Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 vs Samsung Galaxy A03s

52 out of 100

50 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.53-inch Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (with MediaTek Helio G85) that was released on April 30, 2020, against the Samsung Galaxy A03s, which is powered by MediaTek Helio P35 and came out 16 months after. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9

2x better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (284K versus 144K)
46% higher pixel density (395 vs 270 PPI)
Delivers 31% higher peak brightness (467 against 356 nits)
Compatible with Wi-Fi 5 wireless networks
Has an ultra-wide angle camera lens
Slow-motion recording at 120FPS
Reverse charging feature
8% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 517 and 480 points
Has a built-in infrared port

Reasons to consider the Samsung Galaxy A03s

Shows 10% longer battery life (39:16 vs 35:35 hours)
More recent OS version: Android 13 versus 12
The phone is 1-year and 4-months newer
Supports Dolby Atmos sound technology

Review

Evaluation of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy A03s crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Camera

Photo and video recording quality

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Performance

CPU and memory performance (apps, system)

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Gaming

Capabilities for playing modern games

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Battery

Battery life, charging type and speed

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Connectivity

Networks, ports, data transmission

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

NanoReview Score

Final comparison evaluation

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Comparison table of technical specifications and tests

Phone:

Redmi Note 9

Galaxy A03s

Display

Type	IPS LCD	PLS TFT
Size	6.53 inches	6.5 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels	720 x 1600 pixels
Aspect ratio	19.5:9	20:9
PPI	395 ppi	270 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	450 nits	400 nits
HDR support	No	No
Screen protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Tempered glass
Screen-to-body ratio	83.5%	81.8%

Display tests
RGB color space	97.7%	93.9%
PWM	Not detected	806 Hz
Response time	32.2 ms	43 ms
Contrast	4608:1	1126:1

Peak brightness test (auto)

Redmi Note 9 +31%

467 nits

Galaxy A03s

356 nits

Design and build

Height	162.3 mm (6.39 inches)	164.2 mm (6.46 inches)
Width	77.2 mm (3.04 inches)	75.9 mm (2.99 inches)
Thickness	8.9 mm (0.35 inches)	9.1 mm (0.36 inches)
Weight	199 g (7.02 oz)	196 g (6.91 oz)
Waterproof	No	No
Rear material	Plastic	Plastic
Frame material	Plastic	Plastic
Colors	White, Gray, Green	White, Black, Blue
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, rear	Yes, in-button

Screen-to-body ratio

Redmi Note 9 +2%

83.5%

Galaxy A03s

81.8%

Performance

Tests of Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 and Samsung Galaxy A03s in the benchmarks

SoC
Chipset	MediaTek Helio G85	MediaTek Helio P35
Max clock	2000 MHz	2350 MHz
CPU cores	8 (2 + 6)	8 (4 + 4)
Architecture	- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A55 - 2 cores at 2 GHz: Cortex-A75	- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Cortex-A53 - 4 cores at 2.3 GHz: Cortex-A53
Lithography process	12 nanometers	12 nanometers
Graphics	Mali-G52 MP2	PowerVR GE8320
GPU shading units	48	32
GPU clock	1000 MHz	680 MHz
FLOPS	~96 GFLOPS	~43.5 GFLOPS

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Redmi Note 9 +8%

517

Galaxy A03s

480

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Redmi Note 9 +2%

1568

Galaxy A03s

1532

AnTuTu Benchmark 10

Redmi Note 9 +96%

284391

Galaxy A03s

144853

CPU	96535	51263
GPU	47743	20113
Memory	67953	35388
UX	70021	36853
Total score	284391	144853

Memory

RAM
RAM size	3, 4, 6 GB	3, 4 GB
Memory type	LPDDR4X	-
Memory clock	2133 MHz	-
Channels	2	2

Storage
Storage size	64, 128 GB	32, 64 GB
Storage type	eMMC 5.1	eMMC 5.1
Memory card	MicroSD	MicroSD
Memory card max size	Up to 512 GB	Up to 1024 GB

Software

Operating system	Android 10 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)	Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13)
ROM	MIUI 13	One UI Core 5.0
OS size	16.5 GB	13.2 GB

Battery

Capacity	5020 mAh	5000 mAh
Max charge power	18 W	15 W
Battery type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	No
Reverse charging	Yes	No
Fast charging	Yes (50% in 40 min)	Yes (15% in 30 min)
Full charging time	1:30 hr	3:38 hr

Battery life tests
Web browsing	12:34 hr	15:57 hr
Watching video	14:56 hr	14:23 hr
Gaming	05:48 hr	06:16 hr
Standby	120 hr	124 hr

General battery life

Redmi Note 9

35:35 hr

Galaxy A03s +10%

39:16 hr

Camera

Specs and camera test of smartphones

Main camera
Matrix	48 megapixels	13 megapixels
Image resolution	8000 x 6000	4128 x 3096
Zoom	Digital	Digital
Flash	LED	LED
Stabilization	Digital	Digital
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	No	No
1080p video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 30FPS
Slow motion	120 FPS (720p)	No
Angle of widest lens	118°	-
Lenses	4 (48 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)	3 (13 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 48 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 26 mm - Pixel size: 0.8 micron - Sensor: 1/2.0", Samsung S5KGM1 (ISOCELL Plus CMOS) - Phase autofocus	- 13 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Phase autofocus
Ultra-wide lens	- 8 MP - Aperture: f/2.2 - Pixel size: 1.12 micron - Sensor: 1/4.0" (CMOS)	-
Macro lens	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Depth lens	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4	- 2 MP - Aperture: f/2.4
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode	- Bokeh mode

Selfie camera
Megapixels	13 megapixels	5 megapixels
Image resolution	4128 x 3096	2560 x 1960
Aperture	f/2.3	f/2.2
Focal length	29 mm	-
Pixel size	1.12 microns	-
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/3.1"	-
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

Connectivity

Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)	Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n)
Wi-Fi features	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display	- Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot - Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version	5	5
Bluetooth features	LE, HID, A2DP	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	2	2
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC *	Yes	Depends on the region
Infrared port	Yes	No

Network
Number of SIM *	2	2
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	No
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	7	4
5G support	No	No

Sound

Speakers	Mono	Mono
Headphone audio jack	Yes	Yes
FM radio	Yes	No
Dolby Atmos	No	Yes

Speakers test

Max loudness

Redmi Note 9 +7%

92.4 dB

Galaxy A03s

86.5 dB

Other

Category	Mid-range	Budget
Announced	April 2020	August 2021
Release date	June 2020	August 2021
SAR (head)	0.8 W/kg	0.36 W/kg
SAR (body)	1.14 W/kg	1.09 W/kg
Sensors	- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint	- Proximity sensor - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Fingerprint
Bundled charger	-	Yes, 15 W

* Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.

Conclusion

If the display, camera, performance, gaming, and connectivity are more important to you, then choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 . But if the battery life, software, design, and sound are more of a priority – go for the Samsung Galaxy A03s .