Review of the Realme 9 Pro smartphone – an interesting alternative to the popular Xiaomi and Poco
Miscellaneous / / April 23, 2022
The device has tangible advantages over competitors, but there are also disadvantages - where without them.
If you want to buy a smartphone worth up to 30,000 rubles, the choice usually falls on the Xiaomi or Poco models. However, more and more often, Realme also demonstrates attractive solutions in this segment, which also relies on a favorable combination of price and features. A vivid example of such positioning is Realme 9 Pro.
This device tries to please everyone: it has a modern Snapdragon chip, a 120 Hz screen, a capacious battery and a “super night” camera. Is all this enough to compete with popular analogues - let's figure it out in this review.
Table of contents
- Specifications
- Design and ergonomics
- Screen
- Performance
- System
- cameras
- Communications
- Autonomy and charging
- Results
Specifications
Operating system | Android 12 + Realme UI 3.0 |
Frame | Plastic |
Screen | IPS, 6.6 inches, 2412 × 1080 pixels, 120 Hz |
CPU | Snapdragon 695 (6nm) + GPU Adreno 619 |
Memory | 8 GB - operational, 128 GB - built-in + microSD up to 256 GB |
cameras | Main: main - 64 MP, f / 1.8 with PDAF; ultra wide-angle - 8 MP, f / 2.2, 119 °; macro - 2 MP, f / 2.4 Front: 16 MP, f/2.1 |
Communications | Dual SIM 2G, 3G, LTE; Wi‑Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
Battery | 5,000 mAh, charging - 33 W |
Connectors | USB Type‑C 2.0, 3.5 mm |
Dimensions | 164.3×75.6×8.5mm |
The weight | 195 g |
Additionally | Fingerprint scanner on the side |
Design and ergonomics
The appearance of the Realme 9 Pro is not at all surprising, although its new “photochromic design” with a color change is heavily emphasized in the promo. In fact, we got the usual plastic back panel, which slightly shimmers and glares in the light.
In the blue and green versions of the device, these highlights are complemented by a scattering of sparkles, which should add originality to the smartphone. This design looks a little outdated. Such things attracted attention in the days of Honor 8 (2016) - then he was one of the first owners of a spectacular iridescent cover.
Glitter slightly dulls the complete silicone case. You will have to wear it, because there is far from Gorilla Glass. In addition, the oleophobic coating of the panel leaves much to be desired - fingerprints are perfectly visible.
The camera block also has not the most practical design. All three sensors are issued, they do not have a single protection, while they are placed on a protruding insert. That is, there are two “steps”, which, fortunately, are closed with the same complete cover.
The frame of the case of the smartphone is also plastic, although it is clearly disguised as metal with chopped edges with a matte surface. On the right is one not very convenient flat power button with a built-in fingerprint scanner. The sensor is narrow and not very fast, but generally trouble-free.
On the left side there are two separate buttons for volume control and a tray for two SIM cards or SIM + microSD. Below is a 3.5 mm audio port and the main speaker. It does not work in tandem with voice, that is, there is no stereo sound.
In terms of usability, the smartphone itself is quite slippery, and this is another argument in favor of the case. Although it is worthwhile to understand that the already considerable dimensions with it significantly increase - carrying a gadget in a trouser pocket is not very convenient.
Screen
The smartphone has a 6.6-inch IPS screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 2412 × 1080 pixels. A film is glued on the display, which attracts all the debris and dust particles from the pocket.
The color reproduction of the panel is more than standard for this type of matrix - soft, moderately contrasting and without raised saturation.
There are only two color profiles in the settings, both calm and with temperature control. If you choose a dark interface theme, you can also adjust the saturation of the black background, making it more gray or charcoal.
The brightness of the screen is enough, but there is definitely no stock. At the maximum value on a sunny day, the text is distinguishable, but the photo is no longer visible.
The picture is generally smooth, corresponding to the declared frequency of 120 Hz. It will not work to reduce it to 90 Hz, but you can turn on automatic selection so that the system changes it on its own where possible.
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (6 nm) is responsible for the performance of the smartphone. This is a modern and quite powerful solution with Adreno 619 graphics. The same chip is installed, for example, in Poco X4 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.
This processor is great for both everyday tasks and games. Let in online shooters or MMORPG It is not always possible to set the maximum graphics, but you can definitely count on a stable frame rate and a decent picture.
There were no unpleasant surprises in the benchmarks. In the first screenshot above - the result in AnTuTu, where the device scored a little more than 400,000 points - this is a good result for a mid-range device. The second screenshot shows the results of the throttling test, where after 15 minutes there were no serious drawdowns. In other words, the device is powerful and does not reduce performance under load.
The processor is complemented by 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128 GB of UFS 2.2 internal memory, which is also very worthy. You can expand the RAM with virtual 2, 3 or 5 GB, and increase the storage up to 256 GB using microSD cards if you do not use a second SIM card.
System
The smartphone runs on Realme UI 3.0, which is based on Android 12. Visually, the shell is a bit like MIUI from Xiaomi, but a little simpler is more of a plus.
Personalization
Cool dynamic themes that should soon become obligatory on all new smartphones, not here. But there is their original analogue - "Colors". This setting, available in the personalization menu, allows you to choose shades for the shortcut buttons in the shade and several other visual elements.
The marked colors do not permeate the entire system, do not radically change the interface palette, but still bring some variety. Shades are presented in ready-made sets or set manually, there is also an automatic selection according to the installed wallpaper.
Another nice point is the ability to choose the shape and style of displaying icons. Available in square, round or even octagonal. The "ART+ Icons" option will allow you to adapt the icons of third-party applications to this style. True, it is not always possible to make them homogeneous. Some may have a frame, others may not.
All this is complemented by the ability to customize the appearance of the buttons in the curtain, as well as change the font and scale of the text display. By the way, it is initially too bloated, so everything seems too big. We'll fix it.
Main screen
Like many other shells, Realme UI 3.0 allows you to install applications on the desktop or a special panel activated by swiping up. It is also available to change the layout of the desktop to keep more icons in front of your eyes.
There are no nice branded widgets. And this is strange: in the shell, the emphasis is on personalization and interface colors, but recognizable visual elements for the desktop are not added.
Multitasking shutter and screen
The shutter with quick settings and notifications is modern and flexible. In addition to the buttons and the brightness slider, it has a key to select the sound source. It allows you to quickly switch from speaker to speaker, for example.
There are many buttons to choose from. Notifications are conveniently grouped. The notification source can be pressed to switch to silent mode - then all new messages in Telegram or notifications in other applications will come without a signal.
From the multitasking mode, windows can be made floating when the application is fixed on the desktop in a small rectangle - its size can be changed. If this option is not suitable, there is also a more familiar splitting of the screen into two parts.
Also in the settings you can enable the display of free RAM to understand how the smartphone is loaded.
Convenient Features
- The pre-installed Phone Manager application allows you to block certain applications on the device, giving access to them only with a password, and also simply hide them. In the latter case, the icons will be displayed only after entering a special code on the dial pad.
- To access important services and tools, you can turn on the side smart panel. It is a folder that is always at hand. You can put there, for example, a calculator, VPN or Gmail.
- There is a customizable "Smart Driving" mode. It allows you to configure a special profile that is activated when connected to a car audio system via Bluetooth.
- Also an interesting experimental feature is the ability to connect wired and wireless headphones at the same time to listen to music with someone together.
In general, Realme UI 3.0 evokes more positive emotions. Not everything is intuitively clear in it, in a couple of places the signatures slightly creep out of the element, but the shell is fast, smooth and with good customization options.
cameras
The smartphone has a triple main camera with a main sensor of 64 megapixels. There is no optical stabilization, but there is phase focusing (PDAF). Pictures in the daytime with good lighting come out quite good. AI mode, if there are bright details in the frame, it is better to turn it off - it lifts the saturation.
1 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
3 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
4 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
5 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
6 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
7 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
8 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
9 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
10 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
By default, the camera compresses photos using Quad Bayer technology, making the picture sharper, but at a lower resolution. Shooting at full 64 megapixels is also possible, there is a special mode for this, but HDR is not supported there.
1 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
3 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
4 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
At dusk, the picture quality is also decent, but in very bad light, the detailing drops noticeably and noise appears. Outdoors, the night mode sometimes helps to “stretch” the frame. See below for before and after examples.
1 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
Frame in night mode. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
3 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
4 / 0
Frame in night mode. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
5 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
6 / 0
Frame in night mode. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
There is a zoom achieved by cropping the frame from the main camera. Double is suitable for static objects with good lighting - examples below. The maximum digital zoom is 6x.
1 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
An example of a 2x zoom. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
3 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
4 / 0
An example of a 2x zoom. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
5 / 0
Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
6 / 0
An example of a 2x zoom. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
I also note that the camera cannot record video in 1080p at 60 frames per second - there are only 30, and for some this can be a significant drawback.
The second module of the smartphone is an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle (119°). With him, everything is as prosaic as possible: it can be used outdoors, but you can not shoot in backlight. In the dark, you won't be able to take a good picture.
1 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
3 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
4 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
5 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
6 / 0
Wide angle shooting. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
The third 2-megapixel sensor, designed for macro, is practically useless here. It is much easier to shoot something close to the main camera - with or without a x2 crop.
The 16 MP selfie camera in the room turns yellow and soaps the picture, but there are wide retouching settings and automatic filters that partly compensate for this. Fans of "selfies" will appreciate the variety of settings.
1 / 0
Selfie example. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
2 / 0
Selfie example. Photo: Victor Podvolotsky / Lifehacker
I also note that the selfie camera is responsible for unlocking the face - it works quickly even with glasses. But do not forget that fingerprint entry is much more reliable.
Communications
The smartphone supports 5G, and both standards (SA / NSA). I would like to say that this is a big plus, but in Russia there are no commercial ubiquitous fifth-generation networks yet. They are only being tested in certain regions. With new sanctions and care from the country of large suppliers of telecommunications equipment, these technologies will not go to the masses soon.
Wi-Fi in Realme 9 Pro is only the fifth version (802.11b / g / n / a / ac), and Bluetooth is standard 5.1. It's not bad, but does not allow to single out the communication capabilities of the device as a strong point - everything is average standards.
Fortunately, there is NFC, which means that the smartphone can be used for contactless payment with MirPay is the only payment system available for non-Samsung Android devices (Samsung Pay is still available there).
There are no problems with voice communication - the interlocutor is heard well, the noise is slightly cut off, there are no delays or gaps.
Autonomy and charging
The 5,000 mAh battery provides about a day and a half of battery life even with 120 Hz turned on. Depending on the load, this can be 6-8 hours of active screen without games - a worthy result.
Subjectively, Realme 9 Pro lasts longer Poco M4 Pro, which has the same 5,000 mAh. But with charging, the situation is reversed: both devices have 33 W, but the hero of this review is replenished from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes, 100% takes a little more than an hour. Poco was slightly faster in both cases (23 and 50 minutes).
Results
In terms of pricing, Realme 9 Pro is a direct competitor to the previously mentioned Poco M4 Pro. Also among the analogues: Xiaomi 11 Lite and Redmi Note 11. None of these competitors offer a 120Hz refresh rate screen - only 90Hz, but with AMOLED instead of IPS.
The second notable difference of Realme 9 Pro is the processor - a modern and technologically advanced Snapdragon 695, which has proven itself well. The third plus is 8 GB of RAM in the base version.
There are no other important technical differences from all the devices listed above. They have identical positioning, but slightly different trade-offs for the sake of price. In the case of Realme 9 Pro, the manufacturer has clearly saved on stereo speakers, a wide-angle camera, and case materials.
All these pluses and minuses have developed into a pretty good smartphone, which can be recommended as an alternative to Xiaomi and Poco. This model is suitable for those who have long been looking for something new, powerful and relatively inexpensive.
Advantages
- Powerful processor;
- 8 GB RAM;
- screen 120 Hz;
- decent autonomy;
- fast charging.
disadvantages
- Completely plastic case;
- mediocre wide-angle camera;
- no stereo sound.
Buy Realme 9 Pro
The author thanks Realme for the device provided for testing. The company had no opportunity to influence its result.
Read also🧐
- Review of POCO M4 Pro 5G — an inexpensive smartphone with a good screen and fast charging
- Review of Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S – a smartphone with a juicy screen and NFC
- Review of the Samsung Galaxy A52 - a smartphone that can cause headaches for Xiaomi
10 products from AliExpress that will help make the house safe for small children
Best deals of the week: discounts from AliExpress, GAP, Yandex. Market" and other stores