The Realme 6i and Motorola Moto G9 Plus represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a solid experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches. The Realme 6i prioritizes all-around balance, while the Moto G9 Plus leans into faster charging and a more powerful chipset. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and a balanced experience, the Motorola Moto G9 Plus is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 730G chipset offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Realme 6i’s Helio G80, and the 30W charging significantly reduces downtime. However, the Realme 6i’s superior endurance rating makes it a strong contender for users who value long-lasting battery life above all else.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 28, 66 Brazil |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 17. Released 2020, March 29 | 2020, September 07. Released 2020, September 07 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.47 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 170 x 78.1 x 9.7 mm (6.69 x 3.07 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 223 g (7.87 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.81 inches, 112.0 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CU Helio G80 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
2 MP B/W, f/2.4 | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (standard) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
5W reverse wired | 30W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White Milk, Green Tea, Blue Soda | Rose Gold, Indigo Blue |
| Models | RMX2040 | XT2087-1 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 186h
| Endurance rating 136h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1610:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1356:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.5 LUFS (Below average)
|
-29.0 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 202275 (v8)
GeekBench: 5890 (v4.4), 1349 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 253105 (v8)
GeekBench: 1695 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 6i
- Superior battery endurance (186h rating)
- Slightly higher display contrast ratio (1610:1)
- More affordable price point (likely)
- Less powerful chipset (Helio G80)
- Slower charging speed (18W)
Motorola Moto G9 Plus
- More powerful chipset (Snapdragon 730G)
- Faster charging speed (30W)
- Reverse wired charging capability
- Lower battery endurance (136h rating)
- Lower display contrast ratio (1356:1)
- Potentially higher price
Display Comparison
Both the Realme 6i and Moto G9 Plus feature displays with a measured maximum brightness around 520 nits, ensuring adequate visibility outdoors. However, the Realme 6i boasts a slightly higher contrast ratio of 1610:1 compared to the Moto G9 Plus’s 1356:1, potentially resulting in deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. While neither display utilizes advanced technologies like LTPO, the similar brightness levels mean the viewing experience will be comparable in most scenarios, though the Realme 6i’s contrast gives it a slight edge.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer a 'Photo / Video' camera experience, but the specifics are missing. Given the market positioning, it’s likely both rely on multi-camera setups with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and potentially macro/depth sensors. Without sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Qualcomm’s image signal processor (ISP) within the Snapdragon 730G generally provides superior image processing capabilities compared to MediaTek’s ISP in the Helio G80, potentially resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance on the Moto G9 Plus. The absence of detailed camera specs makes this a tie, leaning slightly towards Motorola due to chipset advantages.
Performance
The Motorola Moto G9 Plus holds a clear advantage in performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G (8nm) chipset. This 8nm process is more efficient than the Realme 6i’s MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm), leading to better thermal management and sustained performance under load. The Snapdragon 730G’s Kryo 470 Gold cores, clocked at 2.2 GHz, outperform the Helio G80’s Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more enjoyable gaming experience on the Moto G9 Plus. While both phones feature 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55/Kryo 470 Silver cores for efficiency, the Snapdragon’s architecture provides a more robust overall performance profile.
Battery Life
The Realme 6i boasts an endurance rating of 186 hours, significantly exceeding the Moto G9 Plus’s 136 hours. This suggests the Realme 6i can last considerably longer on a single charge, despite having a similar battery capacity (not specified in the data). However, the Moto G9 Plus compensates with its 30W wired charging, allowing for a much faster 0-100% charge time compared to the Realme 6i’s 18W charging. The Moto G9 Plus also offers 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Realme 6i, enabling it to top up other devices. The trade-off is clear: the Realme 6i prioritizes longevity, while the Moto G9 Plus prioritizes quick replenishment.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 6i if you need a phone that can reliably last a full day on a single charge and you’re a casual user who doesn’t heavily rely on demanding apps or games. Buy the Motorola Moto G9 Plus if you prioritize smoother performance for multitasking and gaming, and you value the convenience of significantly faster 30W charging to quickly top up your battery.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G80 in the Realme 6i struggle with graphically intensive games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Helio G80 is capable of running PUBG and Call of Duty, but you’ll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The Snapdragon 730G in the Moto G9 Plus offers a more comfortable gaming experience at higher settings due to its superior GPU and thermal management.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the Moto G9 Plus compared to the 18W charging on the Realme 6i?
The 30W charging on the Moto G9 Plus will significantly reduce charging times. While exact figures depend on battery level and usage, you can expect a full charge in approximately 60-75 minutes, compared to 90-120 minutes for the Realme 6i’s 18W charging. This is a substantial difference for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.
❓ Is the difference in endurance rating (186h vs 136h) noticeable in real-world usage?
Yes, the difference in endurance rating is quite noticeable. The Realme 6i should comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Moto G9 Plus might require a top-up if you’re a power user. This makes the Realme 6i a better choice for travelers or those who don’t have easy access to a charger.
