Realme 9 5G Speed vs. Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the Realme 9 5G Speed and the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G. Both offer 5G connectivity and a host of features at attractive price points, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco X4 Pro 5G takes the lead thanks to its significantly faster charging, more powerful chipset, and impressive battery life. While the Realme 9 5G Speed offers a decent experience, the Poco's superior performance and charging speed make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 9 5G Speed Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global
5G bands1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
  SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - International1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, March 102022, February 28
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, March 14Available. Released 2022, March 23
Body
BuildGlass front (Panda Glass), plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions164.4 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)164.2 x 76.1 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight199 g (7.02 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionPanda GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 144Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits, 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUAdreno 642LAdreno 619
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF - Global version 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF - India version 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioUnspecifiedFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging30W wired, 50% in 25 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 70% in 22 min, 100% in 41 min
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsStarry Glow, Azure GlowLaser Black, Laser Blue, Poco Yellow
ModelsRMX34612201116PG
PriceAbout 240 EUR€ 160.40 / $ 419.99 / £ 255.00 / ₹ 12,940
SAR-1.06 W/kg (head)     1.09 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 335353 (v8), 384646 (v9) GeekBench: 2063 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 9 5G Speed

  • Slightly more compact design
  • Decent performance for everyday tasks
  • Good value for money

  • Slower charging speed
  • Less powerful chipset than Poco X4 Pro 5G
  • LCD display not as vibrant as AMOLED

Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G

  • Faster charging (67W)
  • More powerful Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
  • Excellent battery life
  • Vibrant AMOLED display

  • Larger and heavier than Realme 9 5G Speed
  • Design can be considered less premium

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant displays, but the Poco X4 Pro 5G's AMOLED panel generally offers better contrast and color accuracy compared to the Realme 9 5G Speed's LCD. While both claim 'infinite' contrast ratio (a marketing term), the Poco's display is noticeably richer. Both have a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is fairly comparable, with both phones offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. The Poco X4 Pro 5G might have a slight advantage in video recording due to better stabilization. Low-light performance is acceptable on both, but not exceptional. Both offer a main camera around 108MP, but image processing differs.

Performance

The Poco X4 Pro 5G's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset significantly outperforms the Realme 9 5G Speed's Snapdragon 778G 5G in benchmarks and real-world usage. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Poco. The Realme 9 5G Speed is still capable, but the Poco has a clear edge.

Battery Life

The Poco X4 Pro 5G boasts exceptional battery life, consistently achieving impressive endurance ratings. Its 67W fast charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly quick top-ups. The Realme 9 5G Speed's 30W charging is slower, and its battery life, while respectable, doesn't match the Poco's longevity.

Buying Guide

The Realme 9 5G Speed is a good option for users prioritizing a smooth, everyday experience and a slightly more compact design. The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is ideal for those who value fast charging, a more powerful processor for gaming and demanding tasks, and extended battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 695 5G chipset.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge each phone?
The Poco X4 Pro 5G charges from 0 to 100% in approximately 41 minutes with its 67W charger, while the Realme 9 5G Speed takes considerably longer with its 30W charger.