realme 9ivsSamsung Galaxy F13

realme 9i

Samsung Galaxy F13

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 F13

The Samsung Galaxy F13 is a budget smartphone that competes in a crowded market with intense rivalry from other brands. Its design language is unmistakably Samsung, but the phone's plastic build and chunky size may be off-putting to some. The rear panel has a nice texture, making it easier to hold, while the front features a dewdrop notch and thick chin. The phone's 6.6-inch LCD display with full HD resolution and 60Hz refresh rate is a significant improvement over its predecessor, the F12. While the peak brightness is underwhelming, the colors and viewing angles are good. The device is powered by Samsung's Exynos 850 chipset, which may not be the strongest performer in this segment but handles occasional gaming fine. The camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, 5-megapixel ultra-wide snapper, and 2-megapixel depth sensor. While the dynamic range is limited, photos are good enough for social media posts. The phone also features an 8-megapixel selfie camera with decent results but no autofocus. One of the standout features of the Galaxy F13 is its large 6000mAh battery, which provides easily two days of battery life even with heavy usage. While charging takes a bit over two hours, the phone's great battery life more than makes up for it. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy F13 is a solid budget smartphone with impressive battery life and an ad-free UI. Its onboard ultra-wide-angle camera is also a plus, making it a good buy for those on a tight budget.