Redmi 9 vs Realme C15 Specs Comparison – 1080p Screen or 6000mAh Battery?

At the moment, Redmi 9 is the cheapest phone you can get with a 1080p display. Compared to 720p, that’s a considerable upgrade in terms of sharpness quality. With the Realme C15 on the horizon, can it steal the thunder from Redmi 9? Though we’re not sure of the official SRP of C15, it’s highly likely that it’ll replace the Realme 5i at P6,990. Coincidentally, Redmi 9 costs the same for the base model.

Redmi 9 and Realme C15 Similarities and Differences

Which is the better buy between the Redmi 9 and Realme C15?

Design and Display

Neither of the two devices standout with their typical all-polycarbonate body. Though the Redmi 9 cheaply imitates the K30 Series, the C15 tries something new with its squared camera module on the top-left corner. If you think Xiaomi’s phone is missing a fingerprint scanner, it’s not; it’s just hidden below the camera module. While the Redmi 9 is already thick for a phone, Realme C15 takes it up a notch. The device is 209g heavy, with 9.88m thickness. Accidentally drop it on your face, and you’re most likely to nosebleed.  

Despite the heftier build of C15, the two budget phones are still the same in size display — 6.5-inch. You even get the teardrop notch, albeit at a smaller size. While Xiaomi is generous enough to share its Gorilla Glass 3 protection, Realme is quiet about the version it’s using. Regardless, colors and brightness levels should be nearly identical, due to the IPS LCD. The resolution, on the other end, is where Redmi 9 takes the cake. Its 1080p screen will allow you to watch videos with sharper quality. And recently, YouTube made 720p as non-HD or standard quality only.  

Though the design is going to be decided by user preference, the Redmi 9 wins the screen department.  

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Performance

Helio G80 vs Helio G35 — Unlike the design, you need to be mindful when picking up either phone in favor of performance. Redmi 9 carries Helio G80 inside, which performs nearly like a mid-end gaming chipset. It’s a step above the G35, no doubt, especially in synthetic benchmarks. In day-to-day use, the G80 is enough to provide a decent experience. However, we did see it struggle to render more frames when using graphics-intensive apps. 

In the case of Realme C15, Helio G35 is, indeed, made for entry-level devices. Day-to-day performance isn’t quite as good as the G80, but the low-resolution screen may help a bit in saving battery life. While you might say that the screen will also aid in playing games, the GPU here is PowerVR GE8320 and not Mali-G52 MC2. 

For memory, both come in with up to 4GB RAM and 64GB models. However, the Redmi 9’s base model only comes with 32GB storage, unlike the 64GB of Realme C15.  

Regardless, we still think the Redmi 9 has the upper hand in overall performance. Aside from raw power, it even packs a better Wi-Fi modem for a stronger connection. 

Cameras

Spec-wise, the cameras and lenses of both devices are nearly equal. Both are equipped with 13MP main sensor, 8MP selfie, and 8MP ultrawide. The Redmi 9, though, lets you use Macro Mode with a dedicated 5MP lens. For Realme C15, aside from the 2MP monochrome, the other 2MP lens is apparently retro. Either way, all cameras are capped at 1080p@30fps video recording. 

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Audio

For the speakers and jack, it’s a standard affair here. It’s nice just to have them, that’s all.

Battery and Charging

While both are capable of 18W charging, only the Redmi 9 supports the new USB-C standard for its 5020mAh battery. On the other end, Realme C15 may be sporting an old port, but it has a massive 6000mAh to power. There’s no doubt that the C15 beats the Redmi 9 in longevity, so long you’re willing to sacrifice USB-C. Even I am having a hard time deciding which to get, so we’re leaving this one up to you to decide. 

Verdict

See the price breakdown of Redmi 9 and Realme C15 below:

• Redmi 9 – 3GB/32GB – Php6,990
• Redmi 9 – 4GB/64GB – P7,490
• Realme C15 3GB/64GB – IDR 1,999,000 (~P6,900)
• Realme C15 4GB/64GB – IDR 2,199,000(~P7,400)

In this comparison, they’re awfully close in price. The challenge now, for Realme, is to market the C15 competitively. That’s either going with the converted price right now or by making the top model sell for P6,990. With taxes and fees upon them, it’s going to be tricky. 

READ: Realme 6i vs Redmi 9 Specs Comparison – The Best Budget Gaming Phones!