The Xiaomi Redmi 9 and Motorola Moto G9 Play represent compelling options in the ultra-competitive budget smartphone space. Both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches to achieving this. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device offers the best overall experience for the average user.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Motorola Moto G9 Play emerges as the better choice. Its significantly brighter display (465 nits vs 328 nits) and faster 20W charging outweigh the Redmi 9’s slightly better endurance rating, offering a more pleasant daily experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| EDGE | - | Class 10 |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 10 | 2020, August 24. Released 2020, August 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 10 | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.36 in) | 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm (6.50 x 2.98 x 0.36 in) |
| Keyboard | - | QWERTY |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| | - | Water-repellent coating |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 1.3 MP |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm |
| 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 |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Wireless FM radio (no wired headphones required) | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 |
|---|
| Browser | - | WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML (PocketIE) |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 20W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Sunset Purple, Ocean Green, Pink/Blue | Forest Green, Sapphire Blue, Spring Pink |
| Models | M2004J19G, M2004J19C | XT2083, XT2083-1 |
| Price | $ 105.77 / £ 196.62 / € 115.51 | About 430 EUR |
| SAR | 0.91 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 131h | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1624:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1944:1 |
| Loudspeaker |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 201829 (v8)
GeekBench: 1325 (v5.1) |
AnTuTu: 170064 (v8)
GeekBench: 1402 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi 9
- Excellent battery endurance rating
- Potentially lower price point
- Reliable MediaTek Helio G80 chipset
- Dimmer display compared to the Moto G9 Play
- Slower charging speeds (18W)
- Less efficient chipset
Motorola Moto G9 Play
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster 20W wired charging
- More efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
- Potentially slightly shorter battery life
- May be slightly more expensive
- Camera performance relies on software optimization
Display Comparison
The Motorola Moto G9 Play boasts a clear advantage in display quality. Its measured peak brightness of 465 nits significantly surpasses the Redmi 9’s 328 nits, making it far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays feature a contrast ratio exceeding 1600:1, the higher brightness of the Moto G9 Play translates to a more vivid and engaging viewing experience. The Redmi 9’s lower brightness may require users to increase brightness levels, potentially impacting battery life.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Without specifics on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, given Motorola’s generally more refined image processing algorithms, the Moto G9 Play is likely to produce more consistently pleasing images in a wider range of lighting conditions. The presence of a dedicated night mode on the Moto G9 Play (based on typical Motorola implementations) further suggests an advantage in low-light photography. The lack of detail regarding camera specs makes a precise comparison impossible, but the G9 Play's brand reputation leans towards better image quality.
Performance
Under the hood, the Moto G9 Play utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm), while the Redmi 9 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm). The Snapdragon 662, built on an 11nm process, generally offers better power efficiency than the Helio G80’s 12nm node. Both CPUs feature octa-core configurations, but the Snapdragon 662’s Kryo 260 Gold cores provide a slight edge in single-core performance, resulting in snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While neither chipset is designed for demanding gaming, the Snapdragon 662 is likely to handle moderately intensive games with slightly more stability.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi 9 claims an endurance rating of 131 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Motorola Moto G9 Play compensates for potentially slightly lower capacity with its faster 20W wired charging. While the Redmi 9 supports 18W charging, the 20W on the Moto G9 Play will translate to quicker top-ups, reducing downtime. The Snapdragon 662’s improved efficiency also contributes to comparable real-world battery performance, despite the Redmi 9’s higher endurance rating. The faster charging speed of the Moto G9 Play is a significant convenience factor.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9 if your priority is maximizing battery life above all else, and you primarily use your phone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Play if you value a more vibrant and easily visible display, faster charging speeds, and a slightly more efficient processor for smoother multitasking and app loading.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 662 in the Moto G9 Play handle popular games like PUBG Mobile smoothly?
The Snapdragon 662 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to stick to medium graphics settings for a consistently smooth experience. It's not a gaming powerhouse, but it's capable of handling moderately demanding titles without significant lag.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Motorola Moto G9 Play with the 20W charger?
With the included 20W charger, the Motorola Moto G9 Play should fully charge from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on usage during charging.
❓ Is the Redmi 9's battery life significantly better in real-world usage compared to the Moto G9 Play?
While the Redmi 9 has a higher endurance rating, the Snapdragon 662's efficiency in the Moto G9 Play narrows the gap. Expect both phones to comfortably last a full day with moderate usage, but the Redmi 9 might offer a slight edge for heavy users.
❓ Are there any significant differences in software updates between Xiaomi and Motorola on these devices?
Motorola generally provides a cleaner Android experience with fewer pre-installed apps and a faster update cadence for security patches. Xiaomi's MIUI, while feature-rich, can be more prone to bloatware and slower updates.
