Xiaomi recently unveiled a new smartphone in the market, sporting a large screen, big battery, 5G connectivity, and powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G chipset — the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G. There’s another smartphone in the market, though, that sport similar specs, the realme 7 5G, which was introduced in November last year. Which smartphone do you think is better on paper? Find out below.
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G | realme 7 5G |
|---|---|
| 6.53-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080) IPS display, 395ppi | 6.5-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) IPS display, 405ppi, 120Hz refresh rate |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G 2.4GHz octa-core CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G 2.4GHz octa-core CPU |
| Mali-G57 MC3 GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 GPU |
| 4GB RAM | 6GB, 8GB RAM |
| 64GB UFS 2.1, 128GB UFS 2.2 w/ WriteBooster and HPB | 128GB UFS 2.1 |
| microSD card (dedicated slot) | microSD card (hybrid) |
| Triple-rear cameras: • 48MP F1.79 4-in-1 Super Pixel main • 2MP F2.4 macro • 2MP F2.4 depth | Quad-rear cameras: • 48MP F1.8 main • 8MP F2.3 ultrawide • 2MP F2.4 macro • 2MP F2.4 depth |
| 13MP F2.25 selfie camera | 16MP F2.1 selfie camera |
| Dual-SIM (nano) | Dual-SIM (nano) |
| 5G, 4G LTE | 5G, 4G LTE |
| WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| NFC | NFC |
| GPS, A-GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS |
| USB-C | USB-C |
| IR blaster | |
| 3.5mm audio jack | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Fingerprint scanner (side) | Fingerprint scanner (side) |
| Face Unlock | Face Unlock |
| Dual speakers | |
| MIUI 12 (Android 10) | realme UI (Android 10) |
| Splash-resistant nano coating | |
| 5,000mAh battery w/ 18W fast charging | 5,000mAh battery w/ 30W fast charging |
| 161.2 x 77.3 x 9.1 mm | 162.2 x 75.1 x 9.1 mm |
| 199 g | 195 g |
| Nightfall Black, Daybreak Purple | Baltic Blue |
Summary of advantages
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T 5G:
• Lower storage option
• UFS 2.2 for 128GB storage model
• Dedicated microSD card slot
• IR Blaster
• Dual speakers
• Splash-resistant nano-coating
realme 7 5G:
• 120Hz refresh rate
• Larger RAM
• Ultrawide camera
• Higher resolution selfie camera
• Higher charging rate
The two devices provide an interesting comparison given their own strengths. Starting with the display, the two devices almost have the same specs. The Redmi Note 9T 5G has a slightly bigger screen, but the 0.03-inch and 10ppi differences are negligible. What’s going to put the advantage of the realme 7 5G, though, is its higher refresh rate of 120Hz.
As for the memory, the realme 7 5G wins for having a larger RAM capacity at 6GB and 8GB, while the Redmi Note 9T 5G only sits at 4GB. If you’re a heavy user and want to make sure you’re getting a smooth multitasking experience, you’re better off with the former.
Storage-wise, the realme 7 5G is only offered with 128GB UFS 2.1. The Redmi Note 9T 5G, on the other hand, is more flexible, with 64GB UFS 2.1 or 128GB UFS 2.2 with WriteBooster and HPB for better performance. It also has a dedicated microSD card for expansion, unlike the Redmi’s hybrid slot.
When it comes to the chipset, both have the same Dimensity 800U 5G with Mali-G57 GPU. That said, we can expect the same level of performance.
For the cameras, the realme 7 5G has the advantage on paper. While it has the same 48MP main, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth as the Redmi Note 9T 5G, it has an extra 8MP ultrawide. Selfie-wise, the realme 7 5G has a higher front camera resolution for sharper selfies. Do note that we’re just talking about specs, so image quality may paint a different picture. But if you need ultrawide shots for your daily mobile photography needs, you know which one to get.
Looking at other features, the Redmi Note 9T 5G offers an IR blaster, dual-speakers, and splash-resistant nano-coating, which are features that the realme 7 5G doesn’t have.
Lastly, the battery. Both have huge 5,000mAh capacities but differ in charging rates. Although both are fast, the realme 7 5G will charge faster thanks to the 30W Dart Charge.
So, which one to get? If you need the lower storage option for budget reasons, a dedicated microSD card slot, and extra features, get the Redmi Note 9T 5G. But if you want the highest screen refresh rate, large RAM, ultrawide camera, and faster charging rate, you’re better off with the realme 7 5G.
If we’re talking about price, we can’t make the analysis yet as PH pricing for both units is yet to be revealed. Xiaomi has already lent us a review unit of the Redmi Note 9T 5G, while realme PH has not expressed any intention of bringing the realme 7 5G here. We hope that both will be offered with competitive prices when/if they arrive in the country.
