Xiaomi Redmi 9 Philippines Price Starts at PHP 6,990, Full Specs, Unboxing and Actual Unit Photos - Android

On July 3, 2020, Chinese handset maker Xiaomi officially launched a new entry-level Android smartphone in the Philippines that lets their Mi fans experience a few key midrange features for less.

The freshly released Xiaomi Redmi 9 is available in two variants in our country. The 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM version sells for PHP 6,990 while the more powerful 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM model goes for PHP 7,490. You can get both models in Ocean Green, Sunset Purple, or Carbon Grey which I have here as my review unit.


Given the phone's many good features, I think Redmi 9 is already a steal at those prices. But I heard that Xiaomi Philippines will offer a PHP 500 discount on the 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM version for fans who will purchase it at the official Mi Store in Lazada Philippines on July 7, 2020 -- making the deal even sweeter!


Before I share with you the phone's key technical specifications, let me first show you Redmi 9's interesting design identity, which is rather unique in its price bracket.

As if to make up for its rather generic-looking notched-face, Xiaomi Redmi 9's back panel features an eye-catching large circular accent housing the four rear cameras and the fingerprint scanner, as shown in the image above. These elements have symmetric placement on the backplate which makes for a more visually pleasing look.


Additionally, the back cover has concentric micro-lines that give it fine texture when touched and even makes the phone look more expensive than it actually is -- or at least, in my eyes.


On the right side, you will see the power button and the volume rocker for easy access using the thumb if you're right-handed or the pointer finger if you're left-handed.


On the left side, you will find the SIM card tray that can be ejected using the provided metal pin. This plate has two nanoSIM card slots and one microSD card slot.


On the top panel, you will find one stereo microphone pinhole and an Infrared IR Blaster, which is a real treat on an entry-level Android smartphone! I consider this a high-end feature since it can turn your smartphone into a remote controller for various appliances and devices in your home using a variety of applications that you can download from Google Play Store.


Finally, at the bottom, we see the 3.5mm audio jack - which is sadly becoming a rarity in flagship-level Android handsets, a couple of holes for another stereo microphone, the USB Type C charging port, and a row of holes for the loudspeaker.


Now, let's talk about Xiaomi Redmi 9's technical specifications. In particular, I want to highlight the five specs of this model that I feel belong in the midrange category but can thankfully be enjoyed by consumers on this entry-level release.

The first one would have to be the large 6.53-inch display with - get this - FullHD+ 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution! While other entry-level Android smartphones from other international brands in the sub-PHP 7,000 price bracket merely have an HD or HD+ resolution, the Redmi 9 lets you enjoy more crisp details on its big screen.


Second, this smartphone already sports a Quad Rear Camera module which is great for budding mobile photographers as it gives them great flexibility when snapping images. This module includes these shooters:

1. 13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 Aperture, 28mm, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, Phase Detection AutoFocus PDAF

This is the best of the bunch for everyday point-and-shoot photography in various lighting conditions as it has the highest resolution and largest sensor size.

2. 8 MegaPixels, f/2.2, 118˚ Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm

The ultra-wide-lens of this one makes it excellent for capturing scale. I think it's useful for landscape and architectural photography.

3. 5 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro

Use this close-up camera for snapping photos of insects, leaves, or flowers.

4. 2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Depth Sensor

Finally, this one enables the phone's Portrait Mode that lets you add blurred background or Bokeh Effect to your subjects.

As for video recording, the main and the ultra-wide cameras can shoot FullHD videos at up to 30 frames per second.


For those who love taking selfies or making TikTok videos, Xiaomi Redmi 9 has an 8 MegaPixel f/2.0 front-facing camera - housed inside the waterdrop notch above the display - that's powered by Xiaomi's own beautification software and this shooter can also record FullHD 1080p 30 frames per second clips.

The third thing that I consider a midrange feature on this entry-level model is its 2GHz Octa-Core Mediatek Helio G80 processor that's capable of delivering a lag-free performance for casual users and with its 12nm architecture, it's also very energy-efficient, helping boost the handset's uptime.

Xiaomi Redmi 9's very large 5,020 mAh Li-Po battery is what I consider the fourth mid-level specification on this affordable phone. If you hate always charging your handset in the middle of the day in the office or while on the road in between meetings just to ensure that it will stay on until your drive home in the evening, you will definitely appreciate this huge pack. For me, this makes Redmi 9 a reliable companion when you're traveling and you'll be away from an electrical outlet for a whole day.

Finally, the fifth feature of this handset that's a real treat given the price is its USB Type C port supporting 18W Fast Charging! We used to only see this on smartphones that cost PHP 9,000 and above so I think it's amazing that this PHP 6,990 device already comes with it.


For those who are planning to purchase this model, this is how Xiaomi Redmi 9's packaging looks. It's a white box with the name and image of the handset printed on top.


Inside, you will find the phone itself, the User Manual, the warranty card, the USB Type C to USB connector cable, the 10W travel charger (yeah, it's sadly not 18W), the metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, and a free soft gel case.


Given the fact that it comes with features that we normally only see on more expensive phones, I'm inclined to recommend the Xiaomi Redmi 9 to Filipino mobile consumers who are currently a bit short on their budget but are seriously thinking about upgrading to a more powerful device coming from their aging entry-level smartphone or feature-phone.

PS: I've just discovered that Xiaomi Redmi 9 has Wireless FM Radio! You don't have to plug in your earphones to serve as an antenna for enjoying your favorite radio stations. Just launch the app and start browsing through the channels. I think this is a really cool value-added feature!

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Specs
163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm
198 grams
6.53-inch, FullHD+ 1080 x 2340 pixels, 395 ppi, 19.5:9 Ratio, IPS LCD
83.2% Screen-to-Body Ratio
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Quad Rear Camera Module:
13 MegaPixels, f/2.2 Aperture, 28mm, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, Phase Detection AutoFocus PDAF
8 MegaPixels, f/2.2, 118˚ Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Depth Sensor
Front-Facing Camera:
8 MegaPixels, f/2.0 Aperture, 27mm
Video Recorder:
Back and Front: FullHD 1080p 30fps
MIUI 12
Android 10 Operating System
12nm 2GHz Octa-Core Mediatek Helio G80 Processor
Mali-G52 MC2 GPU
3GB, 4GB RAM Options
32GB, 64GB Internal Storage Options
Dedicated microSD Card Slot
Rear-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner
Wireless FM Radio
Infrared IR Blaster
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 5.0
4G LTE-A
USB Type C Port
USB On-The-Go
18W Fast Charging
Non-Removable 5,020 mAh Li-Po Battery
Sunset Purple, Carbon Gray, Ocean Green

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Price in the Philippines
Official Suggested Retail Prices:
3GB + 32GB = PHP 6,990
4GB + 64GB = PHP 7,490
Lazada July 7, 2020 Promo Price for 3GB + 32GB - PHP 6,490