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Redmi 9A test / review

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Published on: 20-09-2020 / Modified: 01-03-2021
I usually test phones between 200 and 300€ with some exceptions above 300€. I recently tested the Redmi 9C which was sold for 99€ and I thought I would test an even cheaper phone with the Redmi 9A which I bought for 79€.

This type of phone is definitely less fun to test than a top of the range phone but I can't neglect this part of the market. Even before I write my conclusion, I know that this phone will not perform as well as a 200€ phone, I'm not going to try to kick an open door.

What will be interesting, however, is to see if the gap between this phone and some of the more expensive competitors is really significant. The Redmi 9C was surprising, the Redmi 9A has many of the same features as the 9C, so will it become the best phone for under €100?

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.

Price Redmi 9a

The list below shows the prices for the Redmi 9a from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.

Timeline

02/09/20: Purchase of the Redmi 9A for 79€ at Edwaybuy
04/09/20: Telephone reception
20/09/20: start of the test, I didn't have time to start it earlier.

Why this phone?

Even if I test several phones at the same time, there is always one phone that I use more than the others. At the moment I am mainly using the Poco X3. This phone has absolutely nothing to do with the Redmi 9A and yet the Redmi 9A is far from ridiculous.

While testing the Redmi 9C, I realized that even though this type of phone is slower, it offers all the basics of a smartphone for a much more affordable price than what is usually found on the market. The Redmi 9A has a lot in common with the Redmi 9C, so it is highly likely that Xiaomi will once again drive the nail in by positioning this phone as a master bargain in this price range.

Unpacking

The Redmi 9A is packed in a box identical to what Xiaomi does for its other models. The box contains the phone, charger, micro USB cable and documentation. The box does not contain a transparent cover.

I was a bit surprised to find a MicroUSB port instead of USB-C, it's been a long time since I've seen a phone with this kind of configuration.

First configuration

I couldn't take a screenshot of the startup procedure, the capture feature wasn't working. I had the same problem on the Redmi 9C, I guess it's a voluntary choice of Xiaomi.

The startup procedure follows the same steps as other Xiaomi phones under MIUI 12, there are no surprises here (good or bad).

Finish

The Redmi 9A is an entry-level phone, so you won't find a glass back with spectacular effects here. I was expecting a fairly basic level of finish, it is indeed the case but the level of finish is quite correct. I have tested more expensive phones that had a lower level of finish.



The back is made of single coloured plastic with a slightly textured surface. This type of material allows fingerprints to show up fairly quickly but there is nothing shocking here.

On the back is the photo module consisting of a single sensor and an LED lamp. This is the main feature of this 9A if I compare it with the 9C which has several sensors.

Here is a comparison with the Redmi 9C


As a whole the Redmi 9A has a fairly classic configuration with a SIM drawer on the left, this drawer can hold 2 SIM cards and a memory card without having to sacrifice a SIM card. On the right are the usual volume buttons and the start button. These buttons are correctly positioned.

Above is the audio jack connector and underneath is a micro USB port, a sound sensor and a loudspeaker. The Redmi 9A has only one input (bottom).

For this price level there, the finishing level is really good.

Specifications

The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.

I tested the Redmi 9A in 2Gb / 32 Gb version, it is the basic version which answers to the code name M2006C3LG.

The technical specifications are nothing extraordinary except that for this price, I find it quite correct. I see a lot of criticisms about the performance of this phone but for 79€, I think it's quite correct.

CPU / GPU Performance

The Redmi 9A is equipped with a Mediatek Helio G35 processor, which is an entry-level processor that is not designed to offer good performance. It will allow you to use all the features of the phone without too much difficulty but access to applications, loading times or switching between applications may be quite slow.

The Redmi 9A is equipped with an IMG PowerVR GE8320 680MHz graphics processor and here again, it is not the performance that you will need to remember from this graphics processor. It will allow you to display photos, play videos, play some games but with concessions on the level of graphics. Fortunately, the screen uses a lower resolution than other mid-range phones, which makes the work of the graphics processor lighter.

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

Testing the Redmi 9A with Antutu doesn't make a lot of sense because the performance will in no way be comparable with the phones I'm used to testing. I have a score of around 100,000 points, which is slightly lower than the Redmi 9C but much higher than the Huawei Y6 which is much more expensive.

So it is not a phone for those who play 3D games but in the next paragraph I will demonstrate that it is not a dead end.




Gaming

To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.

I test all phones with PUBG Mobile because this game needs a minimum of performance to be playable. I was pleasantly surprised by the result. PUBG Mobile is a game that has been well designed because it automatically adapts its graphics level to the phone's capabilities in order to accommodate a maximum number of players. It is therefore possible to play PUBG Mobile with a Redmi 9A but the graphics are at the lowest level to ensure a smooth gameplay. The game is set in "fluid" mode to ensure a correct experience.

The video shows quite well that the textures are not very nice but the game is perfectly playable. I sometimes noticed a few slowdowns but that didn't stop me from playing.

Network performance

The Redmi 9A supports most 4G frequencies used in Europe including B28 (700 Mhz). For an entry-level phone, the frequency coverage is as good as a mid-range phone.


Signal 4G (before december 2020)

The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance.


I made about 1000 measurements in 4G to get an average signal of -96.48 dBM, this is an above average score and for Xiaomi this is a good score as I usually get lower scores with this brand.

Signal 4G (from December 2020)

I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.

To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.

Overview of the phones tested with this methodology



Download/Upload speed

To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.

I got a 4G download speed between 40 and 50 Mbps. This is quite low compared to the other phones I tested but it shouldn't stop you from using the phone for common tasks like surfing the internet, watching videos or even playing games that don't require a lot of resources.

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.


Wifi signal

I measured a signal of -19 dBm near the router, this is a good score indicating good wifi sensitivity. I measured -63 dBm remotely, this is an excellent score which is explained by the frequency used by the Redmi 9A. The phone uses the 2.4Ghz frequency which allows you to pick up a signal further away but this is at the expense of the download speed.



Download/Upload speed

To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.The Redmi 9A uses the 2.4Ghz frequency in wifi, this is clearly a weak point of the phone as most phones nowadays support the 5Ghz frequency which allows a better download speed.

I got a download speed of just under 50 Mbps. This is not much compared to what I got with other phones but in principle the Redmi 9A is not for people who need speed. With 50 Mbps it is possible to surf or watch videos without too many problems. The phone is not capable of displaying a video in 1080p, so the speed problem does not arise anyway.

GPS performance

To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal.

I obtained an accuracy of 1m with the GPS position test on the Redmi 9A. This is the best score I can get on this kind of test. The accuracy is therefore very good but I would advise against using this phone for fast movement tracking as the weakness of its processor may create latency on the display.

Battery range

The Redmi 9A offers a good battery life provided that the brightness is not used at 100% because at this level of brightness the Redmi 9A offers average performance. With the screen on at 50%, I obtained a battery life of more than 32 hours and here, on the other hand, the Redmi 9A offers a good performance. In normal use, you should therefore be able to obtain an autonomy of 3 to 4 days.

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.

Hardware

The Redmi 9A is a simple phone, so it doesn't have a multitude of photo sensors on the back, there is only one. I don't have any information on the make or model of this sensor but it is probably the same sensor as the Redmi 9C which produces images of 13 million pixels and a focal length of 3.43mm.

Default app

The default photo application is about the same as on other Xiaomi phones. The Redmi 9A uses only one sensor, so there is only a photo and video mode. This photo application is designed for better equipped phones, so there is a bit too much information for such a simple phone.

The phone's weakness in performance will impact the use of the camera as there is latency in most actions coming from the camera. This does not prevent the camera from being used, but sometimes you have to be a little lenient.

Photo quality

Photo test / studio



I usually take several pictures in the studio to test each sensor but as the Redmi 9A has only one sensor, I will only take one picture and compare it with the Redmi 9C which is the closest to the 9A.



The difference in colour is very visible between the two phones. The Redmi 9A produces an image that is too cold and this is quite curious as I think the sensor is the same as the 9C. This would mean that the treatment applied to the photo is different. The sharpness of the photo is however quite good for a phone of this price.

Photo test / sunny



The Redmi 9A only has a photo sensor, which makes it easier for me to work on my test. I didn't expect much with this phone as the entry-level phones I've tested so far were frankly bad at taking pictures. The Redmi 9A surprised me positively. The photos are not extraordinary, it's true, but for 79€ the result is really interesting.

The colour temperature is a bit too hot and depending on the brightness, the photo sensor will quickly fall into overexposure or underexposure but overall the technical quality of the photo is quite good.



Photo test / cloudy



The Redmi 9A is quickly put into trouble when the light is less favourable. Pictures are often either overexposed or underexposed but in this price range I don't really see a better alternative. The quality of the photos is quite acceptable.



Test photo / night

Not yet available / tested

Video quality

Stabilisation



The Redmi 9A does not have video stabilisation and this is not surprising as video stabilisation is only available on much more expensive phones. This means that the vibrations are not damped and the pixel recalculation is clearly visible.

Video normale conditions


The Redmi 9A does not produce videos of extraordinary quality but I find that the phone does not fare too badly. The light and shadow management can quickly switch from one extreme to the other but when conditions are stable, the dynamics are not bad.

The video does tend to jerk and the pixel correction is clearly visible. This phone is therefore not recommended for fast movements.

Video low light

Not yet available / tested

Audio quality

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.
With a 79€ phone I didn't expect to get a very good sound quality. Listening without headphones shows that the loudspeaker is struggling to reproduce frequencies correctly and the sound is not very powerful (and this is a good thing given that the sound quality is not very good).

With headphones, on the other hand, the sound quality is better, it's quite comparable with what I've heard on mid-range phones.

Frequency Response

This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line.
The Redmi 9A is capable of reproducing most frequencies correctly, it offers a sound quality very similar to the Redmi Note 9 which costs twice as much. It moves away from the reference quite quickly in the high frequencies but the deviation is not important before 10Khz.

The Redmi 9A and 9C probably share the same equipment as I have obtained almost identical results.

Dynamic Range

This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.
The Redmi 9A does not produce a very powerful sound but it is still more powerful than a Redmi Note 9. The performance is fairly even across all frequencies with a weakness in the low frequencies.

Noise Level

This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.
The Redmi 9A has no interference problems, it is clearly not the phone with the best sound quality, but for its price, it offers a completely correct sound performance.

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.

Colorimetry



I measured a colour difference ofE of
3.47 with my probe is a very good result for a phone of this price. I obtained this score by choosing the standard mode in the display settings because the factory settings are not correct.

The white deviates quite strongly from the normal temperature of 6500k, I measured 7335k, so the colouring of the display is a bit too warm.



Brightness / Contrast

I measured a brightness of 365 cd/m², which is a very average score. Reading the screen in full sunlight will be difficult. The Redmi 9A offers a "sunlight" mode but the brightness will not be sufficient to ensure good brightness in strong light.

I measured a contrast ratio of 1746:1 with my probe, which is a very good score especially in this price range. So I am quite surprised to find a screen like this on a 79€ phone. This screen is not perfect but at this price I can hardly complain.

Biometry

The Redmi 9A has no biometric options, not even a fingerprint sensor on the back and that's a pity because you have to get used to unlocking the phone by hand, as was the case before the fingerprint sensors or facial recognition.

Operating system

The Redmi 9A is marketed with MIUI 12, so it has the same features as the other Xiaomi (or Poco) phones. MIUI 12 runs without any problems on the Redmi 9A but the transition between screens or launching an application is not very fast, so don't be in too much of a hurry, but overall the phone works well.

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested

Accessories Redmi 9a

Compare Redmi 9a with the others

Test / Review conclusion

I say it often but Xiaomi's strategy is to occupy as much territory as possible by placing a phone model in all price ranges. Obviously, it's not all about price, you still have to offer a good product.

Did Xiaomi succeed with this Redmi 9A? Yes, in this price range and with this level of equipment you really can't find much. The two most direct competitors are the Umidigi A7 and the Realme C11. So there are not many opponents to Xiaomi in this price range.

Even though I'm used to using faster phones, I didn't experience the test of this Redmi 9A as an unbearable nightmare. This phone is designed to meet basic needs such as making calls, sending messages/emails, surfing the internet and taking a few pictures. The Redmi 9A does it all right.

The Redmi 9A obviously has a bunch of flaws but they are choices in relation to the price.

I'll make an analogy with the car world to express how I feel about this phone. If this phone were a car, it would probably be a Dacia. So it doesn't make sense to compare a Dacia with a BMW (whatever the model) but the Dacia will get you from point A to point B like any other car. You'll probably go slower, with less comfort and less equipment, but you'll still get there.

Strengths

Price
Battery life
Network Sensitivity
GPS accuracy

Weaknesses

Slow
Download speed
Fluctuating photo quality

Alternatives to this product

Umidigi A7
Realme C11

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