Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G Review - Android

Xiaomi is off to a good start in January when it launched the budget-friendly Redmi 9T. But they’re not going to stop there as...

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Xiaomi is off to a good start in January when it launched the budget-friendly Redmi 9T. But they’re not going to stop there as they have also released the Redmi Note 9T 5G, armed with a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset, 90Hz display, 5G connectivity, and a 5,000mAh battery. Is this the next best contender in the world of budget-friendly 5G smartphones? Find out in our review.

Design and Construction

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G looks just like your typical smartphone. It’s got a large 6.53-inch screen on the front with a hole-punch for the 13MP selfie camera.

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

On the right is the flat power/lock button that also doubles as a fingerprint scanner. It’s highly responsive and unlocks almost instantaneously. It’s also positioned near the middle of the frame, where it can be easily reached. The volume buttons are also found on this side but positioned above the power/lock button, so it can be a bit of a reach.

Placed above the screen is the earpiece. And at the top, the loudspeaker, the IR Blaster, and the secondary microphone.

We have the 3.5mm headphone jack, main microphone, USB-C port, and loudspeaker down at the bottom.

Flip it on its back, and you will see the protruding triple-rear camera module and LED flash. The model that we have is the Daybreak Purple, which is easy in the eyes. The body is plastic, but the finish is metallic, so it shimmers depending on the angle. To combat fingerprints and smudges, the back panel is textured, making it less slippery in the hands.

At 9.05mm at its thickest point, the Redmi Note 9T 5G might be a bit chunky, which is attributed to the large battery. However, the curved sides make it comfortable to hold and feels thinner than it actually is. At 199g, it has a decent heft. And even though it’s mostly plastic, it feels solid and has a premium appeal.

Display and Multimedia

The Redmi Note 9T looks like a good device for watching videos and gaming, thanks to the 6.53-inch screen with an IPS LCD and Full HD+ resolution for a good pixel density of 395ppi. The screen is sharp, has good viewing angles and accurate colors. You can also adjust the color scheme between Auto, Saturated, and Standard. There’s also an option to adjust the color temperature. At 450nits, it is vibrant enough for outdoor use. For protection, there’s Gorilla Glass 5.

Also, to clarify, the Redmi Note 9T doesn’t have a 90Hz refresh rate. We checked in the Settings, and there’s no option to adjust refresh rates, while UFO Test and AnTuTu also show 60Hz, and the Xiaomi global website doesn’t show 90Hz in the spec sheet. Still, the lack of a high refresh rate is not a big downer, although it could have been a killer feature for a smartphone of this class.

For audio quality, the Redmi Note 9T features dual-speakers. They’re loud, clear, and crisp. Like most smartphones, though, it has weak bass, but immersive enough when watching videos on Netflix and YouTube or playing games. You can still use your favorite wired headphones via the 3.5mm jack or wireless speaker via Bluetooth.

Camera

The Redmi Note 9T packs three rear cameras consisting of a 48MP F1.79 main, 2MP F2.4 depth, and 2MP F2.4 macro. We’re a bit disappointed to see the lack of an ultra-wide camera, as we find it more useful than the macro. For selfies, it is handled by the 13MP F2.25 camera. For features, it has Portrait mode, 48MP hi-res, Slow-motion, HDR, AI scene recognition, and Beautify.

When it comes to quality, we’re impressed with the images produced. In bright conditions, the photos were packed with details, high dynamic range, and natural colors. In dim conditions, the details were retained, although contrast and color vibrancy suffer. Selfies, on the other hand, have natural colors with decent sharpness. The bokeh effect also looks nice. However, it could use a bit of boost in contrast. Check out the samples below.