realme, the fastest-growing tech brand in the country has released another addition to its well-received 9-series, this time boasting it as its flagship battery powerhouse – the realme 9i. Let’s see how it fairs.
What’s in the box
- realme 9i
- 33W Charge adaptor
- USB Type-C Cable
- Jelly Case
- SIM Card Ejector
- Safety Guide (and Warranty Card)
Specifications
- Android 11 with realme UI 2.0
- Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)
- Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)
- Adreno 610
- IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits
- 90Hz Ultra Smooth Display with 5-level refresh rates: 30Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz
- Screen-to-body ratio 90.9%
- FHD+ resolution
- 480nits (Typ) brightness
- 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (400ppi density)
- Dragontrail Pro Glass
- 4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) (dimensions)
- Weight 190 g (6.70 oz)
- Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by); microSDXC dedicated slot
- 6GB RAM LPDDR4X
- 128GB UFS 2.1 storage expandable to 1TB (dynamic)
- AI Triple rear camera (50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide); 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP, f/2.4 (macro); 2 MP, f/2.4 (B/W)
- 50MP Mode, Night Mode, Panoramic view, Expert, Timelapse, Portrait Mode, Slow Motion, Super Text, Ultra macro, HDR
- Supports 1080p@30fps and 720p@30fps video recording
- Supports 720p@120fps slow-motion video
- Supports 1080P/30fps720P/30fps Digital Zoom mode
- Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0″, 1.0µm
- Supports 1080p@30fps and 720p@30fps video recording
- Night Mode, Panoramic view, Timelapse, Portrait Mode, AI Beauty
- FDD-LTE: Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20/28; TDD-LTE: Bands 38/40/41(2496-2690MHz); WCDMA: Bands 1/5/8; GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot
- Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- USB Type-C 2.0, USB On-The-Go
- Loudspeaker with stereo speakers; 3.5mm jack
- 24-bit/192kHz audio
- Face unlock with fingerprint (side-mounted), light, magnetic induction, proximity, and acceleration sensors
- Non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery
- 33W Dart Charge
- Includes 33W Charging Adaptor
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Design
The face of the 9i is a 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a 1080 x 2412 pixels resolution and 400ppi density. It has a punch-hole front camera on the upper left corner of the screen and the glass is made of Dragontrail Pro material. To the right of the screen is the fingerprint sensor, and on the left, you will find its SIM drawer and volume rocker. On top, you will find the solitary pinhole of its secondary mic, while on the bottom you will find (R to L) the 3.5mm headphone jack, primary microphone, USB Type-C port, and three ovals that serve as the speakers.
The 9i’s special design element is found on its back panel that has what the brand calls a Stereo Prism design which has a 3D effect when hit by light. This, however, is more obvious with the Prism Blue colorway, than the Prism Black – the two colors available at launch time.
The 9i’s rear cameras protrude from the upper left corner of the back panel so don’t expect the phone to lay flat on its back.
Hardware
The realme is calling the 9i its flagship batter powerhouse with its hardware and systems set to be at its most power-efficient. The realme 9i ships with the power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 Processor that adopts the advanced 6nm production process and houses 4 Cortex-A73 cores, 4 Cortex-A53 cores, and an Adreno 610 GPU. This system allows for a longer battery life even when combined with an LCD display with a high refresh rate. Its 5000mAh battery is claimed to have up to 694.25 hours of standby battery, and charging from 0 to 100% using the included 33W Dart Charger takes only 70 minutes.
The 9i is fitted with a high-resolution 50MP AI Triple Camera which houses three lenses (50MP ultra-high pixel main camera for clearer photos; 2MP secondary black & white lens; and 2MP 4cm ultra-close Macro Lens). It also comes with useful photography functions such as Portrait Mode, Night Mode, a dedicated 50MP Mode, and an Extra HD Mode in case you need to capture sharper images.
Our market is getting the 6GB RAM variant which can make use of up to 5GB of its internal storage to act as virtual RAM, giving it up to 11GB total RAM for better multi-tasking and overall faster phone operation.
Other features include its Side Fingerprint Sensor which works faster than the on-screen sensors that the higher models have, and Dual-Stereo Speakers for a more immersive experience.
Lastly, the realme 9i boasts a 90Hz Ultra Smooth Display that supports 5 levels of refresh rates (30Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz) and adjusts depending on the current usage to ensure a smooth and responsive experience for users.
User Experience
Measuring 164.4mm x 75.7mm, the realme 9i is just the right size to be portable and convenient to use. It is not the thinnest among realme’s offerings, but its heft makes it feel solid without being too cumbersome. The same is true with its sub 200 grams weight which makes the device feel premium without feeling like a brick in your hand after prolonged use.
For moderate users, the 9i provides adequate speed in performing its tasks. Even with multiple apps open and working in the background, the phone performs well and does not lag.
Fast charging is always a plus no matter what kind of user you are, but it is the realme 9i’s battery efficiency that is really what sets it apart from the rest. If used as a backup phone, one can charge can last almost a month with its 694.25 hours standby battery life.
Photos taken with the 9i are pretty decent on default mode, but if you need to take higher-resolution photos, you can use the Extra HD mode that makes use of the full 50MP the sensor offers.
After relying on on-screen finger sensors and facial recognition for quite some time, I was pleased with how fast and responsive the dedicated finger sensor is.
For those who like to keep a neat phone, the 9i might not be the model for you as it is quite hard to keep clean. The finish of the back panel attracts the grease and grime from our hands and needs frequent wipe downs if you’re the OC type. Fortunately using the jelly case that comes with the box remedies this a bit.
Value / Price / Availability
The realme 9i 6GB+128GB will be available in Prism Blue and Prism Black starting May 5, 2022, at all realme official stores and partner dealers nationwide. SRP is set at Php 11,990.
Verdict
For moderate users who are always on the go, the realme 9i offers a good balance of features with a price point that won’t dent your wallet.
What we like
- Good size and weight
- Extended Battery Life
- Adaptive Refresh Rate
What we don’t like
- Fingerprint Magnet
An early-bird discount of Php 1,200 OFF (Php 10,790) will be available exclusively on Shopee from May 5-7. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/realme9iPR
