Xiaomi Mi 9 SE vs Google Pixel 6a: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 6a emerges as the clear winner, boasting superior performance thanks to the Tensor chip, a brighter display, and significantly better battery life. While the Mi 9 SE offers a compact design, the Pixel 6a's camera and overall experience justify its slight price premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Mi 9 SE | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, February 20. Released 2019, March | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 147.5 x 70.5 x 7.5 mm (5.81 x 2.78 x 0.30 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~432 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.97 inches, 87.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.0 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 3070 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Violet, Blue, Gray | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | M1903F2G | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | About 460 EUR | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 1.39 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.5dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 73h | Endurance rating 94h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 86dB / Noise 79dB / Ring 87dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 180057 (v7) GeekBench: 6017 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
- Compact and lightweight design
- More affordable
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Weaker performance than Pixel 6a
- Less impressive camera
- Shorter battery life
- Slower charging
Google Pixel 6a
- Excellent camera with Google's computational photography
- Smooth and responsive performance with Google Tensor
- Long-lasting battery life
- Bright and vibrant display
- Guaranteed software updates
- Larger size compared to Mi 9 SE
- Charging speed could be faster
- Slightly higher price
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 876 nits, significantly outperforming the Mi 9 SE's 637 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Pixel 6a's brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Color accuracy is generally good on both, but the Pixel 6a often exhibits slightly more vibrant and accurate colors.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 6a's camera is a standout feature. Google's computational photography expertise delivers exceptional image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The Mi 9 SE's camera is decent, but it lacks the Pixel 6a's dynamic range and detail. Video recording is also superior on the Pixel 6a.
Performance
The Google Pixel 6a's Google Tensor chip is a substantial upgrade over the Mi 9 SE's Snapdragon 712. The Tensor's Cortex-X1 core provides a noticeable boost in single-core performance, while the combination of Cortex-A76 and A55 cores ensures smooth multitasking. The Mi 9 SE is still capable for everyday tasks, but the Pixel 6a handles demanding apps and games with greater ease.
Battery Life
The Pixel 6a dominates in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 94 hours compared to the Mi 9 SE's 73 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the Pixel 6a a more reliable choice for power users.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi 9 SE is ideal for users prioritizing a smaller form factor and a more budget-friendly price. The Google Pixel 6a is perfect for those who value a smooth, responsive experience, excellent camera capabilities, and long-lasting battery life, even if it's slightly larger.