Realme 9 5G vs Realme 10: The Ultimate Showdown

Realme continues to deliver impressive smartphones at competitive prices. The Realme 9 5G and Realme 10 are two popular contenders, each offering a unique blend of features. But which one is right for you? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme 10 edges out the Realme 9 5G thanks to its faster charging, brighter display, and generally more modern feel. While the 9 5G offers 5G connectivity, the 10's overall improvements make it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme 9 5G	Realme 10

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66	LTE
5G bands	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA	-
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2022, May 12	2022, November 09
Status	Available. Released 2022, June 09	Available. Released 2022, November 11

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions	164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)	159.9 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.30 x 2.89 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	191 g (6.74 oz)	178 g (6.28 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)
Size	6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (peak)	Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 1000 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)	Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)
GPU	Adreno 619	Mali-G57 MC2
OS	Android 12, Realme UI 3.0	Android 12, Realme UI 3.0

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.2

Main Camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.76", PDAF Auxiliary lens
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple	50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm	16 MP, f/2.5, 27mm (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, 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 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	18W wired	33W wired, 50% in 28 min
Type	5000 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Meteor Black, Stargaze White	White, Blue
Models	RMX3474	RMX3630
Price	About 190 EUR	About 440 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 126h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-24.9 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 385829 (v9) GeekBench: 1762 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 9 5G

5G Connectivity
Decent Performance
Good Value

Slower Charging
Less Bright Display
Older Design

Realme 10

Faster Charging (33W)
Brighter Display
Modern Design
Strong Battery Life

No 5G
Helio G99 can throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Realme 10 boasts a significantly brighter display at 610 nits compared to the Realme 9 5G (estimated around 400-450 nits). The Realme 10's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (though nominal) suggests deeper blacks and better overall image quality. Both phones likely feature similar resolution and refresh rates (likely 90Hz or 120Hz), but the Realme 10's brightness gives it a clear advantage in outdoor visibility.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. The Realme 10 likely has a slightly improved image processing pipeline. Both likely offer similar main sensor resolutions (around 50MP) and ultrawide lenses. Video recording capabilities are likely comparable, with both offering 1080p recording.

Performance

The Realme 10's Mediatek Helio G99 offers a slight edge in CPU performance compared to the Snapdragon 695 5G, particularly in gaming. The Cortex-A76 cores in the G99 are more powerful than the Kryo 660 Gold cores in the Snapdragon. However, both chipsets are capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. The Snapdragon 695 5G's advantage lies in its 5G modem.

Battery Life

The Realme 10's endurance rating of 126 hours is impressive, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Realme 9 5G also offers good battery life, the Realme 10 likely has a larger battery capacity. The Realme 10's 33W charging is significantly faster than the Realme 9 5G's 18W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Realme 9 5G is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize 5G connectivity and don't mind slightly slower charging. The Realme 10 is ideal for those seeking a brighter display, faster charging speeds, and a more contemporary design, even if it lacks 5G.