one; at the end of the shooting, all frames are stitched together at the software level to create a panoramic photograph. Frames can be shot both vertically and horizontally, and their width can be up to 360 degrees. This type of shooting is used when the camera's viewing angle is not enough to capture the entire scene. | Yes |
| HDR shooting mode HDR photography takes a quick series of shots with highlights, midtones, and shadows, then combines them into a single frame with high dynamic range. | Yes |
| Electronic (digital) image stabilizer EIS (Electronic Image Stabilizer - digital image stabilization) is performed using software algorithms and is needed to reduce blurring when the camera shakes. | Yes |
| White balance White balance is a setting that helps ensure the correct color reproduction in an image by determining the color temperature of the light source in the frame. The balance can be set either automatically or manually. | Yes |
| ISO Setting ISO is the level of light sensitivity. The lower the ISO, the less sensitive the camera's light sensor and the smoother the image with less noise. The higher the ISO, the higher the light sensitivity, but more noise, graininess, or decreased sharpness. | Yes |
| Additional Information Additional information about the functions and characteristics of cameras. | Autofocus Geo-tagging Touch focus Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene selection mode Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) |
Front-camera
The front camera of a mobile device (selfie camera, rear camera) is a camera on the front part, which is usually used for video communication, recognition of gestures or faces, and selfie photographs.
| Photo resolution The maximum image resolution that the camera can produce. As resolution increases, image detail increases. Resolution can also be indicated in megapixels (the total number of pixels that an image can consist of) - these are vertical pixels multiplied by horizontal pixels and divided by 1 million. | 1600 x 1200 pixels 1.92 MP (megapixels) |
| Diaphragm An aperture (or aperture) is essentially an adjustable baffle to control the amount of light passing through the lens. The aperture is indicated by a fraction, and the smaller it is, the more light passes through the lens, which has a positive effect on photographs - there will be less noise and better night photography. While the main cameras also come with an adjustable aperture, most front cameras have a fixed aperture. | f/2.4 |
| Video resolution This is the maximum resolution the camera can record video at. The higher the resolution, the better. | 1280 x 720 pixels 0.92 MP (megapixels) |
| Frame rate (FPS) of video shooting This is talking about FPS at maximum video resolution; at lower resolutions, the frame rate per second can be higher. FPS determines the smoothness of the video, as well as the ability to speed up or slow down it. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
| Camera focal length Focal length is the distance from the center of the lens to the sensor. The focal length determines the viewing angle, scale and degree of blur. | 27 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| Face unlock This is a new way to unlock your phone using facial recognition | Yes |
| Additional Information Additional information about the functions and characteristics of cameras. | HDR shooting |
Memory card
A memory card (flash card) is an external data storage device that is used in many devices to increase memory capacity.
| Memory card type and formats Mobile devices usually use 3 types of memory cards - SD, miniSD and the most common microSD. Each type has its own formats that the device supports. | miniSD microSDHC microSDXC |
SIM card
Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) used in mobile devices to identify subscribers in cellular networks.
| Type, size of SIM card A regular (mini SIM) card has dimensions of 25x15 mm. Micro SIM - 15x12 mm. Nano SIM - 12.3x8.8 mm. The sizes of SIM cards are different and not interchangeable. There is also an eSIM (virtual, electronic SIM card), it is built into the device and does not take up space. | Nano-SIM (4FF - fourth form factor, since 2012, 12.30 x 8.80 x 0.67 mm) |
| Number of SIM cards How many SIM cards does the device support? | 2 |
| Additionally Additional information about the operation of SIM cards in the device. | Dual SIM stand-by (Both cards are active. When one is busy talking, the other is deactivated.) |
Mobile networks
This is a system in which communication and data transfer is carried out between subscribers, the location of one or more of which changes. This section lists the supported mobile communication standards and frequencies.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is a standard for digital mobile cellular communications of the second generation 2G with time and frequency division of channels. GSM came to replace analog cellular communications 1G (first generation). | GSM 850 MHz (B5) GSM 900 MHz (B8) GSM 1800 MHz (B3) GSM 1900 MHz (B2) |
| LTE LTE (Long-Term Evolution, often referred to as 4G LTE) is a standard for wireless high-speed data transmission, which, although it belongs to fourth generation networks (4G), is essentially a transitional stage from 3G to 4G, greatly accelerating data transfer speeds. The standard has an improved version, LTE Advanced (LTE-A), which can already be considered a full-fledged 4th generation network. | LTE-FDD 850 MHz (B5) LTE-FDD 900 MHz (B8) LTE-FDD 1800 MHz (B3) LTE-FDD 2100 MHz (B1) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE- TDD 2600 MHz (B38) |
| WCDMA WCDMA (W-CDMA, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) is a third generation mobile communication standard (3G), which is an add-on to GSM and provides high-speed Internet access. | W-CDMA 850 MHz (B5) W-CDMA 900 MHz (B8) W-CDMA 2100 MHz (B1) |
Mobile network data standards
What data transfer standards in cellular networks are supported by the device, as well as their speed.
| Data transmission technologies Technologies for receiving and transmitting data, as well as their maximum speed. | UMTS (384 kbit/s) EDGE GPRS HSPA+ LTE Cat 4 (51.0 Mbit/s, 150.8 Mbit/s) |
WiFi
Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) is a technology for wireless data transmission over a local network among devices based on IEEE 802.11 standards.
| Wi-Fi Hot-Spot A hotspot is a Wi-Fi access point. In a mobile device, Hot-Spot turns the smartphone into a Wi-Fi access point, essentially turning it into a router capable of distributing the Internet. | Yes |
| WiFi Supported WIFI wireless network standards. | 802.11b (IEEE 802.11b-1999) 802.11g (IEEE 802.11g-2003) 802.11n (IEEE 802.11n-2009) |
Bluetooth
Bluetooth (BT, bluetooth (z), “blue tooth”) is a short-range wireless network (up to 10, sometimes 100 meters) operating on radio waves to transmit voice and data between devices.
| Bluetooth version Bluetooth technology is actively developing and, since 1998, has been constantly updating versions of the standard. Each subsequent version introduces one or several improvements in data exchange speed, range, facilitates pairing, reduces power consumption, or introduces some new protocols and operating profiles. The higher the Bluetooth version, the better. The technology is also backward compatible, for example, if your mobile device has version 5.0, then it will work with accessories version 4.2 and lower, but the improvements introduced in version 5.0 will not work; they will work only if both the device and accessories are version 5. | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Bluetooth LE is a low energy BT protocol specification. | Yes |
| A2DP profile The A2DP Bluetooth profile is designed to transmit a high-quality two-channel stereo signal via Bluetooth to wireless headphones, speakers and other acoustics. | Yes |
Sensors
Modern devices have many sensors that help in measurements, trigger functions, and make using the device more pleasant.
| Light sensor The light sensor reacts to the light level and is able to adjust the screen brightness automatically based on this. This is necessary to reduce power consumption and ease of use of the device. | Yes |
| Proximity sensor The proximity sensor reacts to the proximity of the mobile device to some object. For example, the sensor is used when talking on the phone to turn off the screen, which saves energy and prevents you from pressing buttons with your ear or cheek. | Yes |
| Accelerometer An accelerometer is a sensor that measures apparent acceleration, that is, it determines the position and distance at which a mobile device moves in space. Based on the data from this sensor, the screen orientation change, pedometer, control using tilts and gestures in games and applications, etc. work. | Yes |
| Digital compass This is software that displays data from a magnetic sensor or GPS in the form of a compass on the screen of a mobile device. If there are no sensors or GPS, then the digital compass will not work. | Yes |
| Additional sensors |
Audio
Audio - characteristics and capabilities of a mobile device in terms of sound.
| Music speaker There are two types of speakers in mobile devices - auditory and musical. The auditory speaker (speaker) is used for conversation, the music speaker (buzzer) is used to play music and sounds. | Loudspeaker Earphone |
Radio
The radio in a mobile device can be built-in by the manufacturer (catch local radio channels, no internet required, often works only with headphones (as an antenna), but not always) or installed as an online application (requires internet, but more channels and often better quality) .
| Built-in radio Is a radio tuner integrated into the mobile device? | Yes |
Navigation and location
The location is determined by satellite navigation systems that track the device's autonomous geospatial location at multiple points. The most common satellite navigation systems are GPS, GLONASS, and the Chinese BeiDou.
| GPS GPS (Global Positioning System) is a global satellite navigation system that can determine the position of a mobile device, build routes and find the desired object on the map with an accuracy of several meters. | Yes |
| A-GPS A-GPS (Assisted GPS) is an assistive technology that will help you quickly find the location of your cellular device without waiting for satellite data, which is especially important in indoors and cities. Location is determined in various ways, for example, Wi-Fi access points, mobile towers, bluetooth and others. | Yes |
| GLONASS GLONASS is a Russian Global Navigation Satellite System, which is similar to GPS and works in tandem with it, increasing the accuracy and speed of navigation. | Yes |
| Additional navigation systems | BeiDou Galileo |
USB connector
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial interface for connecting peripherals to computers, smartphones, laptops and much more. The interface allows you to exchange data and power a peripheral device with energy, as well as connect several peripheral devices to one USB connector at once.
| Connector type What type of USB connector is used in the device. | USB Type-C |
| USB standard The higher the standard, the faster the throughput, or more precisely the data exchange rate. With version 3.0 of the standard, the current was increased to 0.9A, eliminating the need for additional power for some devices. | 2.0 |
| USB Mass Storage Connecting a mobile device via USB as a data storage device. That is, when you enable this mode, your device can be used as a flash drive. | Yes |
| USB OTG support OTG is the ability to connect peripherals, such as keyboards and mice, flash drives, card readers, and much more, to the USB port of your device via an adapter or directly. You can connect devices that do not require specialized drivers or additional power. | Yes |
| Additional characteristics Additional features of the USB connector, for example, OTG, whether the connection is supported, peripheral devices and additional memory. | Charging via USB |
Headphone jack
A TRS headphone jack (or jack) is a common standard of connectors used for transmitting audio signals. By diameter there are jack (6.5 mm), mini-jack (3.5 mm) and micro-jack (2.5 mm). In mobile devices, the 3.5mm jack was considered the most popular and widespread, but recently they began to be removed, leaving only USB connectors, through which headphones are connected with a corresponding plug or using adapters.
| 3.5mm headphone jack Does the device have a 3.5 mm audio jack? | Yes |
Connection and synchronization
Options for synchronizing your mobile device and connecting it to other devices.
| Connection, synchronization Types of synchronization and connection technologies supported by the device. | Computer sync OTA sync Tethering VoLTE |
Browser
A browser is a browser program for viewing sites and their content on the Internet. Through the browser, you can open websites, search for information, download necessary files, watch streaming videos, play browser games, etc.
| Technologies Markup and programming languages supported by the built-in (standard) browser. For mobile devices, you can install additional browser applications if the standard one does not suit you. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support many audio file formats, as well as codecs for playing them.
| Default formats The formats that the mobile device supports out of the box are indicated. But if the device does not support the format you need, then you can try adding support for it. Sometimes support depends on the technical characteristics of the device (“hardware”) and nothing can be added here, but often the ability to process a particular audio format depends on the software part. You can install another audio player or codec set separately. | AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) AAC+ / aacPlus / HE-AAC v1 AMR / AMR-NB / GSM-AMR (Adaptive Multi-Rate, .amr, .3ga) AMR-WB (Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband, .awb) eAAC+ / aacPlus v2 / HE-AAC v2 FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec, .flac) MIDI MP3 (MPEG-2 Audio Layer II, .mp3) OGG (.ogg, .ogv, .oga, .ogx, .spx, .opus) WMA (Windows Media Audio, .wma) WAV (Waveform Audio File Format, .wav, .wave) LDAC |
Video file formats/codecs
Video file formats that the device supports and is capable of decoding and playing.
| Default formats Video file formats that the device is capable of playing with standard firmware and a standard (built-in) set of programs. Not all formats are supported by default, but you can install a third-party video player and/or set of codecs. | 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project, .3gp) AVI (Audio Video Interleaved, .avi) DivX (.avi, .divx, .mkv) H.263 H.264 / MPEG-4 Part 10 / AVC video H.265 / MPEG -H Part 2 / HEVC MKV (Matroska Multimedia Container, .mkv .mk3d .mka .mks) MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14, .mp4, .m4a, .m4p, .m4b, .m4r, .m4v) VC-1 Xvid |
Unboxing and what comes inside the box?
The Redmi 9A device comes in a small box, where on the front you can find a picture of smartphones in various colors and the name of the model.
Inside the box, I found a not-so-familiar assortment of equipment that I would like to see. For example, this is the smartphone itself, but the protective silicone case is not included. Also in the box I found a MicroUSB charging cable, power adapter and instructions.
I was quite upset when I saw that the kit included a MicroUSB cable instead of a Type-C cable. I think the manufacturer Xiaomi should be ashamed to release a MicroUSB cable in 2020.
conclusions
To summarize: is it worth buying Xiaomi phones with NFC? The answer to this question is individual for each user . If you prefer to pay with a bank card and do this regularly, a smartphone with a module for contactless payment will definitely come in handy.
Do you prefer cash? Then you shouldn't overpay. Yes, models with an NFC module and a fingerprint, for example, are very popular now. But if you don’t need these functions, take a look at more budget devices.
Write in the comments if you have any smartphone from the above list of models, if you use NFS and if you are happy with it.
Design, build quality and materials used
The appearance of Redmi 9A remains almost the same when compared with the previous generation Redmi 8A. For example, the front panel received the same drop-shaped cutout for the front camera.
The frames around the screen are quite large, so you can immediately guess that the smartphone belongs to the budget category of devices.
Despite this, the front part has received a slightly larger screen size compared to the previous generation. Now the screen is 6.53 inches, and in the eighth version it was 6.22 inches. The resolution remains the same - HD+, but since the screen has a slightly different aspect ratio, namely 20: 9, the number of pixels is slightly different - 720 x 1600.
Overall, I liked the quality of the screen, but you shouldn’t expect great miracles from it. Yes, it’s convenient to watch movies or play games on a smartphone, but your eyes will get tired more than it would with Full HD resolution.
As for brightness, 400 nits will be enough for comfortable indoor use, even outdoors in bright weather I could easily read outgoing messages.
The back side of the smartphone is made of matte corrugated plastic, so the device does not slip out of your hands. When compared with the previous generation Redmi 8A and the new Redmi 9A, the location of the main camera has changed. Now it is installed on the upper left corners, and not in the central part.
The build quality of all elements is at a good level and I have no strong complaints. Of course, we would like to expect higher quality materials used in production. But matte and corrugated plastic is also not a bad solution for an inexpensive smartphone.
At the bottom of the device there is a MicroUSB port, microphone and speaker. On top there is only a 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones.
On the right there is a volume rocker and a power button. And on the left you can find a slot for two nano SIM cards and a separate slot for a memory card.
On a personal note, I would like to note that I did not find an infrared sensor on top, which is convenient for controlling household appliances. But I was very happy for the 3.5 mm jack, as well as the separate slot for a memory card.
Given the large screen, using the smartphone with one hand will be problematic. For example, the dimensions of Redmi 9A are 164.9 x 77 x 9 mm and the smartphone weighs approximately 194 grams.
Therefore, the design of the new generation Redmi 9A remains almost the same as the previous model. But let's see how much the filling has changed and how smoothly the user interface began to work.
Display module
The diagonal of the Dot Drop display of the Redmi 9A phone is 6.53 inches. The resolution is only 720x1600 pixels with a maximum brightness of 400 nits. In artificial lighting the device behaves decently, but outdoors the contrast and brightness deteriorate noticeably. Accordingly, to maintain readability, you should use manual adjustment of their level, i.e. It is recommended to turn off auto brightness.
At the top of the screen there is a teardrop-shaped cutout for the front camera, the frames are quite wide, and the tempered glass is without the spectacular curves, as in top models. The aspect ratio is 20:9, which is quite enough for comfortable reading or watching movies. 70.8% NTSC color coverage ensures true-to-life color reproduction.
Support for reading modes, sunlight modes, color temperature adjustment (warm, cold and neutral shades) is implemented. Certified to block harmful blue light, the radiation does not cause significant strain on the visual system.
Performance, benchmarks and operating system
The main change in the new generation Redmi 9A is the appearance of a processor from MediaTek. I would like to remind you that the previous generation had a more reliable processor, namely Snapdragon.
To be honest, I have more confidence in the Snapdragon processor. Therefore, cooperation with MediaTek processors does not excite me very much.
But one thing makes me happy is that the processor model was released this year and it is the MediaTek Helio G25. It received 12 nanometer technology and has eight cores from Cortex-A53 with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz.
This processor is also paired with a graphics accelerator – PowerVR GE8320. It performed well in gaming tests and benchmarks, but there is one drawback - it gets a little warm. Below I will leave several benchmark tests and you can compare it with other models.
In terms of the amount of memory, the scope here is not as large as that of other Chinese state-of-the-art devices, for example, like Umidigi. Redmi 9A offers only one modification - 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory.
I would like to remind you that the previous generation Redmi 8A had a wider list of memory modifications - 2.3 or 4 GB of RAM and 32 and 64 GB of internal memory.
Therefore, given its technical features, I believe that Redmi 9A received much worse performance than its older brother.
Despite this, the operating system has received the latest version and the device runs on Android 10 with the MIUI 12 user interface. There are many interesting and, most importantly, useful features. For example, gesture controls, setting up different types of themes and many other features.
Considering that the smartphone has 2 GB of RAM, opening a large number of applications will be problematic. Therefore, multitasking will lag a little behind in this regard. But for two or three applications there will be enough RAM.
The user interface itself works smartly and quickly. But complex applications do not open as quickly as I would like.
Small improvements include the presence of Bluetooth with version 5.0, as well as fast GPS navigation. Although the budget smartphone Redmi 9A does not have a contactless card, namely an NFC module.
Display
If in more expensive smartphones we get screens without cutouts, then in lower models there is not much choice. There is a cutout, wide frames, and the factory color calibration is strange, the display is noticeably blue. Therefore, immediately go to the settings and change the parameters.
Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Other important points include the presence of a sensor for automatically adjusting the backlight brightness and an average-quality oleophobic coating. The display is flat, without beautiful curves on the sides - well, okay, this can be forgiven for a budget essence. I would like to have more brightness reserve, it is just very average here, even in cloudy weather outside, the data on the screen is only so-so.
Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Otherwise, the IPS screen is normal for a budget device: there are no problems with sensitivity, the display is large and well suited for watching videos or reading.
Photo: Alexander Pobyvanets / Wylsacom Media
Camera, examples and photo quality
From a technical point of view, Redmi 9A received an updated main camera module with 13 megapixel resolution.
But the front camera received some deterioration, since the Redmi 8A had an 8-megapixel resolution, and the new generation received a 5-megapixel resolution.
Overall, the photo quality on both cameras is pretty good if you shoot in good lighting. In the dark or indoors, the quality deteriorates significantly. Video is shot in Full HD format at 30 frames per second.
Below I will leave an album with photos that were taken on Redmi 9A. But I would like to note on my own that the camera is very weak and I would like to get additional wide-angle shooting modules or bokeh mode.
What is NFC
NFC is a technology designed for instant transfer of materials and payment for services/goods . Most often, the NFC function is used precisely for the second task, and fully replaces physical bank cards. To pay using Near Field Communication, you need:
- Install the Google Pay . Read more about it in a separate article;
- Add the necessary maps and all related information to the program;
- Activate the NFC chip in “Settings” ;
- Bring your smartphone to the terminal and go through the identity verification step (using a fingerprint or Face ID);
- Make a purchase.
Xiaomi phones may have different payment systems. In China and India it is Mi Pay, in Europe it is Google Play.
Please pay attention to this if you plan to purchase the Chinese version and reflash it yourself (problems are possible).
Battery, operating and charging time
Like the previous generation of budget smartphone, Redmi 9A received a 5000 mAh battery capacity. But do not forget that the screen size has become larger and the chipset has changed compared to Redmi 8A.
As my practice has shown, the operating time is with active use. For example, watching movies, playing games, taking photos and even running benchmark tests, at the end of the day the battery level was 44%. If you watch YouTube at maximum brightness, the battery will drop by 8% in 1 hour. If you play games, then by 14% in one hour.
The negative side of Redmi 9A was the presence of a MicroUSB port. I cannot say why the manufacturer decided to do this. But I note that the previous generation Redmi 8A has a Type-C port with 18 W fast charging. The new smartphone does not receive any fast charging and the power adapter is only 10 W.
Thus, the charging time will be more than 3.5 hours.
Design Features
The back cover of the Redmi 9A smartphone is made of matte plastic in three colors: blue, green and black. The photomodules are placed in a vertical block, which is located on the left side. A vertical glossy strip under the block of cameras acts as a decorative element.
At the bottom end there is a microUSB charging connector next to the single speaker. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the speaker is blocked by your hand during a conversation, so audibility is slightly reduced.
Price and where to buy cheaper?
Now you can buy the new Redmi 9A model at a good price of about $99 with a 20% discount.
But I cannot recommend the new generation of smartphone, since it has many negative aspects. Even the previous generation Redmi 8A will be better from a technical point of view. It's also better to add $18 dollars and buy the new Redmi 9 model.
Redmi 9A with 20% discount
★★★★☆
$99,00
$123,75
Buy
Aliexpress.com
Frame
The Redmi 9 body is made in the usual candy bar form factor. High-quality plastic and glass were used as materials. The back panel is covered with a special water-repellent coating, which allows you to protect the inside of the phone to some extent. This coating makes the back panel iridescent and similar to the glass used in premium smartphones. A very interesting solution that competitors do not have.
Large smartphone sizes are normal because they have a large screen. The latter occupies 83.2 percent of the front panel, on which the camera module and fingerprint scanner are located.
The bottom end is equipped with a USB Type-C port, a speaker, a microphone, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. At the top end there is an infrared port. On the sides are the usual SIM card tray and mechanical buttons.
The table below shows the dimensions, weight, water protection and colors of the smartphone case.
| Height | 163.3 mm |
| Width | 77 mm |
| Thickness | 9.1 mm |
| Weight | 198 grams |
| Moisture protection | No |
| Material | Frame - plastic, back panel - plastic |
| Case colors | Carbon Gray Carbon Gray Green Ocean Green Light Blue Blue Purple Purple |
Sound and multimedia
An interesting feature of the Redmi 9 smartphone is the presence of a 3.5 mm jack for connecting wired headphones. Not all modern phones can have it. You can easily connect your favorite Sennheiser to the device and enjoy high-quality sound. The phone supports playback of various audio and video formats. There is also an FM radio.
This model has only one speaker. But at the same time the sound is quite clear, without any extraneous wheezing. Even at maximum volume there is no crackling noise. Playing supported audio and video formats is possible even using a standard player integrated into the MIUI shell.
| Speakers | Mono |
| 3.5 mm jack | Yes |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No |
| Sound formats | MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, APE, AAC, OGG Vorbis, AMR |
| Video formats | MP4, MKV, AVI, 3GP, WEBM, ASF |
Sensors and technologies
The set of sensors is standard for all budget-level smartphones. There is a light and proximity sensor, a compass, a gyroscope, and more. There is only no Hall sensor.
All sensors work correctly, but MIUI 12 does not work properly with the light sensor and adjusts the screen brightness at its own discretion. This bug should be fixed in future versions of the operating system.
The fingerprint scanner is located on the back of the device. The scanner works very quickly and rarely makes mistakes. Redmi 9A does not have the ability to unlock the user's face. But since there is only a front camera, which is of no use in the dark, the lack of a face unlock option is justified.
| Fingerprint's scanner | Yes, back panel |
| Face recognition | No |
| Proximity sensor | Yes |
| Light sensor | Yes |
| Hall Sensor | No |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Compass | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes |
New Xiaomi:
- Redmi K50 Gaming
February 18, 2022
- Redmi Note 11S
January 26, 2022
- Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
January 26, 2022
- Xiaomi 11i
January 7, 2022
- Xiaomi 12
December 28, 2021
What to buy instead of Redmi 9?
Officially in Russia at the time of writing the review, the Redmi 9 smartphone was sold at a price of 11,990 rubles for the 3/32 GB version, and for the 4/64 GB version they are asking for 13,990 rubles. With such a price tag, there are actually few competitors - you can remember the realme C3 , which is one of the most successful solutions for about the same price as the hero of the review. But realme only has HD+ screen resolution (which, however, has a positive effect on operating time), as well as an outdated microUSB connector without fast charging.
It’s also worth taking a closer look at the Redmi Note 8T with Snapdragon 665 - its performance is almost the same as the Helio G80, but in some games it may perform better due to Adreno graphics (besides, not everyone likes MediaTek). In this case, you will have to sacrifice operating time, because the Note 8T model has a 4000 mAh battery, versus 5020 mAh for the hero of the review.
Redmi 9 operating time
- Battery capacity: 5020 mAh
- Fast wired charging : supported
- Wireless charging : no
- Charger included : 10 W (5 V, 2 A)
The 5020 mAh battery provides a very long operating time for the smartphone . With moderate use, a full charge of the Redmi 9 battery will last about two days or more, and HD video at 150 nits of brightness can be played for more than 16 hours. In the PUBG game, at the same brightness, you can safely count on 9 hours of work, and in the PC Mark test, the reviewer lasted 9 hours and 32 minutes even at a brightness of 200 nits, which is not a record, but this is explained by the high screen resolution.
The smartphone supports fast charging up to 16 W , but only if you use a third-party power supply that supports Pump Express and/or QC 3.0 protocols. The maximum charging current in this case will reach 2.4 A, and the voltage will be 6.68 V, while a full charge will take 2 hours 41 minutes (or 30% charge in 30 minutes).
The included power supply is not that interesting. When charging Redmi 9, at best it produces a power of 10 W, and the total charging time with it will be 3 hours 20 minutes (20% in 30 minutes).
Full list of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones with NFC
Current list of Xiaomi phones with NFC module for today:
| # | Smartphone | release date | AnTuTu test |
| 1 | Redmi K50 Gaming | February 18, 2022 | 1061295 |
| 2 | Redmi Note 11S | January 26, 2022 | 340000 |
| 3 | Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G | January 26, 2022 | 402259 |
| 4 | Xiaomi 11i | January 7, 2022 | 500949 |
| 5 | Xiaomi 12 | December 28, 2021 | 1027337 |
| 6 | Xiaomi 12 Pro | December 28, 2021 | 1070033 |
| 7 | Xiaomi 12X | December 28, 2021 | 720000 |
| 8 | POCO M4 Pro 5G | November 11, 2021 | 355018 |
| 9 | Redmi Note 11 Pro / Pro+ | November 1, 2021 | 500949 |
| 10 | Redmi Note 10 Lite | October 2, 2021 | 237811 |
| 11 | Xiaomi Civi | September 27, 2021 | 540000 |
| 12 | Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE | September 16, 2021 | 512000 |
| 13 | Xiaomi 11T Pro | September 15, 2021 | 759000 |
| 14 | Xiaomi 11T | September 15, 2021 | 677000 |
| 15 | Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 | August 10, 2021 | 755000 |
| 16 | Redmi Note 10 JE | August 3, 2021 | 321892 |
| 17 | Redmi Note 10T | July 15, 2021 | 299111 |
| 18 | Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G | June 2, 2021 | 690051 |
| 19 | POCO M3 Pro 5G | May 22, 2021 | 324283 |
| 20 | POCO F2 Pro | May 19, 2021 | 664502 |
| 21 | Redmi K40 Gaming | April 30, 2021 | 688989 |
| 22 | Redmi Note 10S | April 28, 2021 | 321892 |
| 23 | Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold | April 16, 2021 | 815000 |
| 24 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 5G | April 16, 2021 | 567671 |
| 25 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | April 1, 2021 | 804210 |
| 26 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | April 1, 2021 | 817225 |
| 27 | Black Shark 4 Pro | March 30, 2021 | 867578 |
| 28 | Black Shark 4 | March 30, 2021 | 611235 |
| 29 | Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite 4G | March 29, 2021 | 355871 |
| 30 | Xiaomi Mi 11i | March 29, 2021 | 744877 |
| 31 | POCO X3 Pro | March 22, 2021 | 481446 |
| 32 | Xiaomi Mi 10S | March 11, 2021 | 675000 |
| 33 | Xiaomi Mi 11 | March 9, 2021 | 707306 |
| 34 | Redmi Note 10 Pro | March 5, 2021 | 336250 |
| 35 | POCO F3 | March 4, 2021 | 714008 |
| 36 | POCO F3 Pro | March 4, 2021 | 821847 |
| 37 | Redmi 9T | January 8, 2021 | 174500 |
| 38 | Redmi Note 9T | January 8, 2021 | 343150 |
| 39 | Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G | October 13, 2020 | 330000 |
| 40 | Xiaomi Mi 10T/10T Pro | September 30, 2020 | 588481 |
| 41 | POCO X3 NFC | September 8, 2020 | 301581 |
| 42 | Redmi 9C NFC | August 27, 2020 | 110490 |
| 43 | Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra | August 16, 2020 | 589000 |
| 44 | Redmi K30 Ultra | August 14, 2020 | 539786 |
| 45 | Black Shark 3S | August 4, 2020 | 666280 |
| 46 | Redmi 9 | June 10, 2020 | 203078 |
| 47 | Redmi K30i 5G | June 7, 2020 | 325370 |
| 48 | Redmi 10X Pro 5G | June 6, 2020 | 415672 |
| 49 | Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite | May 25, 2020 | 350997 |
| 50 | Redmi Note 9 | May 12, 2020 | 205946 |
| 51 | Redmi Note 9 Pro Max | May 12, 2020 | 274596 |
| 52 | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite | May 9, 2020 | 264493 |
| 53 | Redmi Note 9 Pro | May 5, 2020 | 274596 |
| 54 | Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite Zoom | May 4, 2020 | 330587 |
| 55 | Black Shark 3 Pro | March 17, 2020 | 596454 |
| 56 | Black Shark 3 | March 6, 2020 | 587664 |
| 57 | Xiaomi Mi 10 | February 18, 2020 | 634200 |
| 58 | Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro | February 18, 2020 | 676892 |
| 59 | Redmi K30 5G | January 7, 2020 | 325370 |
| 60 | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro | November 11, 2019 | 261306 |
| 61 | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 | November 11, 2019 | 264493 |
| 62 | Redmi Note 8T | November 8, 2019 | 170516 |
| 63 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro | September 24, 2019 | 464857 |
| 64 | Redmi Note 8 Pro | September 24, 2019 | 292510 |
| 65 | Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite | September 16, 2019 | 217225 |
| 66 | Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro | August 21, 2019 | 511944 |
| 67 | Xiaomi Mi CC9 Meitu | July 2, 2019 | 189482 |
| 68 | Xiaomi Mi 9T | June 12, 2019 | 265231 |
| 69 | Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 5G | May 6, 2019 | 448172 |
| 70 | Xiaomi Mi 9 | March 25, 2019 | 440736 |
| 71 | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | March 1, 2019 | 226183 |
| 72 | Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 | November 5, 2018 | 340759 |
| 73 | Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro | September 24, 2018 | 357329 |
| 74 | Xiaomi Mi MIX 2 | September 17, 2018 | 206574 |
| 75 | Xiaomi Mi 8 | June 5, 2018 | 357329 |
| 76 | Xiaomi Mi MIX 2S | April 18, 2018 | 376781 |
| 77 | Xiaomi Mi Note 3 | September 8, 2017 | 139313 |
| 78 | Xiaomi Mi 6 | April 10, 2017 | 255178 |
| 79 | Xiaomi Mi Mix | November 28, 2016 | 157865 |
| 80 | Xiaomi Mi Note 2 | November 24, 2016 | 164907 |
| 81 | Xiaomi Mi 5s | October 11, 2016 | 146988 |
| 82 | Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus | October 4, 2016 | 165110 |
| 83 | Xiaomi Mi 5 | April 18, 2016 | 131646 |
| 84 | Xiaomi Mi 3 | September 12, 2013 | 54271 |
If you are the owner of any Xiaomi smartphone with NFC, leave a short note in the comments about your personal experience using the device.
