▷ Comparison of characteristics xiaomi mi 9 vs xiaomi mi 9 se
Table of contents:
- Comparative sheet
- Xiaomi Mi 9
- Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
- Design
- screen
- Photographic set
- Processor and memory
- Autonomy and connectivity
- Conclusions
During the morning of yesterday the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE was officially presented in Spain, the Lite version of the Xiaomi Mi 9. It does so with a price 100 euros cheaper and a series of characteristics that have nothing to envy to the Mi 9. The phone in question comes with a triple camera very similar to that of its older brother and a somewhat smaller screen but with identical specifications. Other aspects such as the processor, the battery or the charging system also suffer a cut compared to that of the Mi 9. Is it worth paying 100 euros more for the Xiaomi flagship? We see it in our comparison of the Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 SE.
Comparative sheet
Design
The design is possibly one of the aspects where both terminals differ the least from each other. In summary, we find practically the same body made of glass and aluminum on the edges in both cases. The main difference is in size, with a width and a height that reaches 0.4 and 1 centimeters of difference between one model and another.
Xiaomi Mi 9
Of the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, it should be noted that its back does not have the 2.5 curve that the Mi 9 does. In contrast, the reduced version of the Xiaomi flagship incorporates a completely smooth glass surface with exactly the same colors as the Mi 9 SE: black, blue and purple. As we are used to by Xiaomi, their tone will vary depending on the incidence of light on the back cover.
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE
As for the rest of the aspects of the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE vs Xiaomi Mi 9, both terminals have a fingerprint sensor on the screen and a panel that exceeds 90% use of the front surface; specifically 90.7% of the Mi 9 compared to 90.47 of the Mi SE.
screen
As with the design, Xiaomi has decided to implement a similar, if not identical, screen on the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Xiaomi Mi 9 SE.
Two panels with AMOLED technology and Full HD + resolution of 6.39 and 5.97 inches is what we find in the two Xiaomi phones. Both have a brightness of 600 nits, and both have the same fingerprint sensor based on a traditional optical sensor that works through light. In fact, the only difference between the two phones is found in the screen protection.
Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for the Mi 9 SE. Although we have not yet been able to test either of the two terminals in hand, it is expected that the screen of the Mi 9 withstands drops and scratches better than that of the Mi 9 SE.
Photographic set
The camera configuration chosen in the two Xiaomi phones is very similar to each other, with a triple camera on the back that integrates the same type of lenses, although with some differences in their characteristics.
Xiaomi Mi 9 camera.
Specifically, the Xiaomi Mi 9 camera is made up of three 48, 16 and 12 megapixel cameras with angular, 117º ultra wide angle and telephoto lenses whose focal aperture is set at f / 1.75, f / 2.2 and f / 2.2. The latter consists of a 2X optical zoom and a 10X digital zoom.
If we go to the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE camera, we find exactly the same 48 megapixel Sony IMX 586 sensor. The differences are found in the two remaining sensors, with the same type of lens and different resolution and focus aperture. Specifically 13 and 8 megapixels with an aperture of f / 2.4 in both cases.
What are the real differences between the cameras of the two models? The theory tells us that the photography with the main sensor will be exactly the same in both cases, having the same sensor. The same results in photography at night, during the day and when taking pictures in most scenarios where the two remaining lenses do not act. It is precisely in these last two that we find the main differences.
Xiaomi Mi 9 SE camera.
The greater degree of aperture and resolution in the cameras of the Mi 9 makes us think that the results when taking photographs in portrait and zoom mode will be better than in the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE. Curiously, the latter has a degree in the wide-angle lens that is greater than the Xiaomi Mi 9's counterpart camera. We are talking about 123º of the Mi 9 SE camera compared to 117º of the Mi 9 camera. This directly affects the amount of visual field collected when taking pictures with the second lens. The breadth in this case is somewhat more generous on the Mi 9 SE.
And what about photography with the front camera? Given that again we find the same 20 megapixel sensor with f / 2.0 focal aperture in both the Xiaomi Mi 9 and the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, the results on both devices are expected to be identical. Also the performance of the face unlock, which in the two Xiaomi phones is based on the software to unlock the system.
Processor and memory
If there is a section where the Xiaomi Mi 9 and the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE differ, that is the processor. Not so much the memory configuration, because in both devices it is similar.
In the case of the high-end of Xiaomi we find the latest of the latest of this 2019. A Snapdragon 855 processor along with 6 GB of RAM and 64 and 128 GB of internal storage not expandable through micro SD cards. The 8 and 256 GB version, although it is sold internationally, is not available in Spain at the moment.
If we go to the configuration of the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, the terminal bases its interior on a Snapdragon 712 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 64 and 128 GB of internal storage. The difference between one mobile and another in technical data extracted from the Geekbench website tells us that the Xiaomi Mi 9 has practically twice the performance of the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE in both single-core and multi-core tasks.
This is not to say that the Mi 9 gets twice the performance in everyday tasks and when playing games than the Mi 9 SE. Since the two have a UFS 2.1 type of memory, most of the processes will be carried out at the same time, except for some tasks where the system requires the use of the CPU and the GPU in an exceptional way.
Autonomy and connectivity
In the section on autonomy and connectivity, the differences are based on the capabilities of each processor, as well as the battery itself.
As far as battery capacity is concerned, while the Xiaomi Mi 9 consists of a 3,300 mAh module, the Mi 9 SE has only 3,070 mAh. Because the latter has a smaller screen size, it is expected that both terminals have a similar autonomy.
Where we can see the most significant change is in charging technology. The Mi 9, for example, supports fast wired charging of up to 27 W and up to 20 W in wireless charging. The Mi 9 SE, on the other hand, has a fast charge of 18 W, and as expected, it does not have wireless charging of any kind.
Regarding the connectivity section, here the differences are minimal. NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, USB type C, WiFi with all bands… The only differential aspect is based on the GPS, which in the case of the Mi 9 is Dual, with greater precision indoors.
Conclusions
After seeing the main differences in characteristics in the comparison between the Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Xiaomi Mi 9 SE, it is time to draw conclusions. The differences between the two terminals, as we have just seen, are based solely on the internal hardware and cameras, as well as size. The rest of the aspects are practically identical: design, screen, fingerprint sensor, connectivity, battery / screen ratio and a long etcetera. Is it worth paying 100 euros more for the Xiaomi Mi 9? It depends.
In the event that screen size and performance in the most demanding games is our top priority, the Mi 9 is a fantastic option over the Mi 9 SE. Otherwise, we can opt for the latter if our budget is somewhat tighter. At the end of the day, the performance will be very similar, and the main difference is in the size, since the photographic section is expected to be similar in results.
