The 2020 Redmi Note 9 Pro promised to be a pretty impressive device when it was unveiled in India. Soon after, the international version was ready, Redmi Note 9S. Probably the most popular Redmi model of this summer (year) Kornél has already started testing, and another member of our team quickly took it apart, curious to see what was inside the fresh model.
What the legendary Redmi Note the newest member of the model family?
Of the Redmi Note models to date, the Note 9S has the highest display test ratio, which is 91%
Huge battery
Apart from the Mi Max and Mi Note models, only the entry-level Redmi models (Redmi 8/8A) have so far had a 5000mAh or higher capacity battery, while the Redmi Note 9S has a 5020mAh battery.
The Snapdragon 7xx processor family has arrived
Over the years, Xiaomi has tested almost every processor available in its various models. Both the entry-level and upper-mid Redmi Note series have used Snapdragon and MediaTek. While the predecessor, the Redmi Note 8 Pro, used a MediaTek Heliao G90T SoC, the Redmi Note 9S already the latest Snapdragon 720G-(with up to 2.3GHz clock speed and 5th generation AI engine), which is 36% more powerful than the SD712 used in the Mi 9 SE in terms of processor performance, while it has 18% more power in graphics. That means it easily beats the year-old Mi 9 SE in raw power. We could see a Redmi Note model available in 2020 with a more powerful version of the Snapdragon 700 processor family, which was only available in the upper-mid range Mi series last year.
In-frame fingerprint reader
Xiaomi has already built in fingerprint readers in every possible place in its Mi and Redmi models. This is the first model available on the international market to have it built into the right-hand side of the bezel, rather than on the back or under the display. Based on our test, it does its job quite quickly and accurately.
Quad camera, slightly different layout
Redmi's full range of models now includes sensors in almost all popular geometric shapes. On the Redmi Note 8/T, they placed the 2-2 sensors vertically on the left edge, one below the other, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, they placed them in the middle, and on the Redmi Note 9S, they placed them in a rounded rectangle in the middle, with the LED flash below them. This is no longer unique, but it certainly looks good. And at least it doesn't wobble...
You still get the 3.5mm jack and infraport. The unit is splash resistant and a Z-axis linear vibration motor provides improved vibrating feedback at the edges.
Redmi Note 9S taken apart
Not only the legend of the Redmi Note series (the Note 9S is expected to be one too), but also the Attila Komáromi is also the name of. He's been credited with the software and hardware improvements of so many devices, there's hardly an enthusiast who hasn't heard of his achievements. Next to Kornél, he is probably the best known Hungarian Xiaomi/MIUI team member, who is still actively and prepared to serve the Xiaomi users of our small country. Not only does Attila have to know the inside of every Xiaomi device for his job, but he also likes to examine new models from the inside as a hobby. That's how he got his hands on the Redmi Note 9S, which he took apart in a home quarantine style, and captured the process himself. You can see this in video form below.
