Why Mi 9 and Mi 10 Comparisons Are Still Relevant
Even a few years after the release of the Xiaomi Mi 9 (2019) and Mi 10 (2020), these models remain in demand in the secondary market. The reason is simple: they offer flagship performance at a price of 2-3 times lower than new devices.
On the one hand, the Mi 10 is equipped with a more modern Snapdragon 865 processor, supports 5G and has an improved main camera. On the other hand, the Mi 9 is smaller, cheaper and still copes with most tasks thanks to the Snapdragon 855. In this article, we will analyze 10 key differences, test real performance in benchmarks and tests, and give recommendations for different use cases from gaming to photography.
It is important to consider that both smartphones are no longer receiving official Android updates (the latest version for the Mi 9 is MIUI 14 based on Android 12, for the Mi 10 – MIUI 14 on Android 13).
Processor and performance: How much faster is the Mi 10 in practice?
On paper, the difference between the Snapdragon 855 (Mi 9) and the Snapdragon 865 (Mi 10) seems significant: the new chipset promises +25% CPU performance and +40% graphics thanks to the Cortex-A77 architecture and the Adreno 650 graphics accelerator.
According to the results of tests in Geekbench 5 (2026, current versions):
Mi 9: ~700 points in single-core, ~2500 in multi-core.
Mi 10: ~900 points in single-core, ~3200 in multi-core.
The difference is there, but it's not critical for everyday tasks, but in games the gap is more noticeable: in Genshin Impact at the maximum settings, the Mi 9 gives ~30 FPS, while the Mi 10 keeps at 45-50 FPS.
- 🎮 For gamers: Mi 10 is definitely preferable - it keeps a high frame rate longer and heats less.
- 📱 For social networks and instant messengers: both smartphones cope equally well, the difference is not noticeable.
- 💼 For working with documents: Mi 10 quicker opens heavy PDF Excel files (difference) ~1-2 seconds).
⚠️ Attention: Both smartphones are prone to trottling (decreased performance when overheated). 9 It's already showing up through 15 minutes of intense load, in Mi 10 — through 20-25 Use cooling stands for long play sessions.
2. Screen: AMOLED vs AMOLED - where's the catch?
Both smartphones are equipped AMOLED-screen-support HDR10+, but there are nuances:
Mi 9: 6.39", resolution 2340×1080, refresh rate 60 Hz, brightness up to 600 nits.
Mi 10: 6.67", resolution 2340×1080, refresh rate 90 Hz, brightness up to 800 nits.
In practice:
The colors on both screens are deep and rich, but the Mi 10 has a more accurate color reproduction out of the box (delta E ~0.8 vs. ~1.2 in the Mi 9).
Smoothness: The 90Hz in the Mi 10 is noticeable when scrolling on social media and games, but is not critical for most users.
Brightness: The Mi 10 reads better in the sun due to its increased maximum brightness.
| Parameter | Xiaomi Mi 9 | Xiaomi Mi 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.39" | 6.67" |
| Frequency of update | 60 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Max. brightness. | 600 nits | 800 nits |
| Support for HDR | HDR10+ | HDR10+ |
| Screen protection | Gorilla Glass 6 | Gorilla Glass 5 |
Critical: The Mi 10 has more fragile glass (Gorilla Glass 5 vs. 6 in the Mi 9), so without a case, the risk of scratching the screen is higher.
3. Cameras: megapixels vs processing
On paper, the Mi 10 will benefit from the 108 MP core module (versus the 48 MP Mi 9), but the real quality depends on the processing. In 2026, MIUI algorithms are outdated, so it is important to consider:
- 📸 Daytime shots: Mi 10 gives more detailed photos at a cost of 108 MP, but only in good lighting.
- 🌃 Night shooting: both smartphones use the same Night Mode 2.0 algorithm, so the results are comparable.
- 🎥 Video: Mi 10 supportive 8K@30fps, But in practice, it's useless because of the overheating. 4K@60fps.
- 🔍 Zoom: Mi 10 has optical 2x (against 1.5x Mi 9, but digital zoom up to 10x On both devices, the results are equally bad.
⚠️ In 2026, the cameras of both smartphones lose even budget innovations (for example, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+) Because of the outdated processing algorithms, if photography is a priority, consider newer models.
Check the condition of the lenses (whether there are scratches)
Test all camera modules (wide-angle, telephoto)
Take a 4K video – Are there any artifacts?
Make sure the stabilization works (take a video on the go)-->
4. Battery and autonomy: who will live longer?
Battery capacity:
- Mi 9: 3300 mAh.
- Mi 10: 4780 mAh.
In practice, the difference is smaller than it seems:
Mi 9 in the average mode (social networks, messengers, 2-3 hours of video) lasts 12-14 hours.
Mi 10 with the same loads - 16-18 hours.
But there are nuances:
Fast charging: Both support 30W, but the Mi 10 charges up to 100% 10 minutes longer due to the larger capacity.
- Wireless charging: only Mi 10 (30W), It requires a separate purchase of the station (~3000₽).
Battery wear: the used Mi 9 (2019) battery has probably already lost 20-30% of capacity, the Mi 10 (2020) – 10-20%.
💡
Before buying a used smartphone, check the battery status through the engineering menu: type in the dial ##4636## and select "Battery Information." If the health value is below 80%, the battery needs to be replaced.
5. Design and Ergonomics: Which is more comfortable in the hand?
Dimensions:
Mi 9: 157.5 × 74.7 × 7.6 mm, 173 g.
Mi 10: 162.6 × 74.8 × 9.0 mm, 208 g.
The Mi 9 is smaller and lighter, easier to use with one hand. the Mi 10 is more massive, but has a symmetrical frame and a more premium design (metal middle instead of plastic in the Mi 9).
Key differences:
- Fingerprint scanner: Mi 9 has it under the screen (optical), Mi 10 has it in the power button (ultrasonic, faster and more reliable).
Water protection: None of the smartphones have an official IP rating, but the Mi 10 is better tolerated by splashing the case.
- Connectors: Both are devoid of a 3.5mm audio jack, but the Mi 10 has more powerful stereo speakers (with support for Dolby Atmos).
How to distinguish the original Mi 10 from a fake?
6.Price and relevance in 2026
Cost on the secondary market (according to Avito and Yula, May 2026):
- Xiaomi Mi 9 (b/y) (good condition): 12,000–18,000 ₽.
- Xiaomi Mi 10 (b/y) good condition: 18,000-25,000 ₽.
Should I overpay?
- For most users, the difference is 5,000–7,000. ₽ Mi 9 still manages 90% of tasks.
For gamers and photographers, the Mi 10 is preferred, but only if you find a battery in good condition (health > 85%).
- Alternative: for the same 25,000 ₽ You can buy a new Redmi Note 13 Pro.+ Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, 200 MP camera and support for updates until 2026.
💡
If your budget is up to 15,000 ₽ — Take the Mi 9 in perfect condition if you're willing to spend 20,000.+ ₽ — Consider the new Redmi models or POCO warranty.
7 Updates and Support: What to Expect in the Future
The official updates for both smartphones have ended:
Mi 9: latest version is MIUI 14 (Android 12).
Mi 10: latest version is MIUI 14 (Android 13).
What does that mean in practice?
Security: Android vulnerabilities are not fixed, the risk of viruses is higher, and do not use these smartphones to work with banking applications without additional protection (for example, Kaspersky Internet Security).
Compatibility: Some apps (such as SberBank Online or Tinkoff) may no longer support older versions of Android.
Castom firmware: Both smartphones support LineageOS and Pixel Experience, but the installation requires unlocking the bootloader and risks voiding the warranty (if it is still valid).
⚠️ Note: After installing custom firmware, Widevine will cease to work L1 (no HD into Netflix/YouTube) and contactless payments (NFC Not certified for Google Pay).
8.Alternatives: What to consider instead of Mi 9 and Mi 10?
If you are not satisfied with outdated flagships, pay attention to:
- 🆕 New budget flagships: POCO F6 Pro (~30 000 ₽, Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, 67W charging) or Redmi K70E (~28 000 ₽, MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra).
- 📱 Used flagships of 2022: Xiaomi 12 (~25 000 ₽, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, support for updates to 2026 or Mi 11 (~22 000 ₽, Snapdragon 888).
- 💰 The most expensive version: Redmi Note 13 Pro (~20 000 ₽, Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, 200 MP camera, 67W charging).
If you need a Mi 9 or Mi 10, pay attention to:
Battery status (health > 80%)
- The performance of all cameras and speakers.
No traces of repair (especially screen and motherboard).