The Realme 9i: A Solid Upgrade or Just Another Budget Contender?
Realme has kicked off 2022 in India with the launch of the Realme 9i, the first entry in their new 9 series. The phone is positioned as the successor to the well-received Realme 8i. With a fresh design, noteworthy features, and an attractive price point, the Realme 9i is aiming for a spot in the highly competitive budget smartphone segment. But is it truly an upgrade over its predecessor, or does it fall short in the face of stiff competition from the likes of Redmi and even Realme’s other offerings? Let’s delve deeper into the Realme 9i’s design, features, and initial impressions to see where it stands in the current market landscape.
Realme 9i Price and Availability
The Realme 9i is available in two variants. The base variant comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and is priced at ₹13,999. The higher variant packs 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, priced at ₹15,999. The smartphone went on sale starting January 25, 2022 on Flipkart.
Realme 9i Design and Features
The Realme 9i sports a new "Stereo Prism" design, available in two eye-catching colors: Prism Blue and Prism Black. The back panel features a hidden pattern that reveals itself when struck by light at the right angle. Despite the plastic frame, the phone feels fairly slim at 8.4mm in thickness and manageable at 190g.
The front is dominated by a 6.6-inch LCD panel, featuring a cutout in the top left corner for the 16-megapixel selfie camera. The bezels on three sides are thin, with a slightly thicker chin at the bottom. The display boasts a full-HD+ resolution and a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate, which automatically adjusts based on the content displayed. While this is a step up from the previous generation, it’s slightly disappointing when compared to the 120Hz refresh rate found in the Realme 8i. The display is also protected by Dragontrail Pro glass for scratch resistance.
The Realme 9i features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button on the right edge. The positioning is well-designed, allowing for a natural placement of the thumb while holding the device. Volume buttons, conveniently located on the opposite side, are also easily accessible. The phone retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB Type-C port, a primary microphone, and a loudspeaker, all situated at the bottom of the frame. The top edge houses the secondary microphone.
Realme has incorporated curved edges on the back panel, further enhancing the comfort of holding the 9i. The camera module echoes the design seen on the Realme GT Neo 2, with two large cutouts and a smaller one for the cameras. The Realme 9i sports a 50-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel portrait camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. However, there’s no ultra-wide camera in this setup, which might be a dealbreaker for some users. The rear panel also features a Realme logo in landscape orientation.
Powering the Realme 9i is a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support, and the necessary charger is included in the box. Under the hood, the 9i runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 octa-core processor, clocked at 2.4GHz. The two variants, as mentioned before, differ in RAM and storage. The 6GB RAM variant supports the "virtual RAM extension, which allocates a portion of the storage as additional RAM. The Realme 9i is a dual-SIM device, accepting two Nano-SIMs, and also a dedicated microSD card slot is included for storage expansion. An added advantage is the inclusion of stereo speakers, with the earpiece acting as the second speaker.
Realme 9i Performance and Camera
The Realme 9i is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC, a tried-and-tested processor that delivers competent performance for everyday tasks.
Performance: The Snapdragon 680, coupled with 4GB or 6GB of RAM, handles general tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming with ease. While it isn’t designed for heavy gaming or demanding applications, it provides a smooth and responsive user experience for the intended audience.
Camera System: The Realme 9i features a 50MP primary camera, a 2MP portrait lens, and a 2MP macro camera. The primary camera delivers decent image quality in well-lit conditions, capturing sharp details and good dynamic range. The portrait mode, while adequate, might not always accurately detect edges. The macro camera offers a decent close-up experience, but it’s not something you’ll use frequently. The front-facing 16MP camera performs reasonably well for selfies and video calls.
Realme 9i Software Experience
The Realme 9i ships with Android 11 and the Realme UI 2.0 skin on top. The unit reviewed had the December 2021 Android security patch, indicating a commitment to updates. While there are several pre-installed apps, most of them can be uninstalled. In the initial usage, the UI was responsive and smooth, without any noticeable issues.
Realme 9i Competition
In the sub-₹15,000 segment, the Realme 9i faces tough competition from several players. It goes head-to-head with established competitors like the Redmi Note 10S, its predecessor, the Realme 8i, as well as other siblings from the Narzo series. The higher variant of the Realme 9i falls into the same price range as the base variant of the Redmi Note 11T 5G, which boasts 5G connectivity.
Conclusion
The Realme 9i presents a compelling proposition with its sleek design, solid performance, and attractive price point. It offers a good overall experience with a focus on essentials like a capable camera, long battery life, and a smooth software experience. However, the absence of 5G and a 120Hz refresh rate, coupled with the presence of similarly priced competitors, may make some undecided about its appeal.
It remains to be seen whether the Realme 9i can truly stand out in the highly competitive budget segment. A complete review, encompassing detailed performance benchmarks, camera tests, and a deeper dive into the battery life, will provide a clearer picture of the Realme 9i’s strengths and weaknesses.
