Many users, choosing a mid-range smartphone, often wonder about the real performance of the device, especially if it is no longer a novelty of the market. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S has long been considered a benchmark in its price category thanks to its powerful processor for its time. However, time goes by, and the numbers of benchmarks change, and the relevance of the indicators becomes a subject of heated debate in enthusiastic communities.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how many points the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S scores in AnTuTu on different software versions, and what these numbers mean in everyday use. You will learn how system updates affect speed and whether you should expect performance to fall over time.
We’re not just going to go with the numbers, but we’re going to do a deep analysis of how the Snapdragon 720G processor behaves under load, and understanding these nuances will help you make an informed decision about buying a used device or optimizing your existing gadget to achieve maximum results in synthetic tests.
Snapdragon 720G architecture and benchmark expectations
At the heart of the smartphone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset, which is made using 8-nm process technology. This platform was designed specifically for mobile gamers, as evidenced by the letter “G” in the name, but its performance in AnTuTu Benchmark is often the object of attention and ordinary users. The architecture includes two productive cores Cortex-A76 and six energy-efficient Cortex-A55, which creates a balance between speed and autonomy.
The Adreno 618 graphics accelerator integrated into the chip is responsible for rendering the interface and 3D-It's a bunch of graphics in games. CPU and GPU It's important to understand that factory setups can limit frequencies to save the battery, so out of the box numbers can differ from potential values after manual optimization.
⚠️ Warning: Factory thermal paste in Xiaomi’s budget and mid-budget models is often of poor quality or unevenly applied, which can lead to early trotting (reduced frequency due to heating) during long-term tests in AnTuTu.
When analyzing test results, it should be borne in mind that different versions of firmware (Global, EU, China) can manage power consumption differently. For example, the Chinese version of MIUI is often more aggressive in terms of background processes, which can artificially lower the final score due to the load on RAM before the test begins.
Why is the Snapdragon 720G still relevant?
Official data and test results in different versions of AnTuTu
Results in synthetic tests are directly dependent on the version of the application used. Benchmark developers regularly update the engine, changing the algorithms for evaluating graphics and the processor, so compare scores between versions of AnTuTu v8 AnTuTu v9/v10 It's not incorrect. 9S The following ranges of values are characteristic depending on the version of the software.
In the popular version of AnTuTu v8, which was relevant at the time of the release of the smartphone, the device consistently showed results in the range of 260,000 – 275,000 points. This was a great indicator for 2020, allowing the smartphone to feel confident in the top ratings of the middle segment.
With the release of AnTuTu v9 and subsequent v10, the graphics and staffing requirements have been significantly increased: In new versions of the benchmark Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S scores an average of 320,000 to 345,000 points, the range of 25,000 points is due to the temperature of the device at the time of the test launch and background activity of Google and MIUI services.
It is worth noting that record values are often reached on a clean system immediately after resetting to factory settings. The more data is stored in the system cache, the more resources are spent on background indexing, which can slightly reduce the final score when repeating the test without first cleaning.
Factors affecting the final score Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
Getting the maximum score is not just a matter of hardware, but also a good software setup. There are a number of critical factors that can both increase and significantly underestimate the result of your Redmi Note 9S in AnTuTu. Ignoring these nuances often leads to incorrect conclusions about the state of the device.
First of all, you need to pay attention to the occupancy of internal memory. Flash memory such as UFS 2.1, used in this smartphone, significantly reduces the speed of writing and reading when filled by more than 80-85%, this directly affects the subsection "UX" (User Experience) in the benchmark, which is responsible for the speed of the interface and applications.
- 🌡️ Temperature: Testing at a body temperature above 35°C will lead to the inclusion of protection mechanisms and a decrease in the clock speed of the processor.
- 🔋 Power saving mode: The "Battery" or "Ultra-energy saving" mode is artificially limiting power CPU, downplay 15-20%.
- 📡 Background processes: Active downloads, synchronization of photos in the cloud and the operation of the navigator during the test create a parasitic load on the cores.
Also, the version plays an important role. MIUI. Newer shells, such as MIUI 13 or 14 may be heavier for Snapdragon 720G, more MIUI 11 or 12, because of increased visuals and background services, so fresh firmware may have slightly lower results than older, more streamlined versions of software.
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Before starting AnTuTu, restart your smartphone and wait 2-3 minutes after turning on until the system fully loads the services, which will provide the cleanest conditions for testing.
Comparison with competitors and real performance
To understand whether the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S scores a lot or not, you need to consider it in the context of competitors from the same period, the Realme 6 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy A51 being the direct rivals.
The table below compares the averages in AnTuTu v9 for key competitors, and the data is averaged based on a variety of tests conducted by independent reviewers and users.
| Smartphone model | Processor | AnTuTu v9 (Grade Average) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S | Snapdragon 720G | ~330 000 | Best MIUI Optimization |
| Realme 6 Pro | Snapdragon 720G | ~325 000 | Rapid 30W charging |
| Samsung Galaxy A51 | Exynos 9611 | ~260 000 | Super Amoled screen |
| Honor 9X | Kirin 810 | ~280 000 | Retractable camera |
As the data shows, the Redmi Note 9S is confidently bypassing similar-class Exynos and Kirin devices, demonstrating Qualcomm’s superiority in multithreading tasks. However, the gap with the Realme 6 Pro is minimal and often within statistical error margins that depend on the specific batch of processors.
⚠️ Warning: Don't chase records in benchmarks at all costs. Overclocking the device or using modified cores to raise points in AnTuTu can lead to unstable system operation and shorten battery life.
In real-world use cases, such as flipping through social media feeds, launching a navigator, or watching videos in the video 4K, difference 10-15 Thousands of points between Redmi Note 9S And its direct competitors are almost imperceptible. UI (Xiaomi’s user interface is often subjectively perceived higher due to the smoothness of animations MIUI.
☑️ Checking before the test in AnTuTu
How to Prepare Redmi Note 9S for Testing for Maximum Results
If you want to get as close to the passport data as possible or check the condition of the device after purchase, you need to do the right preparation. Chaotic launch of the benchmark without prior settings will give a distorted picture that does not reflect the real potential of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S.
Start by cleaning RAM. Close all running applications through the multitasking menu. It is also recommended to turn off data and Wi-Fi for 10-15 minutes before the test to eliminate background synchronization of mail, messengers and cloud storage, which can request CPU resources at any time.
The important step is to choose the right mode of operation. Go to Settings → Battery and select Performance mode (if available in your version of MIUI) or make sure that the power saving mode is turned off. In some versions of the firmware, this item is hidden in the Advanced Settings menu.
- 🧹 Cache Cleanup: Use the built-in Security app to remove junk files before starting.
- 🌡️ Refrigeration: Remove the case if it is dense and test in a room with a comfortable temperature (20-22°C).
- 📱 Screen: Make sure the brightness of the screen is set to 50% or lower, as the bright backlight creates additional heating and load on the power system.
After you do this, run AnTuTu Benchmark and don't touch the screen while you're passing the tests. Any interaction can interrupt the rendering process and affect the final load schedules. If the result is significantly lower than expected (for example, below 300,000 in v9), you should consider resetting to factory settings.
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Maximum scores in AnTuTu are not always correlated with comfort of use, but the stability of FPS in games and responsiveness of the interface are more important than one-time records in synthetics.
Impact of MIUI updates on speed and scores
Redmi Note 9S users often note that with each major MIUI update, the smartphone starts to work a little differently, which is because newer versions of the shell require more resources to handle visuals and new security features, which can affect the results in benchmarks.
For example, the transition from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13 brought privacy improvements and new widgets, but also increased the burden on RAM, which in tests can be expressed in a slight decrease in scores in the RAM subsection, although CPU power (CPU Score) can remain unchanged or even increase due to optimization of the ART compiler.
On the other hand, security patches and Android kernel updates sometimes contain patches that improve the stability of the GPU drivers. This can positively affect the graphics test in AnTuTu. Therefore, fluctuation of results within 5-7% between different versions of the software is a normal situation that does not require intervention.
If you experience a sharp drop in performance (over 20%) after the upgrade, it is recommended to perform a full reset (Wipe Data) with a pre-backup, which will remove conflicting files of old settings and allow the system to work with a clean configuration, unlocking the potential of the Snapdragon 720G to its fullest.