With alert level 1 lockdown easing restrictions and regulations across the board, it means far more companies are able to operate as they did previously, which for the mobile market, has yielded the local availability of more smartphones.
The latest manufacturer to brings its wares to South Africa is Xiaomi, which appears to be rounding off its Redmi 9 lineup of devices for local consumers.
The two latest additions to the mix are entry-level in nature – the Redmi 9 and Redmi 9A – which can be seen pictured with the rest of the 9-branded series in the header image above.
In terms of form factors, both devices look relatively similar, with the same 6,53″ display present with a dot drop screen notch. The key difference is that the 9 is FullHD+ and the 9A is HD+.
The former is also kitted out with a better camera setup, with a quartet of lenses found on the rear, which is not something that all sub-R4k smartphones can lay claim too.
While the 9 is the better specced of the two, both of these entry-level devices are sporting massive batteries, with the Redmi 9 featuring a 5 020mAh version, and the 9A fitted with a 5 000mAh variant.
Recommended pricing for the Redmi 9 is R3 599 and R1 999 for the 9A, with both available locally via the Xiaomi site, as well as retailers like Takealot and members of the Foschini Group. You can also use your Ebucks to purchase the devices, if you have a few to spare.
For a full breakdown of the key specifications, take a gander at the table below.
Redmi 9 | Redmi 9A | |
Display | 6.53’’ FullHD+ Dot Drop display | 6.53” HD+ Dot Drop display |
Rear camera | 13MP wide-angle 8MP ultra-wide angle 5MP macro 2MP depth sensor |
13MP main |
Front camera | 8MP | 5MP |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G80 Oct-core, up to 2.0 GHz |
MediaTek Helio G25 Octa-core, up to 2.0 GHz |
Charging | 5 020mAh 18W wired fast charging |
5 000mAh 10W wired charging |
Network support | Dual 4G | Dual 4G |
Memory | 4GB RAM and 64GB storage Expandable up to 512GB |
2GB RAM and 32GB storage Expandable up to 512GB |
Colours | Carbon Grey, Ocean Green, Sunset Purple | Granite Gray, Sky Blue |