The Meizu Note 9 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 represent a pivotal moment in the budget smartphone market – a time when capable performance and respectable features became accessible to a wider audience. Both devices, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, aimed to deliver a compelling experience without breaking the bank. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on how the Snapdragon 675 in the Note 9 stacks up against the Snapdragon 660 in the Redmi Note 7.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Meizu Note 9 emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Snapdragon 675 chipset, built on a more efficient 11nm process, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Redmi Note 7’s Snapdragon 660, translating to smoother multitasking and gaming. While battery life is comparable, the Note 9’s architecture offers a more future-proofed experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, March. Released 2019, March | 2019, January 10. Released 2019, February 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 153.1 x 74.4 x 8.7 mm (6.03 x 2.93 x 0.34 in) | 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 170 g (6.00 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2244 pixels, 18.7:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 96.4 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM675 Snapdragon 675 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Flyme 7.2 | Android 9.0 (Pie), planned upgrade to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens
or
12 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60/120fps, (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired, QC4 |
| Type | Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Starlight Blue | Blue, Black, Twilight Gold, White |
| Models | - | M1901F7G, M1901F7H, M1901F7I |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.7dB / Crosstalk -94.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 108h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1338:1 (nominal), 2.893 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 90dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 139075 (v7)
GeekBench: 5411 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 7.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Meizu Note 9
- More efficient Snapdragon 675 chipset
- Potentially better sustained performance
- Modern 11nm process node
- Lack of Quick Charge 4 support
- Limited camera specification details
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
- Proven reliability and long-term support
- Quick Charge 4 compatibility
- Comparable battery endurance
- Older Snapdragon 660 chipset
- Less efficient 14nm process node
- Potentially more thermal throttling
Display Comparison
Both the Meizu Note 9 and Redmi Note 7 share identical display characteristics, boasting a contrast ratio of 1338:1 (nominal) and 2.893 (sunlight). This suggests a similar viewing experience in both indoor and outdoor conditions. However, the lack of detailed information regarding panel type (IPS vs AMOLED) and color gamut coverage prevents a deeper analysis. The shared contrast ratio indicates a comparable level of black depth and color vibrancy, but real-world performance could vary based on panel calibration.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but without specific sensor details, a direct comparison is limited. The absence of information regarding megapixel counts, aperture sizes, or optical image stabilization (OIS) makes it difficult to assess image quality differences. It’s reasonable to assume both phones target the mid-range camera experience, focusing on adequate performance in good lighting conditions. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the Redmi Note 7 is likely a marketing feature with limited practical benefit due to its low resolution and fixed focus.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Meizu Note 9’s Snapdragon 675 (11nm) utilizes Kryo 460 cores – 2x2.0 GHz Gold and 6x1.7 GHz Silver – offering a more modern architecture than the Redmi Note 7’s Snapdragon 660 (14nm) with its 4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver configuration. The 11nm process node of the SD675 translates to improved power efficiency and potentially less thermal throttling under sustained load. While the SD660’s higher clock speeds on its performance cores might offer a slight edge in single-core tasks, the SD675’s architecture and efficiency give it an advantage in multi-core performance and long-term stability, benefiting users who frequently game or run multiple apps simultaneously.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 108 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. Both also support 18W wired charging. However, the Redmi Note 7 includes Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support, which *could* translate to slightly faster charging speeds with compatible chargers, although the 18W limit is shared. The Snapdragon 675’s improved power efficiency in the Meizu Note 9 might offset the lack of QC4, resulting in similar real-world usage times despite potentially drawing less power overall.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu Note 9 if you prioritize sustained performance for gaming or demanding applications and appreciate a more modern chipset architecture. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 if you are looking for a reliable, long-lasting device with a proven track record and are less concerned with pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming or heavy multitasking. The Redmi Note 7 remains a solid option for everyday tasks and media consumption.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 675 in the Meizu Note 9 handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile smoothly?
The Snapdragon 675 is capable of running PUBG Mobile at medium to high settings with reasonable frame rates. Its Adreno 610 GPU provides a significant performance boost over the Adreno 512 in the Redmi Note 7, resulting in a smoother gaming experience, especially during intense firefights. However, expect some frame drops at the highest settings.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 7’s Quick Charge 4 support make a noticeable difference in charging speed compared to the Meizu Note 9?
While the Redmi Note 7 supports QC4, both phones are limited to 18W charging. The actual difference in charging time will likely be minimal, assuming you use a compatible QC4 charger with the Redmi Note 7. The Snapdragon 675’s power efficiency in the Meizu Note 9 might even result in comparable or slightly faster overall charging times due to reduced heat generation.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Redmi Note 7 worth considering?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on budget phones offer limited practical value. The low resolution and fixed focus result in images that often lack detail and sharpness. It's more of a marketing feature than a genuinely useful addition to the camera system.
