Month: May 2022

The Red Magic 7 Pro joins the regular model in getting a global release, but it’s more expensive and arguably a downgrade in some key areas

Razer might have released the very first gaming phone, but three other companies have dominated the market since then. Asus’s ROG Phones have long been considered the devices to beat, with Xiaomi’s Black Sharks typically a more affordable alternative.

But Nubia is the most prolific, with a total of 14 Red Magic phones in just four years. The Red Magic 7 Series sees both regular and Pro models released globally for the first time.

A price increase means the 7 Pro is the most expensive gaming phone Nubia has ever made. But depending on what’s important to you, it’s not necessarily an upgrade over the regular Red Magic 7. Here are my thoughts after spending a few weeks with the phone.

Design & build
Premium build, including metal plate on back
Under-display selfie camera makes phone more compact
Even heavier than regular Red Magic 7

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The FoKus Pro is an audiophile-focused, true wireless stereo in-ear monitor featuring a hybrid design with 2 balanced armatures from Knowles and a custom 8.2mm dynamic driver. Compared to Falcon, John states that the drivers of the FoKus Pro are different. Additionally, the custom dynamic driver’s diameter has also increased from 6mm to 8.2mm.

Just like the Falcon Pro, FoKus Pro features Qualcomm’s QCC3040 Bluetooth 5.2 chipset with AptX Adaptive codec support. As for the design, it features a custom-like 3D printed shell with a wizard’s designer swirl patterned faceplate. I am including the highlights & specs of the FoKus Pro below.

Specifications & Highlights

Configuration: 2 Knowles Balanced Armatures + 8.2mm Custom Dynamic Driver

Bluetooth Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3040 Bluetooth 5.2

Supported Codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive

Approximate Battery Life: 7.5H + 3 or 4 Charges

Earbud Battery Capacity: 45mAh

Case Battery Capacity: 500 mAh

Material: 3D Printed Semi-Custom Shell with Custom Artwork 

Features: App Support, Onboard EQ, Embedded Touch Sensor, Master-Slave Switching Function. 

Noble Audio

Noble is an audio manufacturer based in the USA. They craft some of the nicest looking CIEMs & IEMs in the industry. The founder, John Moulton, also known as ‘The Wizard’, is a meticulous craftsman and I’ve been following his work for quite some time now. My first encounter with Noble Audio dates back to 2014/15. I bought the K10U and Savant in-ear monitors from them. At the time I think the K10 was one of the top 10 in-ear monitors money can buy. Shortly after listening to my K10, a friend of mine had the K10 built as a prestige custom. We were amazed by the aesthetics and the sound. The IEMs were looking magical indeed.

Noble Audio designs and builds aesthetically pleasing products and I really like that about them. John’s attention to detail and material selection is truly unique. I was very happy to see them entering the wireless sphere. I think around 1-1.5 years ago they introduced their first wireless earbuds, the Falcon. Shortly after that, Falcon Pro was released. Throughout the years, we published several articles covering Noble products here on Headfonia and you can check them out by clicking here. Today, we’re going to be taking a look at their latest wireless offering, the FoKus Pro.

As for general phone operations, the Realme 9i is absolutely fine. There’s hardly any lag, zipping through menus and jumping from tab to tab in the browser feels reasonably speedy, and the camera is quick to respond to commands.

Rarely did I have to shut down dormant apps to free up memory. The version I was sent for testing featured 4GB of RAM, so presumably, the 6GB version will let you do more of the same without having to kibosh old processes quite so much.

How well a 4GB phone will last you over the years is another thing – if you can pick up a 6GB version, that’s obviously the one you should go for. This version is nowhere to be seen on the official UK store, but you do get 128GB of storage as standard.

Less good news is the absence of 5G connectivity, although if this is a problem for you, then you might want to hold on to your wallet for the Realme 9 5G and Realme 9 Pro phones, both of which feature 5G support. If you’re not fussed about last-gen mobile speeds, or you live somewhere which still can’t get 5G reception, this might not be a problem anyway.

Cameras
50Mp main camera with 2Mp black & white and a 2Mp macro sensors
16Mp front facing camera
Records up to 1080p @30fps
Time lapse and slo-mo modes
The Realme 9i’s 50Mp main camera can take some very good stills, but, as is often the case with cheap phones, there are some limitations; the autofocus sometimes struggles with fast-moving subjects, and low light shots are generally quite noisy.

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Powerful battery performance, good cameras, and a decent display all add up to a winning package in the Realme 9i

Should I buy the Realme 9i?
Expert’s Rating:

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recommended
Pros
Nice design
128GB storage as standard
Long battery life
33W fast charging
Cons
Average performance
No 5G
4GB of RAM
Our Verdict
The Realme 9i is one of the best budget Android phones available to buy right now. It’s not quite the best, but it offers great value-for-money and more than adequate performance if you just want a basic, inexpensive 4G smartphone.

Price when reviewed
Unavailable in the US

Realme 9i full review

The Realme 9i is an Android smartphone which aims to deliver a high-end experience for a low-end price – just under £200.

There’s plenty of competition at this price point, with the Redmi Note 11 offering a similar performance-per-pound promise and the Poco M4 Pro 5G boasting many of the same features, but with added 5G support, for a bit more at £239.

While there’s a lot to weigh up, on its own merits, the Realme 9i already offers a lot – a 6.6in 90Hz display, all-day fast-charging battery, a triple lens camera – and all for just two tons. Can the Realme 9i challenge for the best budget phone.

Design & Build
Plastic body, metallic finish
Type-C reversible USB, 3.5 headphone jack
Fingerprint scanner built into power key
Like a lot of budget Android phones, the Realme 9i is made from lightweight plastic, but it has a reflective coating. It comes into two colour options, Prism Blue and Prism Black, and the blue option I’ve tested is a nice, light shade similar to that of a fancy bottle of gin.

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