realme 9i 5G review
The Realme 9i 5G is making waves in the budget 5G smartphone market with its sleek design, smooth performance, and impressive features. This phone boasts a minimalist look with a glossy polycarbonate back, a 6.6-inch full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and a triple-camera setup that delivers sharp photos and decent video recording capabilities. Powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset, this device offers seamless performance and efficient battery life. With its competitive price starting at around $190, the Realme 9i 5G is an attractive option for those seeking an affordable 5G smartphone with great value for money.
Build Quality and Design
When it comes to budget-friendly smartphones, build quality and design often take a backseat. However, the Realme 9i 5G is an exception. This phone boasts a sleek and minimalist look that belies its affordable price tag. The first thing you'll notice about the Realme 9i 5G is its glossy polycarbonate back. The material gives it a premium feel, despite being made of plastic. The phone's weight of just 187g and thickness of 8.1mm make it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The design of the phone is visually appealing, with a triple camera setup on the rear that looks modern and stylish. The cameras are placed individually, giving them a distinctive look. The phone is available in two colors - Metallica Gold and Rocking Black C - both of which look sleek and premium. One of the standout features of the Realme 9i 5G's design is its side-mounted fingerprint scanner, integrated into the power button. This not only provides an additional way to unlock the phone but also ensures that the scanner remains secure and resistant to fingerprints. The overall build quality of the Realme 9i 5G is impressive for a budget smartphone. The phone feels solid in the hand, with no creaks or flexes when pressed. While it may not be as durable as some other phones on the market, it's certainly more robust than you'd expect from a device at this price point. In terms of design, the Realme 9i 5G is a winner. Its sleek and modern aesthetic makes it stand out in a crowded market of budget smartphones. While there are some minor compromises to be made on the build quality, overall, the phone's design is a highlight of its features.
Battery Life
One of the most crucial aspects of any smartphone is its battery life, and the Realme 9i 5G does not disappoint in this regard. The phone is equipped with a massive 5000mAh battery that will easily get you through a full day of usage, whether you're streaming, gaming, or just browsing the internet. In my testing, I found that the Realme 9i 5G's battery life was quite impressive. With moderate use, including social media scrolling, music playback, and some light gaming, I managed to squeeze out over a day and a half of usage on a single charge. This is undoubtedly one of the longest-lasting batteries in its class. Additionally, the phone supports 18W fast charging, which allows you to quickly top up the battery when it's running low. While it may not be the fastest charging speed on the market, it's still quite efficient and will get your battery from 0 to 100% in around 1.5 to 2 hours. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the Realme 9i 5G's battery life, and it's definitely one of the phone's strongest selling points. Whether you're a heavy user or just want a peace of mind knowing your phone will last all day, this phone's battery performance is sure to please.
Display
The display on the Realme 9i 5G is one of its standout features. The phone boasts a 6.6-inch Full HD+ screen, which offers crisp and sharp visuals whether you're watching videos, gaming, or browsing the web. What truly sets it apart is the 90Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and transitions that enhance the overall user experience. While it's not an AMOLED panel, the display still manages to deliver good brightness levels at around 400 nits, making it visible outdoors and in sunlight. Colors are punchy and vibrant, further adding to the excellent viewing experience. One of the notable advantages of the Realme 9i 5G's display is its ability to handle demanding tasks with ease. Whether you're a gamer or just someone who enjoys watching videos on their phone, this display will not disappoint. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures that everything from scrolling through social media feeds to playing games feels responsive and seamless. In terms of resolution, the 2,480 x 1,080 pixel screen is sharp and clear, making it perfect for everyday use. While it may not be the most cutting-edge display on the market, it's certainly one of the best in its price range. Overall, the Realme 9i 5G's display is a significant upgrade over its predecessor and provides a viewing experience that rivals more expensive devices. With a price tag of around $190, the Realme 9i 5G offers an incredible value for money proposition. The display alone would be enough to justify the purchase, but when combined with the phone's other features, it becomes clear why this device is one of the best budget 5G smartphones on the market today. If you're in the market for a new smartphone and are looking for a great value proposition, the Realme 9i 5G should definitely be at the top of your list.
Camera
The camera is one of the most critical aspects of any smartphone, and the Realme 9i 5G does not disappoint in this department. The device features a triple-camera setup that includes a 50MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP portrait lens. The primary camera is capable of delivering detailed and sharp photos in good lighting conditions. Colors are natural, and the dynamic range is quite impressive for this price segment. The camera app is also intuitive, making it easy to switch between modes and adjust settings as needed. One of the standout features of the Realme 9i 5G's primary camera is its ability to capture detailed photos in good lighting conditions. Whether you're taking a selfie or capturing a moment with friends, the camera delivers crisp and clear images that are perfect for sharing on social media. The portrait mode on the Realme 9i 5G also deserves praise, as it does an excellent job of blurring out backgrounds and highlighting the subject. This feature is particularly useful when taking photos in low-light conditions, where it can be difficult to capture a well-lit image. On the front, there's an 8MP selfie camera that delivers clear and detailed images, especially in good lighting. Eye beautification features are also available, making it easy to retouch your selfies and look your best on social media or video calls. The Realme 9i 5G's camera app also supports various modes such as night mode, landscape mode, and more. Additionally, the phone allows for manual control over exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance, giving you full creative control over your photos. In conclusion, the camera on the Realme 9i 5G is a significant highlight of this device. With its capable primary sensor, macro lens, portrait mode, and selfie camera, it's more than capable of delivering high-quality images that are perfect for sharing with friends and family. Whether you're taking photos or recording videos, the Realme 9i 5G's camera does not disappoint. While there may be some minor complaints about image quality in certain lighting conditions, overall the camera is a significant strength of this device. If you're looking for an affordable smartphone that can deliver great camera performance, then the Realme 9i 5G should definitely be on your shortlist.
Price and Value
The Realme 9i 5G is a budget smartphone that has been making waves in the market with its impressive features and affordable price tag. Starting at around $190, this device offers an excellent value for money, making it a solid choice for those looking for a 5G-enabled phone without breaking the bank. The Realme 9i 5G is priced competitively in the market, with its starting price of $190 putting it firmly in the budget smartphone category. However, when you consider the features and performance on offer, it's clear that this device offers an unbeatable value proposition. For a phone that costs less than $200, the Realme 9i 5G is equipped with a powerful Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset, which ensures smooth performance even during heavy usage. The phone also comes with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, making it perfect for those who want a device that can handle everyday tasks with ease. The Realme 9i 5G's pricing is all the more impressive when you consider its features. The phone boasts a sleek design, a smooth 90Hz display, and decent camera performance, making it a solid choice for those looking for an affordable smartphone that doesn't compromise on quality. Overall, the Realme 9i 5G offers an excellent price-performance ratio, making it one of the best budget 5G smartphones in the market. If you're in the market for an affordable phone with great features and performance, this device is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Realme 9i 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that's making waves in the market with its impressive performance capabilities. Under the hood, this device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset, a 5G-capable processor that strikes a balance between performance and efficiency. With a 6nm design, the Dimensity 810 ensures seamless execution of everyday tasks such as multitasking, social media browsing, and casual gaming. The processor's ability to handle demanding tasks with ease is commendable, making it suitable for those who need a reliable smartphone for both work and play. The Realme 9i 5G offers two RAM options - 4GB and 6GB - paired with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. Additionally, there's a microSD card slot that allows storage expansion up to 1TB, providing ample space for storing apps, photos, and videos. One notable feature of this smartphone is its 'Ram Expansion' feature, which virtually increases the RAM by up to 5GB during heavy tasks. This innovative technology enhances performance, making it ideal for those who need a device that can handle multitasking with ease. In terms of performance, the Realme 9i 5G delivers smooth and efficient execution of tasks, making it suitable for everyday use. While it may not be as powerful as some high-end smartphones, its capabilities make it an excellent option for budget-conscious buyers who still want a reliable device. Overall, the Realme 9i 5G's performance is one of its standout features, making it an attractive choice for those in search of a budget-friendly smartphone that can deliver on both functionality and value.
Pros
1. The Realme 9i 5G brings a lot of features to the table for its price.
2. It has a Sleek design with a glossy polycarbonate back that reflects light in an almost metallic way, giving it a premium feel despite being a budget-friendly device.
3. The phone's 6.6-inch Full HD Plus display features a resolution of 2,480 by 1,080 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and transitions.
4. It has a powerful Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset that ensures the phone can handle everyday tasks with ease from multitasking to gaming.
5. The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, two MP portrait lens, and a 2MP macro lens for close-up shots, delivering detailed and sharp photos in good lighting conditions.
6. It has a massive 5000mAh battery that will easily get you through a full day of usage, making it perfect for streaming, gaming, or just browsing the internet.
7. The phone supports fast charging with an 18W charger, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 1.5 to 2 hours.
Cons
1. It's not the fastest charging on the market.
2. The display is not an AMOLED panel, but it still offers good brightness levels at around 400 nits making it visible outdoors and sunlight.
3. There's no mention of any exciting color options beyond 'Metallica Gold' and 'Rocking Black'.
4. It only has two RAM options (4GB and 6GB) paired with either 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which might be a bit limiting for heavy users.
5. The front camera is an 8MP selfie camera with eye beautification features, but it's not mentioned if it has any other exciting features.
6. It only supports 1080p recording at 30 FPS on the rear camera, which is decent for casual videography.
7. There's no mention of any IP rating or water resistance, making it less durable in case of accidental splashes or submersion.