Realme 9 5G Review

Realme has launched several models in the affordable 9-series. The standard Realme 9 is available in 4G and 5G configurations. The 5G version stands out among these mobiles. It includes various attractive features which are helpful for the daily use of the mobile.

The Realme 9 5G base variant is priced at around Rs. 13999 in the Indian market. It has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The other version of Realme 9 5G starts at the price of around 17499 INR, Which includes 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This device is available in two colors: Stargaze White and Meteor Black.

Specifications

Packaging: Unboxing the Realme 9 5G

The packaging of the device is beautiful yet sturdy. It has standard packaging, which is technically considered a rich retail package as it helps protect the contents inside the box. The Realme 9 5G Review comes in an eye-catching bright-yellow box. Inside the box, one doesn't only find the device but also the other essential contents like an 18W charger, a thick Type-C cable, a SIM toolkit, a screen protector (pre-applied), and documents. The Realme 9 5G also offers a solid transparent Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) protective case in the box.

Design and Build

The Realme 9 5G has a 6.5 inches full HD+ large display with a camera in the top left corner. It has thin borders and sides, whereas the chin is more prominent. The frame and back of the device are made using plastic to keep its weight down to 188 grams. One would see the power button and a fingerprint scanner on the right side. The volume buttons are on the opposite side of the mobile. The volume buttons are positioned towards the center to make it reachable even with one-handed use. The mobile phone is slim with just 8.55mm thickness.

The back panel has a camera setup with LED light and Realme badging. The device contains three cameras fitted into rectangular modules that stick out slightly. The back of the device is flat with curved sides that make it comfortable to hold. On the bottom of the Realme 9 5G is a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C port, primary microphone, and loudspeaker.

Screen

Realme 9 5G flaunts a 16.51 cm (6.5-inch) Full HD+ LCD (LTPS) large display with 2400 x 1080 pixels resolution. The display switches between 60Hz and 90Hz depending on what the person is doing. A person can lock it at 90 Hz, automatically making scrolling smooth. Choosing Vivid and Gentle color modes depends on a person's preference.

One can easily watch the videos without any inconvenience like unclear display or anything else.

Performance

The device offers reasonably good performance with its octa-core Mediatek Dimensity 810 Processor. Additionally, the option to choose between 4GB and 6GB of RAM enables users to choose based on their need for more powerful tasks without compromising on performance. One can easily switch to another app or tab without waiting for the app in the background to be reloaded, as the loading time is quite decent on the device. The performance is quite satisfactory. But the only problem that one may not like is its sound. The speakers need to produce better and more engaging sound.

Also, the device has ample storage, which makes storage for media or other files quite easy. If we talk about the fingerprint scanner's performance, it works smoothly, as multiple attempts are not required to unlock the phone. Even the face recognition feature is also quick.

Software

The mobile software runs on Realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11. The UI is simple and easy for first-time users or beginners. One can switch between the traditional three buttons and swipe gestures to move from one thing to another. It has features like a smart sidebar that makes it easy to go to your favorite app. This device allows an individual to change icon style, layout, color scheme, and fonts. The Realme 9 5G also offer an interesting feature like Sleep Capsule inside the setting app. This feature stops a person from using apps after a particular period to avoid any distractions affecting their sleep. One thing one can find annoying about this device is its many bloatware. Some of the unnecessary apps include FinShell Pay, Theme Store, etc. The worst thing is that one cannot delete all the apps at will. However, most of these apps can be uninstalled.

Camera

Realme 9 5G packs a 48MP primary camera on the rear and a 16MP selfie camera on the front. Along with the primary camera, there are two additional cameras of 2 megapixels each for portrait and macro shots. This camera app has a variety of shooting modes. It has HDR and Ai scene recognition as well.

If we talk about the camera performance in daylight, then it's decent. The camera can take bright scenes with HDR on. The image from the primary camera is good but misses out on details at times. The ultra-wide-angle camera is needed to improve its versatility. The close-up photos are also good, with decent blur background. The portrait shots are sharp from this device with good edge detection and blur background that can be adjusted accordingly before taking the shot. One gets average photos from the macro camera.

Coming to the low-light performance, it's average when shooting in the regular 'Photo' mode. The photos seem soft, and the objects give a watercolor-like effect when kept at a distance. There is a Night Mode for clicking pictures in dark scenarios. Although the output from night mode does not make much difference, it helps in giving better details in dark places.

The most trending feature of Realme 9 5G is its selfie capability. The selfies taken from this device look good in both daylight and low light. The Realme 9 uses a screen flash for low light to get better results. Even the portrait selfies are beautiful; it is just that a beautification filter has been applied to the selfie camera by default to make it appear bright.

Apart from this, one can get 1080p video from both primary and selfie cameras. It doesn't stabilize the footage by default. It consists of 'Ultra Steady' mode, which crops the frame to stabilize footage, improving the video. So overall, the performance of Realme 9 5G is satisfactory in terms of camera.

Battery Capacity & Life

Realme 9 5G houses a massive 5000 mAh Lithium Polymer battery. The overall backup is good for daily activities and tasks performed on the phone. However, during heavy usage, like playing heavy games or photo or video rendering, the battery loses its charging rapidly.

Verdict

Now, the question that comes to mind is whether one should choose this device or not! The answer is very transparent and clear. The Realme 9 5G is a decent phone with good design and features, especially its 5G capability. It has a good battery and provides satisfactory performance. The device's camera is also good as it provides beautiful images with natural color, making it look realistic rather than artificial. So, those who have basic mobile needs and want a phone with an attractive design on a limited budget can look at the Realme 9 5G.