Xiaomi Redmi 9A Performance Review After 2 Years: Still Capable Hardware and Robust Battery

After nearly 2 years since its release, Redmi 9A has become one of the most positively reviewed budget smartphones from Xiaomi. Does Redmi 9A still handle gaming well with Helio G25? How long does the Redmi 9A battery last? Let's review the performance of Redmi 9A after 2 years to see if it's worth buying right now!

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Redmi 9A Configuration Still Holds Up with Helio G25

Before delving into the performance review of Redmi 9A, let's take a quick look at the device's specifications!

• Display: 6.53-inch size, IPS LCD panel, HD+ resolution.
• CPU: MediaTek Helio G25.
• RAM: 2 GB.
• Internal Storage: 32 GB.
• Rear Camera: 13 MP.
• Front Camera: 5 MP.
• Battery: 5,000 mAh.

Redmi 9A is powered by the MediaTek Helio G25 chip. This chipset, featuring the PowerVR GE8320 GPU, is optimized for gaming performance in budget-friendly smartphones. Manufactured using the modern 12nm process, it comes equipped with HyperEngine technology for better performance management. This allows the device to seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi and 4G LTE networks, ensuring users have the best gaming experience. To provide you with a clearer picture of Redmi 9A's performance, let's proceed with benchmark testing!

Redmi 9A Performance Benchmark

In this section, we'll utilize specialized performance benchmarking software such as GeekBench 5, 3DMark, and PCMark. Before sharing the results, let's quickly go over the conditions for benchmarking on the device:

• Battery must be between 90 - 100% (battery below 90% can impact device performance and results).
• No simultaneous charging and benchmarking.
• Conduct 3 consecutive benchmarks and average the results.

Starting with GeekBench 5 and PCMark, the results are quite impressive. Redmi 9A holds its ground well, not falling far behind some of the newer competitors in the same segment, despite being two years old. Here are the specific scores:

- GeekBench 5:

• Single-core/multi-core score: 131/469 points.
• GPU Compute: 80 points.

- PCMark: 4,998 points.

Next, we'll use the 3DMark Sling Shot software to assess the graphic processing capabilities of Redmi 9A. As you can see in the image below, my Redmi 9A achieved a total score of 786, with a graphics score of 726. Additionally, the temperature and battery life showed minimal changes during the test, specifically, the temperature increased by only 1 degree Celsius (from 35°C to 36°C), and the battery dropped by 1% (from 99% to 98%).

Finally, I increased the difficulty for Redmi 9A with a more challenging test, the 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme. In this demanding test, Redmi 9A achieved a total score of 417 and a graphics score of 356. Despite the increased load, Redmi 9A only slightly warmed up during the evaluation, rising from 33°C to 35°C. Remarkably, the battery only decreased by 1% (from 100% to 99%), showing impressive performance!

Overall, Redmi 9A's performance in the benchmark test is decent and suitable for a budget-friendly phone that's two years old. While it may not outshine newer devices or might appear slightly less powerful, based on these results, Redmi 9A can still meet the basic needs of users. However, these numbers only provide a rough idea of the device's capabilities and may not fully reflect its true potential. To gain a better understanding, let's explore some popular games on Redmi 9A to see how well it performs!

Redmi 9A handles gaming well despite being 2 years old

In the next section, I'll use Redmi 9A to experience playing some popular games such as Arena of Valor, Free Fire, Zing Speed, and Zombie Tsunami. Additionally, I'll employ the Perfdog app to measure the frame rates of each game, and you can find the related data here for your reference.

• Arena of Valor

The first game I experienced is Arena of Valor, a national favorite among Vietnamese youth. For a budget-friendly device like Redmi 9A, I set the game's graphic quality to the lowest to maximize FPS. Smooth gameplay during intense battles is prioritized over detailed in-game visuals.

Experiencing this game on the 2-year-old Redmi 9A was surprisingly pleasant. The device maintained a stable gaming experience with frame rates fluctuating between 50 - 60 FPS. However, during intense 5 vs 5 battles with numerous skill effects and rapid right-hand movements, Redmi 9A tended to warm up slightly and exhibited some lag. On the positive side, Redmi 9A's graphics handling capability and image reproduction were decent, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

• Free Fire

Next up is another immensely popular game among today's youth - Free Fire. In this game, I've adjusted the graphics settings to a higher level, sacrificing FPS in return. As mentioned earlier, I prioritize smoothness over image details, so graphics settings are lowered to achieve higher FPS.

Despite lowering the graphics settings to gain higher frame rates, the frame rate while playing Free Fire on Redmi 9A averaged at 38.3 FPS. Additionally, in scenes with multiple players in the same area, the device exhibited slight lag. However, overall, these factors did not significantly impact my gaming experience.

• Zing Speed

Next up is the equally famous game - Zing Speed Mobile. In this game, I've lowered the graphics to a low level and pushed the frame rate to High (equivalent to 60 FPS) for a smoother racing experience.

The results were quite surprising as Redmi 9A, even after 2 years, can maintain a frame rate of 55.0 FPS. Although there were occasional FPS drops and slight stutters, overall, it did not significantly impact my racing experience. I appreciate the quality of images as well as the frame rate at this graphics setting.

• Zombie Tsunami

Finally, let's dive into Zombie Tsunami - the lightest game in this test. In this game, the experience the device provides is truly excellent and smooth, as it is a lightweight game, and this is quite understandable. During prolonged gameplay, Redmi 9A only warms up slightly, but it doesn't significantly impact my overall usage experience. Moreover, the graphics displayed in the game are sharp with vibrant colors, and personally, I feel Redmi 9A performed quite well with lightweight games like these.

Recently, we explored playing some popular games on Redmi 9A. Overall, I still find that these games don't demand extremely high specifications, and with appropriate graphic settings, Redmi 9A can provide a satisfactory gaming experience, enough to entertain you after hours of work or study. Moreover, the device doesn't heat up quickly after extended gaming sessions, giving a comfortable feel during gameplay.

Experience with various tasks on Redmi 9A with a battery life of nearly 8 hours

Next, let's move on to a part I believe many are curious about: How long does Redmi 9A last with various tasks? Therefore, I conducted a test following the standards of Mytour using 9 apps that users frequently use. This test will be conducted under specific conditions as follows:

• Continuous usage of 9 apps in the specified order for 1 hour each.
• Screen brightness set to 100%.
• Wired earphones plugged in with volume at 100%.
• Wi-Fi on, receiving notifications from social networks.
• No power-saving mode, adaptive brightness, GPS, and Bluetooth.
• Gaming mode activated to optimize performance.

Below are the results obtained after conducting the test:

• In the test, I performed activities on each app, and the results are as follows:
• Watching YouTube: 9% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Playing Liên Quân Mobile: 11% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Browsing Facebook for movie reviews: 11% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Playing Free Fire: 16% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Video calling on Messenger: 16% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Playing Zombie Tsunami: 12% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Watching TikTok videos: 12% battery drop after 1 hour.
• Playing Zing Speed: 13% battery drop after 50 minutes.

The results surprised me, as the Redmi 9A, even after 2 years, can handle various applications for 1 hour without consuming excessive battery for each app. However, these results are for reference only because each person has different usage needs. For example, playing Free Fire with continuous running and rapid shooting or making online video calls on Messenger, where the camera operates continuously, can significantly drain the battery.

Certainly, without the harsh conditions of the test, I believe the Redmi 9A will provide longer battery life. So, if you need a device with long battery life for basic tasks like calling, texting, watching YouTube, browsing Facebook, TikTok, studying, or entertainment, then the Redmi 9A is a worthy consideration!

How much is the Redmi 9A? Is it worth buying?

Currently, the Redmi 9A is back on sale at The Gioi Di Dong system for 2.49 million VND (prices may vary depending on the timing and promotions). For a smartphone with sufficient specs, coupled with a robust battery like the Redmi 9A, I find the price entirely reasonable and suitable for those with a moderate budget who need a decent phone for daily basic use.

So, what are your comments, thoughts on the Redmi 9A? Are you planning to buy the Redmi 9A? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Thank you for reading and showing interest in my article.

In addition to the Redmi 9A, you can explore many other Xiaomi phone models with attractive prices at The Gioi Di Dong by clicking the orange button below.

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