Xiaomi Mi 9: official release date, technical features and why it became a legend

Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 9 smartphone became one of the brand’s most talked-about models in 2019, not only because of its powerful “stuffing”, but also because of its revolutionary triple-camera design. This device marked the company’s transition to the next level: for the first time in Xiaomi’s history, a device with a Snapdragon 855 processor, wireless charging and a screen without a cutout (due to a hidden front camera). But when exactly did the Mi 9 come out and why its release caused such a stir? In this article, we will examine the chronology of events, technical nuances and how the model influenced the further strategy of the brand.

It’s worth noting that the Mi 9 debuted in the midst of fierce competition with the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Huawei P30 Pro, but managed to stand out thanks to a combination of premium features and a democratic price. Even today, years later, this smartphone is interesting to collectors and enthusiasts – especially in the context of the evolution of the Mi line. If you are planning to buy a used model or just want to know the history, this material will help to put everything on the shelves.

The official release date of Xiaomi Mi 9 in the world and Russia

Xiaomi Mi 9 was officially unveiled on February 20, 2019 at a special event in Beijing, a milestone for the company, as the model was positioned as the first true flagship of the brand with premium characteristics, sales in China began on February 26, 2019, and global release (including Europe) occurred in March of the same year.

In Russia, Mi. 9 sold out 12 March 2019 And it was a year ago, through Xiaomi's official distributors and partners, and interestingly, it was originally sold at about the price of Xiaomi. 35 000 ₽ post- 6/128 GB, which was significantly cheaper than competitors with similar specs. for example, Samsung Galaxy S10 at the time 20–30% more.

• 📅 February 20, 2019 – Official presentation in China.
• 🛒 February 26, 2019 – start of sales in China.
• 🌍 March 2019 – Global Release (Europe, India, Russia).
• 💰 March 12, 2019 – the beginning of sales in Russia at a price of 35 000 ₽.

It is important to understand that the Mi 9 was the first Xiaomi smartphone to receive certification for official sales in Russia through the brand’s own channels (previously, the models were delivered mainly through partners), which allowed to avoid problems with warranty maintenance and firmware localization.

Technical Features: Why the Mi 9 was revolutionary

At the time of its release, the Xiaomi Mi 9 had some of the most advanced features in its segment.

The camera deserves special attention: the Mi 9 became the first Xiaomi smartphone to receive a rating of 107 points in DxOMark tests (at that time it was one of the highest results); the Triple module with a Sony IMX586 sensor (48 MP) allowed you to shoot detailed photos even in low light, and optical stabilization and zoom made it a versatile tool.

Another innovation is wireless charging. Before the Mi 9, no Xiaomi smartphone supported this feature, which was a serious disadvantage against the backdrop of Samsung and Apple flagships. Now users could charge the device at special stations (for example, the Mi Wireless Charging Pad) without connecting a cable.

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Xiaomi Mi 9 became the first smartphone of the brand with wireless charging and HDR10+ certification for the screen.

Comparison with competitors: who was stronger in 2019

In the year of the release of the Mi 9, the flagship market was extremely saturated: the Samsung Galaxy S10, Huawei P30 Pro, OnePlus 7 Pro and even the iPhone 11 (released later) fought for the attention of customers.

• 📱 Display: Mi 9 was inferior to OnePlus 7 Pro (90 Hz vs 60 Hz), but overtook in color reproduction (HDR10+).
• 📸 Camera: Huawei P30 Pro led at zoom (5)× The Mi 9 was better in the video. 4K.
• 🔋 Charging: Mi 9 offered the fastest wired (27W) and wireless (20W) charging among competitors.
• 💰 Mi 9 was 30-50% cheaper than Galaxy S10 iPhone 11 with similar characteristics.

The Mi's main advantage 9 — Price/quality ratio, for example, the version with 6/128 GB in Russia cost about 35 000 ₽, while Galaxy S10 with similar memory, he was 50 000–55 000 ₽. And the performance (thanks to Snapdragon) 855) The screen quality was minimal.

⚠️ Warning: Despite the powerful stuffing, the Mi 9 had a weak spot — no memory card slot. If you needed expandable memory, you had to choose a version with 256 GB, which increased the cost.

Features of firmware and updates: is MIUI relevant today

At the time of release, the Mi 9 was running MIUI 10 (based on Android 9 Pie).The company promised 3 years of support for updates, and that deadline was met: the last major update (up to MIUI 12.5 on Android 11) was released in 2022. Today (2026) official security updates are no longer coming out, but enthusiasts can install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

Here are the key updates for the Mi 9:

• 📱 2019 — MIUI 10 (Android 9) → MIUI 11 (Android 10).
• 🔄 2020 — MIUI 12 (Android 10) → MIUI 12.0.1 (Android 11).
• 🛑 2022 — MIUI 12.5 (last official update).
• 🔧 2023–2026 – community support for custom firmware.

If you are buying the Mi 9 today, it is worth considering that:

⚠️ Warning: Without official security updates, the risk of vulnerabilities increases.We recommend disabling application installation from unknown sources (Settings) → Annexes → Special access rights) and use antivirus.

For those who want to extend the life of the device, there is an option to unlock the bootloader and install alternative firmware. For example, Pixel Experience offers “clean” Android without the unnecessary services of Xiaomi, which can improve performance. However, this process requires experience and resets all data!

How much is Xiaomi Mi 9 today: prices used market

In 2026, Xiaomi Mi 9 on the secondary market can be found at a price of 8000 to 15 000 ₽, Depending on condition and equipment, here's an estimate:

• 💸 8 000–10 000 ₽ — version 6/64 GB in satisfactory condition (may be with scratches or worn-out battery).
• 💎 12 000–15 000 ₽ — version 8/128 GB 8/256 GB in perfect condition, with checks and original packaging.
• ⚠️ Up to 20,000. ₽ — collectibles (e.g. Mi 9 Transparent Edition with transparent back panel).

When buying a used Mi 9, be sure to check:

Battery condition (capacity must be at least 80% of the original)

Performance of all cameras (especially telephoto and wide-angle)

The absence of yellow pixels on AMOLED-screen

Original charger (27 W)

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Should I buy the Mi 9 in 2026? Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ Suitable for backup phone or firmware experiments.
• ✅ A good option for photography (the camera still competes with budget new items).
• ❌ Don’t expect long-term support or high performance in modern games.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them: User Experience

Despite its reliability, the Mi 9 has several typical “diseases” to be aware of:

1. Fast battery discharge: in 3-4 years, the battery capacity can fall to 70-75%. ~2 000 ₽).
2. Overheating when charging: especially noticeable when using fast charging 27 watts. We recommend charging the device without a case.
3. Wi-Fi/Bluetooth problems: sometimes the connection goes missing. Network resets help (Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Reset).
4. Yellow spots on the screen: defect AMOLED-matrix in some batches. If spots appear, contact the service (screen replacement is possible).

One of the most frustrating problems is wireless charging failure, most often because of a coil or controller failure, and it costs 3,000 to 5,000 times a day to repair. ₽, Before buying a used device, check this function.

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If the Mi 9 is slow to work, try turning off animation in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then Settings → Additional → For developers → Animation → set a factor of 0.5x).

FAQ: answers to popular questions about Xiaomi Mi 9