Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 16.9 cm (6.67") 6 GB 64 GB Hybrid Dual SIM 4G USB Type-C Green 5020 mAh Redmi Note 9 Pro, 16.9 cm (6.67"), 2400 x 1080 pixels, 6 GB, 64 GB, 64 MP, Green – Netherlands, C...

I’ve had a use for a dual-SIM phone for about 6 years now, having moved to what turned out to be a ‘black-hole’ in the mobile coverage grid in darkest Zummerzet. Such a large black-hole that when I first moved here, one of my initial tasks was to march into the Three store in Taunton and demand to be let off my contract since the service didn’t exist where I lived. After a lot of clucking and checking coverage areas they were forced to agree with a degree of feigned surprise. It resulted in my being given, free of charge, one of those natty little boxes that uses your broadband to give you a good signal around the home. Anyway, this is merely to set the scene as to why I like the back-up of a dual-SIM phone.My last phone was an ‘international version’ of a Moto G7 Plus – you tend to find yourself buying these versions as what network’s phone shop is going to recommend a dual-SIM phone on the basis of their network being rubbish?I was however concerned that it had been ‘played with’ from a native Chinese version and as such wasn’t receiving security updates. Worse still, Netflix refused to have anything to do with it.Therefore I was delighted to find that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro on Amazon was in fact the UK version with 2-year Amazon warranty. Even more delighted to find that it was listed at around £269, which surely has to be a bargain for a phone with a 6.67 inch screen. So you can imagine my continued delight to find that is was to be had for £198 in the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales (now £192, grrrr).It even had the courtesy to turn up a day earlier than stated all without parting with any extra money. Well done, Amazon!It’s just quite simply the largest and most cosmetically beautiful phone I’ve had so far and only 0.3 inches short of my very first tablet! I ordered the grey version (yes, I did know that it’s really pale metallic blue!), and it shimmers and deceives the eye as to its real colour and even if the back is actually flat when viewed from different angles! Of course, it’s a ‘finger print magnet’ and very sensibly, Xiaomi had included a gel rubber case – but why a smoke grey one that makes it look black, whichever colour you ordered? The screen appears to come pre-fitted with a protection layer of some sort.Also included is the fast charger and USB-C lead you’ll need to get you going if you’ve not had a phone with this kind of USB port before.Knowing that you’ll be itching to get going, it came with 70% charge, more than enough, it turns out for a whole day’s heavy use. This phone has a seriously large battery so no wonder they give you a fast charger. Not much chance of developing the mobile version of ‘range anxiety’ here. It even gives you the scope to operate in the 20%-80% range which I’m told is better for Li-Ion batteries and still have at least a day’s charge.Set-up went well , with me choosing to suck out the Moto’s setup directly into the Note 9 Pro via Bluetooth.After letting the dust settle on that process, checking each app to see which ones needed further work to get them up and running, I found that I could update to the last ‘MIUI’ version 12, which is Xiaomi’s take on Android, including Android 10 - this was an immediate improvement over the Moto which had not had a peep at any kind of upgrade or security patch for over a year.I’m not sure if the upgrade was the solution to the previous ‘wi-fi keeps cutting out’ complaint but it sure as hell hasn’t happened to me. Also, there’s an ‘app drawer’ facility enabling you to group your apps into categories, and more importantly, list them alphabetically rather than in the order they were loaded. This is another facility that I get the impression didn’t exist in previous versions of the MIUI.All in all, I’m thrilled with it so far although the MIUI does mean you have to learn where to find things in ‘Settings’ more or less all over again. For example, all the system information that for years has been at the bottom of the Settings menu is now called ‘About Phone’ at the top of the menu!The camera is way better than the Moto’s, and takes great night photos with the flash turned off. My major concern would be that the ‘turret’ of 4 lenses (yes, 4!) stands proud of the back, even with the gel case fitted so it’s going to be an effort to keep it scratch-free. A little like the discipline needed to never put spectacles down with lenses touching anything.The Note 9 Pro has some natty little features, like the finger print reader being built into the normal on/off button. Ergonomically, this is a brilliant idea and I’ve found that I really only need to register my right thumb print to make the most of this – no reaching round the back and fumbling for the right spot with one of your longer fingers as with the Moto. Thus it can be brought out of standby with the gentlest of pressure on this button by the thumb that I guess most of us use.It’s capable of handling both SIMs in 4G mode. There’s no 5G facility on this phone – I’ll leave that for when I can get something better than 3G or even 2G around here! Anything’s better than ‘no signal’. It’s also ready for VoLTE and works on Three which never has had a ‘2g with LTE overlay’ structure. I’m told that this improves voice quality on phone calls. Yes, why do none of the reviews mention that you can even make calls on it? They’ll happily wax lyrical about the frame rate when playing “Angry Doom Birds of Duty GTA” but, does it make phone calls? No.I get an distinct impression that this phone does actually extract another bar of signal strength out of the air compared to the Moto but I wouldn’t swear to it.The screen, for me at least is a beauty and streaming Netflix in bed is now a distinct joy. They’ve kept the faith with 3.5mm plug-in headphones which suites me just fine. There’s only one speaker but that’s one less hole to let water in! The MIUI allows for ‘speaker cleaning’ to clear fluff and dust out with what BT would have called ‘the howler’.The only sizeable niggle is the amount of bloatware that MIUI contains compared to the more ‘vanilla’ Android of the Moto. I’ve ignored their encouragement to join any kind of MIUI account. I’ve already got Dropbox, Onedrive and BT’s generous 1 tbyte of back up, so do I feel like sending a Chinese firm my pictures and documents? No ta!I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t all ‘bloatware’ as such and could even be uninstalled, leaving the rest to be grouped as ‘here be dragons’!I bought the 6gb ROM/128gb RAM version although the 128gb takes a heavy hit just with apps and system files. I’m upgrading mine with a further 128gb micro-SD car, the long-term aim to be having all my music on there to link with the car dashboard. I’m told you can add cards up to 512gb. Oh yes, and you don’t have to choose between having 2 SIMs or one SIM and an SD card. You can have all three.My Windows 10 PC linked to it via a USB cable without needing extra drivers, (unlike the Moto which need a separate download just to be able to plug it in).SUMMARYGOOD BITSGreat battery life. Probably around 2 days in my handsVery versatile and able camera set-up. Four lensesGreat cosmetics – pity Xiaomi choose to hid it inside a black case (I bought a clear one separately)Fast charger supplied with USB-C lead. Much prefer this particualr type of USB port, can’t try to get it round the wrong way!Excellent large screenLove the finger-print reader built into on/off button. Very logicalNFC facilityNOT SO GOODMIUI has a fair amount of bloatware.Camera stack protrudes from back so could get scratched.

I bought this phone for a family member as an upgrade and it has proved to be a reliable handset so far.The device this one is replacing is too old to be compared directly to it, but my own device (OnePlus 6) and a recently purchased Realme 6 Pro can be compared directly and the Redmi Note 9 Pro gives both a run for their money, specially the near identical Realme 6 Pro, which is great, but as I thought, was way overpriced, and the Redmi 9 Pro’s price tag helped pointing it out even more.Whilst it may not have the 90 Hz display (Which you would not notice anyway), or dual front cameras, it makes up for it with higher capacity battery (5020 mAh vs 4300) and a much better build quality. Also, it may only has 6 GB RAM not 8, you will never notice any difference. And, it has an LED notification light!The MUIU interface is an acquired taste however, it leaves more to be desired from the high specs hardware. While the home screen looks pleasant to look at once finished personalising it, finding these options to optimise your handset and make it your own can be a bit tricky, but if you do take the time (Almost a day) to play with the phone and set it up properly before you start using it, you should be able to customise your phone and make it a joy to use.Pros:1- The price, obviously! At £244, the 6 GB RAM 128 GB ROM is a bargain, even at the full £269 price tag, it’s still reasonably priced!2- Excellent battery life.3- Excellent charging time (Just under an hour from 30% to full charge).4- Cameras are excellent, with endless modes and decent image quality.5- NFC.6- Fingerprint scanner is lightning fast.7- IR blaster in case you have to fight your wife for the TV’s remote control (And yes, it does work!).8- Certain software features are interesting.9- The rear camera module is in the centre of the back, while it may not sit flat on flat surfaces, it won’t be leaning on one side.Cons:1- MUIU’s settings’ options are a bit childish, confusing, and baffling at times. There’s a lot to improve in here.2- Certain Xiaomi native apps require too many permissions to operate, and can not be uninstalled or disabled. I value my privacy, whilst I am aware that we can not escape these practices from almost any manufacturer at the moment as everyone wants your data! I find the fact that an app like Mi Themes for example, requiring permission to access contacts, to be a little too invasive. (I am trying to find a way to disable it, no luck yet!).3- Huawei Health app for Honor watch is not counting steps if I’m using my phone only, despite removing any battery restrictions. It is working without having to install Huawei Mobile Services app though, which is an improvement for Android 10.4- The included case has raised edges to protect the screen, which is great, but sits flush with the rear camera module, leaving it prone to scratches. Why not raise it by 0.5 mm at the back is beyond me.Overall verdict:For the price? I can live with the minor flaws, which I would hope that Xiaomi would rectify in future updates.I am now thinking of trying the more expensive Xiaomi handsets, but it will depend on where this phone will be standing the next few weeks, but I would definitely recommend this phone.

Now been using this for years. 3 slots, 1 x CD and 2 x Sim. Camera is good. Everything works on it and its not given up like the UleFone one did. Redmi is in my opinion the best budget brand although some of the new ones are hardly budget. We've had 4 phones now from this brand and all are still working as we sold old ones to friends only upgrading to get more storage and more camera features.