Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Redmi 9T vs. Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi 9T | Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 77.3 × 9.6 mm | 163.6 × 75.8 × 8.8 mm | Poco M4 Pro 5G is slightly taller and thinner, Redmi 9T is wider and thicker. Slight differences in hand feel. |
| Weight | 198g | 195g | Negligible difference, both feel similar in weight. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.53" | 6.6" | Virtually identical screen size, minimal impact. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1080x2400 | Similar sharpness, difficult to discern a difference in daily usage. |
| PPI | 395 | 399 | Very similar pixel density; both displays are sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Identical LCD technology, expect similar color reproduction and viewing angles. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Poco M4 Pro 5G offers smoother scrolling and animations, more fluid gaming experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | No data on actual brightness, hard to evaluate visibility in various lighting conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm) | Poco M4 Pro 5G offers significantly faster app loading, better multitasking, and smoother gameplay due to the more modern and efficient chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 174,500 | 438,700 | The Poco M4 Pro 5G has significantly higher performance capabilities for demanding applications and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Poco M4 Pro 5G has a much better GPU, impacting gaming and graphics-intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear (Main) | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Redmi 9T has a larger sensor and wider aperture, potentially better low light performance, but lower pixel count. Poco M4 Pro 5G has a slightly higher MP count but a smaller sensor. |
| Rear (Wide) | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", 1.12µm | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µm | Poco M4 Pro 5G has larger sensor for the wide lens. |
| Rear (Portrait) | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not available | Redmi 9T has a dedicated depth sensor, potentially better bokeh effect. |
| Rear (Macro) | 2MP, f/2.4 | Not available | Redmi 9T has a dedicated macro lens for closeup shots. |
| Front Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06", 1.00µm | Poco M4 Pro 5G offers significantly higher resolution selfie and slightly smaller sensor with smaller aperture. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, Slow-mo 120fps | 1080p@30/60fps, Slow-mo 60fps | Poco M4 Pro 5G has better slow motion options at 60fps, while both can do 1080p recordings. |
| Features | 4K Video, Quadruple camera | Dual camera, Ultra stable video, Night Mode | Redmi 9T has 4k recording capability, but Poco M4 Pro 5G has a night mode for improved low-light shooting. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 6000mAh | 5000mAh | Redmi 9T has a larger battery, potentially offering longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 18W | 33W | Poco M4 Pro 5G charges significantly faster. |
| Features | Reverse Charging, 22.5W charger inbox | None | Redmi 9T can be used as a power bank and comes with a slightly faster charger. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Poco M4 Pro 5G has a newer OS and is likely to receive future updates, providing more features and better security. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band | Identical WiFi capabilities. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE | 5.1 LE, Apt-x, LDAC, AAC | Poco M4 Pro 5G has a newer version with better audio codec support, improving wireless audio quality. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, BeiDou (B1) | Poco M4 Pro 5G has slightly better GPS location precision with the extra band |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64GB/128GB | 64GB/128GB/256GB | Poco M4 Pro 5G offers a 256GB storage option. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 4GB/6GB/8GB | Poco M4 Pro 5G has 8 GB Ram option for smoother operation. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports memory card expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 Microphones | Poco M4 Pro 5G has better audio quality due to Dolby Atmos and dual microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Both have fingerprint sensors for security. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Identical screen protection level. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Poco M4 Pro 5G has a gyroscope for advanced motion sensing. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Advantages:
- Larger Battery: 6000mAh vs 5000mAh, potentially longer battery life.
- Reverse Charging: Can act as a power bank for other devices.
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Lens: Offers better bokeh and close-up shots compared to Poco M4 Pro 5G which lacks those lenses.
- 4K Video Recording: Offers higher resolution video recording.
- Wider Aperture Main Camera: Might perform slightly better in low-light conditions
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G Advantages:
- Significantly Faster Chipset: Dimensity 810 offers much better performance than the Snapdragon 662 for demanding tasks and games.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: 90Hz provides smoother visuals.
- Faster Charging: 33W charging is significantly faster than Redmi 9T's 18W.
- Newer Operating System: Android 11 out of the box, upgradeable to 12 for the latest features.
- Better Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 with advanced codecs for higher audio quality.
- Higher Resolution Front Camera: 16MP vs 8MP, resulting in better quality selfies.
- Better Audio Quality: Enhanced with Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and dual microphones.
- Additional Sensors: Gyroscope
- More Storage and RAM Options: Offers up to 256GB storage and 8GB RAM.
- Night Mode: Offers improved low-light photography.
Trade-offs:
- Redmi 9T sacrifices performance for a larger battery, additional camera sensors, and reverse charging capabilities.
- Poco M4 Pro 5G sacrifices battery capacity, the dedicated macro and depth sensors, and the possibility of 4K video recording for superior performance, a smoother display, faster charging, and better connectivity features.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi 9T Ideal User:
- Users prioritizing battery life above all else: Those who need their phone to last as long as possible between charges.
- Casual Photographers : Users who want to take macro and portrait shots for social media.
- Users on a very tight budget: May be a more affordable option.
- Users who need a backup power source: Benefit from reverse charging.
- Users who are less demanding in terms of processing power: Focus more on consuming content.
- Use Case Examples: Long road trips without frequent charging, users who rely heavily on social media, watching movies and videos, users who travel a lot.
Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G Ideal User:
- Users prioritizing performance: Gamers, multitaskers, and those who use demanding apps.
- Users who value a smoother display: Enjoy fluid animations and scrolling.
- Users who prefer fast charging: Need their phone to charge quickly and be ready to go.
- Users who want the latest software and Bluetooth features: Want modern connectivity options.
- Users who want high quality audio: Appreciate Dolby Atmos and dual microphones.
- Use Case Examples: Mobile gaming, video editing, students who frequently use multiple apps, those who listen to music with wireless headphones, users who consume a lot of videos/movies on their phone.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is battery life? If you absolutely need the longest possible battery life, the Redmi 9T is better. If fast charging and reasonably good battery life is enough for you, the Poco M4 Pro 5G is the better choice.
- How important is performance? For demanding apps and games, the Poco M4 Pro 5G offers a significant advantage. The Redmi 9T will be sufficient for basic tasks.
- What is your budget? Consider the price difference between the two phones, and whether the features of the Poco M4 Pro 5G are worth the extra cost.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For the Budget-Conscious User: If your budget is very limited and you need a long-lasting battery, the Redmi 9T is a more affordable option.
- For the Power User: If you need performance for gaming, multitasking, or demanding apps, the Poco M4 Pro 5G is the better choice.
- For the Social Media User: The Poco M4 Pro 5G has a higher resolution front camera and better video features, but the Redmi 9T has the macro and depth cameras.
- For the Content Consumer: The Poco M4 Pro 5G offers a smoother display, better speakers and superior bluetooth audio quality. The Redmi 9T has a longer lasting battery.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would select the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G. While the Redmi 9T has a larger battery and additional camera lenses, the Poco M4 Pro 5G's advantages in performance, display smoothness, charging speed, and software are more important to me. The significant leap in processing power provided by the Dimensity 810 chipset combined with the smoother 90Hz refresh rate, provides a much better user experience overall. I also value faster charging and the updated bluetooth capabilities for superior audio.
While I appreciate the longer battery life of the Redmi 9T, the 5000mAh battery of the Poco M4 Pro 5G coupled with faster charging should be sufficient for my needs. The loss of the dedicated macro and depth sensors is a trade-off I am willing to make for the superior performance and overall experience the Poco M4 Pro 5G provides.
