Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro review
- DroidBoye
- vaQ
- 29 Aug 2019
El Duderino, 28 Aug 2019Does the Pro justify the 100 EUR from the 9T?For your case, NO. If you can't justify it on your own then it's not for you.
- DroidBoye
- vaQ
- 29 Aug 2019
smartphone junkie, 29 Aug 2019There are a lot of imitation micro SD cards on the market. ... moreManufacturers removed the microSD so that more users would buy or even consider the higher trim variations. Retaining it would mean less profit because people would just buy the lowest or the mid-tier trim and just supplement it with even larger microSD.
- ?
- Anonymous
- Kec
- 29 Aug 2019
smartphone junkie, 29 Aug 2019There are a lot of imitation micro SD cards on the market. ... moreThat is certainly a valid point, but then it's like saying counterfeit car tires exist and negatively impact the experience, so let's make all car tires non-removable. Or that counterfeit ink cartridges exist, so let's make inkjet printers have non-removable ink cartridges.
The real reason is probably because of a combination of saving space and also being able to charge a ridiculous amount (relative to SD card prices) for more storage space. Granted, SD cards are a lot slower than the internal flash storage, but this point is moot for most consumers because they store movies, games, pictures etc that don't require fast storage anyway
- ?
- Anonymous
- vjw
- 29 Aug 2019
smartphone junkie, 29 Aug 2019There are a lot of imitation micro SD cards on the market. ... moreIf people blame the phone for an SD card failure, they are being stupid. I don't think new-age millennials are that stupid though.
- ?
- Anonymous
- vjw
- 29 Aug 2019
Why do all these Chinese manufacturers anyhow report the ISO for their photos? ISO 1699 gives only 1/20 s shutter speed for a f1.75 lens? I don't believe it.
- ?
- Anonymous
- I@a
- 29 Aug 2019
Get the Asus Zenfone 6. It's a much better phone than this K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro for about the same price. (The Zenfone 6 was $100 more expensive but has now dropped close to the K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro levels.)
These Xiaomi phones also don't have micro sd card slot so no storage expansion up to 1TB (and 2TB when 2TB becomes available). Genuine micro sd cards (there are lots of fake ones that self-corrupt, be warned!) are so reliable that I had one that survived and still had its data intact after it underwent a complete wash and spin dry cycle in my washing machine after I forgot that I had it in the pocket of my dirtied shirt. Besides, micro sd cards are transferrable to a new phone (with micro sd slot) and cost so cheap nowadays (only going to get cheaper) with genuine Sandisk 400GB cards costing just around $50.
Another advantage of the Zenfone 6 is extensive worldwide LTE band support. If you don't know already, as with most Xiaomi phones, the K20 Pro and Mi 9T Pro have limited LTE bands so data connection and LTE connectivity is going to be a problem for those living in countries outside China. No band 28 (700MHz) for example which is common in many countries. Also, sorry, no Widevine L1 certification so Netflix, Amazon movies and Google Play movies will all be playing in poor quality standard definition (no HD or 4K resolution playback), not like the Zenfone 6.
The Asus Zenfone 6 also has a waaay much bigger battery (5000mAh) than these Xiaomi phones and the Zenfone 6 also has a flipper camera which means excellent 48 megapixel selfies can be had even under low light (since it's f/1.8). With a flipper camera, you'll be able to take 4K 60fps selfie videos for documenting group adventure rides in glorious 4K, which the K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro can't do with its low quality selfie camera.
Lastly, as with most Asus phones, the Zenfone 6 has more extensive display adjustment controls for accurate color reproduction. Between IPS and Amoleds, I'll take IPS every single time because I care about display longevity. Amoleds
like the one in these Xiaomi phones and many flagship phones are only better than IPS displays during the first 6-18 months of moderate use but after which they deteriorate rather badly and rapidly, depending on use. Amoleds start dimming faster (no longer as bright as when brand new), rapidly yellowing, losing the correct color balance as the blue organic light emiting diodes die much faster than red ones, and suffering badly from permanent image/screen burn in. The heavier the use and the brighter the day to day screen brightness setting, the faster the Amoled display deterioration. Not so with IPS LCD displays.
Also, good luck on the longevity and reliability of that 'futuristic' under display fingerprint scanner in these Xiaomi phones and the flimsy motorized pop out selfie camera.
Now if anybody is still convinced this K20 Pro/Mi 9T pro is a better buy than the Zenfone 6, wait till you experience Xiaomi's planned obsolescence strategy: the first year to a year and a half, software updates are going to improve the software experience significantly. But be VERY careful NEVER EVER to install the last few updates especially if your Xiaomi is approaching 2 years old. Like three of my two year old Xiaomi phones, as sure as the sun rises, your Xiaomi phone is going to experience extremely slow charging (mysteriously no more fast charging) and mysteriously faster battery drain with ZERO relation whatsoever to actual battery health and usage pattern (even with very light use). It's planned obsolescence, Xiaomi style.
I still do like Xiaomi, even with Xiaomi style planned obsolescence. In fact, we have 8 Xiaomi devices in our household (the latest ones being the Mi Pad 4 Plus and Mi Max 3). I've learned from experience so while I still buy Xiaomi devices, I've learned to resist the temptation of downloading and installing the last few updates especially when the Xiaomi device is approaching 2 years old. Pocophone owners, Redmi 4/4a/4X/5, Redmi Note 4/4X/5 and Mi Max/Mi Max 2 owners, be seriously warned! Three of my older Xiaomi devices became very slow charging and fast battery draining after the last few software updates were pushed by Xiaomi (no more software update support after those phone killer updates).
- M
- Marco M
- Mu3
- 29 Aug 2019
Anonymous, 28 Aug 2019The back's design is clearly ripoff of NokiaWell, that's a clear symptom of being a fanboy - so consider yourself diagnosed :-)
- B
- Baseband
- tuf
- 29 Aug 2019
The one (1) MAIN difference between 9T/9TPro & K20/K20Pro is ONLY The "Baseband" Chips & the OS. The rest is exactly the same, apart from different components suppliers. Correct me if I'm wrong.
- ?
- Anonymous
- LX7
- 29 Aug 2019
smartphone junkie, 29 Aug 2019There are a lot of imitation micro SD cards on the market. ... moreNah, it's planned obsolescence in action, a higher end phone can last more than a couple of years, likely you will upgrade if you run out of storage space, with an SD slot the phone could last way more.
Yes you can get a cheap SD in but you already know is cheap and you will change it if it gives you problems. Also you can use the SD for data only and keep programs in the internal storage.
- R
- Roy
- Eq@
- 29 Aug 2019
Is mi9t pro support hdr10 and dci-p3?
- P
- PAA
- MMZ
- 29 Aug 2019
I got the Mi9T 128GB version for under 300. It is solid beautiful and it has everything to shame any other phone, design wise or price wise (for the top players) l only wish it was wider.
- A
- Alex
- Mcc
- 29 Aug 2019
It is a very good devise.
- ?
- Anonymous
- uJA
- 29 Aug 2019
PAD, 28 Aug 2019Only if you play games.Only if you play graphic intensive games. SD730 can support most of the games except the most demanding
- s
- smartphone junkie
- mAE
- 29 Aug 2019
Arijeffrko, 28 Aug 2019What kind of trouble? I've been using microSD for more than... moreThere are a lot of imitation micro SD cards on the market. They are causing trouble, because they are not reliable. Smartphone manufacturers are not happy with that. People blame their phone and not the card. Therefore most smartphone manufacturers want to abandon the SD card.
- D
- D.
- MFI
- 28 Aug 2019
dsp4, 28 Aug 2019...or you care about long-term performance.If he doesn't know if it's worth that money he doesn't even know how to use that SoC. Means he doesn't need it.
- d
- dsp4
- kbn
- 28 Aug 2019
I just wish the Mi 9T Pro's price would drop faster. It's still $110 above the K20 Pro, even though they're basically the same phone.
- d
- dsp4
- kbn
- 28 Aug 2019
PAD, 28 Aug 2019Only if you play games....or you care about long-term performance.
- K
- Kuririn
- 2Au
- 28 Aug 2019
AnonD-706668, 27 Aug 2019Huh ! No optical image stabalizer...bye Xiaomi...we don’t n... morehaha I spotted the OIS man again.
- ?
- Anonymous
- nrm
- 28 Aug 2019
Anonymous, 28 Aug 2019The back's design is clearly ripoff of Nokialooks pretty standard to me 🤔
- P
- PAD
- G6p
- 28 Aug 2019
El Duderino, 28 Aug 2019Does the Pro justify the 100 EUR from the 9T?Only if you play games.