Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S9: A Clash of Generations

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) represents modern mid-range value, while the Samsung Galaxy S9, though older, still holds a certain appeal. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which phone best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Redmi Note 11 Pro offers significantly faster charging and a more modern chipset. However, the Galaxy S9 boasts a remarkably enduring battery and a potentially superior display experience. Ultimately, the Redmi Note 11 Pro wins on performance and charging, while the S9 shines in battery life and potentially display quality.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China) Samsung Galaxy S9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 19, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
Launch
Announced2021, October 282018, February 25. Released 2018, March 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, November 01Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.2 x 8.3 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.33 in)147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight207 g (7.30 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, HDR10
 -3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
GPUMali-G68 MC4Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China
OSAndroid 11, MIUI 12.5Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5
Memory
Card slotNomicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Triple108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto macro)-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS (30fps)
Selfie camera
Dual-8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera)
Features-HDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm-
Video1080p@30/60fps1440p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by JBL32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compassIris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
 Virtual proximity sensingANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 43 min15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
TypeLi-Po 5160 mAhLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh)
Misc
ColorsMysterious Black, Forest Green, Timeless Purple, Milky Way BlueMidnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue
Models21091116CSM-G960F, SM-G960, SM-G960F, SM-G960U, SM-G960W, SM-G9600, SM-G960U1, SM-G960N, SCV38, SM-G960X, SC-02K
PriceAbout 220 EURAbout 110 EUR
SAR-0.63 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.36 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -93.9dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 78h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.630 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 250156 (v7) GeekBench: 8830 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro (China)

  • Faster Charging (67W)
  • Modern Chipset (Dimensity 920)
  • Likely better gaming performance
  • Higher resolution camera sensor

  • Potentially less vibrant display than S9
  • Battery life not as impressive as S9
  • Software support may be limited compared to Samsung's longer support cycles

Samsung Galaxy S9

  • Exceptional Battery Life (78h endurance)
  • Excellent Display (Super AMOLED)
  • Compact Design
  • Mature Software (One UI)

  • Slower Charging (15W)
  • Older Chipset (Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845)
  • Limited Software Updates
  • Potentially lower performance in demanding tasks

Display Comparison

The Galaxy S9 features a Super AMOLED display known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks, achieving an impressive contrast ratio. While the Redmi Note 11 Pro's display is likely good, it probably lacks the same level of color accuracy and vibrancy. The S9's sunlight readability is also exceptional.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable cameras, but the Galaxy S9's image processing and low-light performance were generally considered excellent for its time. The Redmi Note 11 Pro likely has a higher resolution main sensor, but image quality is more than just megapixels. Testing would be needed to definitively declare a winner.

Performance

The Dimensity 920 in the Redmi Note 11 Pro provides a noticeable performance boost over the Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845 in the Galaxy S9. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Redmi.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S9's endurance rating of 78h is truly remarkable, showcasing its exceptional battery optimization. The Redmi Note 11 Pro, while having a decent battery, doesn't match the S9's longevity. However, the Redmi's 67W charging significantly reduces charging times.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing performance, fast charging, and a modern feature set on a budget. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a good choice for those seeking long battery life, a compact design, and a familiar Samsung experience, even if it's an older device.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Galaxy S9 still worth buying in 2024?
The Galaxy S9 can still be a decent option for basic use, especially if you prioritize battery life and a compact design. However, its age means limited software updates and potentially slower performance compared to newer phones.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro's Dimensity 920 chipset offers significantly better gaming performance than the Galaxy S9's Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845.