Xiaomi Redmi 9 results in AnTuTu: an honest performance review

The question of how much the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is gaining in Antutu is often raised by users looking for a budget but functional smartphone, which, launched in 2020, was billed as the “king of autonomy” and a reliable assistant for everyday tasks, but its gaming ambitions are often questioned.

The popular benchmark AnTuTu provides a comprehensive assessment of CPU, GPU, RAM and drive speed. For Redmi 9, these numbers are critical because they determine how smooth the MIUI will work and whether the device will pull up today’s demanding games. Let’s look at the real metrics and factors that affect them.

It's worth noting that the numbers can vary depending on the firmware version, the number of background processes running, and even the ambient temperature. However, there is a range of values that is considered normal for this model, and understanding these limits will help you make an informed decision when buying a used device or choosing an optimization strategy.

Official data and real indicators

Xiaomi rarely publishes accurate scores in marketing materials for the budget segment, preferring to focus on battery capacity and screen diagonal. However, analysis of thousands of user reports allows you to form a clear picture. On average, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 shows a result in the range of 190,000 to 210,000 points in the version of the benchmark AnTuTu v8.

When you switch to a newer version of the test, like v9 or v10, the scoring algorithms change, and the numbers may look different, often getting lower due to increased software requirements. It's important to understand that comparing the results of different versions of the benchmark is incorrect. For this model, the most relevant is the v8 standard, which was optimized for the chipset at the time of release.

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone scores below 170,000, it may indicate background processes, overheating, or the presence of a fake device.

The total score is also affected by RAM, with versions with 4GB of RAM often showing up near the upper end of the range, while 3GB versions can be limited to the available memory, which reduces the overall score, especially in multitasking tests.

Analysis of the MediaTek Helio G80 processor

At the heart of the device is the MediaTek Helio G80, a 12nm processor, an eight-core processor that was considered one of the best in its class at the time of its release, and consists of two Cortex-A75 cores with up to 2.0GHz and six energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores, a big.LITTLE architecture that balances power and battery savings.

In the CPU test, which measures computing power, Redmi 9 shows stable results sufficient for social networks, messengers and navigation. However, with prolonged load, you can experience trotting, a decrease in frequency to prevent overheating, which is a standard protection procedure that, unfortunately, reduces the final score in the benchmark.

• 🚀 Performance cores: Provide performance in heavy applications and when running games.
• 🔋 Effective cores: Take on background tasks, saving battery power in standby mode.
• ⚙️ Process technology: 12 nm is not the most modern standard, which affects energy efficiency compared to 7 nm analogues.

The Mali-G52 MC2 graphics accelerator built into the chip is responsible for rendering images. It supports modern APIs, but it only has enough power to accommodate average graphics settings in games. In synthetic tests, the GPU scores about 50,000 to 60,000 points, a significant fraction of the total.

The impact of memory and storage on speed

Don’t underestimate the role of RAM and the type of storage device in the final score. Redmi 9 uses LPDDR4X memory, which provides decent bandwidth for the budget segment. The speed of reading and writing data directly affects the time of downloading applications and installing updates.

The type of embedded storage eMMC 5.1 used in this model is a slower analog of modern UFS. This creates a “narrow neck” when working with large files or installing heavy games. In the AnTuTu benchmark, the memory test (MEM) usually gives the device about 40,000 – 50,000 points.

Users often note that after filling internal storage by more than 85%, the performance of a smartphone can significantly decrease, due to the peculiarities of the work of flash memory, which requires free space for efficient data distribution.

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Free up 10-15% of internal memory for stable system operation and maximum data writing speed.

Comparison with competitors and predecessors

To understand how much Redmi 9 is gaining in the market, you need to compare it with direct competitors. For example, the popular Realme C3 on the same processor shows almost identical results, since they share a hardware platform.

Compared to its predecessor, the Redmi 8 (Snapdragon 439), the performance gains are almost double that, making the ninth model significantly more appealing to those who want to not only make calls but also run a navigator or YouTube in high quality.

• 📉 Realme C3: Similar indicators, ~200,000 points.
• 📈 Redmi Note 8: Higher up. 20-30% Thanks to Snapdragon 665.
• 🆚 Samsung Galaxy A11: Similar level, but different optimization of One UI.

However, when you look at newer models like the Redmi 9T or Redmi 10, the difference is palpable: Newer Snapdragon 662 or Helio G88 processors offer better energy efficiency and slightly higher frequencies, which is reflected in the tests.

Factors that reduce the result in the benchmark

Why does one user have a phone that is 205,000 and another has 185,000? The answer lies in the details of the operation. The first and foremost enemy of high scores is temperature. If you test a smartphone in a hot room or in the sun, the processor will reset the frequencies long before the test is completed.

The second factor is background activity. The loaded cache, running applications, synchronizing cloud services, all this takes away CPU resources. Before starting AnTuTu, it is recommended to close all applications and clear RAM through the built-in optimizer.

⚠️ Warning: The use of Battery Saver modes during testing artificially understates results by limiting the maximum CPU frequency. Always test in Performance or Balanced mode".

Also worth considering is the MIUI version. Heavy shells with lots of visuals consume more graphics core resources than stock Android. System updates often bring not only new features but also changes to power management algorithms.

Playing performance and practical experience

The numbers in AnTuTu are one thing, the real-world experience is another. What is Xiaomi Redmi 9 capable of in games based on its scores? Popular projects like PUBG Mobile run at low or medium graphics settings. Frame rate (FPS) in such conditions is kept at around 30 frames, which is quite playable.

For heavy-duty games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile, the Mali-G52 is no longer enough power to play comfortably at high settings. The device will get very hot, and the picture can turn into a slideshow. Here, the benchmark honestly warns about the graphics chip's limits.

However, for casual games (three in a row, strategy, card games) the margin of performance is more than enough. the system interface runs smoothly, animations do not cause delays, unless you overload the device with dozens of open tabs.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a reliable mid-range with a score of about 200,000 points, ideal for everyday tasks, but not designed for hardcore gaming.