realme 9 5G Speed Edition review
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a performance-focused smartphone that offers a fast chipset, high-refresh-rate display, and large battery all for a starting price of ₹19,999. The phone's design is conservative compared to Realme's usual loud and in-your-face aesthetic, featuring a starry glow-colored variant with an effective matte finish. The phone's utility features include a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port, single bottom-firing speaker, and side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It also has a triple-camera system with a 48MP primary sensor, macro, and portrait modes, although the latter could benefit from an ultrawide option. The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition boasts a 144Hz refresh rate screen, which is typically reserved for high-end gaming phones like the Asus ROG Phone 5. This feature makes games buttery smooth, but it also feels great when interacting with the UI. The phone's performance is handled by the Snapdragon 778G processor, which still offers fantastic speeds and can run demanding games at max frame rates. The camera system takes good photos, although macro shots are not as sharp. Night photography shows some noise, while portrait images are good enough for Instagram shares. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, with ultra-steady mode helping to stabilize footage. In terms of battery life, the phone's 5000mAh unit delivers nearly seven hours of screen time with heavy usage, and up to a day with auto-refresh rate. Fast charging is also supported, taking it from zero to 100 in around 50 minutes. Overall, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition offers a good balance of speed and stamina for its price, making it a solid option for those prioritizing performance.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition boasts a conservative design approach, a departure from the brand's typical loud and in-your-face aesthetics. The Starry Glow colored variant exudes a cool sheen as it glides across your hand, with an effective matte finish on the back panel that keeps fingerprints at bay. The device itself is substantial, weighing in at 199 grams, but still manageable one-handed. The rounded design provides a comfortable grip, and the weight distribution makes it feel well-balanced. The front of the phone features a predominantly screen-covered face, with a minimalist approach to aesthetics. A hole-punch camera sits discreetly in the top left corner, while a slightly thicker bottom bezel adds some visual interest. The build quality is solid, with no creaks or flexing evident when applying pressure. The materials used seem sturdy and durable, giving an overall impression of a well-constructed phone. Realme has opted for a more understated design language this time around, and it's hard to argue against the results. A 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, single bottom-firing speaker, and side-mounted fingerprint scanner are all present and accounted for. The inclusion of a case in the box and a pre-fitted screen protector is also a nice touch, providing some level of protection out of the gate. Overall, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition's build quality and design make a solid first impression. It's not showy or attention-grabbing, but rather a thoughtful, well-executed effort that prioritizes functionality over flashiness.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Speed Edition's battery life is a mixed bag, but leans more towards the positive side. The 5000mAh unit provided nearly seven hours of screen time with heavy usage, including gaming, watching videos, and listening to music. This was while running at 144Hz, which is impressive considering the demands of such activities. However, when switching to auto refresh rate, the battery life extends beyond a day's use, making it suitable for those who don't require extreme performance always. The support for 30W fast charging is also a welcome feature, allowing the phone to go from zero to 100% in around 50 minutes with the bundled adapter. While not exceptional, the battery life of the Realme 9 Speed Edition is more than adequate for most users' needs. It's a good compromise between power and stamina, making it suitable for those who want a device that can handle demanding tasks without compromising on overall usage time. However, for heavy users or those with extremely demanding requirements, you might need to recharge the phone during the day. Overall, the battery life of the Realme 9 Speed Edition is a solid aspect of this device, and a good reason to consider it as an option in the sub-20,000 rupees category.
Display
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition boasts a stunning display that's sure to impress. This phone's 6.6-inch panel is a feast for the eyes, featuring full HD+ resolution and a blistering fast refresh rate of 144Hz. The display's brightness reaches an impressive 600 nits, making it suitable for use under direct sunlight. One of the standout features of this display is its support for 240Hz touch sampling rate. This ensures that interactions with the user interface are smooth and seamless, while also providing a satisfying gaming experience. Gamers will appreciate the ability to manually switch between 60Hz and 144Hz or choose the auto refresh rate to save battery life. The LCD tech used in this display is a departure from the AMOLED panels found in some other devices, but it still delivers a pleasant balance of color and sharpness. Realme claims that the screen can reach a peak brightness of 600 nits, which is more than sufficient for use outdoors. One notable omission is the lack of an ultrawide option, which might be a disappointment for some users. However, the main camera does most of the heavy lifting, producing vibrant photos with plenty of detail to go around. Overall, the display on the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a highlight of this phone. Its fast refresh rate and impressive brightness make it well-suited for gaming and everyday use.
Camera
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition boasts a triple camera system with a 48MP primary sensor, alongside two additional sensors for macro and portrait shots. While it's not the most comprehensive setup, I found that the main camera does most of the heavy lifting, producing vibrant images with plenty of detail. In good lighting conditions, photos taken by the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition are impressive, with a good balance of color and sharpness. However, noise is almost always present in low-light shots, which can be disappointing for those who want to take high-quality nighttime photography. Portrait images are decent enough to be shared on social media, as long as the lighting is sufficient. One notable issue I encountered was with the macro mode. While it's a dedicated feature, I found that it doesn't pick up close-ups particularly well, resulting in less-than-desirable results. If you want more detailed results, I recommend using either the primary sensor with 2x digital zoom or the 48MP mode to crop into images later on. The phone can shoot 4K videos at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, which is respectable for a mid-range device. The ultra-steady mode does a good job of stabilizing footage, especially when panning through a scene. Selfies taken by the 16MP front camera are decent in both outdoor and indoor lighting, but you may want to turn off the default AI beautification if you prefer accurate skin tones. Overall, while not the most impressive camera system, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition's primary sensor is capable of producing good results. With some careful shot selection and post-processing, users can achieve decent photos that are perfect for social media or personal use. However, those who require higher-quality images may want to look elsewhere.
Price and Value
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a performance-focused phone that promises a fast chipset, high refresh rate display, and large battery all for a starting price of Rs. 19,999. At this price point, the phone offers an impressive array of features that make it a compelling option for those seeking a powerful device. One of the standout aspects of the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is its value proposition. The phone's snappy performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 778G processor, and smooth display experience, courtesy of the 144Hz refresh rate screen, are hard to find in this price range. Add to that a large 5000mAh battery that easily lasts more than a day with moderate usage, and you have a device that's well-suited for heavy users. The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition also offers a good balance of speed and stamina, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can handle demanding tasks without breaking the bank. The camera system, although not the most versatile, delivers decent results, especially in bright lighting conditions. While the phone may not be perfect, its performance-focused approach and aggressive pricing make it an attractive option for those seeking a fast and feature-packed device at an affordable price. For Rs. 19,999, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition offers an impressive value proposition that's hard to ignore. Overall, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a solid choice for anyone looking for a performance-driven phone without breaking the bank. Its competitive pricing and feature-rich approach make it a compelling option in this segment.
Performance
The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a performance-driven smartphone that promises to deliver fast speeds, a high refresh rate display, and a large battery all at an affordable price of ₹19,999. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the device's performance capabilities. The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor, which is not the latest chipset but still provides exceptional performance. The device handled demanding tasks with ease, including gaming and multitasking, without any noticeable lag or heating issues. With 8GB of RAM and a RAM expansion feature that adds an additional 5GB, the phone can handle heavy usage with minimal slowdown. The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition delivered excellent gaming performance, with most demanding games running at maximum frame rates on high graphics settings without any lag. The device's cooling system kept the phone relatively cool during extended gaming sessions, making it a great option for gamers. The 5000mAh battery in the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition provided nearly seven hours of screen time with heavy usage, including gaming and video streaming. With the auto refresh rate feature enabled, the battery life extends to over a day's use. The phone also supports 30W fast charging, which can charge the device from 0-100% in around 50 minutes. The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a performance-driven smartphone that delivers on its promises. With excellent processor and gaming performance, combined with a large battery and fast charging capabilities, this device is perfect for those who value speed and stamina over other features. While there are some areas where the phone could improve, such as camera capabilities, overall, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is an excellent option for anyone looking for a performance-focused smartphone at an affordable price.
Pros
1. Impressive Performance
2. Superb Display
3. Long-Lasting Battery
4. Affordable Price
Cons
1. Mediocre Camera System
2. No Official IP Water or Dust Resistance Rating
3. Limited Android Version
4. Single Speaker Limitation