Realme 9 Pro+ vs Google Pixel 6a: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Champions
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality, software experience, and long-term support, the Google Pixel 6a is the superior choice. However, the Realme 9 Pro+ offers significantly faster charging and a brighter display, making it ideal for power users and those who frequently consume media outdoors.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Realme 9 Pro+ | Google Pixel 6a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - GX7AS, GB62Z (USA/Canada) |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GX7AS (USA/Canada) |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 40, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - G1AZG (International) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, February 16 | 2022, May 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, February 21 | Available. Released 2022, July 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.83 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~83.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | OLED, HDR |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.80 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.25 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) | Google Tensor (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G68 MC4 | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 17mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1.25µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 4410 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition | Chalk, Charcoal, Sage |
| Models | RMX3392, RMX3393 | GX7AS, GB62Z, G1AZG, GB17L |
| Price | £ 493.68 | $ 138.99 / C$ 228.74 / ₹ 23,999 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 94h |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Realme 9 Pro+
- 60W SuperDart Charging: Extremely fast charging speeds.
- Brighter Display: Superior visibility in sunlight.
- Potentially Higher Raw CPU Performance: Dimensity 920 offers strong processing power.
- Less Refined Software Experience: Realme UI may not appeal to all users.
- Camera Likely Relies More on Hardware: May lack the computational photography prowess of the Pixel.
Google Pixel 6a
- Exceptional Camera Quality: Google’s computational photography is industry-leading.
- Clean Software Experience: Stock Android with guaranteed updates.
- Google Tensor Chip: Optimized for AI and machine learning tasks.
- Slower Charging: 18W charging is significantly slower than the Realme 9 Pro+.
- Dimmer Display: Less visible in direct sunlight.
Display Comparison
The Pixel 6a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 876 nits compared to the Realme 9 Pro+'s 613 nits. This translates to superior visibility under direct sunlight. While both utilize OLED technology, the Pixel 6a’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and a more vibrant image. The Realme 9 Pro+’s display, while adequate, will appear washed out in comparison when used outdoors. Neither specification details refresh rate, but Realme typically offers 90Hz on Pro models, a potential advantage if present.
Camera Comparison
The context data lacks detailed camera specifications, making a direct sensor comparison impossible. However, Google’s Pixel phones are renowned for their computational photography prowess, leveraging the Tensor chip’s image signal processor (ISP). The Pixel 6a likely excels in dynamic range, low-light performance, and overall image quality through software optimization. While the Realme 9 Pro+ likely features a high-resolution sensor, it will rely more on hardware than Google’s sophisticated algorithms. Without knowing sensor sizes or aperture values, it’s safe to assume the Pixel 6a will deliver more consistently pleasing results, especially for casual users.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Tensor (5nm) utilizes a Cortex-X1 prime core clocked at 2.80 GHz, designed for peak performance, alongside A76 and A55 cores. The Realme 9 Pro+ employs the Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6nm) with Cortex-A78 and A55 cores. While the Dimensity 920 offers a strong octa-core configuration, the Tensor’s 5nm process and Cortex-X1 core provide a performance edge, particularly in AI-related tasks. The Pixel 6a’s Tensor chip is also optimized for Google’s machine learning algorithms, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. The 6nm process of the Dimensity 920 should offer good efficiency, but the Tensor’s architecture is more advanced.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+ has an endurance rating of 117 hours, while the Pixel 6a manages 94 hours. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story. The Realme 9 Pro+ compensates for a potentially smaller battery capacity with its incredibly fast 60W wired charging, achieving a full charge in just 44 minutes. The Pixel 6a’s 18W charging is significantly slower. This means the Realme 9 Pro+ is more forgiving if you frequently run out of battery, offering a quick top-up. The Pixel 6a relies on software optimization and the Tensor chip’s efficiency to maximize battery life, but the Realme’s charging speed is a major advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you need blazing-fast 60W charging, a brighter screen for outdoor visibility, and prioritize raw CPU performance for demanding tasks. Buy the Google Pixel 6a if you prefer a clean, streamlined software experience, exceptional computational photography, and guaranteed software updates directly from Google.