Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, Note 9S, Note 9 Pro: Which one to get?

Xiaomi has globally launched its new mid-range smartphones under the Redmi family, the Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9S, and Redmi Note 9 Pro. Although they’re from the same series, the devices are different from each other to cater to different kinds of users. So, which Redmi Note 9 smartphone is for you? Let’s find out.

Table of Contents

Display

The three devices port almost the same specs with a DotDisplay design and Full HD+ resolution. However, the hole-punch location on the Note 9 is placed on the upper left side, while the Note 9S and Note 9 Pro are at the upper center. The Note 9 also has a slightly smaller screen at 6.53-inch compared to its siblings with 6.67-inch. All of them use Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.

Processor

The Redmi Note 9 series are powered by different chipsets. The Note 9 uses the MediaTek Helio G85 with Mali-G52 GPU, while the Note 9S and Note 9 Pro uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G with Adreno 618 GPU. Both are new chipsets announced just this year. While we can expect good performance on all three devices, we can only determine which chipset is better once we have benchmarked all three.

Memory

Memory configuration is different in all three. In terms of RAM, the Note 9 has 3GB and 4GB options, the Note 9S has 4GB and 6GB, while the Note 9 Pro only has 6GB. Storage-wise, all three offer 64GB and 128GB options with support for microSD cards up to 512GB.

Cameras

The camera configuration is pretty easy to understand in the three devices. The Note 9 and Note 9S have the same rear camera configuration. The Note 9 Pro is just different for having a higher main camera resolution.

When it comes to selfies, the Note 9S and Note 9 Pro have the same 16MP camera. The Note 9 is the odd one this time for having a lower-res 13MP shooter.

Features

When it comes to features, all three are pretty much identical. They have 4G LTE, WiFi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, SatNavs, IR Blaster, USB Type-C, splash-proofing, powered speakers, and 3.5mm audio jacks. However, the Note 9 Pro has NFC, while the Note 9 will depend on the market. No mention of NFC on the Note 9S.

All three also have fingerprint scanners, but the placement is different. The Note 9S and Note 9 Pro have it on the side on the power button, while the Note 9 has it on the rear.

Battery

All three devices have the same battery capacity at 5,020mAh, but with some differences when it comes to charging. The Note 9 and Note 9S supports 18W fast charging and comes with a 22.5W charger, which is not bad. The Note 9 Pro, however, has 30W charging and comes with a 30W charger.

Which one to get?

Xiaomi has already released the pricing of the Redmi Note 9 series, but in different currencies – USD for the Note 9 and Note 9 Pro, and MYR/SGD/THB for the Note 9S. But based on the specs, the Note 9 should be the least expensive, the Note 9 Pro will be the most expensive in the lineup, while the Note 9S sits in the middle.

If you’re on a tight budget, you’re better off getting the base Redmi Note 9 at USD 199PHP 11,678INR 16,865EUR 190CNY 1,448. But if you can stretch it, we suggest adding an extra USD 100PHP 5,869INR 8,475EUR 95CNY 728 and go for the Note 9 Pro 6GB + 128GB for USD 299PHP 17,547INR 25,340EUR 285CNY 2,176, skipping the Note 9S, as well as the Note 9 and Note 9 Pro models in between. That should put more bang for your buck.

What do you guys think? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.