The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T and Honor Play 5T Youth represent distinct approaches to the budget smartphone market. The Redmi Note 9T aims for a balance of 5G connectivity and performance, while the Play 5T Youth prioritizes efficiency and affordability. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is the superior choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 800U chipset provides a substantial performance uplift over the Honor Play 5T Youth’s Helio P35, making it better suited for gaming and demanding applications. While the Play 5T Youth offers a slightly more efficient processor, the performance gap is too significant to ignore.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, April 20 | 2021, January 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 27 | Available. Released 2021, January 18 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.2 x 76 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) | 161.2 x 77.3 x 9.1 mm (6.35 x 3.04 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~266 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-G57 MC3 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play Services | Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 - 64GB
UFS 2.2 - 128GB |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 13 MP, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, (wide) | 13 MP, f/2.3, 29mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 18W wired, 33% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Nightfall Black, Daybreak Purple |
| Models | NZA-AL00, KOZ-AL40 | M2007J22G, J22 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 130 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.07 W/kg (head) 1.05 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.94 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 118h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1226:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.3 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 288732 (v8)
GeekBench: 1775 (v5.1) |
Honor Play 5T Youth
- More efficient processor (Helio P35)
- Potentially lower price point
- 22.5W charging support
- Significantly weaker performance (Helio P35)
- Less future-proof
- Limited gaming capabilities
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T
- Much faster performance (Dimensity 800U)
- 5G connectivity
- Brighter display (471 nits)
- Slightly less efficient processor
- 18W charging is slower than Play 5T Youth's wattage
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
Both devices feature a contrast ratio of 1226:1, suggesting similar visual characteristics in terms of black levels. However, the Redmi Note 9T boasts a measured peak brightness of 471 nits, which will provide a noticeably more vibrant and readable experience outdoors compared to the Play 5T Youth, whose brightness is not specified. The lack of information on the Play 5T Youth’s panel technology suggests it likely utilizes a standard LCD, while the Redmi Note 9T’s brightness indicates a potentially higher-quality panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. Given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both utilize budget-oriented camera systems. Without further information, it’s difficult to definitively assess camera quality. However, the Redmi Note 9T’s more powerful chipset could potentially enable more sophisticated image processing algorithms, potentially leading to better image quality in certain scenarios.
Performance
The performance disparity between these two phones is significant. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T’s Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7nm) utilizes Cortex-A76 performance cores, offering a substantial advantage over the Honor Play 5T Youth’s Helio P35 (12nm) and its Cortex-A53 cores. The Dimensity 800U’s architecture allows for faster processing speeds (2.4 GHz vs 2.35 GHz) and improved multi-tasking capabilities. The 7nm process node of the Dimensity 800U also translates to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during extended use. This makes the Redmi Note 9T the clear winner for gaming and resource-intensive applications.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 118 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Redmi Note 9T offers 18W wired charging with a 33% charge in 30 minutes, while the Honor Play 5T Youth supports 22.5W charging. While the Play 5T Youth has higher wattage, the Redmi Note 9T’s charging speed is still respectable and provides a quick top-up when needed. The similar endurance ratings suggest that the more efficient processor in the Play 5T Youth is offset by the Redmi Note 9T’s larger battery capacity (implied by the faster charging to a usable percentage).
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play 5T Youth if you primarily need a phone for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and battery efficiency is paramount. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T if you want a phone capable of handling more demanding applications, enjoy mobile gaming, or require 5G connectivity for faster data speeds. The Redmi Note 9T is the better option for users who value performance and future-proofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Redmi Note 9T handle demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile smoothly?
Yes, the Mediatek Dimensity 800U in the Redmi Note 9T is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. The processor’s architecture and GPU provide a significant performance boost over the Helio P35 in the Play 5T Youth, making it a much better choice for gaming.
❓ Is the 22.5W charging on the Honor Play 5T Youth significantly faster in real-world use than the Redmi Note 9T's 18W?
While the Play 5T Youth has a higher charging wattage, the Redmi Note 9T still achieves a 33% charge in 30 minutes. The actual charging speed depends on various factors, including battery temperature and charging protocol. The difference in charging speed is unlikely to be substantial in everyday use.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 9T support carrier aggregation for improved 5G speeds?
The Redmi Note 9T supports multiple 5G bands and carrier aggregation, allowing it to connect to multiple 5G carriers simultaneously for faster and more reliable data speeds, provided your carrier supports it. This is a key advantage for users in areas with strong 5G coverage.
