India has a new all-rounder: we are talking about the Realme 7i, a very affordable phone offering unique features for its price segments, such as a great 64 MP camera and a 90 Hz refresh rate! It is definitely one of the highest value for money devices of the moment, but can you actually get more interesting handsets in the Indian market? The answer is not easy to give because it depends on the users’ needs. In the same price range, among the hottest devices in the Indian market, there are Redmi Note 9 and POCO M2. This is the reason why we decided to compare them to the new Realme 7i.
Realme 7i vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 vs Xiaomi POCO M2
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | Realme 7i | Xiaomi POCO M2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 162.3 x 77.2 x 8.9 mm, 199 grams | 164.1 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm, 188 grams | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm, 198 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 720 x 1600p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | MediaTek Helio G85, octa-core 2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, octa-core 2 GHz | Mediatek Helio G80, octa-core 2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, MIUI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.3 front camera |
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.3 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.1 front camera |
Quad 13 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP f/2.2, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5020 mAh, fast charging 18W | 5000 mAh, fast charging 18W | 5000 mAh, fast charging 18W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, reverse charging 9W | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot, water-repellent |
Design
The POCO M2 does not offer the most modern design you can get in the affordable segment. With its waterdrop notch and centrally-placed camera module, it looks definitely more outdated than its two rivals. The Realme 7i is the most futuristic one with its punch-hole display and its camera module reminiscent of the iPhone 11 lineup. On the other hand, the Redmi Note 9 offers a water-repellent coating which is always useful for those who often use their smartphone outside. Thanks to its 20:9 aspect ratio, Realme 7i has a taller and narrower design which makes it even more attractive.
Display
Do you prefer having a Full HD+ display with a higher level of detail or an HD+ display with a lower definition and a higher 90 Hz refresh rate? If your answer is the first, then go for the Redmi Note 9. It has a Full HD+ display just like the POCO M2, but it comes with higher brightness, so it has a definitely better panel. If you do not mind so much about the resolution and you would like to try a higher refresh rate to get a smoother viewing experience, then the perfect option for you is the Realme 7i with its 90 Hz display. POCO M2, Redmi Note 9, and Realme 7i all come with IPS displays: what changes are the resolution and the refresh rate.
Specs & Software
The Realme 7i wins the hardware comparison. What makes its better is not the chipset, but its memory configuration. It sports 8 GB of RAM, while you can get max 4 or 6 GB of RAM with Redmi Note 9 and POCO M2. Further, while Redmi Note 9 and POCO M2 are equipped with eMMC internal storage, Realme 7i has faster UFS 2.1 native storage with a 128 GB capacity. Also, consider that the Snapdragon 662 is built with a better production process than Helio G80 and Helio G85 (11 nm vs 12 nm), so it is even less energy-demanding. Last but not least, the 90 Hz refresh rate will let the Realme 7i look smoother (but as said above, say goodbye to FHD+ resolution). If you need the device with the best performance, go for the Realme 7i. All run Android 10 out of the box.
Camera
Given that the Realme 7i has a better main sensor for its rear camera setup, it wins the camera comparison as well. It sports a 64 MP midrange-class main camera paired with an 8 MP ultrawide lens and a pair of 2 MP lens for macro and depth info. The secondary sensors are the same as Redmi Note 9 and POCO M2, but the main sensor changes. The Redmi Note 9 is superior to the POCO M2 thanks to its 48 MP main sensor. Besides being a better camera phone, Realme 7i is even a better selfie phone thanks to its 16 MP front snapper.
Battery
There are no huge differences between the battery life of these handsets: they have more or less the same battery capacity (around 5000 mAh), but given that Realme 7i has a lower display resolution and a more efficient chipset, it should last a bit more. On the other hand, Redmi Note 9 supports reverse charging and it can be used as a power bank.
Price
Realme 7i is priced Rs. 11,999 / $164 in India (8/128 GB), Redmi Note 9 costs Rs. 12,499 / $170 (4/64 GB), and POCO M2 costs Rs. 10,999 / $150 (6/64 GB). Realme 7i sports a higher refresh rate, better cameras, and a superior hardware department. But Redmi Note 9 has a Full HD+ resolution instead of HD+, as well as reverse charging. POCO M2 is inferior to both but it has a higher value for money. I would personally try the Realme 7i. What would your choice be?
Realme 7i vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 vs Xiaomi POCO M2: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
PROs
- Water-repellent
- Reverse charging
- Good price
- MIUI 12 out of the box
- IR sensor
- Full HD+ display
- NFC (depends on the market)
CONS
- Nothing particular
Realme 7i
PROs
- 90 Hz display
- Best cameras
- UFS 2.1 storage
- Long battery life
CONS
- HD+ display
Xiaomi POCO M2
PROs
- Water-repellent
- Very affordable
- IR sensor
- Full HD+ display
CONS
- Inferior cameras
