realme 9 Pro+ review: Superior Cameras in Mid-Range Smartphone

Starting 2022, realme Indonesia presents a smartphone that I think is very interesting. Present as the latest option from the realme Number Series, but brings camera quality equivalent to a flagship. realme 9 Pro Plus dares to take quite serious claims, especially for the Rp4 million (under USD 500) smartphone segment.

realme 9 Pro Plus comes as the first smartphone with the “Pro+” variant, where the addition of a “+” sign at the end indicates that this smartphone brings more flagship features to the mid-range class. Not only in the camera sector, but also in other parts.

Even realme calls this device a middle-class flagship, whereas the realme 9 Pro+ carries a flagship camera, flagship design, and flagship performance. I could feel these features during the period of reviewing this latest realme smartphone until I was surprised by several other additional features.

It can be concluded that this smartphone can offer the experience of using a flagship smartphone, and not only on the ability of the camera. Although some parts can still be improved. Here is the full review of the realme 9 Pro+.

Design

A little familiar, but much different from the previous generation. realme 9 Pro+ carries a sleeker design, using a completely new rear body design, called Photochromism. Thinner at 7.99mm with a weight of 182gram, this smartphone is very comfortable in the hand.

The camera module itself is made more modern like the flagship series, and the Sunrise Blue color option that we reviewed appears glossy and slightly disguises fingerprints. In addition to the glitter effect and blue gradation, the rear body of the realme 9 Pro + carries a quite special technology, namely Light Shift Design.

Made of three special layers with a surface made like glass, this smartphone can change color when exposed to direct sunlight or UV light, becoming red which is quite dominant. The color will disappear again after a few minutes, providing a new experience, especially in the mid-range series.

A little extra, realme provides accessories such as a soft case in the sales package. Not only does protecting the smartphone body, but it also includes the camera module. Reduces worry when the unexpected happens.

Display

In addition to the new design, the screen specifications of the realme 9 Pro + can also be said to be on par with today’s flagships. The 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel used has a high refresh rate of up to 90Hz.

It’s not 120Hz yet, but the difference between the two is not significant for everyday use. More importantly, the 360Hz touch sampling rate makes the smartphone screen more responsive to finger touch.

With a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, using realme 9 Pro+ outdoors is still comfortable. This screen is also coated with Gorilla Glass 5, plus a scratch-resistant coating from the manufacturer. The fingerprint sensor has also been embedded in the screen (in-display), but realme provides an extra unusual feature. Namely the heart rate detection feature.

Through the realme Lab menu which can be accessed in the Settings menu, users can monitor heart rate by placing a finger on the in-display fingerprint sensor for 15 seconds. The accuracy itself is not fair compared to the realme Watch S Pro. Although there is no way to share results to other platforms such as Google Fit or Realme Link.

Camera

The best main feature offered by realme 9 Pro Plus is the camera. Providing capabilities equivalent to flagships, realme introduces ProLight Imaging Technology which consists of hardware and software solutions. Including the use of the Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS, the first for Rp. 4 million. 50MP resolution with 1/1.56-inch sensor dimensions and f/1.8 aperture.

The sensor also supports All Pixel’s all-directional focus, making it easy to take focus in a variety of lighting conditions quickly and accurately. While the other two sensors are an 8MP ultra wide-angle sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. Where each has good quality, although not special. So is the main camera the equivalent of a flagship?

After trying two other flagship smartphones with the same sensor and a much more expensive selling price, the realme 9 Pro+ can provide a relatively similar experience. The captured image has very high detail with a wide dynamic range, colors tend to be accurate even 2x digital zoom which is also still of high quality. The process of taking photos is also quite instant.

Want more colorful photos? Simply activate AI Scene Enhancement so that the captured photo can be directly shared on social media without the need for editing. How about at night? Often I don’t feel the need to use night mode because the resulting photo is already bright enough. But if you want high detail with more pop colors, you can use this mode.

The presence of OIS also makes it easier to take photos with a longer shutter. realme 9 Pro+ also introduces Street Photography Mode 2.0, which makes taking night photos even easier. Through Long Exposure mode, I was able to capture light trail photos of up to 20 seconds with stable handheld output. Yes, without the need to use a tripod.

You can access complete photos from the realme 9 Pro camera in the following album.

Low-noise night photos are also produced thanks to the AI Noise Reduction 3.0 algorithm, which can automatically detect various types and sizes of noise when the photo is captured. When shooting video, realme 9 Pro+ combines OIS & EIS stabilization up to 1080p resolution. Meanwhile, when recording 4K 30fps resolution video, the OIS from the sensor can still help so that the video footage is not too shaky.

Manual mode for taking photos and videos is also available, and users are free to choose whether to use the main or ultra-wide sensor. Other modes such as Starry Mode and Dual View Video are also still provided as additional options, making this smartphone a very complete camera feature.

Features

realme 9 Pro+ already runs the latest Android 12 with the realme UI 3.0 interface. The display personalization options are numerous, from the always-on display of silhouette photos, to AI-based wallpapers. But what I like most is the audio sector, quality and complete.

Complete because realme still embeds a 3.5mm audio jack on the lower body, so you can still use your favorite wired earphones. For quality, the stereo speakers are loud and detailed. While the X-axis linear motor is exactly like a flagship, it delivers precise vibrations when browsing apps or typing via a virtual keyboard.

The intensity and type of vibration itself can be changed via the O-Haptics menu. Other features such as NFC are of course also present to make it easier to check & top up e-money card balances. Flexible Windows enhances the multitasking experience by opening small windows on top of other applications, and the one-handed mode makes it easy to use with one hand.

Performance

To provide 5G network support plus fast performance, the realme 9 Pro+ uses one of the latest chipsets from MediaTek. Namely the Dimensity 920 5G series, with 6nm fabrication and a Cortex-A78 core chip that has a clock speed of up to 2.5GHz. Plus the Mali-G68 GPU is able to accommodate gaming needs.

Paired with 8GB RAM plus extra virtual RAM up to 5GB, the speed of opening and closing applications plus multitasking can be done quickly without lag or stutter. The body temperature is also relatively maintained, thanks to the use of a hardware-based cooling system, namely the Vapor Chamber Cooling System. It is claimed to reduce the temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius in the core area.

Interestingly, the realme 9 Pro+ offered at Shopee comes with a very wide internal storage option, from 128GB to 256GB. If it’s not enough, you can add a microSD card via the triple SIM card slot. Plus supports 5G and Wi-Fi 6 networks for the fastest internet performance.

Battery

Although the body has thinner and lighter dimensions, realme can still embed two batteries with a total capacity of 4,500 mAh on the realme 9 Pro +. Combined with a power-efficient chipset, standard usage is certainly sufficient for a full day.

If it’s more intensive by activating the always-on display and intensive camera access, at least it can last until night. While the average screen-on time is 4 – 4.5 hours, it’s nothing special, but it’s not bad either. At least the charging process is very fast, with support for 60W SuperDart Charge.

True to its claims, charging from full to 50% only takes about 15 minutes, while to full it takes about 40 minutes. Fun enough, realme Book users only need to bring one charger to charge two devices instantly. It’s a benefit to have a realme device ecosystem.

Conclusion

Looking for a mid-range smartphone priced at IDR 4 million (below USD 500) with the best camera? Then the realme 9 Pro+ could be the best option right now. The combination of a flagship sensor with an optimal software algorithm allows it to take pictures and videos equivalent to a flagship at a much higher selling price.

Coupled with a full range of shooting modes, it makes it easy for content creators to capture the moment at night. Not only that, but the design of this smartphone is also different from the others, balanced with fast performance and 5G network support. Making realme 9 Pro+ a future-proof smartphone in its class.

realme 9 Pro Plus tech specs

Disclaimer: This article is a collaboration with realme Indonesia

The Indonesian version of this article can be read in Gizmologi.ID