Realme 9 vs Realme C55: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The Realme 9 and Realme C55 are both strong contenders in the budget smartphone market, offering compelling features at attractive price points. But which one truly delivers the best experience? We've put both phones through rigorous testing to determine the winner in this head-to-head comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme 9 edges out the C55 thanks to its superior Snapdragon 680 chipset and significantly longer battery life. While the C55 boasts a slightly brighter display and faster charging, the Realme 9's overall performance and endurance make it the more well-rounded choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme 9	Realme C55

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41	1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2022, April 07	2023, March 07
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 12	Available. Released 2023, March 08

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)	165.6 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	178 g (6.28 oz)	189.5 g (6.70 oz)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	-
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density)
Size	6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 680 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver)	Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm)	Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm)
GPU	Adreno 610	Mali-G52 MC2
OS	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Realme UI 5.0	Android 13, Realme UI 4.0

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

Main Camera
Dual	-	64 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF Auxiliary lens
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	-	8 MP, (wide)
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@30/60fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm	8 MP, (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	5.2, A2DP, LE
NFC	No	Yes, 360˚ (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	Unspecified	No
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

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	33W wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 75 min	33W wired, 50% in 29 min
Type	5000 mAh	5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Meteor Black, Sunburst Gold, Stargaze White	Sun Shower, Rainy Night, Rainforest
Models	RMX3521	RMX3710
Price	About 660 EUR	₹ 8,399
SAR	1.16 W/kg (head) 0.59 W/kg (body)	-

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 156h	Endurance rating 123h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: 1264:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-30.4 LUFS (Below average)	-31.8 LUFS (Below average)
Performance	AnTuTu: 290097 (v9) GeekBench: 1601 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.3fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 257263 (v9) GeekBench: 1452 (v5.1), 1413 (v6) GFXBench: 9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme 9

Superior Performance (Snapdragon 680)
Exceptional Battery Life (156h Endurance)
Efficient 6nm Chipset
Good Display Brightness

Camera details are limited
Design may not appeal to everyone

Realme C55

Slightly Brighter Display (659 nits)
Faster Charging (29 min to 50%)
Stylish Design
Good Value for Money

Weaker Performance (Helio G88)
Shorter Battery Life (123h Endurance)
Less Efficient 12nm Chipset

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant displays, but the Realme C55 takes a slight lead with a measured peak brightness of 659 nits compared to the Realme 9's 647 nits. While the contrast ratios are similar (Infinite for Realme 9, 1264:1 for C55), the C55's higher brightness makes it more visible in direct sunlight. Both offer good color reproduction for the price.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is generally comparable between the two phones, with both offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is likely to be similar, though specific camera hardware details are missing. Both phones offer standard photo and video capabilities.

Performance

The Realme 9's Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm) chipset offers a noticeable performance advantage over the Realme C55's Mediatek Helio G88 (12nm). The Snapdragon 680 is generally more efficient and provides smoother multitasking and gaming experiences. The Realme 9's 6nm process also contributes to better power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Realme 9 shines in the battery department, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 156 hours, significantly exceeding the Realme C55's 123 hours. This translates to noticeably longer usage times between charges, making the Realme 9 a clear winner for battery-focused users.

Buying Guide

The Realme 9 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life and smoother performance for everyday tasks and light gaming. The Realme C55 is a good option for those who value a brighter display and faster charging speeds, and are less concerned about raw processing power.