Realme 9

Realme Apr 12, 2022

Overview

The Realme 9 is a 2022 smartphone from Realme. It features a 6.4" AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 px resolution (411 ppi pixel density), offering a smooth 90 Hz refresh rate and impressive peak brightness of 1000 nits, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225) (6 nm process), 6GB LPDDR4X RAM RAM and Adreno 610 GPU. The camera system features a 108MP Standard main sensor with f/1.75 aperture, accompanied by 8MP Wide Angle lens and 2MP Macro lens, plus a 16MP selfie camera. Power is provided by a 5000 mAh Li-Ion battery with 33W fast charging. The phone runs on Android 12. Available in multiple configurations: 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. Color options include Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White.

Realme 9 Review

Realme 9 Review

Key Features

The Realme 9, launched in April 2022, is a medium-priced smartphone featuring a 6.4-inch 90Hz Super AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G chipset, and a 108MP primary camera. It runs on Android 12 and is powered by a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. The device offers a dual-SIM setup, an under-display fingerprint sensor, and a variety of connectivity options including Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Vibrant Display: The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits peak brightness offers excellent color reproduction and smooth scrolling.
  • Large Battery: The 5000mAh battery provides ample power for a full day of usage, supported by 33W fast charging for quick top-ups.
  • High-Resolution Main Camera: The 108MP primary camera captures detailed images, and the inclusion of a wide-angle and macro lens adds versatility.
  • Under-Display Fingerprint Sensor: Offers convenient and secure unlocking.
  • Lightweight Design: At 178g, the phone is relatively light and comfortable to hold.

Cons:

  • No 5G Connectivity: The Snapdragon 680 chipset lacks 5G support, which might be a deal-breaker for some users.
  • Performance Limitations: The Snapdragon 680, while efficient, may not be the best choice for heavy gaming or resource-intensive tasks.
  • No MicroSD Card Slot: Storage is limited to the onboard 128GB without the option to expand.
  • Basic Video Recording: Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps.
  • No NFC: Lacks Near Field Communication capabilities.

User Experience

The Realme 9 provides a smooth user experience for everyday tasks, thanks to its 90Hz AMOLED display and efficient software. The phone’s fingerprint sensor, located under the display, is responsive and reliable. The device runs Android 12, offering a familiar and customizable interface. While the Snapdragon 680 handles daily apps and browsing well, it may struggle with more demanding games and applications. The battery life is impressive, easily lasting a full day with moderate to heavy usage. The 33W fast charging is convenient, topping up the battery in a reasonable amount of time. The absence of NFC might be an inconvenience for users accustomed to contactless payments. The phone also includes a headphone jack which will be pleasing to many.

Hardware & Design

The Realme 9 measures 160.2mm in height, 73.3mm in width, and 8mm in depth, weighing 178g. It features a plastic build with a glossy finish, available in Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, and Stargaze White. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080x2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio, resulting in a pixel density of 411 ppi. The display has a 90Hz refresh rate with a peak brightness of 1000 nits. Under the hood, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm) processor paired with either 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The device also includes 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage and does not have a microSD card slot for storage expansion. It has standard sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, and under-display fingerprint scanner. The phone has dual microphones and Hi-Res Audio support. It lacks a dedicated cooling system and gaming buttons. The rear camera setup includes a 108MP primary lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro lens; the front features a 16MP selfie camera. The connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C 2.0, and GPS.

Conclusion

The Realme 9 is a solid mid-range smartphone that excels in display quality, battery life, and camera performance, making it a compelling option for users who value a great screen experience, reliable all-day battery, and decent photography. However, the lack of 5G connectivity and somewhat limited processing power might be drawbacks for some users. The absence of NFC and a microSD card slot should also be considered depending on user needs. It offers a good balance of features for its price range, making it suitable for everyday users who are not looking for high-end performance or next-generation connectivity.

Basic Information

Realme 9
BrandRealme
ModelRealme 9
Launch DateTuesday, April 12, 2022
Release Year2022
Dimensions160.2 × 73.3 × 8 mm
Weight178 g
Volume93.94 cm³
Available Colors
  • Meteor Black
  • Sunburst Gold
  • Stargaze White

Realme 9 was released on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The phone measures 160.2 × 73.3 × 8 mm with a volume of 93.94 cm³ and weighs 178g. It features a 6.4" AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 px resolution (411 ppi pixel density) and 90 HzHz refresh rate. The device is available in the following colors: Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White.

Display

Size6.4"
TypeAMOLED
Resolution1080 x 2400 px
Pixel Density411 ppi
Aspect Ratio20:9
Refresh Rate90 Hz
BrightnessPeak: 1000 nits
Contrast Ratio400000:1
HDR SupportNo
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Additional Features
  • Hole-punch Notch
  • Touch sampling rate 360 Hz
  • Brightnes 430 cd/m² (typ)
  • Scratch resistant
  • 2.5D curved glass screen
  • Capacitive
  • Multi-touch
  • Frameless

The Realme 9 features a 6.4" AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 px resolution (411 ppi pixel density) in 20:9 aspect ratio. The display offers peak brightness of 1000 nits. It delivers smooth 90 Hz refresh rate and impressive 400000:1 contrast ratio. Display protection is provided by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. User-centric features include hole-punch notch, touch sampling rate 360 hz, multi-touch. Technical capabilities include brightnes 430 cd/m² (typ), 2.5d curved glass screen, capacitive, frameless. Additional protection features include scratch resistant.

Sensors

Security Sensors
  • Fingerprint (under display)
Motion Sensors
  • accelerometer
  • gyro
Environmental Sensors
  • proximity
  • compass
Health SensorsN/A

For security, the Realme 9 features fingerprint (under display). Motion tracking is handled by accelerometer gyro. Environmental monitoring includes proximity compass.

Battery

Capacity5000 mAh
TypeLi-Ion
Fast Charging33W
Wireless ChargingN/A
Features
  • Reverse charging
  • Non-removable
Additional InfoN/A

The Realme 9 is equipped with a 5000 mAh Li-Ion battery. It features fast charging at 33W. The battery system includes reverse charging, non-removable.

Hardware

ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225)
CPU
Processor Details
  • processor type: Octa-Core
  • production process: 6 nm
  • max freq: 2.4 GHz
  • 64-bit
GPUAdreno 610
RAM & Storage6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS Storage 2.2
Realme 9 Versions:
  • 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage
  • 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage
  • 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage
  • 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage
AnTuTu Score216,850 (v9)
Additional FeaturesN/A
Sensors
  • Fingerprint
  • Proximity
  • Light sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Geomagnetic
Audio Features
  • Hi-Res Audio
  • 2 microphones
SD Card SlotNo
Battery5000 mAh

The Realme 9 is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225) built on 6 nm process technology with 64-bit architecture. Graphics processing is handled by Adreno 610. The device comes with 6GB RAM (LPDDR4X RAM) and 128GB storage (UFS Storage 2.2). In AnTuTu benchmark v9, it achieves 216,850 points. Audio capabilities include Hi-Res Audio, 2 microphones. Integrated sensors include Fingerprint, Proximity, Light sensor, Accelerometer. The device is powered by a 5000 mAh battery. The Realme 9 is available in 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage, 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configurations.

Connectivity

WiFi
WiFi Standards
  • 802.11a
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11n
  • 802.11n 5GHz
  • 802.11ac
Other WiFi Features
  • Dual band
  • Wi-Fi Hotspot
  • Wi-Fi Direct
  • Wi-Fi Display
BluetoothBluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth Features
  • A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
  • APT-x
  • SBC
  • AAC
GPS
  • GPS
  • A-GPS
  • GLONASS
  • Beidou
  • Galileo
Network Bands
4G LTE

  • B1 (2100)
  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
  • B5 (850)
  • B7 (2600)
  • B8 (900)
  • B12 (700)
  • B17 (700)
  • B20 (800)
  • B26 (850)
  • B28b (700)
  • B28a (700)
  • B38 (TDD 2600)
  • B40 (TDD 2300)
  • B41 (TDD 2500)
  • B66 (1700/2100)

3G

  • B1 (2100)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)

2G

  • B2 (1900)
  • B3 (1800)
  • B5 (850)
  • B8 (900)
SIMDual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM)
USB
  • Charging
  • Mass Storage
  • USB OTG
  • USB Type-C
NFCNo

The Realme 9 supports 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac with features like Dual band, Hotspot, Direct, Display. The Realme 9 comes with Bluetooth 5.1 supporting A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile), APT-x, SBC, AAC. For cellular connectivity, the Realme 9 uses Dual SIM Dual Standby (Nano SIM + Nano SIM). The Realme 9 features Charging, Mass Storage, OTG, USB Type-C connectivity. The Realme 9 supports 4G LTE bands, 3G bands, 2G bands.

Camera Features

Video Resolution
  • 1080p
Frame Rates
  • 30fps
Video FeaturesN/A

The Realme 9 features a 3-camera setup with a 108MP Standard main sensor (f/1.75) of 1/1.67" size and 0.64 µm pixel size. The Realme 9 also includes a 8MP Wide Angle lens (f/2.2) and a 2MP Macro lens (f/2.4). For selfies, the Realme 9 uses a 16MP front camera with f/2.45 aperture featuring 1/3.13" sensor size and 1.00 µm pixel size. The Realme 9's camera system includes Digital zoom, Triple camera, Autofocus.

DxOMark Scores

No DxOMark scores available for this device.

Camera details

Rear Camera

Resolution: 108 MP
Aperture: f/1.75
Sensor Model: Samsung HM6
Sensor Type: ISOCELL
Pixel Size: 0.64 µm
Pixel Binning: 1-9 (3x3)
Sensor Size: 1/1.67"

Resolution: 8 MP
Aperture: f/2.2
Sensor Model: Omnivision OV08D10
Sensor Type: PureCel
Pixel Size: 1.12 µm
Sensor Size: 1/4"

Resolution: 2 MP
Aperture: f/2.4
Sensor Model: GalaxyCore GC02M1
Sensor Type: CMOS
Pixel Size: 1.75 µm
Sensor Size: 1/5"

Selfie Camera

Resolution: 16 MP
Aperture: f/2.45
Sensor Model: Sony IMX471 Exmor RS
Sensor Type: CMOS
Pixel Size: 1.00 µm
Pixel Binning: 1-4 (2x2)
Sensor Size: 1/3.13"

Additional Features

Extra:
  • 6P lens
  • Ultra wide angle lens 5P FOV 120°
  • Macro lens 3P up to 4cm
  • Front camera 5P lens
  • 10X digital zoom
Flash:
  • LED
Optical Stabilisation:
  • No
Slow Motion Video:
  • Yes, 120 fps
Features:
  • Digital zoom
  • Triple camera
  • Autofocus
  • Touch focus
  • Phase detection autofocus (PDAF)
  • Continuous shooting
  • Geotagging
  • Panorama
  • HDR
  • Face detection
  • White balance settings
  • ISO settings
  • Exposure compensation
  • Scene mode
  • Self-timer

Software

OSAndroid
OS Version12
Max OS Version

The Realme 9 runs on Android 12. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (SM6225) chipset .

Prices

Store Price Storage RAM
Amazon US USD 279.00
USD 279.00
128 GB 8 GB
Amazon US USD 279.00
USD 279.00
128 GB 8 GB