Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro/9 Pro Max review

GSMArena team, 22 June 2020.

Android 10 with MIUI 11

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro boots the latest version of MIUI 11 out of the box and it runs on top of the latest Android 10 OS.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review

You can unlock the screen via the side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The reader is easy to set up and works fast. The accuracy is superb, too, and overall, it is excellent for your daily unlocking.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro supports Dark mode - it will switch all system colors from white to black. With MIUI 11 it has been improved, and now more apps support Dark mode, and the icons and their colors have been redesigned to suit it better.

Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review
Dark mode

MIUI 11 supports nature alarm and notifications, which sound different depending on the time of the day. Nature sounds have been tailored for alarms and notifications and are far less stressful through the day.

Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review
Nature-inspired notifications

There is no app drawer in MIUI, so all your apps are just sitting there on your homescreen, but you can still add them to folders. Some versions of MIUI do include an option to add such drawer, but our global ROM did not have one.

Here are the default home screens on Redmi Note 9 Pro. There's a weather widget in the upper right corner across from a large clock widget. There is a Google pane, the leftmost one.

MIUI 11 has refined looks with less clutter, and you easily spot the Xiaomi efforts towards minimalistic design in the new Settings app.

Lockscreen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Homescreen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Homescreen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Tools - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Google Discover - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Settings - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review
Lockscreen • Homescreen • Homescreen • Tools • Google Discover • Settings

The task switcher has not changed. It shows all of your recent apps in two columns. Tap and hold on a card for the split-screen shortcut, or just swipe it left or right to close it.

Notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Toggles - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Recents - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Split Screen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review
Notifications • Toggles • Recents • Split Screen

Themes are supported on the Redmi Note 9 Pro if that's your thing.

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Themes

MIUI also offers a Security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your blacklist, manage or restrict your data usage, configure battery behavior, and free up some RAM. It can also manage the permissions of your installed apps and allows you to define the battery behavior of selected apps and applies restrictions only to the apps you choose.

MIUI also offers proprietary Gallery, Music, and Video player. In some regions, the music and video apps include paid streaming options. FM radio app is available, too.

MIUI 11 has a new document viewing app, which supports all popular formats and makes easier viewing docs on your phone.

There is also a new Notes app that now supports Tasks.

Security app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Security app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Gallery - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review File Manager - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review Mi Remote - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review FM radio - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review
Security app • Security app • Gallery • File Manager • Mi Remote • FM radio

In some markets, the pre-installed applications by Xiaomi will show ads, which is how Xiaomi is compensating for the relatively lower prices of its devices. We are reviewing the global version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro, and we saw no ads whatsoever.

Performance and benchmarks

The Redmi Note 9 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 720G chipset, just like the Redmi Note 9S and the Realme 6 Pro. The SoC uses an octa-core CPU in a 2+6 configuration - 2x2.3GHz Kryo 465 Gold (Cortex-A76 derivative) cores and 6x1.8GHz Kryo 465 Silver (Cortex-A55 derivative) cores. The GPU in this chip is Adreno 618 - the same one found in the Snapdragon 730.

The Redmi Note Pro is available only with 6GB RAM in both storage configurations - 64GB and 128GB.

Finally, the 720G is built on an 8nm manufacturing process - currently one of the most efficient processes available.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro review

We ran a couple of benchmarks, and the CPU is shaping as an excellent performer. The Kirin 810 processor is a bit more powerful, but it's available only in very limited Google-less phones for now.

GeekBench 5.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    1862
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    1785
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    1785
  • Realme 6
    1726
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    1692
  • Realme 6 Pro
    1666
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    1622
  • Realme 6i
    1349
  • Samsung Galaxy M21
    1319

GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    591
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    571
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    570
  • Realme 6 Pro
    565
  • Realme 6
    548
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    548
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    493
  • Realme 6i
    388
  • Samsung Galaxy M21
    346

In terms of GPU performance, the Redmi Note 9 Pro posts strong numbers for the class, close to its Realme 6 rivals.

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme 6i
    31
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    30
  • Realme 6 Pro
    27
  • Realme 6
    27
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    27
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    26
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    26
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    24
  • Samsung Galaxy M21
    14
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    11

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    18
  • Realme 6i
    17
  • Realme 6 Pro
    16
  • Realme 6
    16
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    15
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    15
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    15
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    14
  • Samsung Galaxy M21
    9.2
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    5.9

Throwing all the components into the mix in Antutu, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is on par with the Realme 6. Once again, Huawei's Kirin 810 proves superior too.

AnTuTu 8

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    325777
  • Realme 6
    288931
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    279625
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    279355
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    272229
  • Realme 6 Pro
    268785
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    254000
  • Realme 6i
    202275
  • Samsung Galaxy M21
    180711
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    167395

The Redmi Note 9 Pro is indeed offering a lot of bang for its low price and posts consistently strong numbers on the tests, no matter the tasks. Finally, the toughest challenge - gaming - is not only possible on the Note 9 Pro, but a breezy experience.

Reader comments

  • Chella
  • 05 Oct 2024
  • U@6

4 and half years and still running like beast.. no issues..would have fallen more than 100 times..but still running like new..solid phone

  • Anonymous
  • 24 Sep 2024
  • UVS

4

  • Yei
  • 03 May 2024
  • xCC

I've had mine for 4 years, it's still going strong despite me being clumsy 😭 recommended, the bestt!!