Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: price in India, specs, features compared

The Realme 9 5G and Realme 9 SE 5G has been launched in India along with Realme TechLife Watch S100 and Buds N100. The last two are budget offerings from Realme’s lifestyle category. The Realme 9 5G is a standard model, whereas, the Realme 9 SE 5G is a brand new addition to the Realme 9 series, where SE stands for Speed Edition.

Also read: Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Note 11 Pro+ 5G vs Realme 9 Pro vs 9 Pro+ 5G: price in India, specs, features compared

True to its name, the SE variant comes with a more powerful Snapdragon 778G chip and happens to be the cheapest 144Hz display phone in India. The Realme 9 5G, on the other hand, comes with the Dimensity 810 chip, high refresh rate display, 48-megapixel triple cameras, and a large-sized battery with fast charging.

These smartphones launched a day after Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Note 11 Pro+ 5G in India. If you’re wondering which of these devices to choose, here’s a detailed comparison to make it easier for you.

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: complete specs

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: price in India

Realme 9 5G price in India

Realme 9 SE 5G price in India

Redmi Note 11 Pro price in India

Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G price in India

As you can see except for the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, all other options come in two configurations. The Note 11 Pro+ starts at Rs 20,999 and offers most options to buyers including a higher 8GB + 256GB variant. The Realme 9 SE 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G are offered in 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB options starting at Rs 19,999 and Rs 17,999, respectively. Lastly, the Realme 9 5G offers the lowest RAM configurations amongst all with options including 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB, starting at Rs 14,999.

While Realme 9 5G is the cheapest, the 4GB RAM is kind of a deal-breaker in 2022. As for the other options, the Realme 9 SE 5G offers most value-for-money proposition for the base variant with an impressive spec sheet, which is why this round goes to it.

Winner: Realme 9 SE 5G

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: display

The Realme 9 SE 5G is the cheapest 144Hz display phone in India

The Realme 9 5G and 9 SE 5G are both equipped with FHD+ LCD displays. The standard Realme 9 5G ships with a smaller 6.5-inch panel with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Realme 9 SE 5G, on the other hand, is Realme’s first smartphone with a 144Hz refresh rate display in India. It’s also the cheapest phone to offer a 144Hz display in the country. The Redmi Note 11 Pro and Pro+ 5G both come with a 6.67-inch FHD+ sAMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

There can be an argument here that an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate is better than an LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. However, we cannot downplay the fact that the Realme 9 SE 5G offers a 144Hz panel under Rs 20,000 in the country. Therefore, it’s a tie between the three.

Winner: Tie between Realme 9 SE 5G and Redmi Note 11 Pro duo

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: performance and software

The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is being offered in Mirage Blue, Stealth Black, and Phantom White colours

The Realme 9 5G and Realme 9 SE 5G are equipped with Dimensity 810 and Snapdragon 778G SoC under the hood. These smartphones offer up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. There’s also support for 5GB of virtual RAM, which can take total RAM up to 13GB for the lineup. They boot Realme UI 2.0 with the dated Android 11 as the base.

As for the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Pro+ 5G, they are powered by MediaTek Helio G96 and Snapdragon 695 processors respectively. The processor is backed by up to 8GB RAM with 3GB virtual RAM expansion and 128GB native storage. The software onboard is the latest MIUI 13 with Android 11 as the foundation.

Thanks to the higher virtual RAM support and more powerful Snapdragon 778G processor at its core, this round goes to the Realme 9 SE 5G. It helps that the smartphone comes with a cleaner user interface as well.

Winner: Realme 9 SE 5G

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: cameras

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G comes in Starlight Blue, Stealth Black, and Phantom White

In the camera department, both Realme 9 5G and Realme 9 SE 5G are equipped with a 48MP primary camera assisted by a 2-megapixel depth assist lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. As for the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G, they feature a 108MP main camera backed by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro unit. The standard Redmi Note 11 Pro gets an additional 2MP depth lens. For selfies and video calling, there’s a 16MP shooter on the front of all four devices.

Winner: Redmi Note 11 Pro

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: battery

The Realme 9 5G comes with a 90Hz display and Dimensity 810 SoC

As for the battery, all four smartphones are equipped with a 5,000mAh cell. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro duo are equipped with 67W fast charging whereas, the Realme 9 5G and 9 SE 5G offer 18W and 30W fast charging, respectively.

Winner: Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G

Realme 9 5G vs Realme 9 SE 5G vs Redmi Note 11 Pro vs Redmi Note 11 Pro+: conclusion

In a nutshell, with two wins and one tie with the Redmi Note 11 Pro duo, the Realme 9 SE 5G poses serious competition to the Xiaomi offering. It might not be the cheapest offering around but it makes up for the price markup with a 144Hz display, the most powerful chipset of the lot, and cleaner software. The Redmi Note 11 Pro duo is good for those looking for a smartphone with a good display, powerful cameras, and a fast-charging battery. The standard Note 11 Pro is missing the 5G support and hence is the runt of the litter here. The Realme 9 5G is a good option for those who want a solid 5G device but are restricted by budget.