Realme launched the 9i in January and followed the 5G version last week. It has Soulful Blue, Rocking Black, and Metallica Gold color options, but Realme is currently only selling the latter two models, with the blue variant coming at a later date. We had a chance to spend some time with the Metallica Gold version, so here are our first-hand impressions.
The Realme 9i 5G comes in a yellow-colored box similar to its 4G counterpart, including a protective case, a SIM card eject tool, a USB-C cable, an 18W power supply, and some papers.
The Realme 9i 5G is built around a 6.6 “FullHD + LCD protected by Panda Glass. Realme advertises 400 nits of brightness for the panel, which is 80 nits less than the 4G model, but the company told us that the actual peak brightness will reach around 600-700 nits in bright conditions.
The 9i 5G’s display features a touch sample rate of 180Hz and a screen refresh rate of 90Hz. However, you can set it to 60Hz to save battery or leave it in Auto mode to allow the algorithm to Realme to dynamically adjust the refresh rate depending on the app you are using.
Unlike the 9i 4G, which sports a selfie camera hole, the 9i 5G’s screen has its 8MP front camera mounted in a notch, which in 2022 looks dated.
Moving on to the other side, we have a flat back cover sporting what Realme calls a vintage CD Design, which – you guessed it – is inspired by compact discs. Our Metallica Gold variant has a shimmering, shimmering look and reflects light from different angles. It looks beautiful, and because it is shiny and reflective, you can actually see yourself when you look at it.
However, the panel is made of polycarbonate and is prone to fingerprint smudges. The smartphone is thin and light, but flat bezels aren’t for everyone. We found the 4G variant with a more curvy back cover to be more comfortable.
The rear panel also houses a triple camera setup, which is a combination of a 50MP main camera joined by portrait and macro units. These aren’t placed inside a camera island like the 9i 4G’s cameras and make the 9i 5G wobble when used on a flat surface.
That said, the placement of ports and buttons on the Realme 9i 5G is the same as on the 4G model. Its chassis on the left side has a triple card slot (microSD + two 5G SIMs) and volume keys, with the power button located on the right side. The power key has the integrated fingerprint reader, which we found to be fast and accurate in unlocking the phone.
At the bottom of the Realme 9i 5G is the USB-C port, flanked by the speaker, microphone and a 3.5mm headphone jack. However, unlike its 4G counterpart, the 9i 5G is not equipped with stereo speakers.
Buttons and ports of Realme 9i 5G
Inside, we have the Dimensity 810 SoC paired with either 4GB or 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM. The 4GB model comes with 64GB of UFS 2.2 memory, while the 6GB version has 128GB of onboard UFS 2.2 memory. Both have a dedicated microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 1TB and also support virtual RAM expansion, which makes almost no difference in the real world.
Realme 9i 5G launches the ready-to-use Android 12-based Realme 3.0 UI with the July 2022 Android security patch. However, Realme has released a software update that increases the security level of Android on 9i 5G until August 2022.
The software experience on Realme 9i 5G is similar to what you get on other Realme smartphones with Realme UI 3.0. And yes, this will receive the Android 13 update as Realme told us that the smartphone will receive two years of Android version updates and three years of security patches.
Powering the entire package is a 5,000mAh battery, which charges slower than the 9i 4G’s 5,000mAh cell (18W vs 33W). You can go in this direction to check the detailed specifications of Realme 9i 4G and Realme 9i 5G.
The 4GB / 64GB model of the Realme 9i 5G is priced at INR14,999 ($ 190 / € 190) and the 6GB / 128GB variant at INR16,999 ($ 215 / € 215) . Both are available for purchase via the company’s official website.
The Realme 9i 5G arrives in India at a time when the country is preparing for the rollout of 5G and a smartphone in this price range should definitely help more people experience the next generation network. Affordable 5G mobile data and widespread network coverage will obviously play an important role in getting more users on the 5G bandwagon, but that will only be possible when more people can purchase 5G-ready smartphones.
You can expect to see more affordable 5G smartphones from Realme and other brands in the coming months.
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