Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Philippines Price, Release Date, Specs, Unboxing, Initial Impressions - Android

I know it's been a while since I wrote about a Xiaomi smartphone so I'm glad that I finally have something new and amazing to show you, my TP Friends who also happen to be Mi Fans!

The all-new Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is already slated to be officially launched in the Philippines on June 4, 2020 and based on its technical specifications, useful features, design, and affordable price point, I certainly think that you should check it out amidst all the many options that are out in the market.


The official suggested retail price of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM version is PHP 12,490 while the 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM variant goes for PHP 13,990.

I'd say this handset model is already fairly affordable given all that it offers. However, Xiaomi will be making the deal even sweeter on the said launch date as the company will offer a PHP 500 price discount to Mi Fans who will purchase the model at the official Mi online store in Lazada Philippines. So make sure you take advantage of that in case you're planning to grab this one for yourself or a loved one.

Let me share with you my unboxing photos of the official retail unit.


As you can see, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro comes in this white box with the image handset printed on top and its name shown on either sides.

It seems that Xiaomi is particularly proud that this model gives users easy access to the Google apps they use the most since the company even printed that message on the package.


What I have here is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Tropical Green 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM version. Again, this model sells for PHP 12,490 and you can get it for just PHP 11,990 when you purchase it on June 4, 2020 through the Mi Online Store in LazadaPH.


Lifting the lid, we are greeted by this plain white paper sleeve which contains documentation and other items.


Unraveling it, we see the metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray that has two slots for nanoSIM cards and one for a microSD card.


Documentation include the User Manual in multiple languages as well as the Warranty Certificate which you'll need for getting after-sales support for your unit.


I suggest that you give the User Manual manual a quick glance to get a good overview about the Redmi Note9 Pro in terms of specs, location of ports, and safety guidelines.


As always, I think it's nice that Xiaomi had already included a free soft gel case in the package so you won't have to buy one separately. You will really need one since the camera module at the back protrudes a bit and it will most likely be a scratch-and-dent-magnet when you use the phone on a daily basis.


The four key features of Xiaomi Redmi Note9 Pro are clearly printed on this plastic sheet that protects the phone's screen during shipment.

These main selling points include the following:
1. 64 MegaPixel AI Quad Camera with 16 MegaPixel In-Display Front Camera
2. 30W Fast Charge Support for the 5,020 mAh Battery
3. Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G 8nm High-Efficiency Processor
4. 6.67-inch FullHD+ DotDisplay with Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor


Removing the smartphone, we see the other items inside the box. There's the USB Type C to USB connector cable for charging the device as well as for transferring files to a computer and we also have the travel charger. Sadly, there's no included pair of earphones.


My review unit came with this rather chunky travel charger with 33W maximum output support and two round prongs so I need to use an adapter when I plug it an electrical outlet here in the Philippines. I'll have to ask our friends from Xiaomi Philippines if the other batches of units will come with travel chargers that have flat prongs.


As a summary, the complete Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro package includes the handset itself, the USB Type C charging cable, the travel charger, the warranty card, the user manual, the metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, and the free soft gel case.

Now, let me give you a closer look at my unit and give you a quick rundown of its identifying physical characteristics and main features.


On the face of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, we see the 6.67-inch FullHD+ 1080 x 2400 pixels 20:9 IPS LCD with high 84.5% Screen-to-Body Ratio -- thanks to the ultra-thin bezels on all sides. Though the chin is a bit thicker, it doesn't really look off nor annoying.

The display is protected by scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 glass panel but the phone also ships with a pre-installed screen-protector for extra-protection against scratches.


The gorgeous design of the back panel perfectly complements the face.

Here we have a high-gloss polycarbonate plate with micro-pattern printed underneath the gleaming top layer. The edges gently curve to the sides while the corners are rounded. I think this is a sophisticated and elegant look that effortlessly catches the attention of people whether you are the handset in the office or in a cafe.

In the upper portion, there's a "squircle" camera module that houses four shooters, which I will talk more about in a bit.

Personally, I think the physical aesthetics of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro as a whole is one of its strongest selling points. Holding the phone in my hand and carefully looking at all its details, I'd say this model certainly has an air of corporate formality but at the same time, it looks youthful and trendy.


Flipping the phone around, on the right panel, we see the power button lined with the optical fingerprint scanner. Above that, there's the volume rocker.

I really like this placement of the fingerprint sensor since you can turn on the display and unlock the interface of the device with just one action.


On the left side, you will find the SIM card tray that you can eject using the provided pin, which I showed you earlier. This tray has three slots.


On top, there's an Infrafred Sensor which is a real treat on a smartphone in this price bracket. You can use this to control supported devices or appliances in your home remotely using various applications that you can download from the Google Play Store. Below that, there's a microphone pinhole for recording stereo sound.


Finally, at the rear, we have the loud speaker, another microphone pinhole, the USB Type C port, and the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack, which is slowly becoming a rarity in today's smartphones.


Now, let's talk about the many cameras of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro.

At the back, the device sports a Quad Camera Set-up made up of the following shooters:

1. 64 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, 26mm, 1/1.72" Sensor Size, 0.8µm Pixel Size, Phase Detection AutoFocus PDAF, LED

With its high resolution, wide aperture, and large sensor size, this 64MP AI camera is the most powerful of the bunch for point-and-shoot photography in various lighting conditions, even when the ambient light is little. I think it's great for food photography, portraiture, or even just for capturing daily activities with family and friends.

2. 8 MegaPixels, f/2.3, 13mm Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm

The ultra-wide-angle lens of this camera is ideal for capturing scale. It's great for landscape and architectural photography. Also, it's handy for snapping photos of large groups.

3. 5 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro, 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF

Do you love taking photos of insects and other small objects to wow your friends on social media? I think you'll use this close-up camera a lot.

4. 2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Depth Sensor

Finally, this one enables Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro's Portrait Mode that lets you add Bokeh Effect or background blur to your subjects be it people or objects.

For vloggers and video creators, the 64MP main shooter can record clips up to 4K 30fps or FullHD 1080p at 60fps while the 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera can only shoot videos at up to 1080p 30fps.


In front, inside a small punch hole near the top of the screen, you will find a 16 MegaPixel camera with f/2.5 Aperture that delivers clear and crisp selfies that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook or Instagram -- thanks to Xiaomi's own AI Beautification software.

If you want to get into TikTok, you can also use this front-cam to record FullHD 1080p videos at 30 frames per second. The angle is not that wide for easy travel vlogging but if you will be using a selfie stick, you can get it done.


Inside its sleek shell, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro runs its MIUI 11 customized Android 10 operating system with a 8nm 2.3GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset that incorporates an Adreno 618 GPU for smooth gaming experience.

This is one of the most capable yet energy-efficient mid-level processors that Qualcomm released for the first half of 2020 so users are sure to get an enjoyable daily mobile experience on this smartphone.

As I've noted above, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro comes with 6GB of RAM for decent multitasking experience and either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage that can easily be expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot. No need to disable Dual SIM capability just to get more space for your 4K videos, movies, and other large files.

What I have here is the 64GB version but honestly, I recommend that you get the 128GB variant, which costs just PHP 1,500 more based on the models' SRP upon launch. I think you will get far more value for the extra amount that you will spend. But if you're trying to save as much money as you can for rainy days, then go ahead and grab the 64GB since it comes with exactly the same specs anyway but with less storage.


For users who finally want to break free from always having to carry a chunky powerbank in their bags, pouches, or pockets, you all will love Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro's very large 5,020 mAh Li-Po battery that easily ensures more than a whole day of uptime with regular use. Personally, if I start the day with 100% charge I still get around 40 to 50% remaining charge by the evening -- and for me, that's very impressive.

On top of that, this massive pack even supports ultra-fast 30W fast charging so even if the capacity is tremendous, you will spend less time plugging the device to an electrical outlet and more time using it to stay connected or to take more photos and videos that show the world your creativity.

So there you go! These are my initial impressions about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro. I really like this new smartphone and I'm inclined to recommend it to anyone who's now planning to upgrade from their entry-level Android phone to a more powerful device that can elevate their tech lifestyle moving forward.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Specs
165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm
209 grams
6.67 inches, FullHD+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 395 ppi, 20:9 IPS LCD
84.5% Screen-to-Body Ratio
Gorilla Glass 5
Quad Rear Camera Module:
64 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, 26mm, 1/1.72" Sensor Size, 0.8µm Pixel Size, Phase Detection AutoFocus PDAF, LED
8 MegaPixels, f/2.3, 13mm Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro, 1/5.0", 1.12µm, AF
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Depth Sensor
Front Camera Module:
16 MegaPixels, f/2.5 Aperture, 26mm, 1/3.1", 1.0µm
Video Recorder:
Back - 4K 30fps, FullHD 1080p 30/60/120fps, Gyro-EIS
Front - FullHD 1080p 30fps
MIUI 11
Android 10 Operating System
8nm 2.3GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G
Adreno 618 GPU
6GB RAM
64GB, 128GB UFS 2.1 Internal Storage Options
Dedicated microSDXC Slot
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.1
4G LTE-A
Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner
Gyroscope
USB Type C
USB On-The-Go
30W Fast Charging
Non-Removable 5,020 mAh Li-Po Battery
High-Gloss Polycarbonate Finish
Tropical Green, Interstellar Gray, Glacier White

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Price in the Philippines
Official Suggested Retail Prices:
6GB RAM + 64GB ROM = PHP 12,490
6GB RAM + 128GB ROM = PHP 13,990
Official Release Date - June 4, 2020