The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Xiaomi Redmi 9 Activ and Motorola Moto G9 Power both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches. The Redmi 9 Activ focuses on a streamlined experience with a Mediatek Helio G35, while the Moto G9 Power prioritizes extended battery life and a more capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 662. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G9 Power is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 662 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Redmi 9 Activ’s Helio G35, and the 20W charging significantly reduces downtime. While both offer comparable battery endurance ratings, the G9 Power’s faster charging and slightly more refined experience make it the winner.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Europe, APEM |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28, 66 - LATAM |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 24 | 2020, November 05. Released 2020, December 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 24 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 2), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.35 in) | 172.1 x 76.8 x 9.7 mm (6.78 x 3.02 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 221 g (7.80 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~81.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.8 inches, 109.8 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3", AF |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.2, 1.0µm |
| 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 |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 20W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Carbon Black, Coral Green, Metallic Purple | Electric Violet, Metallic Sage |
| Models | - | XT2091-3, XT2091-4 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| SAR | 0.51 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body) | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.21 W/kg (head) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 149.99 |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | - | $ 485.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 155h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1680:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.6 LUFS (Average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 182875 (v8)
GeekBench: 1374 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Activ
- Extremely affordable price point
- Simple and uncluttered software experience
- Decent battery life (155h endurance)
- Weak performance due to Helio G35 chipset
- Slow 10W charging
- Display brightness likely inferior to Moto G9 Power
Motorola Moto G9 Power
- More powerful Snapdragon 662 chipset
- Faster 20W wired charging
- Brighter display (521 nits)
- Slightly higher price than Redmi 9 Activ
- Software experience may include bloatware
- Camera performance likely only marginally better
Display Comparison
Both the Redmi 9 Activ and Moto G9 Power feature displays with a 1680:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar visual characteristics in terms of black levels and color depth. However, the Moto G9 Power boasts a measured peak brightness of 521 nits, a significant advantage over the Redmi 9 Activ’s unspecified brightness. This higher brightness translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While neither phone is likely to offer exceptional color accuracy, the G9 Power’s brighter panel provides a more usable viewing experience in various lighting conditions.
Camera Comparison
Both devices list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Given the price point, image quality will likely be similar in good lighting conditions. However, the Moto G9 Power’s potential for better image processing, thanks to the more powerful Snapdragon 662, could result in slightly improved dynamic range and noise reduction. The absence of detailed camera specifications makes a definitive comparison difficult, but the G9 Power’s chipset provides a foundation for superior image processing capabilities. It's important to note that the prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility for detailed close-up photography.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G9 Power’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm) demonstrably outperforms the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Activ’s MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm). The Snapdragon 662 utilizes Kryo 260 Gold cores clocked at 2.0 GHz alongside Kryo 260 Silver cores at 1.8 GHz, offering a more efficient and powerful architecture than the Helio G35’s Cortex-A53 configuration. The 11nm process node of the Snapdragon 662 further contributes to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of performance throttling during sustained workloads. This means the Moto G9 Power will handle multitasking, app loading, and light gaming with greater ease.
Battery Life
Both the Redmi 9 Activ and Moto G9 Power achieve an endurance rating of 155 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage patterns. However, the Moto G9 Power’s 20W wired charging is a crucial differentiator. The Redmi 9 Activ is limited to 10W charging, resulting in significantly longer charging times. This means the G9 Power can replenish its battery much faster, minimizing downtime and offering greater convenience. While both phones will likely last a full day on a single charge for moderate users, the G9 Power’s faster charging provides a tangible advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Activ if you prioritize absolute affordability and a simple, uncluttered software experience. It’s a suitable option for basic communication and light tasks. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Power if you value performance for social media, streaming, and occasional gaming, alongside the convenience of faster charging and a more robust chipset. The G9 Power is the better all-rounder for users who demand more from their smartphone.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 662 in the Moto G9 Power struggle with demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
While the Snapdragon 662 isn't a flagship chipset, it can handle PUBG Mobile at medium settings with reasonable frame rates. Expect some occasional frame drops during intense action, but it's a playable experience. The Redmi 9 Activ's Helio G35 will likely require even lower settings and may exhibit more noticeable lag.
❓ How long does it *actually* take to fully charge the Moto G9 Power with the 20W charger?
With the included 20W charger, the Motorola Moto G9 Power can typically charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging. This is significantly faster than the Redmi 9 Activ, which could take over 4 hours with its 10W charger.
❓ Is the software on the Moto G9 Power heavily customized with bloatware?
Motorola's software is relatively close to stock Android, but it does include some pre-installed apps (bloatware). However, it's generally less intrusive than Xiaomi's MIUI, and many of these apps can be uninstalled. The Redmi 9 Activ's MIUI is more heavily customized and includes a larger number of pre-installed apps.
❓ What type of USB port do both phones use?
Both the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Activ and Motorola Moto G9 Power utilize a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. This is a welcome feature at this price point, offering faster data transfer speeds and reversible connectivity compared to older Micro-USB standards.
