Realme 9 5G assessment: Budget ‘5G-ready’ cellphone, however is it value contemplating?

Exactly what qualifies as a ‘good’ machine at a selected value level can usually be a matter of intense debate. Is it in regards to the specs alone? What about software program? Are you keen to compromise on the digicam? As somebody who critiques a good variety of telephones priced within the Rs 20,000 and below phase, there are not any easy solutions to those questions. In my view, this explicit phase has gotten much more difficult this yr for quite a lot of causes.

For one, there are a number of 5G telephones being launched below Rs 20,000 and a few at somewhat larger value. The specs at instances are very related, with a number of tweaks right here and there throughout manufacturers. All of this solely creates confusion for customers. So the place does the Realme 9 5G slot in and does it fulfil all of the qualities of a ‘good’ machine? Here’s my take.

Realme 9 5G specs: 6.5-inch full HD+ show at 90 Hz refresh fee | MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset | 4GB or 6GB RAM+ 64GB or 128GB storage |48MP+portrait+macro digicam | 16MP entrance digicam | 5000 mAh battery | Realme UI 2.0 with Android 11

The Realme 9 5G has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ show. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)

Realme 9 5G value in India: Rs 14,599 for 4GB RAM, and Rs 17,499 for 6GB RAM

Realme 9 5G: What’s good?

The Realme 9 5G has what I’d name a reasonably customary design for this explicit phase. The curved again matches effectively into your hand and the digicam module shouldn’t be very enormous, which is refreshing to see. I preferred that this isn’t significantly cumbersome both. The cellphone comes within the ‘Stargaze White’ color variant. This does change color primarily based on mild and has hues of purple, much like numerous different telephones I’ve seen this previous yr. The fingerprint sensor is a part of the facility button and works precisely to unlock the machine.

The cellphone’s efficiency is sweet sufficient for day by day duties. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)

The cellphone has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ show with a 90 Hz refresh fee. Realme is letting customers persist with an auto-refresh possibility for this, which is healthier for battery life, although one can go into the settings can change this as per preferences. The show is suitable for the worth and must be adequate for customers who want to watch content material on YouTube and Netflix in addition to for normal social media scrolling. It is legible in shiny daylight.

The cellphone is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 810 5G prepared processor and the efficiency is stable, on condition that it’s priced below Rs 20,000. Playing video games reminiscent of Genshin Impact, Asphalt 9, and so on was not an issue on this machine. I didn’t discover any important lag or stutter, although I saved the sport settings to the fundamental ranges and didn’t ramp up graphics on both. As a day by day driver, this cellphone lives as much as most expectations.

Genshin Impact operating on the Realme 9 5G. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)

Realme 9 5G will get a 5000 mAh battery, which is able to once more final greater than a day with average to heavy-duty utilization. What’s not so spectacular is the 18W charging assist. More on that later within the assessment.

The Realme 9 digicam is a 48MP setup with a portrait and a macro lens. The predominant digicam does have some inconsistencies in efficiency, particularly with focus at instances, however the outcomes aren’t dangerous total. The photos do pack particulars, the colors look sharp (a bit too sharp at instances) and the portraits and evening mode pictures have been fairly good. They aren’t good, however retaining the worth in thoughts this digicam does carry out effectively. The selfie digicam shouldn’t be too dangerous both, particularly in case you are keen on including some results to your pictures and wish the face to look a bit thinner, however not utterly synthetic.

Realme 9 5G digicam pattern absorb shiny outdoor. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
A Realme 9 digicam pattern taken in shiny daylight. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Realme 9 digicam pattern, the place the main target was a problem. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Realme 9 digicam pattern. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Realme 9 digicam pattern taken indoors. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Realme 9 digicam pattern taken indoors. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)
Realme 9 5G: What’s not good?

Realme 9 runs on the corporate’s personal Realme UI V2.0, which remains to be on Android 11. This is a miss in 2022, although Realme shouldn’t be the one one responsible of doing this. I’m not a fan of all of the pre-loaded apps, however that is one thing most customers should reside with throughout value factors. Though you may uninstall a few of these, I might have most well-liked if Realme wasn’t pushing so many apps on a consumer.

The Realme 9’s sluggish battery charging is one other concern. The 18W charging is simply too sluggish for the 5000 mAh battery and can take two hours or extra to get a full cost so do preserve this in thoughts. The older Realme 8 5G had the identical possibility. I’m guessing the model is in no temper to improve this explicit facet.

At instances the rear digicam had a problem with the main target. (Image credit score: Shruti Dhapola/Indian Express)

Finally, the digicam did have some points with focus throughout my utilization and at instances it might wrestle to lock the concentrate on an object. The macro digicam shouldn’t be spectacular both.

Realme 9 5G: Should you contemplate it?

The Realme 9 5G has some positives. The efficiency shouldn’t be dangerous for the worth—the show and battery life ought to preserve most customers joyful. And sure, it is a 5G prepared if that issues proper now to you. The selfie digicam shouldn’t be dangerous both.

But the rear digicam delivers a mean efficiency in my opinion. The sluggish charging may also be a disappointment for some customers. Consider the Realme 9 5G in case you are on the lookout for a 5G cellphone for below Rs 18,000. I might say it’s higher to get one with further RAM and storage, although the 4GB RAM possibility prices Rs 14,999 and does make it interesting. The 6GB RAM+128GB storage possibility prices Rs 17,499. Other choices to contemplate are the Redmi Note 11T, which has the identical MediaTek chipset, and there’s the Poco X4 Pro 5G and Vivo T1 5G.