Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T

Solid build quality with water-repellant coating

Thick screen bezels, larger punch hole, slight ghosting - it's a budget display here

If, however, 5G is not high on your priorities list for now, there is undoubtedly better "non-5G" smartphone value, for lack of a better term, to be had by shopping around and the Redmi Note 9T shouldn't be your first choice.

Solid MediaTek Dimensity 800U performance ; Excellent battery life ; Main camera works great ; MIUI 12

Weird design ; Average performing display ; Inflexible camera module ; No IP certification ; Ads in the user interface

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is the umpteenth version of a range of hugely affordable smartphones, sporting incremental updates each time. It has proven itself worthy with each new release, continues to sell well, and comes highly recommended by tech...

Solid battery life ; Simple design ; Dual 5G SIM support ; Fast fingerprint reader ; Affordable

Mediocre display ; Average cameras ; MIUI 12 not for everyone

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is a solid phone that takes the fight to Realme and OnePlus in the budget market. If you're looking for 5G and the best battery life for the price, look no further than the Note 9T. However, if a dazzling display and punchy...

Relatively fast to use Affordable 5G Feels good in the hand

Cameras are only ‘okay’ Lots of bloatware Mi 10T Lite is the same price but has better specs

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is a decent phone for the price. It’s fairly snappy in use, it has a nice design that fits snugly in the hand, and you’re getting 5G compatibility on a budget. It’s not perfect – the display isn’t as bright as it could be, and...

Many improvements over predecessor Affordable 5G

Cameras are only okay Too many pre-installed apps

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is a decent cheap phone, with improvements over its predecessor and some useful new features. It's not perfect - there's a recurring Xiaomi software problem and so-so cameras, but there's lots to like here.

Great value for money ; Strong battery life ; Finish that doesn't look budget ; 5G future-proofed connectivity ; Decent screen resolution

Some grating software issues ; Overzealous screen dimming ; Multi-camera setup is an oversell ; Odd graphics issues in some games

Great value for money is the key sell here. While the strong feature set sounds like enough to see off its rivals, the 9T suffers from push and pull with its software that causes irks, meaning it's an affordable phone that'll suit some - but not all.