Xiaomi Redmi 9C Review - Android

If you look at entry-level smartphones from a few years back, you’ll see devices that are considered as underpowered and cheap. You won’t even...

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If you look at entry-level smartphones from a few years back, you’ll see devices that are considered as underpowered and cheap. You won’t even call them as daily-drivers as they can’t game and have poor battery life. However, in 2020, we see more of these “entry-level” smartphones with hardware that punches above its asking price. One good example is the Xiaomi Redmi 9C. Is this the daily-driver for you? Let’s find out.

Design and Construction

The Redmi 9C is quite a big device thanks in part to its huge battery, but also its design. While the 6.53-inch HD+ IPS display spec doesn’t sound as big as other smartphones on the market, the bezels surrounding the screen are quite thick by today’s standards, resulting in an overall larger profile.

At the back, you can find the protruding squarish rear camera module that contains three sensors, as well as the fingerprint scanner, and the Redmi branding.

On the left side, we have the triple card tray with dedicated slots for two nano-SIM cards and a microSD card.

Meanwhile, on the right, we have the volume rocker and power button.

The bottom contains the micro USB port, microphone, and loudspeaker. Up top, we get the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The back has a design that sort of resembles a fingerprint, which is basically just a bunch of curved lines. It looks pretty cool, there’s a bit of texture to is, and you need not worry about smudges since it’s not glossy.

At 9.0mm thick and 196g weight, the Redmi 9C is one chunky and hefty smartphone. It’s quite tall and wide, too. But the overall feel is solid, like a tank. Although users with small hands will find it difficult to navigate with one hand.

Still, it’s quite a good size for a modern smartphone and is still comfortable to hold thanks to the matte finish on the back panel and the curvature of the sides.

Display and Multimedia

The Redmi 9C features a large 6.53-inch HD+ (1600 x 720) IPS dot-drop display which equates to 269ppi. It’s a decent resolution even for a screen of this size as the pixels aren’t noticeable when viewed from a normal distance. The colors are not as punchy as those found in AMOLED screens, but they’re natural and accurate.

Viewing angles are okay. Although it gets dimmer when viewed from extreme angles. It’s also prone to glare, meaning it can easily reflect strong light sources especially outdoors. The screen is also not as bright as we prefer.

If you’re using it indoors, it should be fine. The bezels are thick but don’t get in the way of the viewing experience so, it should be fine as well if you’re not nitpicky.

We enjoy watching videos on it from YouTube and Netflix. The audio is crisp and loud although the lows are almost non-existent. It’s good for casual listening, Zoom calls, and hands-free voice calls. But if you want a really good listening experience, make sure to use your favorite wired headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.

Camera

The Redmi 9C is equipped with a triple-rear camera setup, consisting of a 13MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, and 2MP depth for portraits. Although the sensor resolution is not as high as those found in more expensive phones, the configuration makes it a versatile shooter that can adapt depending on the user’s needs.

We’re not expecting much from an entry-level smartphone, but based on the photos we’ve taken, the Redmi 9C came out as a pretty good shooter for its caliber. Shots taken in the bright outdoors and sharp with great contrast. The colors are rich too, especially the greens, reds, and blues. It can still manage decent photos indoors although you will notice that it starts losing details and colors as the light gets dimmer.