Smartphone launches are taking a pace now with a new smartphone launching almost every week. Following a similar trend, Xiaomi Nepal has launched Redmi Note 9 in Nepal, which is a trimmed-down version of recently launched Redmi Note 9 Pro.
Redmi Note 9 is priced at Rs.22,999 for 4+128GB variant. At this price point, the device is competing against Samsung Galaxy M21 here in Nepal. Galaxy M21 is also priced at Rs.22,999 for a 4GB+64GB variant. Today in this article let’s compare both of the devices along with their pros and cons. We already did such articles for various other devices so do check them out too.
Redmi Note 9 vs Samsung Galaxy M21
| Redmi Note 9 | Samsung Galaxy M21 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions & Weight | 162.3x72.2x8.9 mm & 199g | 159x75.1x8.9 mm, 188g |
| Display | 6.53 inches, FHD+, IPS Display | 6.4 inches, FHD+, S.Amoled Display |
| Processor | Helio G85, 2.0Ghz Octa-core | Exynos 9611, 2.3Ghz Octa-core |
| Memory | 4GB+128GB, eMMC 5.1 | 4GB+64GB & 6GB+128GB, UFS 2.1 |
| Software | MIUI 11 on Top of Android 10 | One UI 2.0 on Top of Android 10 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,ac Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n,ac Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| Camera | Quad Camera (48MP f/1.8+8MP ultrawide f/2.2+2MP macro f/2.2+2MP depth f/2.4 13MP f/2.3 front | Triple Camera (48MPwith f/2.0+8MP ultrawide f/2.2 +5MP depth f/2.2) 20MP f/2.0 front camera |
| Battery | 5020mAh, 18W fast charging | 6000mAh, 15W fast charging |
| Additional Features | IR blaster, Gorilla glass 5 | 4K recording @30fps |
Design
For the Design here both Xiaomi and Samsung has gone with a plastic back with Gorilla Glass on the front wrapped with a plastic frame. Plastic backs are more prone to scratch than a glass back but at the same time it more durable than glass black. Redmi Note 9 uses Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and comes with P2i Splash proof coating. Whereas on the Samsung Galaxy M21, it features Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
Redmi Note 9 is here on a heavier side despite having only 5020mAh battery whereas Samsung is lighter even after having a larger 6000mAh battery. At the front we have a Punch hole on the top left corner on Redmi Note 9 display which looks more modern than a U shaped notch on the Galaxy M21.
Display
The display is something where Samsung has out past Redmi as they have gone with a 6.4 inches Super Amoled display. This display shows inky blacks and great contrast along with nice viewing angles. We can’t say that Note 9 has a bad display. It’s just that Samsung Super Amoled wins over a 6.53 inches IPS panel. Both are FHD+ Displays. Redmi note 9 has a max brightness of 450 nits whereas Galaxy M21 can go up to 420.
Performance & Software
For the performance, from the Samsung side, we have their favorite Exynos 9611 SoC with Mali-G72 MP3 GPU which is competing here against Mediatek Helio G85 present in Redmi Note 9. Here both the devices are going to perform equally when it comes to day to day tasks like surfing the web or casual social media and YouTube.
When it comes to gaming Redmi Note 9 should perform better as it has a gaming-oriented budget SoC. Talking about the software, Redmi Note 9 runs on MIUI 11 on top of Android 10 whereas Samsung has it’s own One UI 2.0 on top of Android 10. Different people have different choices when it comes to software, so we let you decide which one you prefer. Let us know in the comment section below.
Optics
Redmi has here gone with a quad-camera setup with a 48MP main Sony sensor with f/1.8 aperture whereas Samsung has a 48MP f/2.0 main shooter. Both performed well under optimum lighting conditions. For the accessory lenses, we have an 8MP f/2.2 camera on both the devices with 118° of FOV. The last lens for Samsung is a 5MP depth sensor. Whereas in Redmi Note 9 we get a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor and also a 2MP f/2.4 Macro lens with AF for closer shots up to 2CM.
Here Redmi has the advantage of being more versatile between two. But Samsung Galaxy M21 can record 4K video @30fps and also 1080p @30fps, whereas Redmi maxes out at 1080p @30fps. But do we really need a macro lens as an extra camera in a smartphone or it’s better to have a 4K video recording? Let us know in the comment section below.
For Samsung Galaxy M21 at the front, we have a 20MP f/2.0 shooter while in Redmi Note 9 we have a 13MP f/2.3 lens. On paper, Samsung Galaxy M21 should offer better selfies at the low light situation as it comes with wide aperture compared to Redmi Note 9.
Both are capable of HDR, Panorama, and video recording up to 1080p @30fps.
Battery
Here Samsung has a clear lead as it has a larger 6000mAh battery as compared to 5020mAh in Redmi Note 9. It also has an Amoled display which will help to lower down the battery consumption. On top of all this, it uses 10nm SoC which will be more power-efficient than the 12nm on the Redmi. When it comes to topping up those large batteries, we get 15W changing on Samsung and a faster 18W on Redmi Note 9 with a 22.5W charger available on the box.
Pricing
Xiaomi has only launched a 4GB+128GB variant of the device in Nepal at a price tag of Rs.22,999, which is exactly the same price for Samsung Galaxy M21 with 4+64GB variant. Samsung Galaxy M21 is also available in a 6GB+128GB variant for Rs.27,499.
Redmi Note 9
Pros
-
Faster Charging
-
GORILLA Glass 5 protection
-
P2i Splash proof coating
- Double internal storage
Cons
-
Bit heavier compare to M21
Samsung Galaxy M21
Pros
-
Larger battery
-
Lighter Compare to Note 9
-
4K recording
-
Super Amoled Display
Cons
-
Looks & feels more plasticky
