Realme’s flywheel for the production of smartphones is promoted to the maximum: updates within the line are released every couple of months, and the index has grown to 9 in just three years. Realme 9i… The main feature was the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 instead of the previous experiments with MediaTek Helio, there was also a slight decrease in the hertz of the screen, but better about everything in order.
Specifications
- Screen: 6.6 inches, aspect ratio 20: 9, IPS, 2412 × 1080, 400 PPI, 90 Hz.
- Operating system: realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11.
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, 6nm.
- CPU: Cortex-A73 (4 × 2.4 GHz) + Cortex-A53 (4 × 1.8 GHz).
- GPU: Adreno 610.
- Memory: operational 4 GB (LPDDR4x) + swap up to 3 GB, built-in 128 GB (UFS 2.2).
- Main camera: 50 MP (f / 1.8) + 2 MP (macro, f / 2.4) + 2 MP (portrait, f / 2.4), autofocus only on the main module, LED flash.
- Front camera: 16 MP (f / 2.1).
- Battery: 5000 mAh, fast charging Dart Charge 33 W.
- Dimensions: 164.4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm.
- Weight: 190 grams.
- Slots: 2 × nanoSIM + microSD memory card (triple tray).
- Communication: 4G, Bluetooth 5.1, dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 b / g / n / ac), GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS, Beidou, NFC, USB OTG.
- Sensors: illumination, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass.
Appearance and ergonomics
Like the previous model, the Realme 9i is made of glossy plastic, decorated with a pattern that shimmers in the light. Rippled stripes look more than original and play along only under certain lighting. The rest of the time, the dark gray lid looks strict. The flip side of beauty is excessive tenderness. The top lacquered layer is literally scratched by the air. It’s not just about small scratches: after a day of use, I found two deep and clearly visible marks.
That is why the complete case is required for use. It has a transparent back and unusual matte ends for improved grip. The protruding block of the main camera is protected by a boat.
In the hand, the Realme 9i lies wonderfully due to the rounded frame, sloping lid and generally moderate dimensions. This can be used with one hand, because the back cover does not slip on the skin.
I won’t get tired of praising Realme for the spaced buttons on the ends: the volume is adjusted on the left, and the power button is on the right. This is incredibly handy, for example, when taking screenshots with one hand. And secondly, if necessary, grope for the desired button and adjust the volume without pulling the smartphone out of your pocket. The power button is slightly recessed into the frame and does without sharp edges – it houses a lightning-fast fingerprint.
The rest is constructive without surprises. The frame is made of unpretentious matte plastic, and the screen protrudes slightly outside of it due to the additional frame. Both connectors are on the bottom – another Realme feature. The sound is mono, there is nothing to praise; vibration is inexpensive noisy; but a couple of microphones.
Display
There was a slight rollback in the screen capabilities, the maximum frequency is now limited to 90 Hz instead of the previous 120 Hz. Can this be considered a big omission? Certainly not, in any case there is the desired feeling of smoothness. The rest of the characteristics remained the same: the 6.6-inch IPS-matrix looks nice, does not strain your eyes with flickering and does not fade on a sunny day. From the box, a film is applied to the screen, under which there is glass with an oleophobic coating.
The front camera is inscribed in one of the most optimal ways, in the O-shaped cut, offset to the left. The bezel is not record-breaking thin; the bottom is traditionally a slightly thicker chin.
Camera
Before us is a relatively inexpensive smartphone with an emphasis on performance, so in place of the main camera is the already familiar 50 megapixel module with inexpensive f / 1.8 optics. The trick of the camera is combining 4 pixels in 1 to capture more light and in a 2x zoom without losing quality. It is possible to activate shooting in full resolution, but this is not necessary.
In the evening and at night, inexpensive optics allow sloppy halos around bright light sources. Overall, the finished shots lack detail after aggressive noise reduction. Night mode helps to brighten the scene, but the photos on the machine look just as good.
Zooming in on the frame results in a lower HDR intensity and less sharpness. The number of parts does not change. A two-fold increase almost does not affect the quality, a five-fold zoom is redundant for a 50 megapixel module.
One of the additional sensors is a basic 2 megapixel macro lens, which does its job well in good lighting conditions. The need for another 2 megapixel portrait module is questionable, but the device swears when it is closed and removes the bokeh effect.
The 16 megapixel front camera with f / 2.1 aperture turned out to be quite ordinary. The pictures are sharp and with good color balance. With the deterioration of illumination, the software quickly begins to increase the ISO sensitivity, hiding the already few details. Software options: bokeh with adjustable background blur intensity and flash imitation by backlighting the screen.
Hardware and software
Firmware without surprises: realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11. The interface works without freezing, a lot of additional options. Particular attention is paid to customizing the appearance. It did not work to determine the list of pre-installed applications, the imported version of the smartphone was on the test. Usually, a dozen removable third-party applications are preinstalled on Russian Realme, and the Russian package is displayed with phantom icons.
The smartphone is based on the fresh Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 built at 6nm. However, the cores and graphics are quite old inside: four Cortex-A73 at 2.4 GHz + four Cortex-A53 at 1.8 GHz and Adreno 610. As a result, the Snapdragon 680 is significantly inferior to the competing MediaTek Helio G95 in pure performance. This does not affect the responsiveness and speed of work in everyday tasks, however, the backwardness of the graphics allows us to draw an unambiguous conclusion: Realme 9i is not made for games.
The thin technical process and the time-tested layout performed very well in the throttling test. The first half hour with a full load, the Realme 9i maintains maximum performance. After that, the indicators sharply decrease by 14% and are fixed at this level until the end of the test. The body remains comfortable to grip. Heat is evenly distributed only over the upper half of the case – this is the peculiarity of the lid and frame made of plastic.
RAM is not much by modern standards, only 4 GB. The high speed of the built-in 128 GB drive type UFS 2.2 makes it possible to make a swap file. Due to it, you can expand the RAM by 1-3 GB at the discretion of the user.
In terms of wireless interfaces, the Realme 9i has a complete set, including an electronic compass and NFC for contactless payments. The triple tray accepts two nanoSIMs and a microSD card.
Autonomy and charging
The 5000 mAh battery, on the one hand, does not make the case too large. On the other hand, it provides impressive autonomy: more than 25 hours in the Treshbox test or 1.5-2 days of confident work in real conditions. Testing was carried out in the “Auto Select” screen frequency mode.
Trashbox.ru battery test results:
27:47
26:19
25:24
24:54
23:29
23:10
19:30
19:10
19:07
17:07
15:25
14:18
13:45
13:03
13:00
11:31
11:28
11:21
10:18
9:32
All battery test results and test method description
The advantage of the Realme 9i over the 8i is the increased power of the charger up to 33W. A compatible adapter is included, and a full charge takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. Moreover, the first 50% is recruited in about 28 minutes. The company uses its own Dart Charge standard with full-size USB, which is incompatible with the generally accepted Qualcomm Quick Charge and Power Delivery.
Recall after two weeks of use
So why did manufacturers start updating the smartphone line every couple of months instead of the long-lost annual cycle? One of the reasons is to create a sense of novelty: customers, all other things being equal, vote for a fresher model. If we ignore the exit time, we can see an absurd situation. Each new generation of an inexpensive smartphone does not grow in characteristics, but simply shifts the balance of qualities in one direction or another in order to stay within the required budget. This provides a unique opportunity to select the exact set of desired characteristics. The responsiveness of the shell is important and the charging is faster by 33W – the choice for the Realme 9i. In principle, the presence of exactly 120 Hz and performance in games is worth looking for the previous Realme 8i. Other stats, including design and durability, are at a similar level with no fundamental improvements to the fresher model.
Although I personally like the balance of the Realme 9i more. It just so happens that I do not play on my smartphone, and 90 Hz seems to my eyes quite smooth. I vote for autonomy and the ability to spend less time charging. Objectively, the novelty is scolded for too delicate gloss, on which marks instantly appear.
Pros:
- very beautiful, albeit impractical design;
- display with high resolution and 90 Hz;
- film on the screen, case included;
- no throttling under load;
- triple tray for simultaneous installation of two nanoSIMs and a memory card;
- buttons are spaced along the ends;
- all connectors on the bottom;
- a full charge takes just over an hour.
Minuses:
- noticeable marks easily appear on the glossy lid;
- inexpensive noisy vibration.
May not like:
- fast charging is not compatible with QC and PD.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
