Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S / 9 Pro review

GSMArena team, 27 April 2020.

MIUI 11 and Android 10

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 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 9S 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 9S 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 9S review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Dark mode - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 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 9S review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Nature-inspired notifications - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 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 9S. 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 9S review Homescreen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Homescreen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Tools - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Google Discover - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Settings - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 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 9S review Toggles - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Recents - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Split Screen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Split Screen - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review
Notifications • Toggles • Recents • Split Screen

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

Themes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Themes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Themes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Themes - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review
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 9S review Security app - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Gallery - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Music - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review File Manager - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review Mi Remote - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S review
Security app • Security app • Gallery • Music • File Manager • Mi Remote

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're reviewing the global version of the Redmi Note 9S, and the only places we noticed ads were the File Manager and the Security apps. Those, while pre-installed MIUI apps, are not essential though and there are ways to get rid of them.

Performance and benchmarks

The Redmi Note 9S employs the Snapdragon 720G chipset, and it is the second phone we meet with this hardware, the first was the Realme 6 Pro. We guess the rivalry is still going strong with these two brands.

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 9S is available in two RAM and storage configurations - 4GB/64GB and 6GB/128GB versions.

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

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S 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
  • Realme 6
    1726
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    1692
  • Realme 6 Pro
    1666
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    1622
  • Realme 6i
    1349
  • Samsung Galaxy A51
    1294

GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    591
  • 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 A51
    347

In terms of GPU performance, the Redmi Note 9S returns 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
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    24
  • Huawei P30 Lite (perf. mode)
    13
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    11
  • Samsung Galaxy A51
    8.9

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 K30
    15
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    14
  • Huawei P30 Lite (perf. mode)
    6.9
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    5.9
  • Samsung Galaxy A51
    5.6

Aztek Vulkan High (onscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme 6 Pro
    11
  • Realme 6
    10
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    9.9
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    9.4
  • Realme 6i
    9.3
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    8.6
  • Samsung Galaxy A51
    5.6
  • Huawei P30 Lite (perf. mode)
    3.4

Throwing all the components into the mix in Antutu, the Redmi Note 9S is somewhat behind the Realme 6, but close to the Snapdragon 720G-powered Realme 6 Pro. Once again, Huawei's Kirin 810 proves superior too.

AnTuTu 8

Higher is better

  • Huawei P40 Lite
    325777
  • Realme 6
    288931
  • Redmi Note 8 Pro
    279355
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    272229
  • Realme 6 Pro
    268785
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
    254000
  • Realme 6i
    202275
  • Samsung Galaxy A51
    175363
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
    167395

It's obvious the Redmi Note 9S is properly equipped for the class and is consistently scoring great on the tests, no matter their purpose. The heaviest of tasks - gaming - is not only possible on the Note 9S, but a breezy experience.

Reader comments

  • Dearie 003
  • 18 Nov 2021
  • sxr

Me too, Love this phone 😁😁💟💟

  • Dearie 003
  • 18 Nov 2021
  • sxr

I love Redmi note 9 series because I can't afford samsung galaxy s20 ultra. For me Redmi note 9s was a great phone 💖💖💖💟, but the xiaomi manufacturer should make the price higher in order for this phone to have stainless body frame and amoled 108...

  • Curious
  • 30 Oct 2021
  • tZk

Oh, now you call yourself Muz? At other article you called yourself John. Both Muz and John been spreading stories with unknown authenticity though.