realme 9ivsSamsung Galaxy F04

realme 9i

Samsung Galaxy F04

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 F04

The Samsung Galaxy F04 is the latest budget-friendly smartphone from the company's F-series, which is essentially a rebranded version of the Galaxy A04e. The phone boasts a stylish design with a glossy back panel, dual SIM tray on the left side, and a power button and volume rockers on the right side. The device features a 6.5-inch PLS LCD display with an HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, which might make it less suitable for heavy graphics users. Under the hood, it's powered by a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The camera department includes a 13MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and autofocus, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor for taking pictures of small objects. The phone also features a 5MP selfie camera with an f/2.5 aperture. In terms of performance, the Galaxy F04 scored around 213754 in benchmark tests, which is relatively average. The phone supports 4G connectivity, Wi-Fi 802.11, and Bluetooth 5.0, along with a massive 5000mAh battery that can be charged quickly using a 15W fast charger. The phone's price is around $90 (USD) or ₹8,000 (Indian Rupees), making it an affordable option for budget-conscious buyers. Overall, the Galaxy F04 seems to be a decent offering from Samsung in this segment, but its performance and camera capabilities are nothing to write home about.