realme 9 ProvsUlefone Armor 27T

realme 9 Pro

Ulefone Armor 27T

realme 9 Pro

The Realme 9 Pro is the successor to the Realme 8s 5G, targeting budget gamers with its impressive specs and design. The vanilla 9 Pro has a bigger screen, battery, and brand new chipset compared to its sibling, but a less impressive camera setup. The phone's design is identical to its predecessor, with a distinctive camera island on the back. The glossy back catches fingerprints easily, but at least it's not slippery. The power and volume keys are easy to reach, and the fingerprint reader is fast and reliable. The 6.6-inch IPS LCD panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, good contrast, and brightness. The phone uses the Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, which is great for day-to-day tasks and decent with games. It runs on Android 12 out of the box, with Realme UI 3.0 on top. The battery life is excellent, with up to 134 hours of endurance. The camera setup includes a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. While daytime photos are average for the price point, night mode improves low-light shots significantly. However, low-light shots without night mode are soft, and shadows are underexposed. The phone can only record up to Full HD videos on the main and ultra-wide cameras, with disappointing results. Colors are warmer than desired, and sharpness, detail, and dynamic range are not great. While the Realme 9 Pro is a solid mid-ranger with impressive specs and display, it has some drawbacks, including a less impressive camera setup and video recording capabilities. If you prioritize 5G capability, this phone is a good option; however, if you're looking for the best value on the market, consider non-5G options like the Poco X3 Pro.

Ulefone Armor 27T

The Ulefone Armor 27T Pro is a rugged powerhouse that builds upon its predecessor's design cues from the Doogee V20 Pro. The phone's tank-like build makes it resistant to dust and water, with IP68/IP69K certification and MIL-STD-810G standards ensuring it can withstand rough handling. The 6.78-inch IPS LCD display has a 120Hz refresh rate but lacks AMOLED brightness. While decent for general use, 4K content is downscaled to 1080p. The phone's audio capabilities are limited to a single bottom speaker, which may not be sufficient for media or gaming enthusiasts. The camera setup consists of a 50MP main sensor, 64MP night vision camera, and 32MP front camera. While good for casual shots, low-light performance requires a steady hand. The night vision camera is particularly useful, allowing up to 20 meters visibility in complete darkness with infrared lighting. The thermal imaging feature, which uses a FLIR sensor, operates at a lower 9Hz refresh rate compared to the predecessor's 25Hz. While this results in more accurate temperature readings, it may not provide the smoothest video experience. The phone's battery is large, with a 10,600mAh capacity that can last 4-5 days of heavy use or weeks on light usage. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip provides decent performance for everyday tasks but feels dated for more demanding activities like gaming. With 12GB RAM and 256GB storage (expandable to 2TB via microSD), the phone's real-world performance is solid, although not ideal for heavy apps or games at max settings. Overall, the Ulefone Armor 27T Pro excels in its thermal imaging accuracy, rugged durability, and long-lasting battery. Its price point of around $300 makes it a great value if you prioritize these features over top-tier gaming performance.