Realme 9 Pro+ vs Samsung Galaxy M23: A Detailed Comparison of Mid-Range Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and rapid charging, the Realme 9 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 920 chipset offers a noticeable performance uplift, and the 60W charging dramatically reduces downtime. However, the Samsung Galaxy M23 remains a viable option for those seeking a more balanced, efficient device.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Samsung Galaxy M23 | Realme 9 Pro+ |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, March 04 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 08 | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 165.5 x 77 x 8.4 mm (6.52 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.9 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT LCD, 120Hz | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.2 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | 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, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, 720p@480fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | 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 Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual Proximity Sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised) |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Deep Green, Light Blue, Orange Copper | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition |
| Models | SM-M236B, SM-M236B/DS, SM-M236L | RMX3392, RMX3393 |
| Price | £ 195.34 | € 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.78 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 117h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.3 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9) GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1) GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy M23
- Potentially better battery efficiency due to Snapdragon 750G's architecture.
- Samsung's One UI offers a mature and feature-rich software experience.
- Likely more affordable price point.
- Slower charging speed (25W) compared to the Realme 9 Pro+.
- Less powerful chipset for demanding tasks and gaming.
- Display specifications are unknown, potentially lacking high refresh rate.
Realme 9 Pro+
- Significantly faster 60W charging with PD3.0 support.
- More powerful MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset for superior performance.
- Likely features a higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals.
- Potentially lower battery efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 750G.
- Realme UI may not appeal to all users.
- May be slightly more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy M23.
Display Comparison
The provided data lacks detailed display specifications for either device. However, Realme typically emphasizes high refresh rates in the 'Pro+' line, suggesting a 90Hz or 120Hz panel is likely, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to the M23, which likely features a standard 60Hz display. The Realme 9 Pro+'s advertised 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a vibrant AMOLED panel, while the M23's panel type is unknown. Without nit brightness data, it's difficult to assess outdoor visibility, but Realme often prioritizes brightness in this segment.
Camera Comparison
The context data is limited regarding camera specifics. However, the Realme 9 Pro+ is likely to feature a more advanced camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. While the M23 likely offers a competent camera experience, the Dimensity 920’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) generally provides more headroom for computational photography, resulting in better low-light performance and dynamic range. The absence of details on OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) makes it difficult to assess video stabilization capabilities, but it's a feature often found in Realme's 'Pro+' models.
Performance
The Realme 9 Pro+ boasts a significant advantage in processing power thanks to its MediaTek Dimensity 920 (6nm). This chipset features a more modern CPU architecture – Cortex-A78 cores – compared to the Samsung Galaxy M23’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G (8nm). The Dimensity 920’s Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at 2.5 GHz, will deliver faster single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smoother multitasking. The 6nm process node also contributes to improved power efficiency compared to the Snapdragon 750G’s 8nm node, though the difference may be less pronounced in real-world usage. The Snapdragon 750G is still capable, but will likely show its limitations in graphically intensive games and demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+’s 60W wired charging is a game-changer, promising a full charge in just 44 minutes (advertised). This is a substantial improvement over the Samsung Galaxy M23’s 25W charging. While the M23 may have a slightly larger battery capacity (not specified in the data), the 9 Pro+'s faster charging effectively mitigates any potential battery life disadvantage. The Realme 9 Pro+ also boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, suggesting excellent battery optimization. The faster charging is particularly beneficial for users who frequently find themselves needing to top up their battery throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy M23 if you need a reliable, efficient phone for everyday tasks and value long-term battery life over peak performance. It's ideal for users who don't heavily game or require extremely fast charging. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you prefer a phone capable of handling demanding games and applications, and if minimizing charging time is a top priority. This phone is geared towards power users and those who frequently multitask.