Xiaomi Mi CC9 vs Mi 9T (Redmi K20) Specs Comparison – Which is better at P16k?

Xiaomi has been firing from all cylinders this year, as it has released yet another affordable mid-range phone, in the form of Mi CC9, that can go against its already affordable mid-range Mi 9T, aka Redmi K20. That said, which is the better choice when you have P16k budget?

READ: Redmi K20 Pro vs OnePlus 7 Specs Comparison – Which is the Better Flagship-Killer?

Xiaomi Mi CC9 and Mi 9T Differences

Advantages of Mi CC9

1. shared microSD slot of up to 256GB
2. 32MP selfie camera
3. Super AMOLED
4. infrared port

Advantages of Mi 9T

1. fullscreen display
2. Snapdragon 730
3. pop-up selfie camera (it’s cool)
4. 24-bit audio support via a headphone jack
5. 2x optical zoom via telephoto lens from the triple main camera

Xiaomi Mi CC9 and Mi 9T Similarities

1. 6.39″ FHD+ AMOLED HDR display
2. Corning Gorilla 5
3. premium build and design
4. 18W fast charging with at least 4000mAh battery
5. Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10
6. triple main camera
7. under-screen fingerprint scanner
8. headphone jack
9. Wi-Fi ac
10. BT 5.0 with aptX HD
11. FM Radio
12. NFC
13. USB Type-C

Which is a better buy between the Xiaomi Mi CC9 and Mi 9T?

Design

Both are sporting premium build and design — from the metal and glass combination down to the iridescent hue that’s uniquely tailored for each phone. It’s a matter of preference when it comes to the overall design — with the CC9 featuring continuous wavy pattern on the back, and the Mi 9T with unique waves on the sides. Where the latter device stands out is the use of pop-up selfie camera to pave the way for a fullscreen display. But on the other hand, the small teardrop notch of the former isn’t too distracting.

Display

While both come with AMOLED panels, the CC9 is a Super AMOLED wherein peak brightness and color vibrancy are a tiny bit better than AMOLED. Otherwise, it’s the same 6.39″ FHD+ HDR display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

Performance

While the Snapdragon 710 remains to be a performer in 2019, you will get better performance and battery efficiency on the Snapdragon 730. But in terms of specs, the Mi CC9 supports expandable storage via microSD slot, which the Mi 9T doesn’t.

READ: Snapdragon 730, 730G, 665 launched as high-end midrange gaming and AI CPU

Camera

We have triple cameras on both devices but one performs robustly better than the other. That is the Mi 9T — allowing you to use a telephoto lens with the addition of main and ultrawide sensors.

As for selfie cameras, we are looking at a 32MP vs 20MP sensor with the larger one residing in the Mi CC9. While it may produce sharper-looking photos, it still uses pixel binning technique in essence.

Battery

At least 4000mAH batteries are seen here with 18W fast charging support. But of course, it won’t matter if you won’t be using compatible chargers.

Others

Fortunately, the headphone jack is a feature here. But the Mi 9T has the advantage of supporting 24-bit hi-fi audio playback. But it still doesn’t mean it supports high impedance headphones.

Price

The Mi 9T is priced at P15,990 and goes up to P17,990 for the top model. While the Mi CC9 is estimated at CNY 1,799 (~P13,300) and goes up to CNY 1,999 (~P14,800). All with the same base and top configurations.

Conclusion

Regardless of the price difference, the Mi 9T looks to be the better overall device but by a slight margin only. We do like the Mi CC9 especially its microSD slot, giving better futureproofing than the other. Whichever of the two you pick, we think both can and will deliver.

READ: OPPO Reno Review – A Premium Mid-Range Experience