Xiaomi Redmi 9T or Vivo Y31: Which smartphone is better to buy in 2026?

The choice of a budget smartphone is always fraught with tradeoffs: somewhere you have to sacrifice performance, somewhere you have to sacrifice the quality of the screen or photos. Two popular models in the segment up to 15,000 rubles — Xiaomi Redmi 9T and Vivo Y31 — just illustrate this principle. Both devices offer balanced specs, but are aimed at different users.

Redmi 9T

Xiaomi

6,000 mAh

Snapdragon 662

Vivo Y31

In this comparison, we'll take a look at 8 key aspects, from technical specifications to user experience, to help you make informed choices, and at the end of this article, you'll find an FAQ that answers some of the most controversial questions about these smartphones.

⚡ Performance and Iron: Who is Faster in Gaming and Everyday Tasks?

On paper, both smartphones are budget, but their “stuffing” is markedly different. Redmi 9T is equipped with 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm), while Vivo Y31 runs on Snapdragon 662... Stop, is this a typo? No! Both models use the same chip, but with different cooling and software optimization settings.

In synthetic tests (such as AnTuTu 9), the difference is minimal: Redmi 9T scores about 180,000 and Vivo Y31 scores 175,000. However, in practice, performance depends on firmware. Xiaomi's MIUI is often criticized for background processes, and Vivo's Funtouch OS sins by aggressively shutting down applications.

• 🎮 For games: both cope with PUBG Mobile on the "Balanced" settings (30) FPS), but Redmi 9T less likely to slow down in long sessions due to better heat removal.
• 📱 Multitasking: Vivo Y31 Switches between applications faster, but more often reboots them.
• 🔋 Heating: Redmi 9T It warms more when charging, but distributes heat more evenly during games.

⚠️ WARNING: If you plan to use a smartphone for Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact, neither model will provide comfortable gameplay at maximum settings.Both are limited to the Adreno 610 graphics accelerator, which doesn't pull up modern games on high presets.

📸 Cameras: the difference in megapixels or software?

On paper, the Vivo Y31 looks like a winner: its main camera has a resolution of 48 MP (versus 13 MP for the Redmi 9T). But in practice, it's more complicated. Yes, Vivo takes more detailed pictures in good lighting, but at dusk or at night Xiaomi often produces more balanced frames due to better noise processing.

Let's take a closer look at this.

• 🌄 Daytime snaps: Vivo Y31 It's a great deal of detail, but Redmi. 9T It is better to convey colors (less light).
• 🌃 At night shooting: Xiaomi uses a more aggressive noise reduction algorithm – the photos are “soapy”, but without grain.
• 👤 Selfie: 16-MP frontal Vivo loses 8-MP camera Redmi in dynamic range (faces in the shadows are worse worked out).
• 🎥 Video: Both models shoot videos in Full HD, But Vivo has a smoother stabilization.

💡

If the camera is critical, look for the Vivo Y31 — but only when shooting in good lighting conditions.

🔋 Battery and charging: Autonomousity vs Speed

Here Xiaomi Redmi 9T is clearly in the lead: its battery at 6000 mAh versus 5000 mAh Vivo Y31 provides 30-40% more time in mixed mode. in tests for video playback (screen at 50% brightness), Redmi lasted 22 hours, and Vivo – 15 hours.

But there are nuances:

• ⚡ Fast charging: Vivo Y31 supportive 18W (The adapter is included, while the Redmi 9T limited 10W In the basic configuration (you will have to buy charging separately).
• 🔄 Full charging time: Vivo charges in 2 hours, Redmi in 3 hours and 20 minutes (from the first half of the year) 10W-adapter).
• 📉 Discharge to simple: Vivo Y31 Loses up to 5% per night due to background activity OS, Redmi 9T This is a 2-3%.

⚠️ Note: If you use it frequently GPS (For example, for the navigator, Vivo Y31 It will be discharged in 6-7 hours of continuous operation, while Redmi will be discharged in the future. 9T It's going to last 9 to 10 hours, and it's critical for truckers or travelers.

💡

To extend the life of the Redmi 9T battery, turn off the Adaptive Battery feature in the settings (Settings → Battery → Battery Mode). It artificially limits performance, but has little impact on autonomy.

📱 Display: AMOLED vs IPS — what's more important to you?

The screen is something you interact with all the time, so its specs are critical. - Vivo Y31 fitted 6.44-inch AMOLED-resolution-screen 2400×1080, while Redmi 9T offer 6.53-inch IPS permittingly 2340×1080.

Let's look at the key differences:

• 🌈 Color rendering: AMOLED Vivo provides more saturated colors and deep black, but IPS Xiaomi more accurately conveys skin tones (important for photos / videos).
• ☀️ Brightness: The maximum brightness of the Vivo Y31 — 430 nits, Redmi's 9T — 400 nits. The difference is only noticeable in the sun.
• 🔄 Upgrade frequency: Both screens are 60Hz, but Vivo supports 180Hz touch rate (vs. 120Hz for Redmi), which is important for gaming.
• 👁️ Eye Protection: Vivo Only Y31 certificate TÜV Low Blue Light – This means less strain on vision with prolonged use.

⚠️ Attention: AMOLED-screens are prone to pixel burnout when static displays of elements (for example, navigation bars). If you often leave your smartphone on charge with the screen on, after 2-3 years, traces may appear.

Open a white background (such as a page in your browser) and check for broken pixels|

Look at the screen from an angle - IPS (Redmi 9T) should not have strong color inversion |

Turn on maximum brightness in a dark room - there should be no backlight at the edges (the Vivo Y31 sometimes has unevenness) |

Check the sensor for responsiveness in games (e.g. PUBG Mobile)

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💰 Price and equipment: what is more profitable in 2026?

As of the update (June 2026), model prices vary by region and seller:

• 💵 Xiaomi Redmi 9T (4/64 GB): 12 000–14 000 ₽
• 💵 Vivo Y31 (4/128 GB): 14 000–16 000 ₽

The difference is 2,000-3,000 ₽ justified?

Key point: Vivo Y31 It costs more, but it offers twice as much memory and AMOLED-The screen, however, is Redmi. 9T cheaper NFC (Important for contactless payments) and a large battery.

💡

If you buy a smartphone on credit, pay attention to shares from Sberbank or Tinkoff. Often Xiaomi offers discounts of up to 10% when making installments.

🛠️ Software: MIUI vs Funtouch OS

Both models run on Android 11 (with the option of upgrading to Android 12), but the manufacturers shells are very different:

• 🤖 MIUI (Xiaomi): ✅ Many functions (second space, performance modes). ❌ Too aggressive optimization (apps close in the background). ❌ Advertising in the system menu (can be turned off).
• 🎭 Funtouch OS (Vivo): ✅ Clean interface without advertising. ✅ Smooth animations (thanks) AMOLED). ❌ There is no dark theme for all applications (system only).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Pay or other banking apps, Vivo Y31 This may cause problems due to lack of Widevine certification. L1 (no support HD Netflix and other streaming services).

🏆 Comparison: Who is the right person?

💡

The choice between the Redmi 9T and the Vivo Y31 depends on your priorities: autonomy and versatility vs. design and camera.

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 9T if you need to:

• 🔋 Maximum operating time without recharging.
• 💳 NFC contactless.
• 🎮 More stable performance in games.
• 💰 Below the price (savings of 2,000–3,000) ₽).

Buy the Vivo Y31 if you are interested in:

• 📸 Quality of daytime photos and selfies.
• 🖤 AMOLED-deep-black.
• ⚡ Fast charging complete.
• 📁 Twice the internal memory (128 GB).

❓ FAQ: Answers to frequent questions