Huawei nova 9 SE vs Realme 9 Pro+: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Powerhouses
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing raw performance and faster charging, the Realme 9 Pro+ emerges as the stronger contender. Its Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset offers a substantial performance uplift over the Snapdragon 680 in the nova 9 SE, making it better suited for demanding tasks and gaming. However, Huawei's software experience and potentially wider availability (depending on region) shouldn't be dismissed.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Huawei nova 9 SE | Realme 9 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - JLN-LX1 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - JLN-LX1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - JLN-LX3 | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 08 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, March 20 | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 164.6 x 75.6 x 7.9 mm (6.48 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2388 pixels (~387 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.78 inches, 111.4 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 11, EMUI 12, no Google Play Services | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes (JLN-XL1 only) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 75% in 20 min | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Pearl White, Crystal Blue | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition |
| Models | JLN-LX1, JLN-LX3, JuliaQN-L01B, JuliaQN-L21B, JuliaQN-L23A, RMX2190, FIO-BD00, JLN-AL00 | RMX3392, RMX3393 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | € 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 117h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9) GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1) GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Huawei nova 9 SE
- Potentially wider availability depending on region.
- Efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset for good battery life.
- Fast initial charging speed (75% in 20 minutes).
- Less powerful chipset compared to the Dimensity 920.
- Limited information on display specifications.
Realme 9 Pro+
- Significantly more powerful Mediatek Dimensity 920 chipset.
- Faster full charge time (100% in 44 minutes) with PD3.0 support.
- Excellent battery endurance (117h rating).
- Potential software bloatware (typical of Realme).
- Availability may be limited in certain markets.
Display Comparison
The Realme 9 Pro+ boasts an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting a VA-type panel optimized for deep blacks, though specific brightness nits are not provided. The nova 9 SE’s display specifications are absent, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given its positioning, it likely utilizes an IPS LCD panel. The Realme’s contrast ratio will provide a more immersive viewing experience, particularly with HDR content, while the nova 9 SE will likely offer wider viewing angles typical of IPS technology. Without knowing the nova 9 SE’s peak brightness, it’s difficult to assess outdoor visibility.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs beyond 'Photo/Video' are unavailable for either device. However, the Realme 9 Pro+’s chipset benefits from a more powerful ISP (Image Signal Processor), enabling faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes and apertures makes a definitive comparison impossible. It’s reasonable to assume the Realme 9 Pro+ will offer more advanced computational photography features, leveraging its superior processing power. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility; focusing on the main sensor’s quality is more important.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 9 Pro+’s Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6nm) features a more powerful CPU configuration – 2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores – compared to the Huawei nova 9 SE’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm) with its 4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold and 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver cores. The Cortex-A78 cores in the Dimensity 920 offer significantly higher single-core performance, translating to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While both are 6nm chips, the Dimensity 920’s architecture provides a clear advantage in sustained performance, crucial for gaming. The Realme 9 Pro+ is likely to handle graphically intensive games at higher settings with fewer frame drops.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+ claims a 100% charge in 44 minutes with its 60W wired charging, supporting PD3.0. The Huawei nova 9 SE achieves 75% charge in 20 minutes with its 66W wired charging. While the nova 9 SE charges faster initially, the Realme 9 Pro+ completes a full charge, offering more convenience. The Realme 9 Pro+ also boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The Snapdragon 680 in the nova 9 SE is known for its efficiency, but the Dimensity 920’s optimized power management and potentially larger battery capacity (spec not provided) in the Realme 9 Pro+ likely contribute to its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei nova 9 SE if you prioritize a streamlined user experience within the Huawei ecosystem and require a reliable daily driver for basic tasks like social media, communication, and light content consumption. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you're a power user who values performance for gaming, multitasking, and content creation, and you want the convenience of faster charging and a potentially longer-lasting battery.