Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Review

Design, build and controls

Even though the Redmi Note series is a budget one, Xiaomi does not make compromises in terms of design. The Redmi Note 9 combines a 2.5D curved Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for the front, 3D curved plastic back, and a plastic frame. The whole handset has a P2i splash-proof nano-coating. Three color versions are available: Midnight Grey, Forest Green, Polar White. We are reviewing the green one. The color is gorgeous and changes with the change of available light and the angle of its reflection. The Redmi Note 9 has average dimensions and weight for a smartphone with a 6.5-inch display and a 5000 mAh battery. It is 77.2 mm wide, 162.3 mm high, 8.9 mm thick, and weighs 199 g. The smartphone has a display-to-body ratio of 83.11%. Please note that this percentage is calculated by measuring the exact display size and volume of the body. It is closer to reality compared to the official percentages shared by manufacturers. The front of the handset is adorned with a 6.53-inch IPS display with a punch hole in its top-left corner for the selfie camera. In case you prefer, you can customize this area by activating the black status bar, which will limit the visible display area but will hide the punch hole. The navigation bar is onscreen only and can be customized but gestures are enabled as well, so you can enjoy a real full-screen experience in this regard. The rear of the device features a 3D curved glossy plastic panel that's very prone to attracting fingerprints and smudges. Centrally aligned in the top half of the rear shell, you will see the quad-camera module which protrudes out of the shell. It is adjoined by a black area with a small and very sensitive fingerprint reader. The LED flash is positioned to the right of the camera module as a separate element. The Redmi logo and CE inscription are imprinted at the bottom of the rear shell. The infrared port and a microphone are positioned on the top frame. On the bottom one, there's the main microphone, a super-linear speaker, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5 mm jack. The left frame is where the tri-slot tray resides. It gives you the opportunity to use two Nano-SIM cards and a microSD card simultaneously. The Volume and Power buttons are positioned on the right frame.