Realme 9 gets a stable Android 13 update (Realme UI 4.0)

The Realme 9 is the most recent Realme phone to get the stable Android 13 upgrade. True, Android 13 has been out for more than a month, but smartphone manufacturers are gradually making it available on their devices. A few Realme phones will also receive the Android 13 upgrade.

On Realme phones, Android 13 is based on the most recent custom UI, Realme UI 4.0. And, like other Realme phones, the Realme 9 comes with both Android 13 and Realme UI 4.0.

Realme 9 was released one year ago today, with an Android 12 update. This means that Android 13 is the first big upgrade, which is extremely late given the phone’s age. The phone can still receive the next big Android upgrade.

The Realme 9 Android 13 upgrade has the build number C.10. And your phone must be running the latest Android 12 build RMX3521 11.A.33 | RMX3521 11.A.31 | RMX3521 11.A.29 to receive the new update. You will also receive an update with the larger size.

The Realme UI 4.0 update for Realme 9 includes a slew of new features, including Aquamorphic design, enhanced security and privacy, larger folders on the homescreen, and more. The complete list is available below.

Realme 9 Android 13 Changelog

Aquamorphic Design

Adds Aquamorphic Design theme colors for enhanced visual comfort.
Applies the Aquamorphic Design philosophy to animations to make them natural and vivid.
Adds Shadow-Reflective Clock, with shadows to simulate the orientation of the sun and moon.
Adds a Home screen world clock widget to show the time in different time zones.
Upgrades to Quantum Animation Engine 4.0, with a new behavior recognition feature, which recognizes complex gestures and provides optimized interactions.
Optimises UI layers for a clearer and neater visual experience.
Applies real-world physics to animations to make them look more natural and intuitive.
Optimizes the widget design to make information easier and quicker to find.
Optimises fonts for better readability.
Optimises system icons by using the latest color scheme to make the icons easier to recognize.
Enriches and optimizes illustrations for features by incorporating multicultural and inclusive elements.

Efficiency

Adds large folders to the Home screen. You can now open an app in an enlarged folder with just one tap and turn pages in the folder with a swipe.
Adds a new type of Always-On Display that shows live information about music, ride-hailing, and food delivery. (Supports only some apps)
Adds media playback control, and optimizes the Quick Settings experience.
Adds more markup tools for screenshot editing.
Adds support for adding widgets to the Home screen, making information display more personalized.
Upgrades Doodle in Notes. You can now draw on graphics to take notes more efficiently.
Optimises Shelf. Swiping down on the Home screen will bring up Shelf by default. You can search content online and on your device.

Seamless interconnection

Optimises Screencast, with cast content automatically adapting to the target screen.

Personalization

Adds Bitmoji to offer more Always-On Display animations.
Adds Insight Always-On Display, with more personalized Always-On Display settings available.
Optimises Portrait Silhouette Always-On Display, with more drawing tools and line colors available.

Security & privacy

Adds an automatic pixelation feature for chat screenshots. The system can identify and automatically pixelate profile pictures and display names in a chat screenshot to protect your privacy.
Adds regular clearing of clipboard data for privacy protection.
Optimises Private Safe. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is used to encrypt all files for enhanced security of private files.

Health & Digital wellbeing

When in Kid Space, your browser app automatically switches to Kids mode to create a child-friendly space.
Adds Eye comfort in Kid Space to protect children’s vision.

If you own a Realme 9, you will soon receive an OTA update on your phone. Occasionally an update arrives on the phone but no notification appears, so check for the update manually from Settings.

Before installing an update, always back up crucial data and charge your phone to 50%.