Realme 9 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A23 5G: The Ultimate Budget Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G edges out the Realme 9 5G thanks to its superior display brightness, faster charging, and potentially better software support. While both share the same chipset, Samsung's refinements in other areas make it the slightly better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme 9 5G | Samsung Galaxy A23 5G |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 2, 5, 30, 66, 77 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, May 12 | 2022, August 05 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, June 09 | Available. Released 2022, September 02 |
| 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) | 165.4 x 76.9 x 8.4 mm (6.51 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 191 g (6.74 oz) | 197 g (6.95 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (peak) | PLS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, One UI 6 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF, OIS 5 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| 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 | - |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - USA 8 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm - International |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio (market/region dependent) |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| - | Virtual proximity sensing | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 25W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Meteor Black, Stargaze White | Black, White, Peach, Blue |
| Models | RMX3474 | SM-A236U, SM-A236U1, SM-A236B, SM-A236B/DS, SM-A236B/DSN, SM-A236E, SM-S236DL |
| Price | About 190 EUR | $ 84.44 / £ 129.00 / € 125.28 / ₹ 21,000 |
| SAR | - | 0.68 W/kg (head) 0.57 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.49 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 138h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1328:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.9 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 318821 (v9) GeekBench: 1940 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 9 5G
- Sleek design
- Compact form factor
- Decent performance for the price
- Slower charging (18W)
- Potentially less polished software
- Likely dimmer display
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G
- Brighter and better display
- Faster charging (25W)
- Longer battery life
- Samsung's brand reliability
- Larger size
- Potentially less exciting design
Display Comparison
The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G boasts a brighter display (508 nits vs Realme 9 5G's likely around 400-450 nits, based on typical Realme displays) and a slightly better contrast ratio, resulting in a more visually appealing experience, especially outdoors. Both offer a similar resolution and refresh rate, but Samsung's brightness advantage is noticeable.
Camera Comparison
While both are listed as 'Photo / Video', the Galaxy A23 5G is expected to have a more versatile camera system with potentially better image processing due to Samsung's established camera expertise. Realme often focuses on vibrant colors, which some may prefer, but Samsung generally offers more balanced and realistic results. Specific sensor details are needed for a definitive comparison.
Performance
Both phones utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, meaning performance will be largely similar for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. However, Samsung's software optimization might provide a slightly smoother experience. Realme's UI can sometimes feel a bit less polished.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A23 5G shines here with an impressive endurance rating of 138 hours. The Realme 9 5G's battery life is respectable, but likely falls short of the A23 5G's longevity. The A23 5G's 25W charging is also faster than the Realme 9 5G's 18W.
Buying Guide
The Realme 9 5G is a good option for users prioritizing a sleek design and a slightly more compact form factor. The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G is ideal for those who value a vibrant display, faster charging, and the reliability of the Samsung brand.