Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE: What to choose in 2026?

In 2019, Xiaomi introduced two flagship smartphones that divided the audience into two camps: the classic Mi 9 and its smaller version of the Mi 9 SE. At first glance, both devices seem similar, as they belong to the same model range, but there are fundamental differences between them that affect the user experience.

The main confusion is that the "SE" in Xiaomi's lineup often stands for "Special Edition" or "Second Edition," but in this case it's more like the "Lite" version of the flagship. The company's engineers sacrificed the power of the processor and screen size for a compact and more affordable price. If you're facing a choice between these models in the secondary market, it's important to understand that these are different classes.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at the specifications so you can make an informed decision, and we will not just list the specifications numbers, but explain how they affect the actual use of a smartphone in everyday life.

Processor platform: battle of flagships

The most significant difference lies under the hood of devices. Xiaomi Mi 9 is equipped with the top-end chipset Snapdragon 855 from Qualcomm, which at the time of release was the most powerful solution for Android smartphones. This processor is made on 7-nm process technology and provides maximum performance in heavy games and graphics processing.

In turn, the Mi 9 SE got the Snapdragon 712 chip, which is a great mid-range chip that was very popular in mid-range devices, but it is significantly inferior to the flagship. The performance difference is about 40-50% in synthetic tests, which in reality feels like faster application opening and no micro-latency in the interface of the older model.

⚠️ Note: if you plan to play resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile on maximum settings, version SE It may not be able to cope with the high demands of graphics, while the regular Mi 9 will pull them without problems.

Also worth noting is the AI Engine, which is a neural engine that works much more efficiently in Snapdragon 855, improving photo processing and voice assistant. For the average user, the difference in menu speed may not be so noticeable, but when running "heavy" use cases, the flagship processor will show its superiority.

Display and Ergonomics: Size Matters

The second key difference that catches the eye immediately after the devices are turned on is the size and quality of the screen. 9 got a big AMOLED-diagonal 6.39 resolution 2340×1080 The density of the pixels is 403 ppi, which provides a crystal clear picture.

The Mi 9 SE is smaller: the screen diagonal is 5.97 inches at the same resolution, but slightly lower pixel density is 432 ppi. It would seem that the difference of 0.4 inches is small, but in the hands of the devices feel completely different. the big screen is convenient for watching videos and working with documents, while the compact SE perfectly fits in the palm of your hand and allows you to comfortably control one hand.

Both smartphones lack the classic cut-out, using a drop-shaped cut-out for the front camera. However, the technology of production of panels can differ: the flagship often used brighter and contrasting matrixes from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, while the SE could apply solutions from other suppliers to reduce the cost of design.

Photographic capabilities and cameras

Cameras are another area where the flagship model demonstrates its superiority. Xiaomi Mi 9 is equipped with a triple main camera with a main module at 48 MP (Sony IMX586), a 12 MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and a wide-angle lens at 16 MP. The presence of optical stabilization (OIS) in the main module allows you to take clear pictures even in low light.

The SE version also has a triple camera, but with less impressive specs.The main module here is also 48 MP (Samsung GM1), but the telephoto lens is replaced by a regular 8 MP module without optical zoom, and the third module is a wide-angle 13 MP. The lack of optical stabilization and less aperture optics lead to the fact that night shots on the SE contain more digital noise.

The front camera in both smartphones has a resolution of 20 MP, but the image processing algorithms in the Mi 9 are more advanced thanks to the powerful ISP of the Snapdragon 855 processor.

• 📸 Main module: Sony IMX586 (Mi 9) vs Samsung GM1 (Mi 9 SE) — Difference in detail when zooming.
• 🔭 Zoom: Optical 2x (Mi 9 vs. digital zoom (Mi 9) SE) — critical for photographing remote objects.
• 🌃 Night shooting: Availability OIS The flagship significantly improves the quality of photos in the dark.

Autonomy and charging speed

The question of autonomy is often decisive when choosing between a large and compact smartphone. The Mi 9 received a battery capacity of 3300 mAh. For the modern user, this is a rather modest figure, and the device hardly survives until the evening when used actively.

The Mi 9 SE has a 3,070mAh battery. Despite its smaller capacity, the power consumption of the Snapdragon 712 processor is also lower than that of the flagship. As a result, the running time of both models is comparable, but the smaller screen and less powerful chip in the SE can give it a slight advantage in standby or reading mode.

⚠️ Note: complete chargers may have differed from region to region. The Mi 9 requires an original power supply and a 3A or 5A cable to provide fast charging of 27W.

Both models support wireless charging, which is rare even for today's mid-range smartphones.The Mi 9 claims support for 20W wireless charging, allowing the device to be charged wirelessly almost as fast as cable. SE This function is also present, but may be limited in power.

Memory, interfaces and additional functions

The differences also affected memory configurations. Mi 9 was offered in versions with 6 or 8 GB of RAM and a drive up to 256 GB. Type of memory is UFS 2.1, which provides high speed reading and writing data. Mi 9 SE usually came with 6 GB of RAM and 64 or 128 GB of internal memory.

An important difference is the presence of NFC-In the global version of the Mi 9. NFC It is available by default, allowing you to pay for purchases via Google Pay (or its analogues). SE, especially intended for the Chinese market or certain regions, the module NFC It's a critical parameter for people in big cities.

Also worth mentioning is the fingerprint scanner, which is built into the screen on both smartphones. However, the Mi 9 used a more modern second-generation optical technology that works faster and more accurately, especially if the finger is wet or dirty. The SE used a simpler implementation that sometimes required re-attachment of the finger.

Comparative Characteristics Table

For ease of perception, we will bring the basic technical parameters into a single table, which will allow you to quickly assess the difference in characteristics without having to re-read the entire text.

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The Mi 9 is a full-fledged flagship with top-end hardware, and the Mi 9 SE is a compromise option for those who care about compact size, but do not need maximum power.

Final verdict: should you pay too much?

To sum up the comparison, the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE are devices for completely different types of users, the flagship model is designed for those who want to get the most out of it: the best camera, the highest FPS in games and a high-quality screen of large size. This device was relevant in 2019 and remains quite functional even now for most tasks.

The SE is aimed at an audience that is tired of shovels and looking for a compact smartphone that can be easily controlled with one hand. Buying this model only makes sense if you find it in excellent condition and at a very attractive price.

In the secondary market, the price difference between these models may be small, making the regular Mi 9 a better value proposition in terms of price/quality ratio. However, if the budget is limited and compactness is a priority, the SE will be a worthy satellite.

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When buying a used Xiaomi, be sure to check the status of the Mi Account lock. If the device is tied to someone else's account, you will not be able to fully use it, even knowing the password from the screen.