Revving Up Performance: A Deep Dive into the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition

As indicated by its title, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is a stronger variant of the Realme 9 5G. Although these devices may appear alike at a glance, there are subtle differences in their design coupled with significant upgrades in their internal components. Additionally, the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition carries a higher price tag compared to its standard counterpart. The question arises: is this extra cost justified, or should you consider other options within the same price range? I put it through its paces to determine the answer.

Pricing of Realme 9 5G Speed Edition in India

The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition, abbreviated as SE for this review, is available starting at Rs. 19,999 in India for the entry-level model with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The higher-end version featuring 8GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at Rs. 22,999. This device comes in two colors: Starry Glow and Azure Glow; I received the former for evaluation.

Design of the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition

The design of the Realme 9 5G SE closely resembles that of the Realme 9 5G (Review) that I recently assessed. The primary distinguishing feature between both smartphones can be found on the back, where the camera layouts differ. The Realme 9 5G SE incorporates a rectangular triple-camera system that protrudes a bit. Like the Realme 9 5G, this model is crafted from plastic and positions the power button on the right side while the volume controls linger on the left. Furthermore, Realme has embedded a fingerprint sensor in the power button, simplifying the phone’s unlocking process.

The Starry Glow finish of the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition effectively conceals fingerprints

 

The Realme 9 5G SE features a 6.6-inch display with a camera cutout located in the top-left corner. It boasts slim bezels at the top and sides, while the chin is slightly thicker. The SE version is a fraction taller and broader than the Realme 9 5G, weighing in at 199g, which is noticeable when held.

At the bottom, the phone is equipped with a 3.5mm headphone jack, primary microphone, USB Type-C port, and speaker, while the top edge contains only the secondary microphone. The frame is curved, and so are the edges of the back panel, enhancing grip comfort. The Starry Glow back panel showcases a color-shifting design in shades of orange, yellow, and purple when light hits it, effectively masking fingerprints.

Specifications and Software of Realme 9 5G SE

The internals of the Realme 9 5G SE greatly differ from those of the Realme 9 5G. Firstly, the larger 6.6-inch display comes with a full-HD+ resolution and supports a peak refresh rate of 144Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. The adaptive refresh rate adjusts between 30Hz and 144Hz based on what you’re doing with the device. This display can reach a peak brightness of 600 nits, providing sufficient visibility under direct sunlight.

Under the hood, the Realme 9 5G SE runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G SoC. This 5G-ready processor delivers excellent performance, similar to what’s found in the Motorola Edge 20 (Review). This device includes a 5,000mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging, and Realme provides a 30W charger within the packaging.

The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition’s display features a cutout for the front camera

 

Connectivity options available with the Realme 9 5G SE consist of Bluetooth 5.2, dual-band Wi-Fi, integration with five satellite navigation systems, and 5G support. It also has dual-4G VoLTE functionality. The device accommodates two Nano-SIM slots and a dedicated microSD card slot for expansion, compatible with cards up to 1TB.

Running on Realme UI 2.0 over Android 11, the device also includes the March 2022 Android security patch. I found the user interface (UI) intuitive and readily accessible through a simple search in the Settings menu. Most additional software features align well with what is available on the Realme 9 5G.

Sadly, the Realme 9 5G SE is afflicted by the same bloatware issue as its counterpart. My unit came preloaded with almost fifteen apps, in addition to standard offerings from Google. Several Realme applications sent regular notifications, which felt excessive. Most of these can be uninstalled for a tidier experience.

The Realme UI includes Game Space, organizing all installed games, and a Game Assistant that can silence incoming calls and notifications during gaming sessions. You can adjust touch and swipe sensitivity for individual games, which I’ll cover in the performance section next.

Performance and Battery Life of Realme 9 5G SE

The Realme 9 5G SE provided commendable performance in everyday tasks. My review model came with 8GB of RAM, making multitasking extremely smooth. Additionally, Realme includes a RAM expansion feature, granting an automatic allocation of 3GB of storage as virtual RAM. This can be extended to 5GB for this variant, although I did not adjust this setting. The Snapdragon 778G ensures even demanding games load with commendable speed, appealing to gamers.

Realme UI 2.0 operates over Android 11

 

The viewing angles on the Realme 9 5G SE’s display were satisfactory, with the color profile set to Vivid by default. I was able to adjust the color temperature according to my preferences. While colors didn’t quite match the vibrancy of an AMOLED panel, the high 144Hz refresh rate certainly gives this device an edge over competitors. The default ‘Auto Select’ refresh rate adapts based on your activities, switching between values; for example, it was 90Hz during casual browsing, while certain apps like Photos pushed it to 144Hz. You also have the option to lock it at 144Hz, which may affect battery life. The Realme 9 5G SE sports a single bottom-firing speaker, which is adequately loud, though stereo speakers would have enhanced the experience.

I found the side-mounted fingerprint scanner to be quick and accurate, consistently recognizing my input throughout the review period. Face recognition was also speedy in unlocking the device.

In benchmark tests, the Realme 9 5G SE performed admirably. It scored 541,547 points in AnTuTu and achieved 12,115 points in PCMark Work 3.0. In graphics tests, it logged 115fps in GFXBench T-Rex and 28fps in the Car Chase test. These benchmarks aligned closely with those of the Motorola Edge 20, which uses the same SoC.

Most mainstream games can be played on the Realme 9 5G SE without a hitch. I attempted Call of Duty: Mobile, which defaulted to ‘Very High’ graphics and ‘High’ frame rate settings. I increased the frame rate to ‘Very High’ without encountering any issues. After playing for approximately 23 minutes, the battery level dropped by eight percent, which is somewhat significant. However, the device remained fairly cool post-gaming session. Gamers seeking a smartphone may find the Realme 9 5G SE to be a suitable choice.

The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition features a triple-camera array on the rear

 

Regarding battery life, the 5,000mAh cell lasted around a day and a half based on my usage. Casual users may experience even longer durations before requiring a recharge. In our HD video loop test, the Realme 9 5G SE recorded an impressive runtime of 21 hours and 51 minutes. Realme includes a 30W charger in the box, capable of charging the device to 47 percent in 30 minutes and reaching 85 percent in one hour.

Camera Performance of Realme 9 5G SE

At the rear, the Realme 9 5G SE is equipped with a triple camera arrangement, featuring a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, alongside a B&W portrait lens and a macro shooter. The front houses a 16-megapixel camera for selfies. These specs closely mirror those of the Realme 9 5G. Missed here is an ultra-wide angle lens, which could have added to the device’s versatility.

The daylight camera performance was satisfactory, effectively capturing decent dynamic range. However, distant objects revealed a lack of detail that became apparent when zooming in on photos. The AI enhancement toggle boosts contrast in images, which may look appealing on the phone display but appears excessive upon closer inspection.

Camera samples from the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition in daylight, both with and without AI enhancements (tap for full-size images)

 

Close-up images were well-detailed, with clearly defined edges. Colors appeared accurate, and background blur was effective as long as I maintained an appropriate distance from the subject. Portrait shots exhibited decent edge detection and background separation, allowing for adjustments to blur levels prior to capturing an image. However, the macro camera did not deliver impressive quality.

Samples from the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition showcasing close-up, portrait, and macro shots (tap for full-size images)

 

In low-light scenarios, colors remained somewhat vibrant, but detail suffered in shadowy regions. Upon close inspection, some artifacts were visible. Using Night mode yielded significantly better results, producing brighter images with enhanced shadow detail—although capturing takes a few seconds, necessitating steady hands to avoid blur.

Realme 9 5G Speed Edition low-light and Night mode camera samples (tap for full-size images)

 

Selfies taken with the Realme 9 5G SE were impressive both in daylight and low-light settings. These captures maintained full 16-megapixel resolution with considerable detail. Portrait selfies exhibited competent edge detection.

Selfie samples from the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition taken in both daylight and low-light conditions (tap for full-size images)

 

Video recording capabilities max out at 4K for the primary rear camera and 1080p for the front camera. The camera application attempts to stabilize footage, however, this can result in slight warping in certain segments while moving. Nonetheless, steady panning produced smooth footage, whereas low-light video quality was merely average.

Conclusion

The Realme 9 5G Speed Edition is certainly more enticing than the standard Realme 9 5G (Review), but the price gap is significant. This version includes a robust SoC, a remarkably high refresh rate display, and a substantial 5,000mAh battery, along with 30W fast charging, proving very convenient.

In my view, the base model of the Realme 9 5G SE, priced at Rs. 19,999, is the optimal choice. This variant faces limited direct competition while offering excellent value if performance is your primary consideration.

If you’re leaning towards the upgraded variant for additional RAM, the iQoo Z5 (Review) may present a more advantageous option. It employs the same Snapdragon 778G SoC, but is equipped with stereo speakers and faster 44W charging at a marginally higher price. Conversely, if camera performance is paramount, it may be worth considering the extra investment in the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G (Review).