realme 9ivsSamsung Galaxy A04e

realme 9i

Samsung Galaxy A04e

realme 9i

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.

Samsung Galaxy A04e

The Samsung Galaxy A04e is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers decent performance and features at an affordable price. The device is made of plastic, except for the glass display, which is typical of its segment. However, I appreciate the unique wavy design on the back, which makes up for the glossy finish. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Mediatek Helio P35 processor and 3GB of RAM. While it's not the most powerful combination, it should handle basic tasks like phone calls, text messages, watching videos, and occasional social media use without any issues. However, heavy users may experience some slowdowns. The camera department is another highlight of this device. It features a dual-camera setup with additional modes like Pro mode, Panorama, food mode, and hyperlapse. While not the most advanced cameras, they're decent for their price point. Other notable features include a 5,000mAh battery, which should provide generous battery life, Android 12 with Samsung's skin laid over, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Unfortunately, it lacks NFC, making mobile contactless payments impossible. In terms of hardware, the phone is relatively low-end, but its price point makes up for that. If you're looking for a reliable device from a reputable brand without breaking the bank, the Samsung Galaxy A04e might be worth considering.