Oppo A36 vs Realme 9 Pro: A Detailed Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Two contenders vying for your attention are the Oppo A36 and the Realme 9 Pro. Both promise solid features, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme 9 Pro edges out the Oppo A36 thanks to its 5G connectivity, slightly more powerful chipset (Snapdragon 695 vs 680), and faster charging. While the Oppo A36 is a decent option, the Realme 9 Pro offers a more future-proof and feature-rich package for a similar price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Oppo A36	Realme 9 Pro

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	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 / CDMA / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	CDMA 800	1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India

Launch
Announced	2022, January 10	2022, February 16
Status	Available. Released 2022, January 14	Available. Released 2022, February 23

Body
Dimensions	164.4 x 75.7 x 8.4 mm (6.47 x 2.98 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	185 g (6.53 oz)	195 g (6.88 oz)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)	1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size	6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)	IPS LCD, 120Hz

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	Adreno 619
OS	Android 11, ColorOS 11.1	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	13 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm, PDAF Auxiliary lens	-
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Triple	-	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	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)	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	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	No	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, dual-band

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	-	33W wired
Type	Li-Po 5000 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Blue	Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue
Models	PESM10	RMX3471, RMX3472
Price	About 220 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)

Oppo A36

Excellent battery life
Clean and simple user interface
Affordable price

Slower charging
Less powerful chipset
No 5G connectivity

Realme 9 Pro

5G connectivity
Faster charging (33W)
Slightly more powerful chipset
Brighter display

Potentially more bloatware
Slightly higher price

Display Comparison

The Realme 9 Pro boasts a brighter display (567 nits vs likely around 400-450 nits for the A36) and a similar contrast ratio (1601:1). While both offer good viewing angles, the Realme 9 Pro's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both likely use similar LCD panels.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is likely comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. The Realme 9 Pro might have a slight edge in low-light photography due to potential software optimizations and possibly a slightly better sensor. Both likely feature a main sensor, ultrawide, and macro lens.

Performance

The Realme 9 Pro's Snapdragon 695 5G offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Oppo A36's Snapdragon 680. Expect smoother app loading, better multitasking, and slightly improved gaming performance on the Realme 9 Pro. Both phones have adequate RAM and storage for everyday tasks.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive battery life, with an endurance rating of 134 hours. However, the Realme 9 Pro's 33W fast charging provides a significant advantage, allowing for quicker top-ups compared to the Oppo A36's likely slower charging speed.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Oppo A36? Users prioritizing a simple, reliable phone with a clean interface and extended battery life on a tight budget. Who should buy the Realme 9 Pro? Those seeking 5G connectivity, a brighter display, faster charging, and a slightly more powerful processor for smoother multitasking and gaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Oppo A36 good for gaming?

The Oppo A36 can handle casual games, but demanding titles might experience lag. The Realme 9 Pro offers a smoother gaming experience due to its more powerful chipset.

❓ Does the Realme 9 Pro support 5G?

Yes, the Realme 9 Pro supports 5G connectivity, while the Oppo A36 is a 4G-only device.