Xiaomi Mi 9T vs Redmi K20 Pro Premium: Which Xiaomi Phone Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Mi 9T and Redmi K20 Pro Premium represent distinct approaches to the mid-range and upper-mid-range smartphone market. The Mi 9T prioritized a balance of features and affordability, while the K20 Pro Premium aimed for near-flagship performance at a competitive price. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Redmi K20 Pro Premium is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 855+ chipset delivers significantly faster performance, making it ideal for gaming and demanding applications. While the Mi 9T offers respectable battery life, the K20 Pro Premium’s faster 27W charging mitigates any battery capacity concerns.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi 9T Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 401, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
 -CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2019, June 12. Released 2019, June 122019, September. Released 2019, September
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight191 g (6.74 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, HDRSuper AMOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730 (8 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 640 (700 MHz)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.1Android 10, MIUI 11
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 2.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µmMotorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radioYes
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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired27W wired, QC4
TypeLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsCarbon black, Red flame, Glacier blueCarbon black, Flame red, Glacier blue, Summer Honey, Pearl White
ModelsM1903F10G-
PriceAbout 460 EURAbout 450 EUR
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.34 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -93.8dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 100h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -25.3 LUFS (Very good)-
Performance AnTuTu: 211915 (v7), 257146 (v8) GeekBench: 6863 (v4.4), 1703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Xiaomi Mi 9T

  • Longer battery endurance (100h rating)
  • More affordable price point
  • Sufficient performance for everyday tasks

  • Significantly slower processor than the K20 Pro Premium
  • Slower 18W charging

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium

  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 855+ performance
  • Faster 27W charging with QC4
  • Better suited for gaming and demanding apps

  • Potentially shorter battery life (unspecified capacity)
  • Higher price compared to the Mi 9T

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical for AMOLED panels. However, the Mi 9T boasts a measured peak brightness of 646 nits, which is respectable but doesn't stand out. Details regarding the K20 Pro Premium’s display brightness are absent, but given its positioning, it likely offers comparable or slightly better brightness. The lack of high refresh rate panels on either device is noticeable in today’s market, but both would have benefitted from a smoother visual experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the K20 Pro Premium’s higher processing power likely allows for more sophisticated image processing algorithms. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive camera comparison. The absence of details suggests the camera isn't a primary differentiator, and image quality will likely depend more on software optimization than raw hardware.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Mi 9T utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 (8nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with Kryo 470 cores. This is a capable mid-range processor. In contrast, the K20 Pro Premium is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ (7nm), a flagship-level chipset with a more powerful Kryo 485 CPU configuration (1x2.96 GHz, 3x2.42 GHz, 4x1.8 GHz). The 7nm process node of the 855+ also contributes to better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. This translates to a substantial performance advantage for the K20 Pro Premium in gaming and demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Mi 9T boasts an endurance rating of 100 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 18W wired charging. The K20 Pro Premium, while lacking a specified battery capacity, compensates with 27W wired charging and Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support. This faster charging speed significantly reduces downtime, potentially offsetting any difference in battery capacity. A full charge on the K20 Pro Premium will be considerably quicker than on the Mi 9T.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T if you prioritize long battery life and a more affordable price point, and your primary use case revolves around everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light multimedia consumption. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium if you demand top-tier performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and are willing to spend a bit more for a noticeably smoother and faster experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 855+ in the K20 Pro Premium overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 855+ is known to generate heat under sustained load. However, the 7nm process node and Xiaomi’s thermal management solutions (details not provided in the context) should mitigate throttling to a reasonable extent. Expect some performance reduction after extended gaming, but it shouldn't be severe enough to render the device unusable.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Mi 9T slow compared to modern standards?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the 27W charging on the K20 Pro Premium and the faster charging speeds offered by many current smartphones. Expect a significantly longer time to fully charge the Mi 9T from 0 to 100%.
❓ Does the K20 Pro Premium support higher frame rates in popular games like PUBG?
The Snapdragon 855+ is capable of handling higher frame rates in PUBG Mobile. However, whether the game supports 60fps or higher on these specific devices depends on the game's settings and optimization. The K20 Pro Premium’s processing power provides the headroom to achieve smoother gameplay.