Oppo A56s vs Xiaomi Mi 9: A Clash of Generations

The smartphone market is brimming with options, making it tough to pick the perfect device. Today, we're pitting the budget-friendly Oppo A56s against the older, but powerful, Xiaomi Mi 9. This comparison will help you understand which phone best suits your needs and budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is the clear winner for performance and features, boasting a Snapdragon 855 chipset and faster charging. However, the Oppo A56s offers a more modern design and potentially better value for budget-conscious buyers. It depends on your priorities!

PHONES
Phone Names Oppo A56s Xiaomi Mi 9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40 - Global
5G bands1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA2000 1x 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China
Launch
Announced2023, January 052019, February 20. Released 2019, March 25
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, January 09Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.8 x 75.1 x 8 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.31 in)157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm (6.20 x 2.94 x 0.30 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)173 g (6.10 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~84.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 640
OSAndroid 12, ColorOS 12.1Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 64GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, AF Auxiliary lens-
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)-
Triple-48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm, PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging10W wired27W wired, QC4 20W wireless
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 3300 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, BlueLavender Violet, Ocean Blue, Piano Black
ModelsPFTM20M1902F1G
PriceAbout 150 EURAbout 590 EUR
SAR-0.99 W/kg (head)     1.04 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.39 W/kg (head)     1.30 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -91.9dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 95h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 3.921 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- Voice 70dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 372006 (v7) GeekBench: 11181 (v4.4) GFXBench: 35fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Oppo A56s

  • Affordable
  • Large Display
  • Decent Battery Capacity
  • Modern Design

  • Slow Charging
  • Lower Performance
  • Less Powerful Camera
  • Older Software Updates

Xiaomi Mi 9

  • Powerful Processor
  • Fast Charging (Wired & Wireless)
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Premium Build Quality
  • Better Camera

  • Older Model
  • Smaller Display
  • Potentially Limited Software Updates

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 9's display, while smaller at 6.39 inches, boasts a superior contrast ratio and likely better color accuracy. The Oppo A56s likely has a larger 6.56-inch display, potentially offering a more immersive viewing experience, but likely with less vibrant colors and lower peak brightness. Both offer FHD+ resolution.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but the Mi 9 likely has a more sophisticated camera system with better image processing. While the A56s camera is decent for its price range, the Mi 9's camera should deliver sharper images, better low-light performance, and more detailed videos. Specific megapixel counts and features would need further research.

Performance

Here, the Xiaomi Mi 9 absolutely dominates. The Snapdragon 855 is significantly more powerful than the Dimensity 810. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Mi 9. The A56s is adequate for basic tasks but will struggle with demanding games.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 9's endurance rating of 95h suggests excellent battery life, likely due to efficient hardware and software optimization. The Oppo A56s has a 5000mAh battery, which is a good capacity, but the Dimensity 810 chipset might not be as power-efficient as the Snapdragon 855. Charging speeds are a significant difference, with the Mi 9 offering 27W wired and 20W wireless charging versus the A56s's slow 10W wired charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Oppo A56s? Users seeking an affordable, reliable phone for everyday tasks and social media. Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi 9? Those prioritizing performance, a premium feel, and faster charging, even if it's an older model.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi Mi 9 still worth buying in 2024?
Yes, if you prioritize performance and don't mind an older device. It offers flagship-level specs at a discounted price. However, consider software update support.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
The Xiaomi Mi 9, based on its endurance rating, likely offers better overall battery life, despite having a smaller battery capacity.