Alongside the Redmi 9T, Xiaomi has also launched its latest 5G smartphone, one that is catered towards the budget segment: the Redmi Note 9T. As expected, the Note 9T borrows a lot of its features—and some of its design—from the China-only Redmi Note 9 5G, which means that you get the same MediaTek chipset powering the device, along with (of course) 5G connectivity.
As such, the big question here: is the Redmi Note 9T the best budget 5G smartphone you can get your hands on? Here’s everything you need to know.
Price and availability
The Redmi Note 9T will go on sale on the 11th of January 2021, and there is also a discounted early bird price. Two colourways are available for your choice: Nightfall Black and Daybreak Purple. Official pricing is as follows:
Redmi Note 9T – 4GB RAM, 64GB storage – EUR 229 (~RM1,131)
*early bird price: EUR 199 (~RM982)
Redmi Note 9T – 4GB RAM, 128GB storage – EUR 269 (~RM1,328)
*early bird price: EUR 249 (~RM1,229)
For now, the budget 5G phone has been launched in Europe, and the device will not be officially sold in Malaysia for now. Of course, you can always pick up imported units of the device from trusted resellers in the near future, but we’ll certainly keep you up to date on SoyaCincau.com.
Specs
As mentioned, the Redmi Note 9T has a very similar spec sheet as the China-only Redmi Note 9 5G. This includes the MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset, which is supposed to be twice as fast as the Snapdragon 665, while you get up to 4GB of RAM, which is mated with up to 128GB of storage.
Up front, you’re looking at a 6.53″ Full HD+ LCD display, and unfortunately, there is no high refresh rate here—just the standard 60Hz. There’s a “DotDisplay” cutout on the display, which houses a 13MP selfie camera, while the tri-camera setup at the rear is made up of a 48MP main camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. Xiaomi also says that there are also creativity tools on the phone to take advantage of the triple-camera setup, such as Night mode, Pro+ RAW, HDR, and of course, Portrait mode.
Battery life should be pretty good, with Redmi equipping the Note 9T with a big 5,000mAh battery, which can be charged via USB-C. Just like the Redmi 9T, the Note 9T will come with a 22.5W charger in the box (for some reason), but you should note that the phone will only support a maximum charging speed of 18W.
Something interesting that you’re getting is 5G+5G support—simultaneously. What this means is that you can use two 5G sim cards at the same time, which is the first time we’re seeing this feature on a Redmi Note-branded smartphone. Xiaomi also says that this has Widevine L1 support, which is a requirement for HD playback for DRM-protected video content online—such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, and so on.
And finally, you’re getting a 3.5mm headphone jack (yay!), as well as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. An IR blaster is also available, while there is even an FM radio if for those of you who still listen to radio.
So, what do you think? Is this the best affordable 5G smartphone around? Let us know in the comments section below. Meanwhile, if you’re keen to find out about the Redmi 9T—which has been officially launched in Malaysia—scroll down to the related reading section below.
