Realme 9i vs Galaxy S26 Ultra

Direct side-by-side battle analyzing display brightness, chipset benchmark percentiles, multi-camera arrays, battery capacity, and charging speeds.

Smartphone Battle

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· 2022

Realme 9i

Price on request

77.8/ 100

Overall

Exceptional

BeastScore

77.8

Benchmark

Performance72/100

Camera84/100

Battery86/100

· 2026

Galaxy S26 Ultra

$1299

88.2/ 100

Overall

Exceptional

BeastScore

88.2

Benchmark

Performance90/100

Camera100/100

Battery86/100

Which Phone Should You Buy: Key Reasons & Hardware Advantages

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Reasons to buy Realme 9i:

✓27g lighter chassis (187g) optimized for one-handed ergonomics
✓50.1MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
✓6.6" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

Reasons to buy Galaxy S26 Ultra:

✓$8700 lower launch MSRP ($1299 vs $9999)
✓200MP primary camera sensor with 4K/120fps video recording
✓6.9" display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate

How Do the Specifications Compare Side-by-Side?

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Specification	Realme 9i	Galaxy S26 Ultra
1. Display & Screen
Screen Type & Tech	IPS TFT LCD	Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X (Privacy Display)
Screen Size	6.6"	6.9"
Resolution & Density	1080x2412 (401 ppi)	3120x1440 (501 ppi)
Refresh Rate	90 Hz ProMotion	120 Hz ProMotion
Brightness	N/A	2,600 nits peak
Screen Protection	Scratch-resistant glass	Scratch-resistant glass
2. Platform & Performance
Chipset / Processor	High performance SoC	High performance SoC
CPU Cores	Multi-core high performance	Multi-core high performance
GPU Graphics	Integrated Graphics	Integrated Graphics
Operating System	Android 12	Android 16
3. Memory & Storage
RAM Memory	6 GB	12 GB
Internal Storage	64GB / 128GB	256GB / 512GB / 1024GB
Storage Speed	High-speed flash	High-speed flash
Card Slot	No	No
4. Main Camera Optics
Primary Camera	50.1 MP	200 MP, f/1.4, OIS, Samsung HP2
Telephoto Zoom	None (Digital zoom only)	10 MP (3x optical zoom), f/2.4, OIS + 50 MP (5x optical zoom), f/2.9, OIS
Ultrawide Camera	N/A	50 MP, f/2
LiDAR / Depth	None	None
5. Video Recording Capabilities
Main Camera Video	4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR	4K@60fps1080p@240fpsHDR
Front Video	4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS	4K@60fps1080p@60fpsgyro-EIS
6. Selfie Camera
Selfie Lens	8 MP	12 MP, f/2.2
7. Body & Dimensions
Dimensions	164.4 x 75.1 x 8.1 mm	163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm
Weight	187 g	214 g
Build Materials	Glass front, metal/glass frame	Glass front, metal/glass frame
SIM Type	Nano-SIM / eSIM support	Nano-SIM / eSIM support
Water Resistance	Not certified	IP68
8. Battery & Charging
Battery Capacity	5,000 mAh	5,000 mAh
Wired Fast Charging	18W wired fast charging	60W wired fast charging
Wireless Charging	Not supported	25W wireless charging
Reverse Charging	Reverse wireless charging	Reverse wireless charging
9. Sound & Audio
Loudspeaker	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
3.5mm Headphone Jack	No	No
10. Connectivity & Comms
Wi-Fi Standard	Wi-Fi 7 / 6E tri-band	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.2	6.0
USB Port & Speed	USB C reversible	USB-C 3.2
NFC	Yes	Yes (contactless payment)
11. Sensors & Security
Sensors	Biometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compass	Biometric fingerprint/face, accelerometer, gyro, compass
Satellite Features	Emergency SOS via satellite (select markets)	Emergency SOS via satellite (select markets)
12. Colors & Overview
Colors	Standard finishes	Standard finishes
Launch Price	Price on request	$1299

Editorial Lab Verdict

Galaxy S26 Ultra edges ahead with a BeastScore of 88.2/100

After comprehensive hardware benchmark comparisons, Galaxy S26 Ultra ranks as the overall top pick in this matchup. Key differentiators include its advanced processor architecture and verified 100/100 camera rating.

When to buy Realme 9i:

Lighter body: 187g (27g lighter in hand)

When to buy Galaxy S26 Ultra:

Higher overall BeastScore: 88.2 vs top rival 77.8 · Significantly faster wired charging: 60W vs max 18W

Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions: Realme 9i vs Galaxy S26 Ultra

Which phone is better: Realme 9i or Galaxy S26 Ultra?

Galaxy S26 Ultra leads with an overall BeastScore of 88.2/100 compared to Realme 9i (77.8/100), driven by advantages in Higher overall BeastScore: 88.2 vs top rival 77.8 and Significantly faster wired charging: 60W vs max 18W.