Infinix Note 12i vs. Realme 9 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and smoother performance, the Realme 9 Pro emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 695 5G, built on a more efficient 6nm process, offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Infinix Note 12i’s Helio G85, despite both phones sharing the same 33W charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Infinix Note 12i | Realme 9 Pro |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 40 | 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, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 11 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, May 11 | Available. Released 2022, February 23 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 170.7 x 77.4 x 8.3 mm (6.72 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1640 pixels (~263 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, XOS 10.6 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.64µm, PDAF Auxiliary lenses | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1440p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | 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, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired | 33W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Force Black, Snowfall | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue |
| Models | X6819 | RMX3471, RMX3472 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | € 248.86 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 134h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1601:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 401894 (v9) GeekBench: 2020 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Infinix Note 12i
- Potentially lower price point
- Acceptable performance for basic tasks
- 33W fast charging
- Less efficient Helio G85 chipset
- Likely inferior sustained performance
- Potentially weaker camera performance
Realme 9 Pro
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 5G
- Better sustained performance
- Higher peak display brightness
- Slightly higher price
- Camera performance still limited by sensor size (unspecified)
- 33W charging is standard, not exceptional
Display Comparison
Both the Infinix Note 12i and Realme 9 Pro feature displays with a 1601:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar visual pop. However, the Realme 9 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 567 nits, which will translate to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While neither manufacturer specifies panel technology (IPS vs AMOLED), the Realme 9 Pro’s higher brightness gives it a clear advantage in real-world usability. Bezels are likely comparable given the price bracket, and color accuracy is expected to be standard for this segment.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given Realme’s generally stronger camera software optimization, the 9 Pro is likely to produce more consistently pleasing images. The prevalence of low-resolution auxiliary cameras in this price range suggests avoiding expectations for the quality of any macro or depth sensors on either device. The Snapdragon 695’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more advanced, potentially leading to better noise reduction and dynamic range.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 9 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, fabricated on a 6nm process, is significantly more efficient than the Infinix Note 12i’s MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm). This translates to better thermal management and sustained performance during demanding tasks. The Snapdragon 695’s CPU configuration – 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver – also offers a slight clock speed advantage over the Note 12i’s 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55. While both phones likely feature similar RAM configurations, the Snapdragon 695’s superior architecture will result in a smoother, more responsive user experience.
Battery Life
Both the Infinix Note 12i and Realme 9 Pro share an endurance rating of 134 hours and 33W wired charging. This suggests comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the Snapdragon 695’s 6nm efficiency will likely result in slightly longer screen-on time for the Realme 9 Pro. The 33W charging should deliver a full charge in approximately 60-75 minutes for both devices, but the Realme 9 Pro’s more efficient chipset may lead to slightly less heat generation during the charging process.
Buying Guide
Buy the Infinix Note 12i if you prioritize maximizing value and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media, calls, and light web browsing. Its Helio G85 is sufficient for these workloads. Buy the Realme 9 Pro if you want a phone that feels more responsive, handles multitasking with ease, and offers a more future-proof 5G experience, even if it means spending slightly more.