The more compact Xiaomi Mi 9 SE arrives in Malaysia

• The device features a smaller design and the new Snapdragon 712 processor
• The triple camera setup returns, including the 48MP sensor

XIAOMI’S flagship device for the year, the Mi 9, was introduced in Malaysia in April. It is a triple-camera smartphone with a 6.39-inch screen powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 processor and carries a price tag that won’t burn as big a hole in your bank account as flagship devices from other brands.

Most of this has been carried down to the smaller, more compact device Mi 9 SE, which was just released in Malaysia. It sports a 5.97-inch Dot Drop screen at a 19.5:9 display ratio, and is notably the first device to be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 712 processor.

The Snapdragon 712 is positioned between the upper-tiered 855 processor and the 600-series chips, which are usually seen in mid-range budget phones. It is an octa-core CPU and GPU, with a notably higher clock speed (2.3GHz) compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 710 chipset. It’s not more powerful than the 855, but it’s still a pretty powerful CPU.

Xiaomi claims that the Mi 9 SE is engineered to handle demanding tasks and delivers up to 35% improved graphics performance and power efficiency compared to its predecessor

“We are excited to welcome the newest addition to the Mi 9 family, Mi 9 SE, for our Mi fans in Malaysia. Mi 9 SE highlights the flagship and elegant features of the Mi series, all wrapped up in a beautifully compact size, making it the perfect smartphone for anyone who loves a handy flagship device for their day-to-day mobile needs,” said Xiaomi counter manager for Malaysia and Singapore Allen An.

“At the same time, we are sure that the Mi 9 SE will offer more choices for consumers in Malaysia in the search for their preferred Xiaomi smartphone.”

Three for the count

The Mi 9 SE does carry a similar triple camera setup of the Mi 9, which includes a 48MP Sony IMX586 primary sensor. The shooter is capable of capturing 48MP “ultra-clear” shots in daytime, or produce a 12MP picture in low-light conditions by combining four pixels into one large 1.6-micron pixel.

Part of the triple camera setup is a 13MP 123-degree ultra-wide angle lens as well as an 8MP telephoto sensor. There’s also a 20MP front-facing camera. This is all fit into a device weighing 155g and is 745mm thick. Like the Mi 9, the Mi 9 SE comes with an in-screen fingerprint sensor.

The Mi 9 SE’s 5.97-inch AMOLED Full Screen displays at 2340 x 1080 FHD+ resolutions, at 432 ppi. Owing to its smaller stature, it does sport a slightly lower-capacity battery than the Mi 9 – 3070mAh as compared to the Mi 9’s 3300mAh.

Its larger brethren also notably supports 20W wireless charging, which is missing in the Mi 9 SE.

The Mi 9 SE will be available in two variations – a 6GB+64GB version, which retails for RM1,299; and a 6GB+128GB model for RM1,499. They’re much more affordable compared to the larger Mi 9, which retails for RM1,699 and RM1,999 for similar storage setups.

At any rate, both versions of the Mi 9 SE will be available in Piano Black and Ocean Blue colours, with Lavender Violet coming at a later data. The device is available now at Mi Stores, Lazada’s Xiaomi Flagship Stores and the Shopee Mi Official Store.