Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro remains one of the most popular mid-range smartphones even a few years after its release, and its success is largely due to balanced performance, among which the CPU plays a key role. But what chipset is installed in this model? How does it cope with modern tasks, from launching heavy games to multitasking? In this article, we will analyze in detail the technical specifications of the processor, its architecture, compare with analogues from other brands and give practical recommendations for optimizing performance.
If you’re planning to buy a used Redmi Note 9 Pro, or just want to understand what your current device is capable of, this article will help you put everything on the shelves. We’ll go beyond the dry numbers from the specifications, here you will find real tests, unique data on the heating and power consumption of the chipset in different scenarios, as well as answers to frequent user questions, such as why some games “slow down” at maximum settings or how to interpret the results of benchmarks.
Technical characteristics of the Redmi Note 9 Pro processor
The heart of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor, an 8-core mid-range chipset launched in early 2020. This chip is built on 8-nanometer process technology (in TSMC's terminology - N8), which provides a good balance between performance and energy efficiency.
- 🔹 2 Kryo 465 Gold cores (based on) Cortex-A76) clock speeds up to 2.3 GHz – responsible for heavy tasks;
- 🔹 6 Kryo 465 Silver cores (based on) Cortex-A55) Up to 1.8 GHz – optimized for background processes;
- 🔹 Adreno 618 Graphics Accelerator with Vulkan 1.1 and OpenGL Support ES 3.2;
- 🔹 Snapdragon modem X15 LTE (up to 800 Mbps per download).
It is important to note that Snapdragon 720G — This is the gaming version of the standard Snapdragon 720, where the letter G stands for Gaming. The manufacturer increased the clock frequency of the graphics core by 15% compared to the base model, which gives a noticeable increase in the clock speed of the graphics core. 3D-But don't confuse this chipset with flagship solutions, because it's focused on balanced performance without overheating.
Comparison with other Xiaomi processors
To see how good the Snapdragon 720G is, compare it to chipsets from other Xiaomi models of the same period.
| Smartphone model | Processor | Process technology (nm) | AnTuTu (points note) | Support for 5G support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 9 Pro | Snapdragon 720G | 8 | 275 000–290 000 | ❌ No. |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | Snapdragon 732G | 8 | 310 000–330 000 | ❌ No. |
| POCO X3 NFC | Snapdragon 732G | 8 | 300 000–320 000 | ❌ No. |
| Mi 10T Lite | Snapdragon 750G | 8 | 330 000–350 000 | ✅ Yes. |
| Redmi Note 9 | Mediatek Helio G85 | 12 | 200 000–220 000 | ❌ No. |
The table shows that the Snapdragon 720G is in the middle of the budget Helio G85 and the more advanced Snapdragon 750G. The main advantage over competitors from Mediatek is better software optimization and support for Elite Gaming. However, the lack of 5G makes the chipset obsolete for regions where already deployed networks of the fifth generation.
⚠️ Note: If you buy Redmi Note 9 Pro in 2026, keep in mind that its processor does not support Android 14 and new versions of popular games (for example, Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile at maximum settings). 778G+ or newer.
Performance in Games and Benchmarks
One of the key issues owners Redmi Note 9 Pro is gaming performance. chipset Snapdragon 720G is able to run most mobile games in the middle settings, but with reservations:
- 🎮 PUBG Mobile: stable 40 FPS on the Balanced settings or HD (when switching on Extreme FPS possible drawdowns of up to 30 FPS battle-fighting);
- 🎮 Call of Duty: Mobile: 60 FPS on Medium chart, but with periodic slowdowns in multiplayer matches;
- 🎮 Genshin Impact: Only 30 FPS on low settings (with Medium, there is strong heating and lags);
- 🎮 Free Fire: 60 FPS Ultra without any problems.
Results of synthetic tests (according to AnTuTu 9 and Geekbench 5):
- 📊 AnTuTu: ~280,000 points (compared to Snapdragon 865 scores) ~600 000);
- 📊 Geekbench (single-core): ~560 points;
- 📊 Geekbench (multi-core): ~1,700 points.
It’s important to consider that real performance depends on the MIUI version and thermal mode. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14, many users reported a 10 to 15 percent increase in chipset heating over long loads, due to a change in core clock control policy.
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To reduce heat during games, turn off the background activity of applications in the Battery settings → Performance mode and set the FPS limit at 40–45 (through the in-game graphics settings).
Heating and energy consumption: real tests
One of the weaknesses of the Snapdragon 720G is the tendency to overheat under prolonged loads. In tests using AIDA64 and 3DMark, the temperature of the chipset reached:
- 🔥 42–45°C in web surfing mode (1 hour);
- 🔥 50–55°C when recording video in 4K (15 minutes);
- 🔥 60–68°C in Genshin Impact on Medium settings (30 minutes).
By comparison, flagship chipsets from the same period (such as the Snapdragon 865) were heated to 75-80°C but had a more efficient cooling system. The Redmi Note 9 Pro uses a graphite heat-dissipating film that can only handle heating under short-term loads.
Use a cover with ventilation holes
Turn off Wi-Fi/Bluetooth when playing on mobile
Reduce the brightness of the screen to 70%
Close background applications through Settings → Apps → Clean
Play in a ventilated room (not in the sun)
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Power consumption of the chipset in different scenarios:
- 🔋 Standby regime: ~0.5-1%/hour;
- 🔋 Social media/messaging: ~3-5%/hour;
- 🔋 Games (PUBG, 40 FPS): ~12-15%/hour;
- 🔋 Navigation (Google Maps): ~8-10%/hour.
⚠️ Note: If your Redmi Note 9 Pro is discharged faster than the specified values (for example, 20% / hour in games), this may indicate battery wear or background virus activity. → Battery → Use and replace the battery if necessary (the original has a capacity of 5020 mAh).
How to check the processor on your Redmi Note 9 Pro
If you doubt that your device is installed Snapdragon 720G (for example, when buying a used phone), there are several ways to check this:
- Through system settings: Go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification; Find the CPU Model line – it should specify Qualcomm SM7125 (codenamed Snapdragon 720G).
- Using the CPU-Z app: Download CPU-Z from Google Play; Open the SoC tab – it will specify the exact model of the chipset and the frequency of the cores.
Beware of fakes! Some unscrupulous sellers may give the Redmi Note 9 Pro with a Helio G85 processor (as in the regular Redmi Note 9) as the original model. To avoid being cheated, always check:
- 🔍 Serial number on the box and in settings (Settings) → The phone. → Serial number);
- 🔍 Benchmark results - Snapdragon 720G Must have at least 270,000 in AnTuTu;
- 🔍 Presence NFC — The original Note 9 Pro has it, but the Note 9 does not.
What if the processor is identified as unknown?
Optimizing productivity: tips and tricks
Even with the limitations of the Snapdragon 720G, it is possible to significantly improve the responsiveness of the system and extend battery life.
- ⚡ Turn off animation: Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI in the phone settings, then go to Settings → Additionally. → For developers and set: The scale of the animation window: 0.5x Scale of transition animation: 0.5x Duration of the animator: 0.5x
- ⚡ Limit background activity: In Settings → Battery → Select Balanced or Energy Saving Performance Mode.
- ⚡ Update the firmware: The latest versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 14) optimized for Snapdragon 720G And they reduce the lag. Check the Settings update. → The phone. → Updating the system.
- ⚡ Use Light Launchers: Replace the standard launcher with a Nova Launcher or Lawnchair – this will reduce the load on the processor.
For gamers, it is useful to install Game Turbo (a built-in Xiaomi app) that optimizes the allocation of resources during the game.
- Open Settings;
- Go to Features and Additional Features → Game Turbo
- Enable the option and add the games to the list.
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The most effective way to increase FPS in games is to reduce the screen resolution to HD+ (in display settings) and disable anti-aliasing in the game’s graphical settings.
Frequent Processor Problems and Solutions
Owners of the Redmi Note 9 Pro sometimes face problems with the processor, and consider the most common of them and how to fix them:
- 🛑 Spontaneous reboots: Most often caused by overheating or battery failure. check the temperature through AIDA64 — if it exceeds 70°C, clean the charger connector from dust and replace the heat paste (at the service center).
- 🛑 Freezes when starting applications: Lack of RAM is to blame (in the model) 6/64 GB is all. 6 Close the background applications through the recent → Secure everything or install Greenify to hibernate unnecessary processes.
- 🛑 Low gaming performance: Check if Power Saving Mode is activated in battery settings. Also update graphics drivers via Google Play Services.
- 🛑 The chipset is not defined by the system: This may be due to damage to the motherboard or unofficial firmware. MIUI via Fastboot (instructions are available on the forum) 4PDA).
⚠️ WARNING: If after a fall or hit, the phone starts to warm up, shut down or give out errors when booting, do not try to disassemble it yourself! In the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the processor is soldered to the board, and any mechanical impact can damage the contacts. Contact the service center with diagnostic equipment.