Xiaomi’s Redmi and Poco lines consistently deliver impressive value, but navigating their offerings can be tricky. The Redmi 9, a mainstay in the budget segment, faces off against the newer Poco M3 Pro 5G, which adds 5G connectivity and a more powerful chipset to the mix. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which phone best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Poco M3 Pro 5G is the clear winner. While the Redmi 9 boasts slightly better endurance, the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s significantly faster processor and 5G capabilities offer a superior overall experience, justifying the potential price difference.
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 10 | 2021, May 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, June 10 | Available. Released 2021, May 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.36 in) | 161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 500 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 11, MIUI 12 |
| 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 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone 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 | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| 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 |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Sunset Purple, Ocean Green, Pink/Blue | Poco Yellow, Power Black, Cool Blue |
| Models | M2004J19G, M2004J19C | M2103K19PG, M2103K19PI, M2103K19PY |
| Price | $ 105.77 / £ 196.62 / € 115.51 | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | 0.91 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | 0.94 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.71 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 131h |
Endurance rating 121h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1624:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1475:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-26.9 LUFS (Good) |
-27.9 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 201829 (v8)
GeekBench: 1325 (v5.1) | - |
Xiaomi Redmi 9
- Slightly longer battery life (131h endurance)
- Potentially lower price point
- Reliable for basic smartphone tasks
- Slower processor (Helio G80)
- No 5G connectivity
- Dimmer display (328 nits)
Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G
- Faster processor (Dimensity 700)
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
- Brighter display (536 nits)
- Slightly shorter battery life (121h endurance)
- Potentially higher price
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Poco M3 Pro 5G’s display is a clear upgrade. Its measured peak brightness of 536 nits significantly outshines the Redmi 9’s 328 nits, resulting in better visibility outdoors. While both displays have a nominal contrast ratio around 1475:1 to 1624:1, the higher brightness of the Poco M3 Pro 5G makes for a more vibrant and engaging viewing experience. The Redmi 9’s lower brightness may be noticeable in direct sunlight, impacting readability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but details are limited. Without specific sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, given the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s positioning, it likely benefits from more advanced image processing algorithms. The Redmi 9’s camera is adequate for basic photography, but the Poco M3 Pro 5G is likely to deliver better image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. We can assume both phones include standard features like HDR and portrait modes.
Performance
The performance gap between these two is substantial. The Poco M3 Pro 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 700, built on a more efficient 7nm process, features faster Cortex-A76 cores (2.2 GHz) compared to the Redmi 9’s Helio G80 (2.0 GHz Cortex-A75). This translates to a noticeable improvement in app loading times, multitasking, and overall system responsiveness. The Dimensity 700 also unlocks 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the Redmi 9. While both phones feature an octa-core CPU, the architectural improvements and process node of the Dimensity 700 give the Poco M3 Pro 5G a significant edge.
Battery Life
The Redmi 9 boasts an endurance rating of 131 hours, slightly exceeding the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s 121 hours. This suggests the Redmi 9 will last a bit longer on a single charge, particularly with light usage. However, the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s more efficient chipset may mitigate some of this difference. Both phones support 18W wired charging, meaning charging times will be comparable. The Redmi 9’s advantage lies in its slightly larger battery capacity, but the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s efficiency helps close the gap.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9 if you prioritize maximum battery life and are primarily focused on essential smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and 5G isn't a necessity. Buy the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G if you want a faster, more future-proof device with 5G connectivity, capable of handling more demanding apps and occasional gaming, even if it means a slight trade-off in battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s Dimensity 700 chip get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 700 is a capable chip, it's not a flagship processor. Expect some thermal throttling during prolonged, graphically intensive gaming. However, the 7nm process node is more efficient than the Redmi 9’s Helio G80, meaning it will likely manage heat better overall, and the throttling will be less severe.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Poco M3 Pro 5G actually useful, or is it just a marketing gimmick?
The usefulness of 5G depends on your location and carrier coverage. If 5G is available in your area, you’ll experience significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G. Even if 5G isn’t widely available now, the Poco M3 Pro 5G is future-proofed for when 5G networks expand.
❓ How much faster is the Poco M3 Pro 5G in real-world use compared to the Redmi 9?
You'll notice the difference in app loading times, multitasking, and web browsing. The Poco M3 Pro 5G will feel snappier and more responsive. Benchmarks show a significant performance uplift with the Dimensity 700, translating to a smoother user experience.
