Xiaomi Mi 9T Review

Xiaomi Mi 9T Review: probably the best mid-ranger right now

Xiaomi’s Mi 9, which was launched four months ago, was a great phone that lacked aesthetics and perceived quality, areas its competitors focused on. The Mi 9T makes up for those cosmetic shortcomings, but at what cost? Is it worth buying over the Mi 9?

Xiaomi Mi 9T review: the big picture

The Mi 9T is very close relative to the Redmi K20. In fact, by most accounts, the 9T is simply a rebrand from the K20. That means this device is targeting the mid-range sector of the market. With competitors like the Realme X, Asus Zenfone 6 and Galaxy A50, the Xiaomi is under pressure to create something unique and special.
What is in the box

Xiaomi Mi 9T
USB-A to USB-C cable
18W fast charger

SIM eject tool
Quick Start Guide
Soft-touch cover

The Mi 9T box contains the basics. There is nothing extra to help you migrate data from another device, nor are the headphones in the box. I don’t mind this approach, but the included case leaves a lot to be desired. It is a hard case that covers the back of the device. Leave the top and bottom areas exposed for ports rather than design cutouts for the pop-up camera and ports.

Design

156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm
191g
Glass and metal structure.

In-display fingerprint scanner
Pop-up selfie camera
USB-C port, headphone jack

I liked the design of the Mi 9, but as more phones in all price ranges become bezel-less, I was expecting Xiaomi to take this approach with the Mi 9T. Even in the possibly “dullest” colorway, this phone looks fantastic. I have the Carbon Black version; Red Flame and Glacier Blue are also available. The phone shows off a carbon fibre pattern underneath the smooth glass back and adds a sharp-looking red power button for accent.

The comfortably curved back, along with the shiny metal rails, create a smooth yet slippery surface. This looks beautiful, but as soon as you pick it up, two things will happen: fingerprints will quickly appear on the back, and you may lose your grip because the glass is so slippery.

The in-display fingerprint scanner feels very fast, and I rarely had a problem registering my thumb. This is probably one of the most reliable units that I have used. Along with the off-center pop-up selfie camera, it allows for a perfect design. It is a massive improvement over the Mi 9.

The buttons on the same side are solid and tactile. The volume rocker sits just above the coloured power button, and since the Mi 9T lets go of the Google Assistant button, the left side is bare. The headphone port at the top will force some users to reorient the phone in their pocket, but having a headphone port is much appreciated. Unfortunately, that SIM card slot at the bottom doesn’t support a microSD card. We would have liked to have seen this in a phone aimed at the mid-range sector.

The black and red colour scheme here is subtle, from the colour around the rear camera to the LEDs on the pop-up camera module to the accented power button. It has been tastefully done here, and it is still stylish despite its small, shiny features. It reminds me of a well-rated German car—an elegant and executive exterior, with touches of a playful and exciting side.

The Mi 9T feels and looks impressive; for what it lacks internally, it more than makes up for externally.

Screen

6.39 in. Full HD + display
Resolution 2,340 x 1,080
Aspect ratio 19.5: 9

AMOLED panel
403ppi
Gorilla Glass 5

I quite liked the screen on the original Mi 9, and the 9T’s additions only make it better. The screen is large and sharp with lots of pixels. An AMOLED panel allows for deeper blacks, infinite contrast levels, brighter reflections, and more vivid colours. But wait, there is more.

The best thing is that the Xiaomi Mi 9T lacks a notch or cutout, which makes the screen effectively ‘edge-to-edge. In addition to the little chin at the bottom of the panel, we get slim bezels and lots of dips. I like the look of this screen. While from a technological point of view, it is not far ahead of the Mi 9, it rises above its predecessor from a usability point of view.

The best part is that the screen is effective 'edge to edge.' The Mi 9T's 400 nit display is bright enough to be viewed outdoors in most conditions. Direct sunlight can undoubtedly be a problem, as this panel is not the most brilliant in its class, although many phones on this market suffer from the same pain.

I would call the display of the Xiaomi Mi 9Tone of its best features. The immersion of the AMOLED panel combined with the slim bezels is something I’ll miss when I go back to my phone with a punched hole.

Performance

Snapdragon 730
2 x 2.2GHz Kyro 470 Gold + 6 x 1.8GHz Kyro 470 Silver
Adreno 618

6 GB RAM
64 / 128GB ROM
No microSD card

The most controversial part of the Xiaomi Mi 9T has to be its move from the flagship Snapdragon 855 to a mid-range chip. Xiaomi did this to reach its target price. Sacrificing the top-tier chunk will not be necessary to most users. The Redmi K20 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 9, which feature the 855, are more directly aimed at the flagship space.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730 is an excellent chip that achieves some pretty respectable numbers. On paper, of course, it is not as fast as the Snapdragon 855. The reality is another story: I discovered that the Mi 9T is as fast in everyday tasks as its older brother, the Mi 9.

The 9T shines in all respects. I played a fair few games on the Mi 9T, including PUBG Mobile, Minecraft Pocket Edition, and asphalt 9. All the games ran like a charm, without even a hiccup. Despite what the spec sheet says, this is a pretty capable gaming device.

The Mi 9T continues to send home the message that specs are unnecessary to most people and that a mid-range chip like the Snapdragon 730 is sufficient even for mobile gamers.
Battery

4,000mAh
18W fast charging

The benchmark for a good phone battery these days is 4,000 mAh, and Xiaomi has matched it with the Mi 9T. It’s just over 20 percent larger than the Mi 9’s battery, and the increased capacity makes a big difference. The Mi 9T lasted me all day with no problems for the six days I checked the phone. I never ended the day with less than 30 percent left in the tank.

MIUI, known for its aggressive task management, certainly gets the job done with battery life.

In our battery tests, this phone lasted over 11 hours of mixed-use. MIUI is well known for its aggressive task management, and it certainly gets the job done here with the 9T. The operating system removes applications that it knows do not need to be active, resulting in a long-lasting phone.

Refills with the included charger are quick and easy. Unfortunately, however, wireless charging is not available. It’s a real shame because the feature was available on the Mi 9.

software

Android 9 Pie
MIUI 10

Calling MIUI controversial would be an understatement. Xiaomi’s software skin is one that many have criticized in the past, and for good reason. There are too many pre-installed apps that you can’t remove, there’s no app drawer as part of this specific device’s launcher, and the UI aesthetic feels abnormally close to iOS.

The reskin is radically different from stock, with new animations, icons, and theme selectors. While MIUI 10 is far from the buggy and bloated versions of yesteryear, it still won’t feel right with everyone. Xiaomi implemented advertisements in its operating system for markets such as India.