Xiaomi’s dedicated budget brand, Redmi has finally launched its newest mid-rangers, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max in India on March 12, 2020. The smartphones were launched in an online event as Xiaomi canceled its on-ground launch event due to Coronavirus. The naming scheme of the these latest Redmi additions seems to be inspired by Apple’s latest flagship, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The big displays and batteries have always been Xiaomi’s strong suit. This time, the Chinese manufacturer has focused on the camera and performance departments too.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro max are aesthetically identical and show differences on a very few grounds, which are limited to the camera, memory configurations, and charging departments.

Specifications of Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max

Design

The Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max are built upon the family’s Aura Balance design and feature a curved glass back that glitters according to light. The fingerprint sensor is mounted on the side for easy access and speed. The smartphones are protected by triple Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and P2i splash-proof nano-coating. Both the smartphones are available in Aurora Blue, Glacier White, and Interstellar Black finishes.

Display 

Both the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max features a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD DotDisplay, which is a fancier name for the punch-hole design. Also, the screen on both smartphones has a no-notch design to offer an immersive viewing experience. The display offers an aspect ratio of 20:9 and sadly the refresh rate is only 60Hz.

Camera 

Here comes a difference between the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max. Although, both the smartphones are housing a quad-camera setup on their rear panels, the difference comes with the main snapper. The Note 9 Pro features a 48MP main shooter, whereas the Note 9 Pro Max takes the lead by boasting a 64MP primary sensor. The other sensors are the same on both the smartphones, which includes an 8MP ultra-wide, a 5MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor.

Talking about the front cameras, the Note 9 Pro uses 16 MP sensor; the Note 9 Pro Max features a 32MP sensor that supports pixel binning. It’s worth noting that Redmi Note 9 Pro is the first phone to have the new Samsung ISOCELL Bright GM2 image sensor. Also, Note 9 Pro Max reserved a spot in the list of the cheapest 64MP camera phones available in the market right now.

Battery 

Both the smartphones are packed with a big 5,020mAh battery, but it’s charged at a different rate on each phone. The Redmi Note 9 Pro can juice up its battery with an 18W fast-charger and the Note 9 Pro Max bumps things up with the support of a 33W charger, which powers the battery from dead to 50% in under 30 minutes. Luckily, the fast chargers are included right in the box with the smartphone.

Performance 

The Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max will be shipped with Android 10 with MIUI running on the top. Both the smartphones will be powered by the recently released Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset. Also, this chipset inherently brings NavIC support, a navigation system developed by ISRO that offers improved experience within the Indian subcontinent.

Price and Availability

The Note 9 Pro offers a 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage in the maxed out variant. Whereas, the Note 9 Pro Max adds an extra 2GB RAM to its top configuration. Also, the internal storage can be expanded up to 512GB on both smartphones using a microSD card. Both the smartphones offer UFS 2.1 storage, which is surprisingly a welcome feature for this budget. 

Now, talking about the price tags, these smartphones are super-economical and offer incredible value for money. Right now, these smartphones are announced only for the Indian markets. 

The Redmi Note 9 Pro will be available in two storage variants:

• 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage at Rs 12,999 ($175)
• 6GB RAM and 128GB storage at Rs 15,999 ($215)

The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max will be available in three storage variants:

• 6GB RAM and 64GB storage at Rs 14,999 ($ 190)
• 8GB RAM and 128GB storage at Rs 16,999 ($230)
• 8GB RAM and 128GB storage at 18,999 ($255)

The Redmi Note 9 Pro will go on sale on March 17, and the Pro Max on March 25. The smartphones will be available on the Xiaomi India website, Amazon India and exclusive Mi stores.