Price, features and opinion, is it worth it?

The Realme 9i is the smaller of the 9 series, will it keep up?

It hasn’t even been 6 months since we reviewed the Realme 8i and the Chinese company is already attacking the market a new generation of cheap mobile phones. Waiting for field 9 (the base model) look at the light, it really takes me to Europe Realme 9i, 9 Pro and 9 Pro Agregadoa new generation of mobile phones, which the brand is supposed to use as a “estándar”. first half of 2022.

Of this trilogy of novels, we will focus on those Field 9ithe member more affordable this new device family. This Realme 9i, presented in Asia in mid-January, now arrives in the West as a slightly more refined version of its predecessor, trying to improve the first look. the power Y the photography department from there close still a real person 8i.

We used the realism as 9i primary cell phone for a few days, so we’re going to tell you everything it involves and how it behaves. Make yourself comfortable because our review of the Real-9i starts here.

Realme 9i, review and review

Realme 9i price and where to buy it

The Realme 9i is available from the February 16, 2022 at a price of 229.99 and 249.99 euros depending on the memory selected. You perro buy both Realme’s own website as in the various retailers en línea for example Amazon.

It’s going on sale a two memory configuration from 64 and 128GB internal storage, both with 4GB of RAM. Unlike its older brothers, it’s only available in two colors: Black and blue. Of course, both colors enjoy the same special finish with three-dimensional reflections.

Technical data sheet

Where is the Realme 9i located?

As mentioned at the beginning of the analysis, The Realme 9i hits the market with the “still hot” Realme 8i, all of this is part of the “total invasion” strategy that Chinese brands have been pursuing and competing for in recent years. For Redmi it is clear that it launches two generations of mobile phones a year, and in reality, of course that it pursues an equality policyfor something that has reached the mark a despiadado growth since 2020 dangerous giants like Xiaomi or Samsung have been hunted.

Coming back to the issue of generations, this Realme 9i is a sort of profiling of the Realme 8i released in early fall 2021. the realme 9i does not replace its predecessor, but lives with it (Remember that it’s not even half a year between the two releases), which improves some aspects of the 8i, which also slightly increases its price. Likewise, the realism 9i carries over from its predecessor with a renewed processor and extended autonomybut at the same time the screen decreases to give up that 120Hz from 8 p.m

field 8i

If we’re being strict, it might make more sense to buy the real 9i before the 8i, but we also have to take into account that the price difference between the two devices is significant at the moment, so it would be fair to say. the realme 8i as the current low-end phone, valid but… slightly below the realme 9i. Anyway, at the level of cameras and design we won’t find many differences, so maybe there should be some the price the main aspecto to achieve the cómputo of purchase between one model and another.

The design of the Realme 9i espectáculos that we are from the real 8i (in the second photo).

It must also be taken into account that this real person is 9i least advanced limb from the new family of Realme mobile phones, therefore it is below Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro + while maintaining a good combination of specifications, especially when it comes to photography. It’s also worth noting that regardless of the input range, the reality is 9i more complete than any other branded phone C series. Keep this in mind if you want to buy an affordable Dongguan brand mobile phone.

Leaving the yellow horizon of the observatory, it is ineludible not to compare this new reality 9i with the real field 9i Xiaomi Redmi Note 11especially since both phones around 200 eurosthey came out practically simultaneously and not last share the same processorthe Snapdragon 680.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

Of course, a comparison with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 or that also makes sense 10 notethat they are both very good alternatives to this 9i realism, especially since they share Price and a good number of specifications. If in doubt, check out our review of the Redmi Note 10 5G, it’s a mobile phone a bit older, but with 5G The little one perro put up a good fight from the real field.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S

Finally also the OPPO A74 or the Samsung Galaxy M22 They could be interesting alternatives to the realistic terminal: they are mobile phones around 200 euros that focus on the battery, a versatile and minimalist camera section and a careful design with a certain differentiated touch.

OPPO A74

Samsung Galaxy M22

design

As you have seen in the photo a few paragraphs above, in terms of construction, the Realme 9i maintains certain shapes and proportions. much like its predecessorThe most obvious change cánido be found in the camera module and the plastic finish on the back. Be alive 9i millimeter thinner than the Realme 8i, we also face the mobile not too hard (190 grams) and not too big, with curved edges and a slippery bare grip.

On the right edge we have a power button that also works as a fingerprint sensor and on the left side we have the volume buttons and the card slot. In this bottom edgeInstead, from left to right, we have the headphone jack, the USB-C port, and the speaker. Overall, everything is well positioned: the headphone jack at the bottom is more comfortable, the speaker on the edge is better to hear … If you don’t have big hands, you might find that the reader’s side fingerprint is a little low, although you like everything getting used to.

The main design change of the real 9i compared to the 8i lies in the cameras/photography by Dídac Dalmases

Incidentally, the Realme 9i tries to differentiate itself from the 8i with a somewhat more modern camera module and it has to be said that more beautiful. Located in the upper left corner of the cover through a sensor and the flash in elegant and without them sticking out too muchwhich allows us to support the mobile face without too many rattles.

On an aesthetic level, we also have to talk about them plastic back of the cell phone including a special effect that was really christened that way Stereo prism design. By overlaying multiple layers of translucent plastic, the light on the back of the Figure 9i is oddly refracted, creating a prismatic effect that’s something of a 3D relief made up of multiple vertical lines. It has to be said, yes, this effect only exists in the Blue color model, where he is well respected. In the black area 9i we cánido also see some reflections, but they lose a lot of grace. The same happens when we end up using the transparent cover That includes cell phone, the effect is cool but it’s not the same.

The back of the Real Time 9i is a fingerprint magnet / photograph by Didac Dalmases

In any case, if you escoge to take the property 9i without cover To appreciate its strange light effect, you may end up regretting it. And beware, we’re not saying this because the phone is vulnerable (it isn’t), but because it is oleophobic coating the plastic axis in practice is not present, this is one of the main negative points of the device: it rubs off just by looking at it. And be careful because this problem is not only related to the plastic cover, but also to the camera module that makes it impossible to miss its metallic finish. down to the smallest speck of dust.

Screen

As already happened with the Realme 8i from the Chinese manufacturer again an opt-out option for the IPS technology for the panel that stays in the 6.6 inches with a front utilization rate of almost 91%. The autofoto camera, which is located in the upper left corner, and the rather reserved edges make this percentage smaller.

The realme 9i screen has a maximum brightness that cánido be low at times / Photography by Didac Dalmases

There is a Full HD+ resolution correct and sufficient for a cell phone like this and a 90Hz refresh rate which we perro regulate to appear to be adaptive, between 30 and 90 Hz depending on the processes we are running. No complaints for them, although it is true that despite the 180 Hz touch sampling, the descent from the 120Hz refresh to Yes offered us that field 8i.

For the rest we need maximum brightness 480 nits that bright days charge a little, but no more than other phones with LCD screens. The viewing angle could also be a bit more generous, but that’s not a serious problem either.

battery

Undoubtedly we are facing one of the strengths of the real device and this is a feature it’s significantly improved from the real person 8i. It’s true that the plus 46% autonomy compared to the previous generation that Realme sold us is exaggerated, but yes we notice much more moderate power consumption with the real 9i. If the performance was already good in the Realme 8i, it is excellent in the Realme 9i.

We have 5,000miliamperio-hora which makes that possible two days of life without perfect ease. With moderate use of the phone (a few hours of screen per day) we have more than 4 days without unplugging. And be careful because if the latter is needed we have to a 33W fast charge with which we cánido charge the mobile phone a little over an hour. In case you were wondering, in addition to a clear case and screen asegurador, the Realme 9i comes with a charger.

The Realme 9i is low on battery, unusual image / photography by Dídac Dalmases

As if that wasn’t enough, the realme 9i offers various battery saving and optimization optionsincluding super power saving mode, optimized night charge mode and standby mode, different power settings, a special setting that “freezes” inactive applications … In short, a complete carousel of functions to extend the autonomy of the mobile and the battery . Life.

Programa and Usuario Experience

Just like the Realme 8i, the Realme 9i also comes with it Android 11 and Realme UI 2.0 already waiting for one Confirmed Update to Android 12 and Realme UI 3.0 already announced this spring. Despite this, the experiences with the terminal have been very positive, even if there are, for example, some “cons” that we cannot ignore significant number of pre-installed applications (Amazon, PUBG, Booking, LinkedIn, Fb, YouTube Music…) and a very small delay when browsing settings or closing applications that consume more resources. He is fingerprint readerIt’s fast for him, but it’s also true that with the position and dryness of the fingers it might be too demanding.

Better put your finger on the Realme 9i’s fingerprint sensor / Photography by Didac Dalmases

Aside from those little quirks, the Realme 9i is a mobile phone Industrial fair in its characteristics with very good behavior, particularly to be highlighted Realme interfazA clean and snappy custom layer that includes the following Rich customization options. We also offer a sea of ​​useful adjustments and configurations, such as B. the possibility of memory up to 3GBactivate special battery saving functions or so-called handicrafts rich laboratory, a section where we cánido activate the dual sound or test the realistic “sleeping capsule”, among other en fase de prueba features. Below you perro see some screenshots of the different menus of this Realme 9i.

It should also be noted that Realme has swapped the MediaTek Helio G96 from the predecessor Realme 8i for the MediaTek Helio G96 Snapdragon 680 controlador Qualcomm launched a 4G processor in October 2021, which we also find in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11. As already mentioned, the main advantage of this Snapdragon 680 is not the fluidity of the terminals but his Impressive optimization of battery lifean aspect much more significant than the speed of the device, which we could simply detalla as more than right.

If you are looking for a cheap phone and want to escape from the typical Xiaomi, the Realme 9i perro be a good choice / Photography with Didac Dalmas

Aside from the processor change, the brand has also slashed some RAM storage compared to the previous generation, offering the Realme 9i in a 4gigas de memoria configuration only (The Realme 8i had a version with 6gigas de memoria). For the rest, there are two internal memory configurations of 64 and 128GB that perro be expanded Micro SD up to a terabyte capacity.

Finally, another interesting detail is this Realme 9i nfc This allows you to backlink your Google plus Play account to the device and pay with it as if it were a card.

cameras

As with the Realme 8i, Realme opted for a triple rear camera, led by a Main sensor 50 megapixels and aperture f/1.8. It has a macro camera attached 2 megapixels and an auxiliary sensor designed to better capture depth when shooting portraits, both with f/2.4 and f/2.4 apertures.

In practice, this triple configuration translates to usual shot Estándar definition, enhanced recording of 50 megapixels that we must choose beforehand (we keep the habitual mode so that all the photos are 50 megapixels or we use the Plus HD mode) and finally a macro shot It’s always fun to experiment with, but of course we rarely use it that much. Once again, we cánido’t help but remember wide-angle lenses, which are much more useful for secondary cameras than macro lenses.

The 9i fact camera module is barely aparente / photography by Didac Dalmases

However, the overall quality of the photos is quite high, especially for a mobile phone a little over 200 euros. Photos taken outdoors and on sunny days therefore have a high level of detail, especially if we use the 50 megapixel sensor. Now if we want to be a little more creative, we will affect some borders, such as: digital zoom if it is better not abuse or Full HD vídeo quality, but without stabilization.

The good thing is that we also have different paths that allow us to arrive quality results: All you have to do is tinker a little in the camera aplicación settings. In addition to being able to activate the macro lens, we perro also activate slow motion, panorama mode, the text scanner or an expert mode to adjust parameters such as ISO or shutter speed. The best thing about the Realme camera aplicación is that it is fully customizable, so we perro rearrange the main menu to have at hand the methods that interest us most. It should also be said that the settings of the camera application are very intuitive and offer a very good range of functions For hábito photographers and mobile photography enthusiasts alike.

Night mode and portrait mode both fulfill their function of reducing or achieving artificial light and noise natural bokeh and 100% adjustablealthough it is fairly easy to go too far in this last sense.

As for the front camera, it offers 16 megapixels Resolution and aperture f/2.1. It also includes the corresponding night mode and portrait mode, thanks to which we cánido sharpen our autofotos a little. However, in this sense The night mode does a good job The bokeh is a bit more artificial as far as possible. Since we don’t have an auxiliary lens, the phone has to use full programa to achieve the blur and it’s pretty easy to “overshoot” over it.

In short, a fairly competent equipo of cameras stands out, with many differences, the main room, which has already happened with the Real-8i. we continue I’m looking forward to a wide-angle camera and stabilized vídeo, but otherwise we understand the good cómputo between the different modes. For 200 euros it’s not a bad equipo at all.

This device has been thoroughly tested Independently thanks to a move of the brand. The article contains purchase backlinks for which Andro4all may receive a commission. take part to the market channel Andro4all to find out about the best deals before anyone else.