realme 9 ProvsUlefone Power Armor 16S

realme 9 Pro

Ulefone Power Armor 16S

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 Power Armor 16S

The Ulefone Power Armor 16S is a rugged smartphone that delivers impressive performance without sacrificing its durability. Its 5.93-inch HD Plus display may not be the sharpest on the market, but it's more than sufficient for everyday use and can even handle outdoor activities under direct sunlight. Built to withstand harsh environments, the phone meets IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H standards, making it dustproof, waterproof up to 1.5M for 30 minutes, and shockproof. However, this rugged protection comes at a cost - the device is bulky (18.3mm thick) and weighs 405g. Under the hood, the Power Armor 16S packs an Unisoc T616 processor clocking at 2GHz, paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. While this setup handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, gaming performance is decent but not exceptional, and photography capabilities are limited due to the mediocre camera performance. One standout feature is the massive 9600mAh battery, which offers up to several days of use on a single charge. The phone also supports 18W fast charging. Additionally, it features a super loud 122dB speaker that's perfect for calls or media playback in noisy environments. The Power Armor 16S runs on Android 13 and offers a clean and smooth user experience. While it may not be the most powerful device on the market, its rugged build, decent performance, and massive battery make it an excellent option for those who need a tough and reliable phone that can handle the elements.