Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9T is an affordable 5G phone… if you can find one – CNET

The Redmi Note series is one of Xiaomi’s most successful family of devices, best known for offering plenty of fancy features in an affordable package. And the next-gen Redmi Note 9T, launched on Friday, appears to be no different. 

The hefty budget handset has several premium features including dual stereo speakers, a 48-megapixel main camera, and a large battery (5,000-mAh), which the company says has a “multiday” lifespan. What allowed Xiaomi to save on costs was building the 9T with an LCD display and a midrange processor in the form of the Mediatek’s Dimensity 800U chipset. 

Read more: 5G phones in 2021: iPhone 12, Pixel 5, Galaxy Note 20 and more

Also new to the Redmi Note line (for the world outside China, at least) is 5G. Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 9 5G line earlier, but that series was only available in China. With the Redmi Note 9T line, Xiaomi is expanding that affordable 5G experience to overseas shoppers. However, it’s unlikely these phones will arrive stateside, even though the company’s sales are growing quickly in parts of Europe and Africa. 

Redmi Note 9T comes in two variants – 4GB+64GB and 4GB+128GB. Both are now available for purchase via Xiaomi’s official sales channels at an early bird price of 199 euros (converts to approximately $240, £180, AU$315) and 249 euros (converts to approximately $300, £220, AU$390).

Alongside the Redmi Note 9T, Xiaomi launched the Redmi 9T (seen in the image above). It too offers high-end features including a huge battery and fast-wired charging for a price range that’s expected to be affordable. For specifics, take a look at the chart below.