realme 9 Pro+ review
The Realme 9 Pro is the latest mid-ranger from the brand, serving as a successor to the Realme 8s 5G. It boasts a larger screen, bigger battery, and new chipset, but falls short in its camera setup compared to its sibling, the Realme 9 Pro+. Design-wise, the phone has an identical design to its predecessor with a distinctive camera island, available in Midnight Black or Sunrise Blue variants. The glossy back catches fingerprints easily, but the flat sides make it feel sharp along the edges. The display is a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a step up from the 90Hz OLED panel on the Pro+. However, gaming performance was disappointing, stuck at 60Hz despite efforts to increase it. Battery life is excellent, lasting 134 hours on our tests, thanks to its 5000mAh capacity and 33W charger. The phone's new Snapdragon 695 5G chipset handles day-to-day tasks well but stumbles with games. The camera setup, although improved from the Realme 8s 5G, still disappoints in terms of color accuracy and noise levels, particularly in low-light conditions. Selfies are also underwhelming. Overall, the Realme 9 Pro is a solid mid-ranger with a great display, fast charging, and up-to-date software. While it may not be the best value on the market, it's still a recommended choice for those seeking a 5G-capable device.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme 9 Pro boasts a design that's near identical to its sibling, the Realme 8S 5G. The phone's distinctive camera island is a notable feature, but it's not without its flaws. Our review unit came in Midnight Black, while the other variant sports a Sunrise Blue finish with a light-shifting effect that morphs into a redder color when exposed to UV lights. The glossy back of the phone is prone to fingerprint smudges, and the plastic build gives the device a slightly cheap feel. However, the edges are flat all around, making the phone feel sharp in some areas. The power button doubles as a side-mounted fingerprint reader, which is fast and reliable, but not particularly convenient. The front of the phone features a punch-hole cutout in the upper left corner, surrounded by relatively slim bezels - although the one at the bottom is quite noticeable. We're pleased to report that there's no light bleed on this display. In terms of build quality, the Realme 9 Pro feels solid, but not particularly premium. The plastic back and frame may not be as sturdy as some other phones in its class, but they do make for a lightweight device. The phone's sides are flat, which gives it a slightly awkward feel when held in one hand. The Realme 9 Pro is available in two color options: Midnight Black and Sunrise Blue. While the design of the phone may not be particularly groundbreaking, it's certainly eye-catching. Overall, we'd give the Realme 9 Pro's build quality and design a solid 7 out of 10 - it's a good-looking phone that feels sturdy enough to withstand daily use, but it doesn't exactly scream "premium" either.
Battery Life
In our testing, the Realme 9 Pro delivered an impressive battery life, with an endurance rating of 134 hours. This is certainly enough to outlast most competitors and provide users with a day or two of use without needing to recharge. The phone's large 5,000mAh battery provides ample power for daily tasks, while its 33W Dart charger can quickly top it up when needed. In our tests, the phone reached 52% charge in just 30 minutes, and was fully charged within an hour and 14 minutes. One of the standout features of the Realme 9 Pro's battery life is its ability to handle heavy usage without breaking a sweat. Whether you're gaming, streaming videos, or simply using your phone extensively, the battery holds up remarkably well. While it's worth noting that the phone does get warm during intense use, this doesn't seem to affect the battery performance significantly. Overall, the Realme 9 Pro's battery life is one of its strongest assets, making it a great choice for those who need a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyles.
Display
The Realme 9 Pro boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a notable upgrade over its predecessor. While the display's specifications sound impressive, actual performance varies. In our testing, we found that most system menus ran at 90Hz, while apps and scrolling content used the full 120Hz refresh rate. However, this dropped to 60Hz when the screen wasn't being actively used - a curious design choice, given the phone's capabilities. Unfortunately, games were stuck at 60Hz regardless of our attempts to change it. Color accuracy isn't the Realme 9 Pro's strong suit, with whites and grays exhibiting a bluish tint even in the "natural" color mode. While the display is bright enough for outdoor use (reaching a maximum of 567 nits), its inability to accurately render colors is disappointing. The LCD panel has a Full HD resolution and nice contrast levels, but the lack of accurate color representation detracts from the overall viewing experience. Furthermore, the display's response time isn't ideal, leading to some ghosting and motion blur in fast-paced content. While the Realme 9 Pro's display has its strengths - such as decent brightness and a high refresh rate - its weaknesses in terms of color accuracy and responsiveness make it an average performer in this category.
Camera
The Realme 9 Pro's camera setup is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it boasts a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. During the day, photos look about average for the price point, with great sharpness, adequate detail, and wide dynamic range. However, I noticed some noise in over-sharpened halos, which can be distracting. What caught my attention was a yellowish tinge across all photos, likely due to an accurate color temperature metering. Colors are saturated but not off-putting. The absence of a tele-camera is notable, but two-time zoom shots are respectable, albeit with less sharpness and more noise. Overall, they're suitable for social media. The ultrawide camera produces limited dynamic range photos with noise, softness, and washed-out colors. Barrel distortion is almost non-existent, though. The macro camera is a disappointment, producing subpar images with a fixed 4-centimeter focus that often results in blurry shots. Portraits are decent but not the sharpest around. Colors are punchy, dynamic range is good, and the subject's face is always well-exposed. However, the bokeh effect can be unconvincing, sometimes missing spots. Low-light photos with the main camera are a bit soft, with underexposed shadows and clipped highlights. The noise reduction algorithm smears out some fine detail. When using Night mode, low-light shots improve significantly, with better highlights, shadows, and contrast. There's more sharpness and color, but less noise. The ultra-wide camera still struggles to deliver decent low-light shots without Night mode, even though it reduces noise and improves details in the shadows. Selfies taken with the 16-megapixel front camera are unsatisfactory, with excessive noise, washed-out colors, and a lack of sharpness. Overall, while the Realme 9 Pro's camera is not bad for its price point, it falls short of expectations in certain areas, such as low-light performance and video recording.
Price and Value
The Realme 9 Pro is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that packs a punch in terms of performance and features. As the successor to the Realme 8s 5G, it brings a bigger screen, a larger battery, and a brand-new chipset to the table. The Realme 9 Pro's price point is a significant factor in its value proposition. Priced competitively with other mid-range smartphones, it offers excellent bang for your buck. The device's impressive 5,000mAh battery life and fast charging capabilities make it a great option for those who want to stay connected without worrying about running out of juice. While the camera setup is decent, it may not be the best in its class. However, considering the price point, it's hard to complain too much. The phone's performance is snappy, thanks to the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, making it a great option for those who want a seamless user experience. If you're looking for a reliable mid-range smartphone with decent specs and features, the Realme 9 Pro is definitely worth considering. While it may not be the best value on the market, its price point makes up for some of its shortcomings. If you can live without 5G connectivity, there are other options available that might offer better value. Overall, the Realme 9 Pro is a solid choice for those who want a reliable mid-range smartphone without breaking the bank. Its impressive battery life and fast charging capabilities make it an attractive option, especially in today's world where power efficiency matters more than ever.
Performance
The Realme 9 Pro is powered by the brand-new Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, which has been significantly revamped compared to its predecessor. This upgrade brings more powerful cores and 5G connectivity, making it suitable for day-to-day tasks and gaming. In our tests, the phone performed admirably with games, although it struggled to maintain a high refresh rate consistently. We observed that most system menus ran at 90Hz, apps at 120Hz, and dropped down to 60Hz when not in use. Unfortunately, games were stuck at 60Hz, regardless of settings. The Realme UI 3.0 on top provides good multitasking features like the Smart Sidebar and Flexible Windows feature, making it easy to navigate between apps. However, we noticed some inconsistencies in the refresh rate management, which might affect gaming performance. Under the hood, the phone runs Android 12 out of the box, with most features being under-the-hood improvements. The UI is colorful and snappy, with plenty of customization options available. In terms of performance, the Realme 9 Pro delivers solid results for a mid-range device. However, its inability to maintain high refresh rates in gaming situations might be a concern for some users. Overall, the phone's performance is satisfactory, but not exceptional.
Pros
1. The Realme 9 Pro has a fantastic display with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel, 120Hz refresh rate, and Full HD resolution.
2. It features fast charging capabilities with the 33W Dart charger, which can charge the phone from 0 to 52% in just 30 minutes.
3. The device boasts an excellent battery life of 134 hours on our tests, making it a great option for those who need a long-lasting phone.
4. The Realme 9 Pro has a speedy chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G) that handles day-to-day tasks and games with ease.
5. It comes with up-to-date software, including Android 12 out of the box, and features a colorful yet snappy UI (Realme UI 3.0).
6. The phone has a good multitasking feature set, including the Smart Sidebar and Flexible Windows feature.
Cons
1. The Realme 9 Pro's camera setup is less impressive than its predecessor, with average day-time photos and poor low-light shots.
2. The ultrawide camera produces limited dynamic range, noise, and washed-out colors, while the macro camera struggles to deliver decent images.
3. Portraits are not the sharpest around, and the bokeh effect can be inconsistent in low light conditions.
4. Low-light selfies taken with the 16MP camera are unsatisfactory, with a lot of noise and washed-out colors.
5. Video recording is underwhelming, with limited dynamic range, warm colors, and poor sharpness and detail.