Despite it is currently in the top 5 best smartphones brands of the global market, Xiaomi keeps releasing very affordable flagship phones by lowering its profit margins. The company recently launched the first flagship from its Redmi sub-brand: Redmi K20 Pro, and guess what, it is an affordable flagship. Now, we think that there is nothing better than comparing the new entry with the other affordable flagships from the Chinese company, in order to establish if it is really the best value for money Xiaomi flagship. The most powerful flagships with an affordable price tag released in 2019 by Xiaomi are the Mi 9 and the gaming-centric Black Shark 2. We exclude the Mi Mix 3 5G as it is way more expensive and not suitable for people who want the highest value for money. So here is a specs comparison between the best Xiaomi value flagships.
Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Xiaomi Black Shark 2
| Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 9 | Xiaomi Black Shark 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm, 191 g | 157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm, 173 g | 163.6 x 75 x 8.8 mm, 205 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 9 Pie, MIUI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 48 + 13 + 8 MP, f/1.8, f/2.4 and f/2.4 | Triple 48 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.8 and f/2.2 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 48 + 12 MP, f/1.8 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4000 mAh, fast charging 27W with Quick Charge 4.0 | 3300 mAh, fast charging 27W with Quick Charge 4.0 | 4000 mAh, fast charging 27W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Design
If we only judge by basing on the look, Redmi K20 Pro wins the design comparison thanks to its more futuristic form factor. It has a nearly borderless display with a pop-up camera placed on a motorized mechanism, as well as a stunning liquid finish on the back. However, if you are looking for the best build quality, then Xiaomi Mi 9 may be a better choice. It has a glass design protected by Gorilla Glass 5 as well as a 7000 series aluminum frame which is much more sturdy than Redmi K20 Pro’s frame. Xiaomi Mi 9 is even thinner. The Xiaomi Black Shark 2 has a gaming-centric aggressive design and it is far from being elegant. It even sports thick bezels around the display.
Display
Xiaomi Mi 9 and Redmi K20 Pro are slightly superior to the Black Shark 2 due to their support to the HDR standard which provides richer colors. However, you get an amazing AMOLED display in each case, so you should not mind so much about it. And in each case, you even get an under-display fingerprint reader, as well as a diagonal of 6.39 inches.
Hardware/Software
While each of these phones is powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset providing the most awesome flagship-class performances in every scenario, what makes the difference on the hardware side is the memory configuration. In this trio, the Black Shark 2 is the only device to come with up to 8 GB of RAM, and it even comes with a more advanced cooling system. It is a gaming phone, so it is kinda obvious that it has to provide higher performances than normal devices. Xiaomi Mi 9, Redmi K20 Pro and Black Shark 2 run Android 9 Pie out of the box.
Camera
Due to its brighter aperture for three out of four sensors, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is the most convincing camera phone. It shots amazing photos in every light condition and it has fast and accurate autofocus. It can even record 4K videos at 60 fps and slow motion videos at 1080p and 960 fps, that is amazing. The second place goes to the Redmi K20 Pro which has a very similar setup.
Battery
Xiaomi Mi 9’s battery life is the weakest point of this handset. Redmi K20 Pro and Xiaomi Black Shark 2 have a way bigger battery capacity and so much longer battery life. But Xiaomi Mi 9 is the only to support wireless charging.
Price
If you want to grab a unit of the Redmi K20 Pro, you are willing to pay about €350/$400 in the Chinese market. It will soon hit the global market as the Mi 9T, but we still do not know its official price. Xiaomi Mi 9 and Black Shark 2 start from €450/$510 globally. My favorite one is the Redmi K20 Pro due to its better design and a bigger battery, despite the Mi 9 has better cameras/builds and the Black Shark 2 comes with more RAM in its high-end variant.
Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Xiaomi Black Shark 2: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi Black Shark 2
PROS
- Higher performance
- Advanced cooling system
- Big battery
- For gamers
CONS
- Worse cameras
Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro
PROS
- Affordable
- Very original design
- Good cameras
- Big battery
CONS
- Nothing particular
Xiaomi Mi 9
PROS
- Thinner design
- Best display
- Great cameras
- Wireless charging
CONS
- No MicroSD
- Smaller battery
