While some smartphone buyers only pay attention to the data sheet and, like John Hammond from Jurassic Park, don't shy away from any expense, others attach more importance to good value for money. And this is exactly where the developers of the Realme 9 seem to have started. The mobile phone will certainly not break any records. But it is quite cheap and some technical highlights are also on board. We took a closer look at the pros and cons of the Realme 9 in the first review.
Technical specifications of the Realme 9
At first glance, the Realme 9's 6.4-inch AMOLED display (1080×2400 pixels) is not particularly impressive. However, that changes when you look at the refresh rate. This is 90 Hz and is therefore a special feature in this weight class. Because the standard is 60 Hz. The device is operated with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor, which in turn is supported by either 6 or 8 GB of RAM. The main memory is always 128 GB, but can easily be expanded by a further 256 GB using a micro SD card. And that without affecting the dual SIM function.
When it comes to the battery, Realme has also not splashed out and has given its Realme 9 a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh despite a smaller display and weaker processor. Accordingly, the battery life of the mobile phone should be quite long. And the charger with 33 watts of charging power does the rest.
Otherwise, the smartphone supports the penultimate transmission standards, such as: LTE or 4G and Wi-Fi 5 (2.4 and 5 GHz). However, an average consumer should not be bothered by this in everyday life – or even notice a difference.
Software
Android 12
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Screen
6.4 inches, 2400 x 1080 pixels
Random access memory
6GB, 8GB
Internal memory
128GB
Main camera
12032×9024
Battery pack
5,000mAh
Inductive charging
USB port
2.0 Type C
IP certification
Weight
178g
Color
Black, white, gold
Introductory price
9 : €280, 9 (8GB RAM): €300
Market launch
May 2022
Realme 9: The first impression
The optics of the Realme 9 will certainly not be able to win any creativity awards, but it doesn't have to be either. Because the classic look suits the new smartphone pretty well. Furthermore, users do not have to be careful not to leave fingerprints. The case itself takes care of that – at least on the back. Below the screen is a fairly wide and almost outdated strip of the case. As a result, the case-to-display ratio is "only" 90.8 percent.
Bloatware and jack socket
Speaking of apps: In addition to the usual pre-installed Google apps and the manufacturer's applications, so-called bloatware is also installed on the new Realme cell phone ex works. These are third-party advertising apps such as Booking.com, Tile Master 3D and TikTok. Of course, these can be uninstalled without much effort, but their mere presence on a brand new and "pristine" smartphone can still be a bit annoying. The device offers a 3.5 millimeter jack for wired headphones and a fingerprint sensor placed under the display.
Realme 9 – camera test
Realme 9 – camera test
Value for money in the first impression
As already mentioned, the Realme 9 is available in two storage variants: with 6 and 8 GB of RAM. The former can be bought for just under 280 euros, while the more expensive version weighs around 300 euros. In view of the advantages of the Realme 9, these purchase prices are justified – especially since the device should appear at a lower price quite quickly due to the Android-typical price drop. If you don't want to wait, you can also use the Realme 9 5G that was presented at the same time. This offers the 5G transmission standard, a slightly more powerful processor (Snapdragon 695) and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. There is only a 50 megapixel camera on board and the charging power is 18 watts. Cost point: around 260 to 280 euros (4 GB + 64/128 GB).
Conclusion
The Realme 9 does not offer any great strengths apart from the 90 Hz display and the 108 megapixel main camera – but it does not have any outstanding weaknesses either. And that's the crux of the matter. Because for only 280 to 300 euros, buyers get a nice overall package including dual SIM, a micro SD card slot, a 3.5 millimeter jack connection and a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh. In terms of value for money, the Realme 9 is at an excellent level.
