In 2020, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro became a real hit among budget smartphones: a powerful Snapdragon 720G processor, a capacious battery for 5020 mAh and a camera for 64 MP made customers forget about competitors. But almost 4 years have passed - and today this device looks like a technical dinosaur with critical problems that make it unjustified. Even with a price drop to 10-15 thousand rubles, the Redmi Note 9 Pro loses to modern public sector employees in key parameters.
In this article, we’ll look at 7 objective reasons why we shouldn’t look at this model in 2026, from outdated hardware to software constraints that make smartphone use a pain, and compare it to current alternatives from Xiaomi and other brands that offer more for the same money.
1.Outdated Snapdragon 720G processor: brakes in games and applications
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chip was the top in its segment in 2020, but today it does not even pull the basic tasks. For example, in the AnTuTu 10 test it scores only ~280,000 points – this is 2-3 times worse than the modern Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 or Dimensity 700, which are in the public sector in 2023-2026.
What does that mean in practice?
- 🎮 Games: Genshin Impact at minimum settings gives 15-20 FPS with constant friezes, even PUBG Mobile on medium settings "lays" in intense scenes.
- 📱 Multitasking: When switching between 3-4 applications (e.g. Telegram) + YouTube + The system begins to “kill” background processes.
- 🔄 Application updates: Many programs (such as CapCut or Canva) require Android 12+ and refuse to be established.
For comparison: even Redmi Note 12 with Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 (which is cheaper by 2-3 thousand rubles) shows in AnTuTu ~ 400,000 points - 40% faster.
MIUI without updates: security vulnerabilities and bugs
Redmi Note 9 Pro came to Android 10 and received only one major update to Android 12 (MIUI 14), which is completely discontinued from 2023.
- 🔒 No vulnerability fixes: Latest security patches date back to May 2023: New viruses and exploits (e.g., to steal data via Bluetooth) remain "patchless».
- 🐛 Accumulated bugs: B MIUI 14 for this model massively complain about spontaneous reboots, errors with Google Play Services and “flights” of the camera.
- 📵 Compatibility issues: Apps like SberBank Online or Tinkoff require Android 13+ They refuse to work properly.
Newer models (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro) are getting updates to Android 14 and MIUI 15 — a difference in support of 2-3 years.
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Before buying a used smartphone, check the date of the last update in the settings: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If the patch is older than 12 months, this is a critical risk.
5,020 mAh battery: not the same as before
The capacity of 5020 mAh sounds impressive, but in practice, the battery of the Redmi Note 9 Pro after 3-4 years of operation loses up to 30-40% of capacity, as confirmed by user tests on forums (for example, on 4PDA or Xiaomi Community):
| Parameter | New battery (2020) | After 3 years of use (2023–2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5020 mAh | 3000-3500 mAh |
| Opening time (screen) | 7-8 hours | 3-4 hours |
| Charging 0-100% | 2 hours 10 minutes | 3 hours+ |
| Overheating during charging | No. | Up to 45-50°C. |
The problem is compounded by the fact that Xiaomi does not sell original batteries for this model – only uncertified counterparts at a price of 1,500-2000 rubles, which rarely last longer than a year.
⚠️ Warning: If the seller claims that the battery is "like new," ask for a screenshot from the AccuBattery app with battery health data (Health.
64 MP Camera: Marketing instead of Real Quality
On paper, the 64-megapixel core looks solid, but it's actually a marketing ploy. Samsung's GW1 sensor uses pixel binning technology, which makes the real photo resolution 16 MP.
- 📸 Daytime snaps: In good lighting, the camera will do well, but the detail is worse than the Redmi Note 10 Pro (with Sony) IMX582).
- 🌙 Night Mode Algorithms in Night Mode MIUI 14 outdated - photos are noisy, with blurred edges.
- 🎥 Video: Maximum 4K@30fps, But it's not stabilized. It's a tremble when you move, and autofocus is constantly losing the object.
For comparison, even the Poco M6 Pro (2023) with a 64MP camera on the OmniVision OV64B shows better color reproduction and focus speed.
Photos from Redmi Note 9 Pro vs Redmi Note 12
5. 60Hz screen: an outdated standard
The display Redmi Note 9 Pro is an IPS LCD with a resolution of Full HD+ and refresh rate of 60 Hz. In 2020, this was the norm, but today even public sector for 12,000 rubles offer 90 Hz or 120 Hz.
What's the risk?
- 🖥️ Scrolling: In social networks or browser, animation looks "teared" compared to 90+ Hz.
- 🎮 In dynamic scenes (for example, in Call of Duty Mobile), low refresh rate gives the effect of a soap picture».
- 🔋 Energy consumption: Paradox: 60 Hz screen isn't always more economical. AMOLED-90Hz panels (e.g. Redmi Note 13) use less power due to adaptive frequency.
The test on DisplayMate shows that the brightness of the screen Note 9 Pro drops to 200 nits when automatically adjusted - in the sun to see anything is almost impossible.
6.No 5G and weak Wi-Fi module
The Redmi Note 9 Pro only supports 4G (LTE), and without frequency aggregation.
- 📶 Internet speed: In cities with a dense network load, real speeds rarely exceed 30-40 Mbit / s (vs. 100).+ Mbps 5G).
- 🔄 Future: Operators (for example, MegaFon or Beeline) actively turn off 3G and cut down on coverage 4G favorably 5G.
- 📡 Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 5 module (802.11ac) The speed is limited to 866 Mbps, modern routers on Wi-Fi 6 will not reveal its potential.
For comparison, the Redmi Note 12 5G is cheaper, but supports 5G and Wi-Fi 6 networks – the difference in file download speed can reach 3-5 times.
Type-C connector (often loosened)
Battery status (health > 70%)
All cameras (especially macro-module)
Absence of “broken” pixels on the screen
Availability of boxes and documents (for warranty repair)-->
7. Alternatives are cheaper and better
If your budget is up to 15,000 rubles, consider these models instead of the Redmi Note 9 Pro:
| Model | Processor | Screen. | Battery | Price (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | AMOLED, 120Hz | 5000 mAh, 33W | 12 990 ₽ |
| Poco M6 Pro | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | IPS, 90 Hz. | 5000 mAh, 18W | 11 990 ₽ |
| Realme Narzo 60 | Dimensity 6020 | AMOLED, 90 Hz. | 5000 mAh, 33W | 13 990 ₽ |
All of these smartphones are new, with a warranty, support for Android 14+ and modern chips. Even if you find a Redmi Note 9 Pro for 8 000 rubles, its repair and replacement battery will cost 3,000-5 000 rubles — the total cost of ownership will be higher than the new device.
⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 9 Pro with replaced components (for example, a battery from Note) are often sold on the secondary market 9S Or a non-original screen. IMEI via IMEI.info – if the activation date differs from the one declared by the seller, this is a cause for suspicion.
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The big takeaway: the Redmi Note 9 Pro in 2026 is not a bargain, but a high-risk lottery, and even if your smartphone is on the go, you'll have to spend six months repairing or putting up with the brakes.