Today, Xiaomi launched three entry-level phones in the global market: Redmi 9, Redmi 9A, and Redmi 9C. They are sold at different prices, but all of them cost less than €200 and they have a very high value for money. Given that they carry different prices and they are all devices released by Xiaomi, you probably understood that they are not at the same level. But a lot of people are wondering which one to buy: is it worth spending more for the Redmi 9 or it is better to save money for a Redmi 9A / 9C? This comparison will clear your ideas in regards.
Xiaomi Redmi 9 vs Xiaomi Redmi 9A vs Xiaomi Redmi 9C
| Xiaomi Redmi 9 | Xiaomi Redmi 9A | Xiaomi Redmi 9C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm, 198 grams | 164.9 x 77 x 9 mm, 194 grams | 164.9 x 77 x 9 mm, 196 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.53 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), 270 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.53 inches, 720 x 1600p (HD+), 270 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Helio G80, octa-core 2 GHz | Mediatek Helio G25, octa-core 2.0 GHz | Mediatek Helio G35, octa-core 2.3 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 2 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 2 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, MIUI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 13 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP f/2.2, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Single 13 MP 5 MP front camera |
Triple 13 + 5 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.4 and f/2.4 5 MP front camera |
| BATTERY | 5020 mAh, 18W charging | 5000 mAh, 10W charging | 5000 mAh, 10W charging |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Design
Redmi 9, 9A, and 9C sport a modern design but made of cheap materials. They come with a plastic body and borderless display including a waterdrop notch. The Redmi 9 looks more beautiful thanks to its gradient colors, but the Redmi 9A has a more minimalistic look thanks to its smaller camera module. The Redmi 9 also offers a sturdier build quality with its Gorilla Glass 3 front panel. Despite sporting the same display diagonal, Redmi 9 is even more compact thanks to narrower bezels around the display.
Display
Redmi 9A and Redmi 9C come with exactly the same display. It is a 6.53-inch panel with the IPS technology offering a below-average 720p resolution. Redmi 9 is a lot better since it offers a higher resolution and a higher level of detail. It is a Full HD+ phone with 1080 x 2340 pixels. And it is actually not easy to find a device with a Full HD+ display under €150, even with an IPS panel. Redmi 9 obviously wins the display comparison thanks to its higher resolution.
Specs & Software
With the Xiaomi Redmi 9, you actually get a much more powerful chipset: the octa-core Helio G80 running at a 2 GHz frequency, paired with at least 3 GB of RAM and at least 32 GB of internal storage which you can furtherly expand with a micro SD. The silver medal goes to the Redmi 9C with the Helio G35, while Redmi 9A has a weaker Helio G25. Note that every SoC is pretty nice in terms of performance, they are even nice at gaming. But there is an important gap between Helio G80 and G35. Redmi 9, 9A, and 9C run Android 10 out of the box, customized by the new MIUI 12.
Camera
With the Redmi 9, you get the most complete camera setup including a rear quad-camera with an ultrawide sensor included and an 8 MP front camera. Unfortunately, the Redmi 9C lacks the ultrawide sensor, but it actually comes with a better main sensor offering a brighter focal aperture for better photo quality in dark scenes. It is still an entry-level camera, though. Redmi 9A has just one single camera at the back, so it is the most disappointing one and you should not go for it if you need a decent camera phone.
Battery
Despite having a similar battery capacity to the Redmi 9, the lower-end Redmi 9A and 9C offer a longer battery life in a lot of scenarios thanks to their lower display resolution. With the Redmi 9, you get fast charging, which is not present on its two siblings. Note that these devices are equipped with 5000 mAh batteries, so it is not quick to fully charge them without a fast charging technology.
Price
Redmi 9 debuted in the European market with a €149/$170 starting price. If you live in Europe, you need €119/$135 for the Redmi 9C, while the Redmi 9A costs €99/$113. Is it worth spending more for the Redmi 9? Yes, if we compare it to the Redmi 9C. It has a better display, a complete camera setup, and a better hardware department. But you can save €50 by choosing the Redmi 9A, which might be the best choice for you if you are a basic user who does not care about clicking great photos and having the fastest performance.
Xiaomi Redmi 9 vs Xiaomi Redmi 9A vs Xiaomi Redmi 9C: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi 9
PROs
- Better hardware
- Better display
- NFC
- Faster charging
CONS
- Price
- Shorter battery life
Xiaomi Redmi 9C
PROs
- Very affordable
- Nice rear camera
- Long battery life
- NFC (depends on the region)
CONS
- HD display
Xiaomi Redmi 9A
PROs
- Incredibly affordable
- Long battery life
- Smaller camera module
CONS
- No fingerprint reader
- Inferior camera department
