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Xiaomi Editor's Choice 2019

Mi 9

Xiaomi Mi 9 — Snapdragon 855 Flagship Review

Display 1080 x 2340 pixels 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Camera 1080p at 30fps
Performance Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (...
Battery 27W wired Quick Charge 4.0+
Expert Score
4.5
91% Confidence
Community Score
3.8
0% Confidence
AI Score
4.5
90% Confidence
Final Score
4.3
91% Confidence
Storage
RAM
Color
Regional
In Stock
$499 – $590

Lowest $120 Best: Amazon Refurbished

Read Reviews

Category Scores

Overall hardware score: 91/100 — powerful Snapdragon 855 performance, bright Super AMOLED display, versatile 48MP triple camera system, and rapid 20W wireless charging.

87
92
Performance Excellent

Snapdragon 855 chipset delivers fast execution s...

93
Display Excellent

Vibrant 6.39-inch Super AMOLED screen with HDR10...

90
Camera Excellent

Versatile 48MP main sensor backed by telephoto a...

78
Battery Great

3300 mAh battery provides moderate day-to-day en...

92
Gaming Excellent

Adreno 640 graphics handle intensive 3D mobile g...

85
AI Great

Qualcomm AI engine optimizes system tasks and ph...

90
Security Excellent

Optical under-display fingerprint sensor.

95
Value for Money Excellent

Exceptional flagship killer pricing offering top...

91
Design Excellent

Sleek curved glass back and aluminum frame with...

60
Repairability Good

Sealed glass construction requires professional...

85
Software Support Great

MIUI interface, officially upgraded up to MIUI 1...

92
Connectivity Excellent

4G LTE Cat18, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and...

85
Audio Great

Loudspeaker output (omits 3.5mm headphone jack).

90
Durability Excellent

Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 front and G...

92
Charging Excellent

27W fast wired charging with Quick Charge 4.0 an...

Specifications

Display 4
Size 6.39 inches
Type Super AMOLED, HDR10
Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Processor 3
Chipset Key Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
CPU Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
GPU Key Adreno 640
Memory 2
RAM Key 6GB / 8GB
Type LPDDR4X
Storage 3
Internal 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Expandable No
Standard UFS 2.1
Battery 3
Capacity 3300 mAh non-removable
Wired charging 27W wired, Quick Charge 4.0+
Wireless charging 20W fast wireless charging
Camera 3
Main 48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm, 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Telephoto 12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm, 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom
Ultra Wide 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 117˚, 1/3.0", 1.0µm, PDAF
Front Camera 2
Sensor 20 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µm
Video 1080p at 30fps
Video 1
Max resolution 4K at 30/60fps, 1080p at up to 960fps slow-motion
Connectivity 4
Network 4G LTE, HSPA, CDMA, GSM
Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
USB USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Sensors 1
Fingerprint Under-display, optical
Dimensions 3
Height 157.5 mm
Width 74.7 mm
Depth 7.6 mm
Weight 1
Weight 173 g
Materials 3
Frame Key Aluminum frame
Back Gorilla Glass 5 back
Front Gorilla Glass 6 front
Colors 1
Options Ocean Blue, Piano Black, Lavender Violet
Operating System 1
OS Android 9.0 Pie, upgradable to MIUI 12.5 (Android 10)

Expert Review

By Mutwassim

Design

The Xiaomi Mi 9 features a curved glass back protected by Gorilla Glass 5, a Gorilla Glass 6 front display, and an aluminum frame, designed with ergonomic curved edges.

Display

It packs a vibrant 6.39-inch Super AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2340 pixels), HDR10 compliance, and a subtle waterdrop notch.

Performance

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor and up to 8GB RAM, delivering snappy day-to-day execution speeds.

Gaming

Adreno 640 graphics handle mobile gaming titles smoothly with Game Turbo resource allocation.

Camera

Equipped with a triple camera array featuring a 48MP Sony main sensor, a 12MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 16MP ultra-wide lens with 117-degree field of view.

Battery

The 3300 mAh battery offers moderate day-to-day endurance supported by rapid 27W wired charging and industry-leading 20W wireless charging.

Software

Runs MIUI based on Android, officially upgradable up to MIUI 12.5 (Android 10).

Ai

Qualcomm AI engine optimizes camera scene detection and power distribution.

Pros

  • Snappy Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor performance
  • Vibrant 6.39-inch Super AMOLED display with optical in-display fingerprint reader
  • Versatile 48MP triple camera setup with telephoto and ultra-wide lenses
  • Pioneering 20W fast wireless charging support alongside 27W wired charging
  • Sleek and lightweight ergonomic glass build

Cons

  • Battery capacity (3300 mAh) is relatively modest
  • No 3.5mm headphone jack
  • No expandable storage slot
The Xiaomi Mi 9 delivers exceptional performance value, combining a vibrant 6.39-inch Super AMOLED screen, an under-display optical fingerprint reader, the powerful Snapdragon 855 processor, a 48MP triple camera system with a telephoto lens and ultra-wide sensor, and fast 27W wired alongside pioneering 20W wireless charging.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi 9 stands out as a quintessential flagship killer, packing elite processing and fast wireless charging into a sleek package.

Final: 4.3/10 Best for: Value seekers Segment: Mid-range

Product Intelligence

Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Processor 6.39-inch Super AMOLED Display with Waterdrop Notch 48MP Triple Camera System with Telephoto & Ultra-Wide Lenses Rapid 27W Wired Charging & Fast 20W Wireless Charging Optical Under-Display Fingerprint Sensor & Infrared Port

Who Should Buy

Budget-conscious performance seekers, mobile gamers, and users looking for fast wireless charging and a versatile triple camera setup.

Who Should Avoid

Buyers seeking multi-day battery endurance, 3.5mm headphone jacks, or expandable storage card slots.

Key Takeaways

  • Pioneered high-speed 20W wireless charging for flagship smartphones
  • Exceptional price-to-performance flagship value ratio
  • Compact and lightweight handheld profile

Buying Recommendation

A classic legacy flagship offering robust speed and camera capability at an affordable cost.

Competitor Comparison

DeviceScorePriceNotes
OnePlus 7

Upgrade Path

Upgrade From Xiaomi Mi 8
Benefits
  • Massive jump to Snapdragon 855 processor
  • 48MP triple camera setup
  • in-display fingerprint sensor
  • and 20W wireless charging

Downgrade Path

Downgrade To Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
Benefits
  • Lower entry cost with a larger battery and headphone jack

Pricing & Price Intelligence

In Stock
Current $499 – $590
Lowest $120
Highest $590
Historical Low $499
Launch $499
Average $200
Confidence 40%
Trend Stable

Price Analytics

Best Deal Amazon Refurbished $160
Best Value Amazon Refurbished
Stability High
Buy Timing Fair market price

Pricing is stable. Shop Amazon Refurbished for the lowest listed price and set a price alert for drops.

Regional Pricing

US $499 EU €499

Store Comparison

Store Price Shipping Availability Rating
Amazon Refurbished $160 In Stock Buy

Variant Pricing

Colors

  • Ocean Blue $499 – $590
  • Piano Black $499 – $590
  • Lavender Violet $499 – $590

Storage

  • 64GB $499
  • 128GB $549
  • 256GB $590

Ram

  • 6GB $499 – $590
  • 8GB $499 – $590
Low: 499 High: 499 Avg: 499 Volatility: 0%

Historical data will populate as prices are tracked.

Track Price

Alternatives

Xiaomi Mi 9T

Alternative mid-tier option featuring a motorized pop-up camera and larger battery

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