Introduction
Realme’s 9 Series has arrived, bringing not one but two Pro models — the standard Realme 9 Pro and the higher-end 9 Pro+. The 9 Pro serves as a direct successor to the Realme 8s 5G, while the Pro+ steps into the shoes of last year’s 8 Pro.
At first glance, the Realme 9 Pro may seem like a mixed bag — some upgrades, some compromises. It’s not quite as premium as the 8 Pro, but compared to the 8s 5G, this is a solid step up. You get a smoother 120Hz display, a more powerful Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, and a new ultrawide camera, while the dated depth sensor is gone for good. The battery and charging speeds remain unchanged, though.
Specification
| Network | Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 – International | |
| 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 – India | ||
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA – International | |
| 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA – India | ||
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Launch | Announced | 2022, February 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 23 |
| Body | Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Display | Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Platform | OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | |
| GPU | Adreno 619 |
| Memory | Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | |
| UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera | Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09″, 1.0µm |
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | Loudspeaker | Yes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | |
| 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio |
| Comms | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | |
| Radio | No | |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| Features | Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
|---|
| Battery | Type | 5000 mAh |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired |
| Misc | Colors | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Models | RMX3471, RMX3472 | |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) | |
| Price | $ 539.00 / € 248.86 |
| Our Tests | Performance | AnTuTu: 401894 (v9) GeekBench: 2020 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1601:1 contrast ratio, 567 nits max brightness (measured) | |
| Camera | Photo / Video | |
| Loudspeaker | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) | |
| Battery (old) | Endurance rating 134h |
Design
The Realme 9 Pro and 9 Pro+ share a nearly identical design, featuring a bold camera module that gives off a flagship-like vibe. The camera island sticks out quite a bit, surrounded by sharp edges, but the back panel curves nicely to the sides for a comfortable grip.
We tested the Midnight Black variant, though the more striking Sunrise Blue version is the real head-turner — it changes color under UV light, shifting from blue to red within seconds under sunlight.
The glossy finish looks sleek but does attract fingerprints easily. Despite its premium appearance, the back panel is made of plastic, which helps keep the phone lightweight and durable.
Display
Instead of opting for an OLED panel, Realme went with a 6.6-inch 120Hz LCD screen with 1080 x 2412px resolution and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. It’s a smooth and responsive display, especially for gaming, though some users may miss the deep blacks and richer colors that OLED panels offer.
In brightness tests, the display reached 461 nits manually and up to 567 nits in auto mode — decent numbers for outdoor visibility. The contrast ratio of 1601:1 is also solid, making visuals appear crisp and detailed.
Battery Life
Battery performance is where the Realme 9 Pro truly shines. With its 5,000mAh battery and power-efficient Snapdragon 695, the phone delivers exceptional endurance, scoring 134 hours in overall testing.
The web browsing and video playback times are particularly impressive, though it’s worth noting that the screen drops to 60Hz during browsing even if set to 120Hz, which slightly skews real-world results. Still, this is easily one of the best performers in its price range when it comes to longevity.
Charging Speed
The 33W DartCharge system returns here — the same as last year. It’s not the fastest, but it’s reliable. A 30-minute charge restores about 52% of the battery, while a full charge takes around 1 hour and 14 minutes.
The 33W charger comes bundled in the box, which is always a plus.
Software
Both the Realme 9 Pro and Pro+ ship with Android 12 and Realme UI 3.0 out of the box — a refreshing move for a mid-range phone in this price bracket.
Visually, Realme UI retains its colorful and easy-to-use interface, with plenty of customization options like icon packs, themes, and gesture controls. Features like the Icon Pull-Down gesture, which brings all your apps to the bottom half of the screen for easier reach, make one-handed use simpler.
Performance
The Realme 9 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 695 5G, an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 690 with better performance and 6nm efficiency.
The chip’s Kryo 660 CPU and Adreno 619 GPU promise up to 15% faster CPU and 30% faster GPU performance compared to the previous generation. In everyday use, this means smoother multitasking, reliable gaming performance for popular titles, and better thermal management.
Camera
The Realme 9 Pro packs a 64MP f/1.8 main camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a new 8MP ultrawide camera — replacing the useless depth sensor from before.
While the main camera captures detailed and well-exposed shots in daylight, the ultrawide adds versatility for group photos and landscapes. The camera interface is familiar, with modes like Expert Mode, giving users control over ISO, shutter speed, and white balance.
Overall, it’s a decent setup for casual photographers, though not a huge leap from previous Realme models.
Verdict
The Realme 9 Pro is a dependable mid-ranger with excellent battery life, strong performance, and a smooth 120Hz display. It’s an especially attractive choice for Indian buyers thanks to its competitive local pricing.
However, in Europe, where it’s priced around €320, the value proposition weakens. For that money, competitors offer OLED displays, faster charging, and even better cameras.
The Realme 9 Pro is not a bad phone — it just plays it safe. If you value battery life and smooth performance over display quality, this could be a good fit. But if you’re after a richer visual experience, you might want to look elsewhere — or wait for a discount.
I’m Sirish Chandran, lead author of techtipsguide.com. With a MBA degree and over 3 years of writing experience, I cover automobiles, gadgets, and the latest news in a simple and reliable way. My goal is to deliver accurate and engaging content that helps readers stay informed and make better decisions. Stay connected with rfbindia.com for the latest updates from the tech and auto world.