Xiaomi just… how do we put this?… stole a bit of the Realme C11‘s thunder by revealing the respective price and availability of a competing budget smartphone 30 minutes ahead of Realme’s online launch.

(Update, August 17: Read this good news: Redmi 9C pricing for the Philippine market revealed.)

(Update, August 13: We have a Redmi 9C release date for the Philippine market!)

(Update, July 27: Our review of the 9A is up! Read Redmi 9A review: Back to basics.)

(Update, July 16: The Redmi 9C will be available locally as well! Read Redmi 9C confirmed to launch in the Philippines.)

(Update, July 10: And the 9A’s launching locally! Read Redmi 9A listing shows P4,690 [$95] price ahead of July 14 Philippine launch.)

So while the C11 will still be the first commercially available handset with a MediaTek Helio G35, the Redmi 9C is actually first model to be announced with the said chipset. It’s been made official alongside the Redmi 9A.

Redmi 9C

Available in orange, blue, and black colors, the Redmi 9C is priced at RM429 in Malaysia, or around P4,992 in Philippine pesos and $100 in U.S. dollars.

The Helio G35 is paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There are three cameras on the back — headlined by a 13-megapixel sensor — placed in a squircle module that sits nearly next to a fingerprint sensor. In front is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter housed in a waterdrop notch at the top of the phone’s 6.53-inch HD+ screen. Inside is a big battery rated at 5,000mAh.

The Redmi 9C will go on sale starting end-July in Malaysia. We don’t know yet when it’s going to be released in the Philippines.

Specs

• 6.53-inch waterdrop HD+ LCD display
• MediaTek Helio G35 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 13-megapixel triple AI rear camera
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 5,000mAh battery
• Android 10
• Colors: Orange, blue, black

Redmi 9A

Xiaomi’s Redmi 9A is the world’s first smartphone to use the newly launched MediaTek Helio G25, which is mated to 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, too.

To be sold July 7th in Malaysia in time for Lazada’s 7.7 Mid-Year Super Sale, the Redmi 9A shares many of the same specs as the the 9C. The only differences on paper? This one only has one camera on the back — plus the processor used, of course. Which brings us to a lower suggested retail price of RM359 (P4,178 or $84). Flash-sale pricing is set for RM319 (P3,713 or $75).

SEE ALSO: Watch: Redmi 9 unboxing, hands-on video

Design-wise, the 9A has a rear vertical band that runs from the bottom of the unit to the part where the camera module lies. No fingerprint reader can be found on the panel.

We’re still awaiting the SRP and release date of this Redmi for the Philippine market. This one is indeed confirmed to be launched in the country; it already appears in Xiaomi Philippines’ July-August 2020 product brochure.

Specs

• 6.53-inch waterdrop HD+ LCD display
• MediaTek Helio G25 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB storage
• 13-megapixel AI rear camera
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 5,000mAh battery
• Android 10
• Colors: Midnight Gray, Twilight Blue, Peacock Green

Xiaomi Malaysia’s announcement on Facebook

New MediaTek Helio G35 and Helio G25 chips at a glance

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