The Realme 9 and Motorola Edge 30 Neo represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim for affordability, they take different approaches: the Realme 9 prioritizes extended battery life, while the Motorola Edge 30 Neo focuses on faster charging and 5G connectivity. This comparison dissects their key specifications to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Realme 9 emerges as the winner. Its significantly superior endurance rating of 156 hours, compared to the Edge 30 Neo’s 104 hours, offers a tangible benefit. However, those valuing rapid replenishment and 5G capabilities will find the Edge 30 Neo a more appealing choice.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 07 | 2022, September 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 12 | Available. Released 2022, October 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) | 152.9 x 71.2 x 7.8 mm (6.02 x 2.80 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178 g (6.28 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| | - | Splash and dust resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~419 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.28 inches, 95.2 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) | P-OLED, 120Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0 | Android 12, planned upgrade to Android 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 108 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64µm, dual pixel PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60/120fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.0", 0.7µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| 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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 75 min | 68W wired
5W wireless |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4020 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White | Very Peri, Black Onyx, Ice Palace, Aqua Foam |
| Models | RMX3521 | XT2245-1 |
| Price | About 660 EUR | € 156.44 / $ 185.00 / £ 229.00 |
| SAR | 1.16 W/kg (head) 0.59 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 156h
|
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.4 LUFS (Below average)
|
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 290097 (v9)
GeekBench: 1601 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 380818 (v9)
GeekBench: 1964 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 9
- Exceptional battery life (156h endurance)
- More aggressive CPU core configuration
- Respectable 33W fast charging
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Dimmer display compared to the Edge 30 Neo
Motorola Edge 30 Neo
- Significantly brighter display (1004 nits)
- Faster 68W wired and 5W wireless charging
- Integrated 5G modem for faster data speeds
- Lower battery endurance (104h)
- Potentially less sustained CPU performance
Display Comparison
The Motorola Edge 30 Neo boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1004 nits compared to the Realme 9’s 647 nits. This translates to superior visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. Both displays share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting typical IPS LCD characteristics. The brighter panel on the Edge 30 Neo will be particularly beneficial for media consumption and gaming in bright environments, while the Realme 9’s display, while dimmer, will likely consume less power.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, lacking specific details in the provided data. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both utilize similar-tier sensors. The absence of details suggests neither phone is a standout performer in photography, focusing instead on providing adequate image capture capabilities for everyday use. We can infer that the Motorola Edge 30 Neo, being a slightly more premium device, *may* have a more sophisticated image processing pipeline.
Performance
At the heart of the Realme 9 lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G, built on a 6nm process. The Motorola Edge 30 Neo steps up to the Snapdragon 695 5G, also 6nm, but with integrated 5G modem capabilities. While both chipsets utilize an octa-core configuration, the Edge 30 Neo’s CPU features a slightly faster prime core (2.2 GHz vs 2.4 GHz on the Realme 9), but fewer high-performance cores (2 vs 4). The 5G modem in the Edge 30 Neo is a key differentiator, enabling faster download and upload speeds where available. However, the Realme 9’s more aggressive CPU core configuration may offer a slight edge in sustained multi-threaded tasks.
Battery Life
The Realme 9’s endurance rating of 156 hours significantly surpasses the Motorola Edge 30 Neo’s 104 hours. This difference is primarily attributable to the Realme 9’s more efficient chipset and potentially larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). While the Edge 30 Neo compensates with significantly faster charging – 68W wired and 5W wireless – the Realme 9’s 33W wired charging still provides a respectable 50% charge in 31 minutes and 100% in 75 minutes. The Edge 30 Neo’s faster charging is a clear convenience factor, but the Realme 9’s longer battery life reduces the need to charge as frequently.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme 9 if you need a phone that will reliably last through a full day – and potentially two – on a single charge, and don't heavily rely on 5G connectivity. It's ideal for users who prioritize battery peace of mind. Buy the Motorola Edge 30 Neo if you prefer the convenience of incredibly fast 68W charging, require 5G support for faster data speeds, and are comfortable with more frequent charging cycles. It's geared towards users who want a modern feature set and don't mind sacrificing some battery endurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 695 in the Motorola Edge 30 Neo offer a noticeable gaming performance improvement over the Snapdragon 680 in the Realme 9?
While the Snapdragon 695 is a more modern chipset with 5G capabilities, the performance difference in gaming is likely to be moderate. Both chipsets are mid-range and will handle most mobile games at medium settings. The Edge 30 Neo may exhibit slightly smoother performance in graphically demanding titles, but the Realme 9’s more aggressive CPU core configuration could provide a benefit in less GPU-intensive games.
❓ How much faster is the 68W charging on the Motorola Edge 30 Neo compared to the 33W charging on the Realme 9 in real-world usage?
The 68W charging on the Edge 30 Neo is substantially faster. While the Realme 9 reaches 100% in 75 minutes, the Edge 30 Neo will likely achieve a full charge in under an hour, potentially closer to 45-50 minutes depending on battery temperature and charging conditions. This difference is particularly noticeable in the initial stages of charging, where the Edge 30 Neo will gain a significant percentage in a short amount of time.
❓ Given the lower battery endurance of the Motorola Edge 30 Neo, is it practical for all-day use with moderate to heavy usage?
The Motorola Edge 30 Neo’s 104-hour endurance rating suggests it may struggle to last a full day with moderate to heavy usage, especially if 5G is frequently utilized. Users who frequently stream videos, play games, or use data-intensive applications will likely need to top up the battery during the day to avoid running out of power.
