Xiaomi_Redmi_Note-9S -Featured
Xiaomi launched another mid-range smart mobile in the Middle East which is Redmi Note 9S around April 2020.
Among the current lockdown in UAE, many of the smartphone manufacturers kept a low key with the launch of their smartphones.
We had the opportunity to get the handset delivered by PR at our residence and below are the details and the review.
Body & Specification
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S Smartphone has a dimension of 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm and weighing 209 grams which includes a non-removal battery. It has an IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen and a size of 6.67 inches with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels with a screen 395 PPI density and 450 nits max brightness. It has an 84.5% screen-to-body ratio and resolution 20:9 ratio. The body build has a plastic frame with the front display protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and the back panel is protected by the plastic.
It comes with Android 10.0 with the MIUI 11 as the user interface. It uses Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G(8 nm) chipset + GPU – Adreno 618 with 4 GB RAM and a 64 GB ROM for storage.
It comes with the Quad cameras on the rear ((48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0″, 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro), 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth). The front dew shape camera has Single 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.1″ which embedded into the display which is called in-display selfie camera.
The main camera can shoot video at 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS and front camera can shoot video at 1080p@30fps. Redmi Note 9S features LED flash, panorama, and HDR for the main cameras.
Redmi Note 9S frame has the power button which also acts as the fingerprint sensor on the right-hand side of the device and above are the volume rocker button and on the left-hand side of the phone, there is the Slot which has 2 SIM Card Tray+ microSDXC slot which supports GSM / HSPA / LTE. The bottom of the phone has the USB Type- C super-charge input, speaker grills, mic, and 3.5mm jack output.
The Review
The device which I have received for review is the interstellar grey back panel.
With the 84.5% screen-to-body ratio display, the bezel of the phone almost merges with the frame of the phone. The only thing you will notice is in the top area where it houses the sleek earpiece speaker and single-lens camera in punch hole type “In-display” embedded in the screen.
Redmi Note 9S is a mid-range smartphone created for the audience who is looking for a strong camera and work-horse phone and budget which is less than AED1000.
The front camera is a single 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3″ and photo resolution is 1740 x 2320px at 72dpi and has a sensor for face detection and Bokeh effect.
Some of the additional features of the front camera under photo mode, in the setting, is the palm gesture, so when you hold your open palm in front of the front camera, it gives you 3-sec count and clicks a selfie. You can record videos in 720p and 1080 at 30fps. You can also add a movie frame and use grid and also you can shoot 15sec short video. You can shoot slow motion and under the video option, there is a dedicated option for changing the bokeh effect and also you can apply readily available filters. Under the photo option, you can shoot with Ai and also HDR option. There is an option where it uses the screen full brightness white light as a flash. You can also shoot a selfie in panorama mode.
The back panel of the Redmi Note 9S houses the Quad cameras in a square shape with dual-LED flash on the top centre above the Quad cameras and fingerprint sensor which is also the power button on the right-hand side. The Quad cameras consist of 48 MP camera. f/1.8, 26mm (wide)+ 1/2.0″ + 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) + 1/4.0″ + 5 MP, f/2.4, (macro) + 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth). It supports autofocus (laser focus, phase focus, contrast focus), supports EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization). The square shape panel is little protruding from the back panel, so it better to use the translucent phone casing to protect the cameras.
The main camera general setting can click images in 3648px X 2736px in 96dpi. But you can click under the 48MP Ultra mode you get 8000px X 6000px at 72dpi. In the portrait mode you get 4000px x 3000px. In the video mode, camera clicks 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS.
In the photography and video mode, you can click at a wide-angle, 1x, 2x and on further zooming digitally up to 10x. The quality of the image at 10x zoom is not sharp and low light creates a lot of noise. The camera has HDR, Ultra Steady option, macro lens option, portrait mode, and different 10 colour scene options. You can record Time-lapse selfie, and under the video, it shows the low light (Nightscape mode) and panorama mode but it is clicks images. It also has the pro mode where you can do manual adjustment of exposure value (EV), white balance (WB), Auto Focus (AF), Exposure (ISO) and also 48MP Ultra mode.
Under the expert mode, you have the option to use all the cameras, wide-angle/macro lens, standard lens, and telescopic lens. In the video mode, you have the direct option of setting the bokeh effect, so as per your choice you can set the aperture and blurring of the background. There is a direct option for portrait mode under the video which detects the face and you can change and set the bokeh of the video. You can also add a movie frame in the video mode.
(Please note: Bokeh mode has to be used sensibly as it may cause out of focus of the video)
The front and main cameras can click images in 9:16, 4:3, 1:1, full-screen ratio. The phone can click videos with compatible format H264 and also H265 format which is available for front and rear cameras.
Under the Nightscape mode, the camera clicks a long time for an image and with the software support, it enhances the image. It is faster in capturing compared to other brands. But, under very low light, it didn’t perform very well.
Operating System and Software
The operating system of the Redmi Note 9S, it has the latest Android 10.0 with the MIUI 11 as the user interface. So, with Android 10.0, the Redmi Note 9S has all the interesting new features of the like the AI beautification, creamy bokeh for portraits, AI recognition up to 500 scenes. The Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G(8 nm) chipset + GPU – Adreno 618 with 4 GB RAM and a 64 GB ROM for storage. and Android Q also helps in better for more accurate facial brightness, contrast for selfies on the front cameras and scene-by-scene optimizations for shots taken on the rear and enhancing the photography effects.
With the MIUI 11, now you have flick from the side to have specific apps at your finger touch. The Redmi Note 9S smartphone with the help of AI face recognition for photography and in the video and uses the EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) to provide a stabilized video.
Benchmark Testing
The Redmi Note 9S was tested with various benchmark testing Apps. On PC Mark benchmark, it scored 7518. On 3D Mark benchmark, it scored Sling Shot Extreme open GL ES 3.1 – 2499 and Sling Shot Extreme Vulkan – 2338. On the Geek benchmark, it scored 569 on single-core and 1764 on multi-core.
While on benchmark testing the smartphone, the temperature of the body rose to 34°C and the CPU temperature rose to 40°C.
(Please note: Most of the smartphones while reviewing and testing had an average body temperature of 32°C to 37°C)
Sound & Audio
Redmi Note 9S has a single side speaker grill, so when you are holding the smartphone horizontally or vertically the sound comes as a single audio channel as mono sound.
The trebles, mid-level was clear and bass was good for a smartphone. The volume is quite loud and clear. The device supports Hi-Res audio format.
The smartphone has Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic.
The smartphone comes with 3.5mm jack output but headphones are not included in the package.
Redmi Note 9S was tested with various types of videos and different genres of music and it passed above average compared to other competitors in a similar price range.
(Please note: The smartphone was held at a distance of 1- 2 feet while testing the audio quality)
Connectivity & Battery
The smartphone has a fingerprint sensor, face detection, pattern, pin for accessing the smartphone. The Smartphone supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot. Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE. With App and headphones, you can also connect to FM Radio. The smartphone comes with a non-removable Li-Po 5020 mAh battery which can last more than a day with average usage.The smartphone comes with USB Type- C charging input which can charge the phone at 18W fast charging.
Conclusion
Redmi Note 9S is a very good smartphone for the price, the phone is a mid-range with all the good features for gaming, watching online entertainment. The built quality and colour makes the phone very rich and stylish. With Quad cameras with AI support makes this smartphone one of the best in the market, as for the selfies, the single 16MP lens can make difference with the Ai function which can give a very nice creamy Bokeh effect and focus on your face. It has a quick and sharp focus system.
With 64GB ROM space and additional memory microSD slot with the Dual Card SIM Tray, it is a good smartphone for the price and can run for the money to its competitors.
With all the AR and AI effects and functions, it is a very young, stylish and perfect companion for the teens, gamers, businessman and fashion-conscious people. Also, the smartphone is splash resistant.
The only negative was the very low light photography under nightscape mode was not great without the protective back cover, it is a fingerprint magnet.
Packaging of Redmi Note 9S & Price
The Redmi Note 9S comes in white rectangular packing. On opening the box, you will find the box with contains the transparent back cover case and the warranty and instruction papers. Below the case box, you will find the Redmi Note 9S smartphone and below the phone, you will find the compartments which contain the 18W fast-charger, the USB Type C charging cable and the SIM card pin removal tool. The only thing missing is the headphones.
The Redmi Note 9S launch price was at AED899 and available on various online stores.
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