The Redmi 9 Activ is now official, but it's probably not what you think

We heard murmurings of a Redmi 9 Activ earlier this month, suggesting that the Xiaomi sub-brand was working on another model in its Redmi 9 series. Now, Redmi has made it official by launching the phone in India today.

Those expecting a more durable version of the Redmi 9 will be disappointed though, as this isn’t like Samsung launching Active phones that are more durable than their typical devices. Instead, the top-end Redmi 9 Activ simply seems to have more RAM (6GB versus the Indian Redmi 9 offering 4GB across the board). Otherwise, the base Redmi 9 Active still has 4GB of RAM.

The rest of the phone is identical to the Indian Redmi 9 as well. So that means a lightweight Helio G35 chipset, a 6.53-inch HD+ LCD screen, a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging, and a micro-USB port instead of USB-C connectivity. The Redmi 9 Activ also packs a 13MP+2MP rear camera pairing and a 5MP shooter in a waterdrop notch.

Redmi’s latest budget phone goes on sale in India today, with the 4GB/64GB variant priced at Rs 9,499 (~$129) while the 6GB/128GB option will set you back Rs 10,999 (~$150). The phone is available in Carbon Black, Coral Green, and Metallic Purple color options.