Mar 22, 2024
4 mins read
4 mins read

The Realme 9i: A Budget or Just Another Smartphone?

Realme's latest product, the Realme 9i, is making ripples in the ever-changing affordable smartphone landscape. With amazing specifications and features, this gadget tries to carve out a position for itself in the extremely competitive cheap smartphone market.

Let's go into the specifics to see if the Realme 9i is a true budget wonder or simply another smartphone in the pack.

Detailed Specifications of Realme 9i

Design and Display

The Realme 9i has a sleek design, measuring 8.4mm thick and weighing 190g. It sports a side fingerprint sensor for convenient unlocking. The device features a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 1080 x 2412 pixels resolution, offering a pixel density of 401 ppi. The display enhances the user experience with a 180Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring swift and responsive interactions.

With a 90Hz refresh rate, the Realme 9i display delivers smoother scrolling and improved visual fluidity. The 480 nit brightness ensures clarity even in bright sunlight, complemented by a 1500:1 screen contrast ratio and 96% colour saturation. The COG sealing process and in-cell touch panel technology create a more immersive viewing experience. The punch-hole display adds a modern touch, maximizing the screen-to-body ratio.

Camera Capabilities

Realme 9i doesn't compromise on camera capabilities. The triple rear camera setup comprises a 50MP primary sensor and 2MP and 2MP sensors for depth sensing and macro photography, respectively. The camera system supports 1080p FHD video recording, ensuring crisp and detailed footage. A 16MP camera handles selfies and video calls on the front, promising clear and vibrant self-portraits.

The camera features align with what one might expect from a budget smartphone, offering versatility for everyday photography needs. Realme has consistently delivered competitive camera setups in its devices, and the Realme 9i appears to follow this trend.

Software and storage

The Realme 9i has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset, built on a 6nm architecture, promising enhanced gaming performance and faster overall device functionality. This octa-core processor features an Adreno 610 GPU. Compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 662 chipset, it boasts a significant improvement, with a claimed 25 per cent boost in CPU performance and a 10 per cent enhancement in GPU capabilities.

The gadget has faster app launches and better gaming experiences. Surprisingly, the phone remains excellent and stable even during lengthy gaming sessions and while working at moderate frame rates. The efficiency of the processor helps to lower battery drain. However, it is essential to remember that virtual RAM is unique from real RAM and functions differently.

Connectivity and Battery

The Realme 9i covers the basics when it comes to connectivity. It has 4G and VoLTE capabilities for fast and dependable mobile data access. Bluetooth v5.0, WiFi, and USB-C v2.0 connectivity enable compatibility with various devices and accessories.

A significant highlight of the Realme 9i is its robust 5000mAh battery, providing ample power for extended daily use. 33W fast charging is a welcome addition, allowing users to top up their devices and minimize downtime quickly.

Software Experience

The Realme 9i runs on Android v11, providing users with the latest features and security updates from the Android ecosystem. Realme's UI overlay further enhances the user experience, offering a customisable and user-friendly interface.

Pricing

Realme 9i is set to hit the Indian market with two stylish colour options – Prism Blue and Prism Black. The device will be offered in two distinct storage variants to cater to diverse consumer preferences:

  • 4GB RAM + 64GB Storage Variant: Priced at Rs. 13,999, this configuration provides a balanced combination of performance and storage capacity, making it an attractive option for users seeking affordability without compromising functionality.
  • 6GB RAM + 128GB Storage Variant: Available at Rs. 15,999, this higher-end variant offers an expanded RAM and storage capacity, catering to users with more demanding multitasking needs and a requirement for increased storage space for apps, media, and files.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Realme mobiles brings compelling features to the other budget smartphones in the market. Realme 9i sleek design, vibrant display, capable camera system, and robust technical specifications make it a noteworthy contender in its price range. 

Including a dedicated memory card slot and fast charging support adds practical value to the overall package. However, the Realme 9i stands out as an actual budget marvel catering to users who seek a balance between affordability and performance in a budget smartphone.