The Mi 9 is an impressive mid-tier smartphone with a cutting-edge camera – but the Transparent Edition won’t come to the UK
Xiaomi decided to reveal its latest flagship phone a few days in advance of MWC 2019, so the appearance of the Xiaomi Mi 9 in Barcelona came as no surprise. Still, it was good to finally get some hands-on time with the Mi 9 at Xiaomi’s launch event in the Catalonian capital. Also unveiled at the event was Xiaomi’s first 5G handset, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G. It will be the first commercially available 5G smartphone, and at a reasonable price too.
The Xiaomi Mi 9’s headline feature is its 48MP triple-camera setup, but there’s plenty else to recommend it besides its luxurious snapper. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about the Xioami Mi 9, from specifications to UK pricing and release date.
Product name review: Key specifications, price and release date
- 6.39in AMOLED, 2,340 x 1,080, screen
- Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor
- 6GB RAM
- Up to 128GB storage
- Triple camera: 48 MP (f/1.75), 16MP ultrawide (f/2.2) and 12MP telephoto (f/2.2)
- 20MP (f/2.0) front camera
- 20W wireless charging
- Gorilla Glass 5
- 3,300mAh battery
- Android 9 Pie
- UK price: €499 (UK price TBC)
- UK release: 28 February 2019
Xiaomi Mi 9 review: Design, key features and first impressions
The Mi 9 is Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone, and from what we’ve seen so far it’s bound to be a hit. Last year’s Mi 8 phones were both formidable and well-priced, placing Xiaomi as a key rival to OnePlus. Inside the 6.39in Mi 9 is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor – expected to give the phone a significant speed boost over its predecessor, which housed a Snapdragon 845.
Plenty of other 2019 flagships will run on the same chipset, however, so it’s hardly going to lead the pack. Previously it was thought that the Xiaomi Mi 9 would be available with either 6GB or 8GB RAM on board. Apparently, this is only the case in China — the global model is 6GB only. There are two configurations though, one with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage and another with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
Xiaomi’s promotion of the Mi 9 is all about that triple-camera setup. Front and centre is the 48-megapixel (f/1.75) unit which uses an all-new Sony IMX586 quad-sensor – the very same bit of kit that was used on the Honor View 20. Although the main camera is capable of taking 48MP photos, the Mi 9’s AI captures a 12MP image by default. You cannot shoot in HDR while taking a 48MP shot.
Should you wish to get the maximum 48MP size you must change the camera settings manually. Reinforcing the primary camera is a 16-megapixel (f/2.2) ultrawide module and a 12-megapixel (f/2.2) telephoto camera. Handily, the photo size is listed in the bottom left corner when viewing photos in the gallery, so you can see at a glance which shots are 48MP and which are 12MP AI shots.
The Mi 8 did not have a triple camera arrangement, but ever since the Huawei P20 Pro was first introduced, that does seem to be the way premium smartphones are headed. Samsung’s at it too with its new Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus, although Apple has yet to jump on board.
The design of the Mi 9 is extremely similar to its precursor, but Xiaomi has reduced the notch from a wide-spanning eyesore to a small teardrop that holds the 20-megapixel (f/2.0) selfie camera. Screen size is marginally bigger at 6.39in compared to 6.23, but once again it’s an AMOLED panel with an FHD+ resolution. As before, the fingerprint sensor is within the phone’s display, and it’s remarkably speedy.
Power and volume buttons are situated on the right edge of the phone, with the USB-C charging port and speakers on the bottom. On the left-hand side are the SIM slot and a ‘Google Assistant Key’, a button which serves just one (obvious) purpose: to activate Google Assistant. Given that you can already do this with ease using your voice or the nav bar, it seems an unnecessary addition. There is no headphone jack on the Xiaomi Mi 9 — a shame but hardly uncommon in smartphones these days.
There are three colour options available: Piano Black, Ocean Blue and an alluring Lavender Violet. The two brighter colours are eye-catching and appear to change colour as they reflect the light around them. As is the case with most phones that have a glass backing and a lighter colour scheme, the Xiaomi Mi 9 picks up greasy fingerprints all too easily.
Following the initial launch of the Mi 9 phones in China many of us here in Europe had been excited for the Mi 9 Transparent Edition, a high-powered successor to the Mi 8 Pro. Unfortunately, it now seems that the Mi 9 Transparent Edition won’t be leaving China. The ‘see-through’ version of the Mi 9 isn’t all that different from the standard model; it has same Snapdragon 855 chip but the RAM has been boosted up to (a borderline unnecessary) 12GB and the primary camera module has an upgraded f/1.7 aperture.
In truth, the transparency of the phone is only a mock-up of the actual internals. Those aren’t working parts you’re seeing but rather a model which represents them. If the phone’s body were truly transparent it would only reveal heat-shield plates, and that wouldn’t be quite as pretty.
Xiaomi Mi 9 review: Early verdict
It’s another cracking mid-tier smartphone from Xiaomi, albeit with a flagship design and specifications. The UK price is not yet confirmed but the 6GB and 128GB model will be only €499. A sub-£500 phone with a Snapdragon 855 is no mean feat – with the Mi 9 Xioami could really cut out the competition.
The big feature is that triple-camera. I was really impressed with the photos I took with using the display model at Xiaomi’s launch event. It’s a shame that the Xiaomi Mi 9 Transparent Edition won’t make it to the UK, but the Mi Mix 3 5G announcement was most welcome. Released in May, it looks like it will be the first 5G smartphone to go on sale to the public.
Keep an eye out for our full review of the Xiaomi Mi 9, which you can expect towards the end of February. The phone will go on sale in Europe on 28 February.
