The trend of affordable flag models is steadily growing and the company has noticed it Xiaomi. Daughter's smartphone Pocophone F1 brought a brutal price / performance ratio and something similar now the company is trying to level down.
In the category of upper middle class smartphones, which really have a variety of features from flag models, the new model will not be lost Xiaomi Mi 9T. We have been fully testing it for almost three weeks and we bring our detailed review.
We bought it here 
Packaging as above standard
Already the content of the package makes this smartphone into a slightly higher category. Elegant dark box with a picture of the device offers on the top of the paper box with a hard and high-quality plastic cover.
It is black and provides accurate cut-outs where needed. It is therefore not a simple silicone. There are also paper manuals and a needle for SIM card insertion and insertion. Below this accessory package is also the phone itself covered with protective / advertising film.
Below it is a charging cable that has a Type C USB on one side and a standard Type A USB on the other side. This is a standard Xiaomi cable that doesn't disappoint. The charger tip offers classic dimensions, but also supports fast charging directly in the package. It deserves praise.
A design that won't bore you
The Mi 9T, despite its diagonal, will offer quite good dimensions at 156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm. Due to the high battery capacity, the balance stopped at 191 grams. Given the dimensions, however, these are reasonable values and the smartphone fits very well in your hand.
In terms of design, this is an exceptional piece. Although the device is a classic glass-metal "sandwich", its back wall offers a really interesting game with light. However, it lacks certified watertightness. The rear wall is patterned inside (under the protective glass) and offers really nice reflections especially in red and blue colors.
Truly minimal frames are also front. This makes the phone look comfortable in our hand and we wouldn't feel as big about the screen as it contains. Although it is a fingerprint magnet, regular cleaning can be avoided, for example, by using a package that is directly in the package.
Device layout
The front side is covered by a truly large AMOLED display, which compensates for its size with compact frames. The minimal chin under the display and the thin strips around the display point to a sophisticated design by the manufacturer.
The top edge is home to a sliding motorized front camera, with a secondary microphone and a 3,5mm audio connector. Unfortunately, this time there is no infrared port, so you can't control your home electronics with this phone. Thanks to the sliding camera, the notification LED is also present in the upper edge. A little impractical solution.
At the bottom is a loud (but average) speaker, a USB Type C connector for charging or connecting to a computer, a primary (standard quality) microphone, as well as a SIM card slot.
On the lower, upper and left edges are also plastic strips for signal transmission. The left side is also empty. On the right side, there is a volume control button and a color-coded button to turn the device on and off. This color differentiation is practical and praise belongs to the manufacturer.
What would it be like a smartphone without a sophisticated back wall? There are three rear cameras, one encircling a fine ring and the inscription "48 MP", which means its high resolution. They leave the body only minimally and the enclosed packaging will make up for the difference. Overall, the design itself is modern and the layout of the elements is practical.
The flagship display
In this case, we actually tried the display with the parameters of the flagship. The smartphone offers a 6,39 ″ AMOLED display without a cutout. The resolution is very good 2340 x 1080 pixels (Full HD +), in this case the aspect ratio is 19,5: 9.
The display panel offers bright but not presaturated colors (adjustable in settings), top viewing angles, and black that is truly black. Dark theme fans will find the magic of this display.
Brightness, both minimum and maximum, is very good, and in strong sunlight, Xiaomi software also helps. For the used panel, which is incidentally the same as the flagship Mi 9T Pro, the manufacturer receives praise from us.
Modern high-end processor
although Pro the version will offer an uncompromising flagship “855” processor, the basic model I 9T will have to do "only" with an eight-core processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 730. This is complemented by up to 6 GB of RAM and the Adreno 618 graphics accelerator.
When it comes to performance itself, the smartphone simply doesn't hesitate. Yes, these are smoother responses than the "660" processor used, for example, in the more affordable Redmi Note 7. In general, however, we did not necessarily notice the need for a flagship processor.
Players of truly demanding 3D games can suffer from a slight problem, loading and high detail can take the processor. However, the software enhancements, the RAM used, and the graphics accelerator try to help as much as they can. However, we would advise enthusiastic players to buy flag equipment one level higher.
RAM surprises, SD card does not take place
The device comes in two memory versions. There is a combination of 6 GB RAM + 64 GB internal storage as well as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB internal storage.
For the vast majority of users, the latter combination should suffice. On the other hand, there is no choice, microSD card extension is not available in this case. The slot that the phone contains is only for a pair of SIM cards (so it is a DualSIM functionality).
Fingerprint reader. In the display!
Another feature that this model has taken from the world of flagships is the fingerprint reader. It is located on the front, directly below the display (specifically at the bottom of the display). The place where the reader is located is also marked by software.
The reliability of this new generation reader is not bad at all. In any case, it is an optical sensor, so it is very difficult to walk with wet hands. Also, the unlocking speed is longer than with a standard sensor. However, this is a modern and popular feature, which we definitely recommend trying. After all, it is about the future, that is, the present - already the present.
Smooth Android 9.0 Pie
The smartphone comes with the built-in Android operating system in its latest version 9.0 Pie. The system itself also includes a July security update (missing in August), which is good news with regard to the price and target of the device.
The processor used in the "730" series is sufficient and comfortably handles the smooth running of the system and easier multitasking. Since this is a "Mi" series, it is likely that owners will also see an update to the upcoming Android 10 system.
MIUI 10 with many features
Spoločnosť Xiaomi has already announced a new version of the MIUI 11, for example, for its upcoming smartphone My MIX 4. Model I 9T However, it naturally comes with the latest version of this superstructure, and therefore MIUI 10. Of course, this is the Global version of the MIUI superstructure.
Regarding the advantages of the AMOLED panel, we recommend trying the dark mode of the system, which saves eyes, battery and looks stylish as a bonus. The dark theme is also available in select pre-installed applications.
Processor and software superstructure work together very well and in terms of optimization we can only praise the manufacturer. MIUI is overcrowded in terms of functions, which has not been shortened even Mi 9T. Simplified one-handed operation, ability to switch gestures, detailed notification settings, application cloning and much, much more.
Motorized front camera, 48 MPx rear
How many cameras does this smartphone offer? There are four sensors in total. Three of them are on the back and offer truly flagship results. The fourth sensor is located in the interior of the device. It's a motorized front camera that pops up only when you need it.
The backside dominates 48 MPx sensor with aperture f / 1.8. There is also a design differentiation of the other two rear sensors. They offer 13 MPx (f / 2.4, widescreen sensor) and 8 MPx (f / 2.4, 2x optical zoom). Video back camera can be shot up to 4K at 30 fps. The rear side is complemented by a dual LED flash.
The front camera with its motorized drive comes out of the top wall almost immediately after the mode is started. It is a 20 MPx sensor with an aperture of f / 2.2 that offers truly detailed and crisp images as well as 1080p video at 30 fps. Enjoy HDR or color and sound effects when the camera starts (can be edited).
The quality of the photos really surprises, literally. The level of sharpness, detail, color spectrum or “bokeh” effect, with a calm conscience, can be said to be the flagship photographic equipment. In daylight, the results are very competitive and the manufacturer has set the imaginary bar high.
Thanks to the combination of its sensors, the smartphone will not be ashamed of even in low light conditions. Photographs capture the light and make the most of it. There is also a night mode, which would be even more effective with a tripod. Simply satisfaction.
In the gallery above is a preview of daylight photos, photos taken in low light, full 48 MPx photos, but also macro photography. Gallery samples are scaled down for review. Full resolution original is available in the following link.
Test FullHD video:
There is also an NFC and a 3,5 mm audio connector
No, it's not a flag phone, and yet there are elements we're looking for in vain on today's flagship smartphones. Yes, we come across a 3,5mm audio connector, a connector that will appreciate every true “audiophile”.
Other equipment includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0 LE (also includes aptX), GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, will also please the built-in FM radio or USB type C with USB On-The-Go support functionality. Great news is present NFC, so fans of contactless payments via Google Pay will also come into their own. The Chinese manufacturer has another praise for this function.
Today standard 4000 mAh
Not being dissatisfied with the capacity of the battery, no. 4000 mAh is indeed sufficient and above-average in selected equipment classes. However, if we look at the current flagship smartphones, they already offer a higher value and some of the "mAh" in addition would certainly please.
However, the battery life is very good, the smartphone can handle a full working day, and if you treat it a bit (for example, with dark themes on the AMOLED display or using less energy-intensive applications), a two-day battery life is unrealistic.
The smartphone is equipped with 18 W fast charging (a quick charger, as mentioned above, is included in the package). What is missing, however, is wireless charging. This will be offered by the flagship Mi 9.
Final evaluation: Is it for everyone?
Model Xiaomi Mi 9T is not for everyone. Although it might seem at first glance. However, it is more expensive than affordable Redmi pieces, but cheaper than any flagship smartphone. This creates an imaginary “ideal” upper middle class for a wide group of users.
Plus is an interesting design, fast charging, NFC functionality and device design including a sliding motorized front camera. It is still quite unique in the price range. On the contrary, the certified water resistance of the device is missing.
We bought it here
But Xiaomi has re-created a high-quality smartphone at an affordable price, for which they have a big thumbs up. We cannot say anything other than to recommend the Xiaomi Mi 9T to anyone who wants a good-quality smartphone, but does not want to spend too much money.
