The Chinese market recently welcomed the new Redmi Note 9 5G: the first 5G phone from the Redmi Note series. But several other 5G mid-rangers hitten the Chinese market in the last period, that is why the Redmi Note 9 5G is not necessarily the best choice in its price range. With our comparison, we usually give our readers the chance to understand the differences between handsets released in the same price range. We believe the best actual rivals of the Redmi Note 9 5G are the iQOO U3 and the Realme X7. Through this specs comparison, we will try to tell you which one is the best for your needs.
Vivo iQOO U3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs Realme X7
| Vivo iQOO U3 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G | Realme X7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 164.2 x 75.4 x 8.4 mm, 185.5 grams | 162 x 77.3 x 9.2 mm, 199 grams | 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.1 mm, 175 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.58 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD | 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 411 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, iQOO UI | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, Realme UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| CAMERA | Dual 48 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Triple 48 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.3 front camera |
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.5 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5000 mAh, fast charging 18W | 5000 mAh Fast charging 18W |
4300 mAh, Fast charging 65W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, 5G |
Design
The design award goes to the Realme X7. It is thinner, it is lighter and it is even more compact than Redmi Note 9 5G and Vivo iQOO U3. Further, it has an in-display fingerprint reader making the overall design cleaner and an amazing look. iQOO U3 and Redmi Note 9 5G are bigger and thicker due to their bigger displays and batteries. The interesting pro of the Redmi Note 9 5G is its water-repellent coating. Further, note that the Redmi Note 9 5G has a punch-hole display, while iQOO U3 has a classic waterdrop notch.
Display
If you want the best display, you should go for the Realme X7 without thinking twice. Thanks to its AMOLED panel, the Realme X7 is able to provide more brilliant colors and deeper blacks. Further, as mentioned above, it sports an under-display fingerprint scanner. Unfortunately, both iQOO U3 and Redmi Note 9 5G feature an IPS panel. The iQOO U3 is more interesting because it supports a 90 Hz refresh rate, while Redmi Note 9 5G has a 60 Hz display. In both cases, you get a side-mounted fingerprint reader.
Hardware/Software
Vivo iQOO U3, Redmi Note 9 5G, and Realme X7 all pack an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset which supports 5G connectivity. It is a mid-range chipset more or less at the same level as the Snapdragon 765G. With the iQOO U3 and the Redmi Note 9 5G, you actually get a slightly faster internal storage thanks to the UFS 2.2 technology. But the Redmi Note 9 5G offers more space: up to 256 GB. Further, Redmi Note 9 5G features expandable storage, while its rivals do not. All the phones run Android 10 with heavy customizations.
Camera
The Realme X7 packs the most advanced camera department. On the rear side, it sports a 64 MP main camera, an ultrawide 8 MP sensor, and a pair of 2 MP sensors for macros and depth calculation. Further, the handset features a better 32 MP front camera. The second place goes to the Redmi Note 9 5G featuring a 48 MP triple camera. Unfortunately, iQOO U3 lacks an ultrawide sensor and it offers a 48 MP dual camera: a disappointing thing for a phone released in 2020.
Battery
Redmi Note 9 5G is the battery champion with its 5000 mAh capacity. The iQOO U3 has a 5000 mAh battery as well, but it should provide an inferior battery life due to its higher refresh rate. The Realme X7 has a smaller 4300 mAh battery, but thanks to 65W fast charging it reaches 100% in less than 35 minutes.
Price
Vivo iQOO U3 is priced at about €200/$245 in its base variant, just like the Redmi Note 9 5G. For the Realme X7, you need at least €220/$270. The Realme X7 is the winner of this comparison thanks to its AMOLED display and better camera department. Right after, we got the Redmi Note 9 5G offering a micro SD slot and slightly better cameras. The iQOO U3 is like a Redmi Note 9 5G with a higher refresh rate and inferior camera department.
Vivo iQOO U3 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs Realme X7: PRO and CONS
Vivo iQOO U3
PROS
- Huge battery
- 90 Hz display
- UFS 2.2 storage
- Good price
CONS
- No ultrawide camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G
PROS
- Big battery
- Stereo speakers
- Water-repellent
- IR blaster
- UFS 2.2 storage
- Micro SD slot
CONS
- Standard refresh rate
Realme X7
PROS
- AMOLED display
- More compact
- Best cameras
- Faster charging
CONS
- Smaller battery
