realme 9i review
The Realme 9i is an all-around performing budget smartphone that boasts a big battery, full HD+ display, and competent processor. With a 15 megapixel main camera, it's a great device for casual use. The phone has a slim and light design with rounded corners, making it comfortable to hold and use. The rear panel features a stereo prism effect when hit with light, but does catch fingerprints and smudges easily. The front of the device houses a large 6.6 inch display with relatively thin bezels on top and sides, while the chin is slightly thicker. A cut-out on the top left corner of the screen accommodates the selfie camera. The phone runs on Android 11 skinned with Realme UI 2.0, which is easy to use and comes with a few pre-installed third-party applications. The app drawer can be turned off or changed to standard mode in settings. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor powers the device, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The display is great, with adequate brightness and rich colors, even in bright sunlight outdoors. However, it's a step down from the Realme 8i's screen, which had a higher refresh rate. The stereo speaker produces distorted sound at maximum volume and is heavy on mids, making it suitable for voice calls but not ideal for music listening. The camera setup includes a 50 megapixel main sensor, 2 megapixel macro lens, and 2 megapixel monochrome depth sensor. Selfie shots are decent in daylight settings, with good edge detection and background blur options. However, the phone struggles in low light conditions and has no stabilization for video recording. Priced at 1190 pesos, the Realme 9i is a good device for casual use, but it's hard to justify as an upgrade over its predecessor, the Realme 8i, given how little it changes. Overall, it's a decent budget smartphone that gets the job done, but may not be the best choice for those seeking a more premium experience.
Build Quality and Design
When it comes to budget smartphones, Realme has consistently delivered impressive devices that pack a punch without breaking the bank. The latest addition to their lineup is the Realme 9i, an all-around performer that boasts a big battery, full HD+ display, and competent processor. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the build quality and design of this device. The Realme 9i's slim and light design makes it comfortable to hold and use. The back panel is made of polycarbonate material with a stereo prism effect that creates a visually appealing pattern when hit with light. However, the rear panel does catch fingerprints and smudges easily, so it's recommended to use the free jelly case included in the box. The power button, which also doubles as a fingerprint scanner, is placed on the right side of the device, making it easily accessible. The volume rockers and triple card shade are located on the left side, allowing for convenient access to these essential features. The USB Type-C port, 3.5mm headphone jack, and speaker grille are all situated at the bottom of the device. The Realme 9i's 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen is a highlight of this device, offering a high pixel density of 400 PPI and maximum brightness of 418 nits. While it may not match the refresh rate of its predecessor, the display remains great with adequate brightness and rich colors. Overall, the Realme 9i's design is a solid effort from the company, offering a comfortable and sleek device that's perfect for everyday use. However, minor flaws like fingerprint-prone back panel and mediocre stereo speaker quality prevent it from being a truly exceptional budget smartphone.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Realme 9i is its massive 5000mAh battery, which promises to keep you powered up all day long. And indeed it does. In our tests, the phone consistently lasted for over 22 hours on a single charge, with moderate usage that included social media browsing, calls, and streaming apps. This is impressive, especially considering the phone's relatively affordable price tag of 1190 pesos. The battery life is complemented by fast charging capabilities, which can get you from zero to 100% in just under an hour and 10 minutes. This means you can top up your phone on-the-go without having to worry about running out of juice when you need it most. We also conducted a series of benchmarking tests using the popular BC Mark Work 3.0 battery test, which yielded similar results. The Realme 9i's massive battery and efficient software management make it an ideal choice for those who want a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyle without needing to be recharged every few hours. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed by the Realme 9i's battery life, which is one of its strongest selling points. If you're in the market for a budget smartphone with long-lasting battery life, this is definitely worth considering.
Display
The Realme 9i boasts a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 2412 x 1080p resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, which is a significant step down from the Realme 8i's 120Hz display. Despite this, the panel still offers great brightness and rich colors, making it comfortable to use outdoors in bright sunlight. The display's pixel density of 400 PPI ensures that text and images appear crisp and clear, but the lack of a higher refresh rate is noticeable when scrolling or gaming. While not ideal for demanding users, the display is more than sufficient for everyday tasks like social media browsing, calls, and streaming apps. One notable feature of the Realme 9i's display is its stereo speaker setup, which can get distorted at maximum volume and sounds heavy on mids. This makes it more suitable for voice calls rather than immersive audio experiences. However, a 3.5mm headphone jack is still available for users who prefer wired listening. In terms of design, the Realme 9i's display has relatively thin bezels on the top and sides, with a slightly thicker chin at the bottom. A cutout in the top left corner houses the selfie camera, while the rear panel features a slim profile and rounded corners that make it comfortable to hold. Overall, while not the most impressive display in its class, the Realme 9i's screen gets the job done for casual users. However, those who crave higher refresh rates or better audio quality may want to consider other options.
Camera
The Realme 9i boasts a triple camera setup at the back, consisting of a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel monochrome depth sensor. While it may not have an ultrawide angle camera, the phone can still shoot at its full 15-megapixel resolution. In well-lit conditions, the Realme 9i's camera takes excellent photos with plenty of details. Objects at a distance are captured clearly, and portraits feature good edge detection. The phone also allows users to choose the level of background blur before taking a photo, which is a welcome feature. However, macros shots have limited detail, and it's not advisable to expect too much from this camera. In low-light conditions, the Realme 9i fares relatively poorly, with images appearing hazy. Utilizing night mode can help capture details in the shadows, but even then, the images may appear dimmer than expected. On the front, the 16-megapixel selfie camera performs well in daylight settings, producing clear and detailed shots. The portrait mode does an excellent job of separating the subject from the background. However, expect some limitations when shooting selfies in low light. One notable feature is the ability to shoot videos at 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. Unfortunately, there's no image stabilization, which can result in shaky footage. While not groundbreaking, the Realme 9i's camera system is sufficient for casual use and social media sharing. However, serious photographers may find it lacking in certain areas, particularly when compared to other smartphones on the market. 3.5/5 Overall, the Realme 9i's camera is a mixed bag. While there are some standout features like portrait mode and night mode, others like macros and low-light photography leave much to be desired. If you're in the market for a budget smartphone with an average camera system, the Realme 9i might not be the worst choice. However, if you require more from your phone's camera, there are better options available at this price point.
Price and Value
The Realme 9i is an all-around performing budget smartphone that checks off the essential features one would want in a device at this price point. However, its value proposition is where it falters. Priced at 1190 pesos, the Realme 9i is a decent device for casual use. It boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, an upgrade over the Helio G96 in its predecessor, the Realme 8i. However, this change doesn't make a significant difference in real-world usage. The phone's camera performance is satisfactory, with good detail and edge detection in daylight conditions. However, it struggles in low-light scenarios, producing hazy images that can be improved by using the night mode feature. The selfie camera performs well, especially in bright lighting conditions, but lacks an ultrawide angle lens. In terms of price and value, the Realme 9i is a hard sell, especially considering its limited upgrades over the Realme 8i. While it's true that the 9i offers a more modern chipset, this upgrade doesn't make up for the lack of significant changes in other areas. For many users, the Realme 8i may still offer better value at the same price point. The 8i provides similar features and performance to the 9i, but with the added benefit of a faster refresh rate on its display. Ultimately, if you're in the market for a budget smartphone that meets the bare minimum requirements, the Realme 9i may suffice. However, for those seeking more value or upgrades from their device, there are better options available at similar price points.
Performance
The Realme 9i is an all-around performing budget smartphone that comes with the essential features one would want in a device of its class. However, its performance is where it truly shines. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chip, paired with 6GB of RAM and Adreno 610 GPU. While not the most powerful processor out there, it manages to deliver decent performance for regular social media browsing, calls, binge-watching, and other streaming apps. Navigating the UI with default animation speed makes the device feel slower than it actually is, but changing the speed to 60Hz or 90Hz can make a difference. However, when it comes to gaming, the Snapdragon 680 chip shows its limitations. Games are playable, but don't expect high-fidelity graphics or smooth performance in graphic-intensive scenes. If you're curious about the benchmarks, check out our written review for more details. In terms of security, the phone features a reliable and quick fingerprint scanner and face unlock. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, and dual SIM 4G LTE support. The Realme 9i's performance is decent, but not exceptional. It gets the job done for casual use, but those who crave more power might find it wanting. Still, considering its price point of 1190 pesos, it's a solid choice for those looking for an affordable device that can handle everyday tasks with ease. Overall, while the Realme 9i's performance is not its strongest suit, it still manages to deliver a good experience for users who don't require top-tier processing power.
Pros
1. Adequate Display
2. Decent Battery Life
3. Good Camera Performance
4. Convenient Design
Cons
1. Disappointing Audio Quality
2. Limited Upgrade from Previous Model