Choosing between the Samsung Galaxy A51 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 in 2026 is not an easy task. Both smartphones released in 2020 are still actively sold in the secondary market, offering excellent value for money. But which one is best for you? In this article, we will break them down into 10 key parameters, from performance to durability, so you can make an informed choice without any doubt.
It’s important to understand that both devices are in the budget segment, but each has its own strengths. A51 Traditionally, it is a quality AMOLED-With a display and a brand design, Xiaomi's Redmi Note 9 boasts a powerful battery and a more balanced "stuffing" and tested both in real-world conditions to see where each one was losing to a competitor and where it was leading the way.
If you're looking for a smartphone for gaming, video or long battery life, the answers are lower, and if you're prioritizing software updates or premium looks, here's a clear guide. Don't miss the aftermarket price comparison section in 2026, which can save up to 30 percent on purchase!
1 Display: AMOLED vs IPS - what's more important to your eyes?
The screen is the first thing you encounter when you use a smartphone. Here's the Galaxy. A51 has an undeniable advantage: 6.5-superinch AMOLED permittingly 2400×1080 support HDR10+. Colors on such a display are juicy, black is really deep, and contrast exceeds most. IPS-If you like to watch movies or play games with bright graphics, AMOLED Samsung will be a nice bonus.
The Redmi Note 9 has a 6.53-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 2340×1080. Although the resolution is slightly lower, the difference in everyday use is minimal. The main disadvantage of the IPS is the less saturated colors and gray shade of black when viewed from an angle. Xiaomi has a plus: brightness of up to 450 nits versus 430 nits in the A51, which makes it slightly better readable in the sun. Also, the Redmi Note 9 supports Widevine L1, allowing you to watch Netflix in Full HD – Samsung has only L3 (maximum 480p).
- 🎨 Samsung A51: AMOLED, Best color reproduction, deep black
- 🌞 Redmi Note 9: IPS, Higher brightness, full support HD streaming
- 🔍 General: both screens with a cutout for the front camera ("drop")
⚠️ Note: If you plan to use your smartphone to read books or work with text, consider that AMOLED-The screens can cause eye fatigue due to flickering at low brightness. Redmi Note 9 solved this problem with the help of the help of the computer. DC-dimming (adjusting brightness without flickering).
2. Performance: Who is faster at gaming and multitasking?
Under the hood of the Samsung Galaxy A51 is an Exynos 9611 (8 cores, 2.3 GHz) processor with a Mali-G72 MP3 graphics accelerator. It’s not the most powerful chip even for 2020, but it copes with most everyday tasks: social networks, instant messengers, light games like Brawl Stars or Clash Royale. However, in heavy games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile, you will have to reduce the graphics settings to average.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is equipped with MediaTek Helio G85 (8 cores, 2.0 GHz) with graphics Mali-G52 MC2. Despite the lower clock speed, this processor is optimized for games and shows better results in benchmarks. For example, in AnTuTu (v9) Redmi Note 9 scores about 200,000 points, while the A51 barely reaches 170,000. In real tests, the difference is noticeable: games start faster, and hanging between applications occur less often.
| Parameter | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Exynos 9611 (8 cores, 2.3 GHz) | MediaTek Helio G85 (8 cores, 2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| RAM | 4/6/8GB (LPDDR4X) | 3/4/6 GB (LPDDR4X) |
| AnTuTu (v9) | ~170 000 | ~200 000 |
| Heat generation | Medium (heated at long loads) | Low (good cooling) |
Samsung promises 4 years of security updates for the Galaxy A51 (until 2026), whereas Xiaomi usually only supports its budget models for 2 years.
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Before buying, check the Android version on your device. In the secondary market, it is common to sell smartphones with outdated firmware that cannot be updated due to regional restrictions.
3 Cameras: Megapixels vs. Real-life image quality
On paper, the Samsung Galaxy A51 looks impressive: four cameras (48 MP main, 12 MP ultra-wide-angle, 5 MP macro and 5 MP depth). However, in practice, not only hardware controls the quality of images, but software processing also. The main camera takes good photos in daylight, but at dusk, problems begin: noise, blur and loss of parts. The ultra-wide-angle module suffers distortion at the edges, and the macro camera is almost useless due to low resolution.
The Redmi Note 9 also has four cameras, but with a different distribution: 48 MP main, 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, 2 MP macro and 2 MP for depth. Despite the smaller number of megapixels in the additional modules, Xiaomi is better at handling HDR and night shooting. For example, in Night Mode Redmi Note 9 mode, it retains more detail in the shadows than the A51. Xiaomi also has an advantage in video shooting: support for 4K@30fps vs Full HD@30fps from Samsung.
- 📸 Daylight: Samsung A51 It gives more saturated colors, but the Redmi Note 9 more accurately conveys the white balance.
- 🌃 Night shooting: Xiaomi wins due to the best algorithm for noise cancellation.
- 🎥 Video: Only Redmi Note 9 supports 4K, But the stabilization is weak for both.
- 👤 Selfie: A51 front camera 32 MP (vs. 13 MP in Redmi), but the difference in quality is minimal.
⚠️ Note: If you often shoot documents or small objects, note that macro cameras on both smartphones have fixed focus, which means that you have to adjust the distance manually for quality shots – automation will not help here.
How to check the camera before buying in the secondary market?
4. Battery and charging: who will live longer without an outlet?
Here, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is the undisputed leader: 5020 mAh vs. 4000 mAh for the Samsung Galaxy A51. In tests for autonomy (playback video in a cycle at 50% brightness), Redmi lasted 18 hours 30 minutes, while the A51 lost ground after 13 hours 45 minutes. The difference becomes even more noticeable when used actively: in games or navigation, Xiaomi will work 30-40% longer.
The charging situation is more interesting. Redmi Note 9 supports fast charging of 18 watts (the corresponding adapter comes with the kit), whereas Samsung A51 is limited to 15 watts. However, in practice, the difference in charging speed is minimal: both smartphones gain ~50% in 1 hour. The full charging cycle takes about 2 hours for Xiaomi and 2 hours 15 minutes for Samsung.
Turn off background activity for unnecessary applications|Set a limit FPS play (60 instead 90/120)|Use dark topics (relevant to the AMOLED-screen)|Charge to 80% and don't discharge below. 20%|Turn it off. GPS and NFC, when they're not needed-->
Another nuance is reverse charging, which only the Samsung Galaxy A51 supports Wireless PowerShare, allowing you to charge other devices (such as Galaxy Buds headphones) from the back of your smartphone, which is convenient, but affects autonomy: when you use this feature actively, the battery goes down 20-25% faster.
5. Design and Ergonomics: Which is more comfortable in the hand?
Samsung Galaxy A51 It looks more premium due to the plastic frame with a glossy coating and AMOLED-But gloss is not only beauty, it's also a fingerprint magnet, and it's slippery, and without a case, it's easy to slip out of your hand, and it weighs 172 grams, which is not much for a 6.5-inch screen.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 is made in a more practical style: matte plastic on the back and rubber inserts on the sides. This makes it less make and more stable in the hand. Weight is 199 grams, which feels, but the smartphone does not seem fragile. Both devices have a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microSD slot (hybrid from Samsung, separate from Xiaomi).
- 🖼️ Samsung A51: thinner (7.9 mm vs 8.9 mm), but less stable
- 🛡️ Redmi Note 9: stronger thanks to the corning of Gorilla Glass 5 (Samsung – Gorilla Glass 3)
- 🎨 Colors: A51 available in 4 variants (including "prasmic" gradient), Redmi - in 3 (classic)
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If you drop your smartphone frequently, choose the Redmi Note 9 – its matte body and stronger glass reduce the risk of damage when falling.
6. Memory and storage: how much space do you really need?
Both smartphones offer similar configuration options, but there are nuances. - Samsung Galaxy A51 available in versions with 64/128 GB of internal memory and 4/6/8 GB of RAM. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 variants 64/128 GB and 3/4/6 GB of RAM: It is important that Samsung has a hybrid microSD slot (you have to sacrifice a second one). SIM-The map, and Xiaomi has a separate.
In terms of speed, the Redmi Note 9 is the leader in storage: it uses UFS 2.1, while the A51 is equipped with slower UFS 2.0 memory. The difference is noticeable when copying large files or running heavy applications. For example, PUBG Mobile downloads 10-15 seconds faster on Xiaomi.
⚠️ Attention: In the secondary market, smartphones with “gray” firmware are often sold, where the actual memory capacity is less than the stated one. → Storage) and compare with the characteristics of the model.
7.Price in 2026: Where is the best place to buy?
In the secondary market (for example, on Avito or Yula), prices for both smartphones vary depending on the condition and configuration.
- 💰 Samsung Galaxy A51 (4/64 GB): 12 000 – 15 000 ₽
- 💰 Samsung Galaxy A51 (6/128 GB): 15 000 – 18 000 ₽
- 💰 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (4/64 GB): 10 000 – 13 000 ₽
- 💰 Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (4/128 GB): 13 000 – 16 000 ₽
As you can see, the Redmi Note 9 is 15-20 percent cheaper, but it's important to consider the battery status. Batteries in budget smartphones lose up to 30 percent of capacity in 3-4 years, so before buying, request a screenshot from the AccuBattery app or similar service. If the capacity is below 80 percent of the original, bargain or look for another option.
Also, look at the firmware region. Samsung has a critical point: models for Russia (SER certificate) get updates longer than European (XXV); Xiaomi has a less noticeable difference, but it is better to choose Global firmware (not China) to avoid problems with Google services.
8. Bottom line: Which smartphone to choose in 2026?
We draw clear conclusions based on our analysis:
| Criteria | Winner | Reason. |
|---|---|---|
| Display. | Samsung A51 | AMOLED with the best color reproduction |
| Productivity | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | More powerful processor and better optimization |
| Cameras | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | Best Night Shooting and 4K Video |
| Battery | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | 5020 mAh vs 4000 mAh |
| Design | Samsung A51 | More premium appearance |
| Price. | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | Cheaper by 15-20% with similar characteristics |
Choose the Samsung Galaxy A51 if:
- You care. AMOLED-juicy-flower.
- You prefer the premium design and Samsung brand.
- You need reverse wireless charging for accessories.
- You plan to use your smartphone for longer than 2 years (best update support).
Choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 if:
- You need maximum battery supply.
- You play mobile games or use heavy apps.
- It is important to be able to shoot video in 4K.
- You are looking for the best return for money (the best price/quality ratio).
If you are still in doubt, answer two questions:
- Are you willing to sacrifice your autonomy for a better screen?
- How important is video shooting and performance in games to you?
If you answer both questions yes, take the Redmi Note 9. If you have one no, look at the Galaxy A51.
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In 2026, both smartphones are inferior to new models in performance, but remain relevant for basic tasks. If budget allows, consider more modern alternatives: the Samsung Galaxy A34 or Xiaomi Redmi Note 12.