It’s only January, but the 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is already a solid contender for budget phone of the year

Cheapest 5G handset yet; Outstanding performance; Decent triple cameras

No ultrawide camera; So-so screen

The Redmi Note 9T is a lot better than its bargain price suggests. With a turn of pace that matches handsets that cost twice the price, it’s a great way to access the growing 5G network without spending excess cash.

Great value Solid battery life Good camera quality

No ultrawide lens Middling display

This Redmi Note 9T 5G is also known as the international version of the None-T model introduced in China . So instead of the Snapdragon CPU in the Pro model, you are getting MediaTek’s Dimensity SoC.

The Redmi Note 9T from Xiaomi gives you plenty of smartphone for your money, with 5G connectivity, a large screen and impressive battery life all wrapped up in a package that won't cost you much at all. It's an appealing proposition for bargain smartphone hunters.

Amazing value for money; 5G on a budget; Very good battery life

Average camera; No waterproofing; Xiaomi software

Great value for money is the key sell here. While the strong feature set sounds like enough to see off its rivals, the 9T suffers from push and pull with its software that causes irks, meaning it's an affordable phone that'll suit some - but not all.

Great value for money; Strong battery life; Finish that doesn't look budget; 5G future-proofed connectivity; Decent screen resolution

Some grating software issues; Overzealous screen dimming; Multi-camera setup is an oversell; Odd graphics issues in some games

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is a great affordable 5G option - but if you're not bothered about 5G then there are better budget phones out there.

5G on a budget; Decent performance; Long battery life

Cheap rear design; Clunky fingerprint sensor; 60Hz refresh rate

Camera is sub par, but this phone has a lot of great features for the average user, a solid build quality and display with great resolution and decent viewing angles. I love the headphone jack, since Bluetooth can be very frustrating when you have to connect/disconnect/charge the headphones.

With the Redmi Note 9T, Xiaomi puts together a compelling overall package that is especially interesting for all buyers who are looking for a low-priced 5G smartphone, because it's almost impossible to get one for less at the moment.

5G and NFC; dual SIM; VoLTE; and VoWiFi; low SAR values; stereo speakers; IR blaster and audio jack; good daylight camera; very long battery life; fast mid-range SoC; fast charging at 18 watts

no IP certification; only 4 GB of RAM; no wide-angle lens; only a 60 Hz display

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T is a solid phone that takes the fight to Realme, OnePlus, and Motorola in the mid-range market....

Solid battery life Simple design Dual 5G SIM support Fast fingerprint reader Affordable

Mediocre display Average cameras MIUI 12 not for everyone

Much like my wife's old redmi 7, the first unit we got had a major defect. The upper right corner had major discoloration, and quite often the touchscreen would not respond. While the exchange for a working (so far) unit was rather painless and swift, being the second time it has happened now, I'll...