Motorola Moto G9 (India) vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and future-proofing, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is the better choice. Its Mediatek Dimensity 800U chipset delivers a substantial performance uplift over the Moto G9’s Snapdragon 662, making it more capable for gaming and demanding applications. While the Moto G9 offers a slightly faster 20W charging, the Redmi Note 9T’s overall package is more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Motorola Moto G9 (India) | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T |
| 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 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 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 / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 31 | 2021, January 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | 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 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 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 + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 199 g (7.02 oz) |
| Water-repellent coating | Water-repellent coating | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% 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 (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G57 MC3 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB 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 |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm | 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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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 | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired, 33% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue | Nightfall Black, Daybreak Purple |
| Models | - | M2007J22G, J22 |
| Price | About 130 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) |
Motorola Moto G9 (India)
- Clean software experience (typically)
- Slightly faster charging (20W)
- Potentially more affordable
- Significantly weaker processor (Snapdragon 662)
- Less future-proof
- Likely inferior gaming performance
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T
- More powerful processor (Dimensity 800U)
- Better 5G performance
- Superior gaming capabilities
- Xiaomi’s MIUI software can be bloated
- Slightly slower charging (18W)
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 9T boasts a measured peak brightness of 471 nits and a 1226:1 contrast ratio, providing a reasonably vibrant viewing experience. While the Moto G9’s display specifications aren’t explicitly provided, it’s likely to offer similar contrast. The key difference lies in the potential for panel quality and color accuracy, where Xiaomi typically invests more. Neither device is expected to feature high refresh rate panels, focusing instead on efficiency. The Redmi Note 9T’s higher measured brightness will be noticeable in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given the price point, it’s reasonable to assume both will feature a primary sensor paired with auxiliary lenses (likely depth and macro). Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, Xiaomi’s image processing algorithms generally lean towards more saturated and vibrant images, which may appeal to some users. The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests image stabilization will rely on software algorithms.
Performance
This is where the two phones truly diverge. The Redmi Note 9T’s Mediatek Dimensity 800U, fabricated on a 7nm process, significantly outperforms the Motorola Moto G9’s Snapdragon 662 (11nm). The Dimensity 800U features a more modern CPU architecture – 2x 2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – compared to the Snapdragon 662’s 4x 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver. This translates to a noticeable advantage in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. The 7nm process also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during extended gaming sessions. The Redmi Note 9T is demonstrably the better choice for users who demand performance.
Battery Life
Both the Moto G9 and Redmi Note 9T achieve an endurance rating of 118 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. The Redmi Note 9T offers 18W wired charging with a 33% charge in 30 minutes, while the Moto G9 supports 20W charging. While the Moto G9’s charging is slightly faster on paper, the difference is unlikely to be substantial in real-world use. The Dimensity 800U’s superior efficiency may partially offset the slightly smaller battery capacity (if any) in the Redmi Note 9T, contributing to similar overall endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Motorola Moto G9 (India) if you prioritize a clean software experience and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, messaging, and light social media use. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T if you are a mobile gamer, frequently multitask, or want a device that will remain responsive for years to come, thanks to its more powerful processor and 5G capabilities.