The HTC Desire 650 represents a bygone era of entry-level smartphones, while the Realme 9 aims to deliver modern features at an accessible price. This comparison dissects the core differences between these devices, focusing on how advancements in chipset technology and display capabilities translate to real-world user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the vast majority of users, the Realme 9 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 680 chipset, built on a 6nm process, offers significantly improved performance and efficiency compared to the Desire 650’s aging Snapdragon 400. The brighter display and faster charging further solidify its position as the superior choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, November. Released 2016, December | 2022, April 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2022, April 12 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 146.9 x 70.9 x 8.4 mm (5.78 x 2.79 x 0.33 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 140 g (4.94 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~66.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8928 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), Sense UI | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 28mm (wide), AF | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, dual pixel PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.8, 34mm (standard) | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (EMEA only) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 33W wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 75 min |
| Music play | Up to 44 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 684 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 17 h 30 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2200 mAh, non-removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark blue, White | Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White |
| Models | Desire 650 dual sim, Desire 650, D650h | RMX3521 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 660 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.59 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 156h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-30.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 290097 (v9)
GeekBench: 1601 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
HTC Desire 650
- Extremely affordable (likely)
- Simple and straightforward user experience
- Compact size (potentially)
- Outdated chipset and slow performance
- Poor camera quality
- Slow charging speeds
- Limited software support
Realme 9
- Significantly faster performance
- Bright and usable display
- Fast 33W charging
- More modern features and software
- May be slightly more expensive
- Larger size compared to older phones
- Plastic build (likely)
Display Comparison
The Realme 9 boasts a significantly more advanced display, achieving a measured peak brightness of 647 nits. This is a substantial improvement over what the Desire 650 likely offered (specs unavailable, but typical of the era). While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher brightness of the Realme 9 ensures better visibility in outdoor conditions. The Realme 9’s panel technology is likely IPS LCD, offering good color reproduction, while the Desire 650’s display would have been limited by its older technology and lower resolution.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specs are limited. The Realme 9 likely benefits from more advanced image signal processing (ISP) within the Snapdragon 680, resulting in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions. While the Desire 650 may have a functional camera, it would lack the computational photography features found in modern smartphones like the Realme 9. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison, but the Realme 9’s newer chipset provides a significant advantage in image processing.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 9’s Snapdragon 680, fabricated on a 6nm process, is a massive upgrade over the HTC Desire 650’s Snapdragon 400 (28nm). The 680’s octa-core configuration (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) provides a substantial performance boost over the Desire 650’s quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user interface. The 6nm process also contributes to improved thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The Desire 650 would struggle with modern applications and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones share an endurance rating of 156 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the performance difference. However, the Realme 9’s 33W wired charging (50% in 31 minutes, 100% in 75 minutes) is a game-changer. The Desire 650 likely offered significantly slower charging speeds. This means the Realme 9 can be quickly topped up, minimizing downtime, even with similar overall endurance. The efficiency gains of the Snapdragon 680 also contribute to better battery life under load.
Buying Guide
Buy the HTC Desire 650 if you absolutely need a very basic, extremely affordable device for minimal tasks like calls and texts, and are willing to accept significant performance limitations. Buy the Realme 9 if you prioritize a smoother user experience, better battery life, a brighter and more usable display, and faster charging – all without breaking the bank. The Realme 9 is the sensible choice for anyone using a smartphone for more than just basic communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Realme 9 handle demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Snapdragon 680 in the Realme 9 is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. It's not a gaming powerhouse, but it's a significant improvement over the Desire 650, which would struggle with these titles.
❓ Is the Realme 9 a good choice for someone upgrading from a very old smartphone?
Absolutely. The Realme 9 represents a substantial leap forward in terms of performance, display quality, and features compared to older devices like the Desire 650. It offers a modern smartphone experience without a flagship price tag.
❓ How much faster is the Snapdragon 680 compared to the Snapdragon 400 in real-world use?
The Snapdragon 680 is significantly faster – roughly 2-3 times faster in CPU performance and considerably faster in GPU performance. This translates to quicker app launches, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive overall experience. The difference is immediately noticeable.
