Xiaomi Mi 9 review

With Samsung and Apple giving phone fans a taste of hyperinflation with the price of recent handsets, the Mi 9 makes a refreshing change of pace: it's every bit the flagship phone, with a truly versatile camera and a seriously powerful CPU. Xaiomi has done a great job on the design front, and is getting better at delivering a version of Android that hasn't been tweaked into something unrecognisable (or too iOS-like). It doesn't push gimmicks like sliding cameras, and while it's missing a few features that would make it truly excellent, it's one of the most powerful phones around right now - and doesn't cost a fortune, either. If you have a need for speed right now, and can't wait for the next crop of Snapdragon 855 phones to arrive and (maybe) address the Mi 9's shortcomings, it's a corker of a handset.

Versatile triple-lens camera takes great photos; Snapdragon 855 delivers all the oomph you need; Flagship features at a sensible price;

A few missing features that would have taken it from good to great; Software still a bit cumbersome;

Xiaomi Mi 9 review

One of the more significant annual updates from Xiaomi, the new Mi 9 is an incredible phone at an unmissable price. It's faster than Galaxy S10 and closer than ever in specification, so it's increasingly difficult to understand the huge difference in price. Mi 9 introduces several design changes, including the in-display fingerprint sensor as standard, super-fast wireless (and wired) charging, a larger screen that takes up a greater proportion of the body, and a new triple-lens camera at the rear, which includes a whacking great 48Mp lens. Performance is better, photography is better, design is better. Everything is better with the award-winning Mi 9.

Xiaomi Mi 9 Review

While we don't hear much about it in the US, Xiaomi is better known elsewhere in the world for its solid midrange phones for primarily Chinese and European markets. The Mi 9 (starting at 2,999 yuan, approximately $432) is its best offering yet, featuring flagship-level hardware and spectacular camera performance for hundreds of dollars less than much of its competition. That makes the Mi 9 a real value, and our Editors' Choice for midrange phones in China. Design, Display, and Audio While the Xiaomi Mi 9 follows the current all-glass design trend, it still manages to stand out amongst the competition. It measures 6.20 by 2.94 by 0.30 inches (HWD) and comes in at 6.10 ounces, but seems much more svelte thanks to its curved design and excellent weight distribution. It comes in blue, lavender, or a black that is really a stunning gunmetal gray. The phone is quick to pick up fingerprints, but you'll probably want to pick up a good case since it offers no official protection from drop...

The Xiaomi Mi 9 offers a sleek design, top-of-the-line components, and spectacular battery life at a very appealing price.

Excellent value for the price; Strong performance; Long battery life with fast wired and wireless charging; Solid cameras

No official durability rating; MIUI 10 isn't as intuitive as some other UIs

Xiaomi Mi 9 review review

Versatile triple-lens camera takes great photos; Snapdragon 855 delivers all the oomph you need; Flagship features at a sensible price;

A few missing features that would have taken it from good to great; Software still a bit cumbersome;