ZTE Blade A71 vs Xiaomi Redmi 9: Which Budget Champion Reigns?

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Blade A71 and the Xiaomi Redmi 9. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi 9 emerges as the clear winner. While the ZTE Blade A71 is a decent budget option, the Redmi 9's superior chipset, faster charging, and generally better camera performance make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	ZTE Blade A71	Xiaomi Redmi 9

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, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2021, October 07	2020, June 10
Status	Available. Released 2021, October 07	Available. Released 2020, June 10

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	165.2 x 75.2 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)	163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.36 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	180 g (6.35 oz)	198 g (6.98 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~82.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm)	Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm)
GPU	IMG8322	Mali-G52 MC2
OS	Android 11	Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 3GB RAM	32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
	-	eMMC 5.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	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
Triple	16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	8 MP	8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	Wireless FM radio (no wired headphones required)
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	18W wired
Type	Li-Ion 4000 mAh	Li-Po 5020 mAh

Misc
Colors	Blue, Gray, Green	Carbon Gray, Sunset Purple, Ocean Green, Pink/Blue
Models	A7030	M2004J19G, M2004J19C
Price	About 90 EUR	$ 105.77 / £ 196.62 / € 115.51
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
Display	-	Contrast ratio: 1624:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 201829 (v8) GeekBench: 1325 (v5.1)

ZTE Blade A71

Affordable
Large Display
Basic Functionality

Weak Performance
Limited Camera Capabilities
No Fast Charging
Unknown Battery Capacity

Xiaomi Redmi 9

Better Performance (Helio G80)
Improved Camera
Long Battery Life (131h Endurance)
Fast Charging (18W)
More Versatile

Display Brightness Could Be Better
Still a Budget Phone (Limited Features)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature large displays with a nominal contrast ratio of 1624:1. However, the Redmi 9 boasts a measured max brightness of 328 nits, suggesting slightly better visibility in bright conditions. The Blade A71's display is likely adequate but may lack the same vibrancy.

Camera Comparison

While both offer 'Photo/Video' capabilities, the Redmi 9 is expected to have a more versatile camera system. The Helio G80 chipset often supports better image processing. The Blade A71's camera is likely adequate for basic snapshots, but the Redmi 9 should deliver superior image quality, especially in low light.

Performance

The Redmi 9's Mediatek Helio G80 chipset (12nm) significantly outperforms the ZTE Blade A71's Unisoc SC9863A (28nm). The G80's Cortex-A75 cores provide a noticeable boost in processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking and better gaming performance. The Blade A71 will feel sluggish by comparison.

Battery Life

The Redmi 9 shines in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 131 hours. While the Blade A71's battery capacity is unknown, the Redmi 9's impressive endurance suggests a larger battery and efficient power management. The Redmi 9 also supports 18W wired charging, a significant advantage over the Blade A71 which likely lacks fast charging.

Buying Guide

The ZTE Blade A71 is a good option for users prioritizing a very basic smartphone experience and extremely tight budgets. The Xiaomi Redmi 9 is ideal for those seeking a more well-rounded device with better performance, a more capable camera, and longer battery life, without breaking the bank.