Realme 8 Pro vs Realme 9 Pro: A Detailed Showdown

Realme continues to deliver impressive smartphones at competitive prices. The Realme 8 Pro and Realme 9 Pro are both strong contenders, but which one offers the best value? This comprehensive comparison will delve into their key features, helping you decide which phone is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme 9 Pro edges out the 8 Pro thanks to its brighter display, 5G connectivity, and slightly improved battery life. However, the 8 Pro's faster charging and potentially superior camera performance (depending on usage) make it a compelling alternative, especially if 5G isn't a priority.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 8 Pro Realme 9 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International1, 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
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2021, March 242022, February 16
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, March 25Available. Released 2022, February 23
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic back-
Dimensions160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.32 x 2.91 x 0.32 in)164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight176 g (6.21 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
Display
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)IPS LCD, 120Hz
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens-
Single-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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging50W wired, 50% in 17 min, 100% in 47 min33W wired
Type4500 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsInfinite Blue, Infinite Black, Punk Black, Illuminating YellowMidnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue
ModelsRMX3081RMX3471, RMX3472
PriceAbout 550 EUR€ 248.86
SAR1.10 W/kg (head)     0.53 W/kg (body)1.19 W/kg (head)     0.71 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 116h Endurance rating 134h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1601:1
Loudspeaker -28.2 LUFS (Average) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 286666 (v8) GeekBench: 1678 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 401894 (v9) GeekBench: 2020 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 8 Pro

  • Faster 50W Charging
  • Potentially Superior Camera (108MP Sensor)
  • Good Performance for the Price

  • No 5G Connectivity
  • Lower Peak Brightness
  • Slightly Shorter Battery Life

Realme 9 Pro

  • 5G Connectivity
  • Brighter Display (567 nits)
  • Longer Battery Life (134h Endurance)
  • Sleeker Design (Generally)

  • Slower 33W Charging
  • Potentially Less Detailed Camera in Low Light
  • Slightly Lower Performance

Display Comparison

The Realme 9 Pro boasts a significant advantage with its measured 567 nits peak brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. While the 8 Pro's 'infinite' contrast ratio sounds impressive, it's a marketing term and doesn't translate to a noticeably better viewing experience. The 9 Pro's 1601:1 contrast ratio is also a solid improvement over the 8 Pro's nominal value.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems. The 8 Pro is often praised for its 108MP main sensor, which can capture detailed images in good lighting. The 9 Pro's camera system is generally well-regarded, but the 8 Pro's larger sensor potentially gives it an advantage in low-light situations. Video recording capabilities are comparable on both devices.

Performance

The Snapdragon 720G in the 8 Pro is a capable chip, but the 9 Pro's Snapdragon 695 5G offers a slight performance boost and the benefit of 5G connectivity. Both phones handle everyday tasks and moderate gaming well, but the 9 Pro has a slight edge for more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Realme 9 Pro takes the lead in battery life with an endurance rating of 134 hours, compared to the 8 Pro's 116 hours. However, the 8 Pro's 50W charging is significantly faster than the 9 Pro's 33W, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Realme 8 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging, a potentially better camera experience, and don't need 5G. The Realme 9 Pro is a better choice for those seeking a brighter display, 5G connectivity, and slightly longer battery life, even with slower charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Realme 9 Pro worth the upgrade from the Realme 8 Pro?
If you value 5G connectivity and a brighter display, the Realme 9 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if fast charging and potentially better camera performance are your priorities, the 8 Pro remains a solid choice.
❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?
The Realme 8 Pro's 108MP sensor *potentially* offers better low-light performance due to its larger pixel size, but real-world results can vary depending on the scene and software processing.