My old Xiaomi Mi 9 SE gave up the ghost after a fall into the water. I went back to the exact same model because I was completely satisfied with it.
👉 For me, it's one of the best value for money in the compact phone category (€70). This format has become very rare these days.
Condition of the phone:
Rated as 'fair', I wasn't expecting a pristine device, as long as the screen was intact. I was a little apprehensive when I opened it, but luckily it looks as good as new to me! No scratches, no visible defects.
Weak points:
Camera: clearly not up to 2025 standards. The stabiliser isn't great, so photos are easily blurred if you move around a bit. If photography is an important criterion for you, you'll have to pass, especially if you're comparing it with a recent iPhone.
Software: the ROM is locked to MIUI 12 / Android 10, which limits certain functions:
France Identité unavailable
Tap to Pay disabled
(that's all as far as I know)
Battery: it's worn out (75% capacity), but that's logical for a 2019 model. Despite this, it still lasts a full day without any worries.
Unpacking anecdote:
The first few hours were worrying: the touch screen barely detected anything (9 out of 10 presses went undetected). I struggled just to enter my Wi-Fi key. I was ready to send the device back... and finally, after 2-3 hours, everything was back to normal, with no problems since. Total mystery.
I suspect a processor overload while I was restoring my apps, a phone that had been left in the storage centre for too long, or a simple burst of static electricity. In short: if this happens to you too, give it some time before panicking.
Delivery
Shipped from Norway, received in just 30 hours by express delivery: nothing to complain about.
Conclusion
⭐ 5/5 without hesitation.
It ticks all my boxes: compact, high-performance, inexpensive, and in excellent condition. The camera is its weak point, but as that's not an important criterion for me, I'm delighted with my purchase.