Affordable Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 & Note 9 Pro Launch Globally
In April Xiaomi updated its Redmi phablet line with the Redmi Note 9 and Redmi Note 9 Pro, which joined the Redmi Note 9S as high-value offerings in the budget- to mid-range smartphone market. In June the company brought these phones to the UK, and now in August it has announced contract availability through Three.
Available SIM-free fromAmazonand theofficial UK Mi Store, the Redmi Note 9’s official retail price is £179 for the 3GB/64GB model, and £199 for the 4GB/128GB version, though the latter is currently discounted at Mi UK to £159.
New options now see the budget phone available onThree PAYGat £149.99 with a £10 top-up, along with variouscontract options.
For unlimited data and minutes it costs £28 per month with an upfront charge of £19, but the first six months are half-price. This same deal is available with 4GB of data, at £20 per month wth six months half-price.
Alternatively, for 30GB of data you’ll pay £27 per month, and for 12GB £23 per month, both with the £19 upfront fee.
The Redmi Note 9 Pro, meanwhile, is available in 6GB/64GB (£249) and 6GB/128GB (£269) models, both available onAmazonor at the Mi UK Store.
Meanwhile, theRedmi Note 9Sis already on sale atAmazon,GearBestand theUK Mi Storewith a retail price starting at £199.
Confusingly, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max had already been announced in India – but with different specs. The Indian Redmi Note 9 Pro is in fact the global Redmi Note 9S, while the Indian Redmi Note 9 Pro Max is the global Redmi Note 9 Pro.
The trio offers the best battery performance you’ll find in the budget phone market, with high-capacity 5,020mAh batteries that support fast wired charging. They also have large IPS displays, quad-lens rear cameras and expandable storage, but cut down on costs without luxuries such as in-display fingerprint sensors and wireless charging.
What’s the difference between Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro
Redmi Note 9 Pro sits at the top of the new line. It has the same processor and display as the Redmi Note 9S, but switches out its 48Mp camera for a 64Mp model, and the 16Mp selfie camera for a 32Mp version. Wired charging is also faster, at 30W against the 9S’ 18W, and the Pro adds support for NFC (available in selected markets only for Redmi Note 9 and Redmi Note 9S).
The Redmi Note 9 is the cheapest model in the trio. It achieves a lower price by reducing the display from 6.67in to 6.53in, moving the fingerprint sensor from the power button to the rear, and reducing the memory and storage options from 4GB/6GB and 64GB/128GB to 3GB/4GB and 64GB respectively. The Snapdragon 720G processor has also been swapped out for a MediaTek Helio G85 chip, and while the Redmi Note 9 uses the same 48Mp camera as the Redmi Note 9S, the specs for some of the additional lenses and selfie camera have been reduced.
Redmi Note 9 Specifications
Display
Processor, memory and storage
Battery
Camera
Connectivity
Dimensions & Weight
Software
Models
Redmi Note 9 Pro Specifications
Display
Processor, memory and storage
Battery
Camera
Connectivity
Dimensions & Weight
Software
Models
Read next:Best Xiaomi Phones&Best Xiaomi Deals
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Author: Marie Black, Editorial Director, International
Marie is Editorial Director at Foundry. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for almost 20 years, covering all types of consumer tech from smartphones and their accessories to smart home gear. These days she manages our international editorial teams and leads on content strategy, having witnessed first-hand Foundry’s transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.
