Realme 5 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Realme 5 is an impressive budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch with its array of features. This sleek device boasts a large 6.5-inch IPS LCD display, offering immersive visuals for your multimedia needs. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, it ensures smooth performance and seamless multitasking. The quad-camera setup on the rear, featuring a 12MP primary lens, captures stunning photos with excellent detail. With a massive 5000mAh battery, the Realme 5 provides long-lasting power for all-day usage. Available in attractive Crystal Purple and Crystal Blue colors, this device offers great value for money, making it an enticing option in the mid-range segment.

Design and Build Quality

The Realme 5 boasts a sturdy build with a plastic frame and a plastic back panel. It features a sleek design with dimensions of 164.4 x 75.6 x 9.3 mm and weighs 198g, making it slightly on the heavier side. The device has a large 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 82.7%. The front of the phone is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ for added durability.

The phone has a modern and aesthetically pleasing physical appearance, with slim bezels and a waterdrop notch that houses the front camera. The back panel has a textured design that not only enhances the grip but also adds a touch of uniqueness to the device. The Realme 5 comes in two attractive colors - Crystal Purple and Crystal Blue, further adding to its appeal.

In terms of ergonomics, the Realme 5 offers good one-handed usability despite its large size. The placement of buttons and controls is well thought out, ensuring easy access and comfortable usage. Additionally, the device features weather-sealed ports and a loudspeaker, adding to its robustness.

Although the Realme 5 is primarily made of plastic, it doesn't compromise on the overall build quality. The construction feels solid, and the fit and finish are commendable. The phone also comes with a Gorilla Glass 3+ protection for the display, adding an extra layer of durability.

Overall, the Realme 5 combines a sleek design, premium look, and sturdy build to create a device that is both visually appealing and reliable. Its ergonomic design, textured back panel, and thoughtful placement of buttons make it a comfortable device to hold and use.

Display

The Realme 5 features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The display offers a decent size, making it ideal for immersive media consumption and gaming. Although the resolution might not be as high as some other devices in its price range, it still provides satisfactory sharpness and clarity for everyday use.

The LCD technology used in the Realme 5 ensures good color accuracy and vibrancy, allowing for an enjoyable visual experience. The display also offers decent brightness levels, making it easily readable in most lighting conditions. Additionally, the outdoor visibility is adequate, ensuring that the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight.

The Realme 5's display provides responsive touch functionality, allowing for smooth and precise interactions with the device. It also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ protection, which helps safeguard the screen against scratches and minor impacts.

With a pixel density of approximately 269 ppi, the Realme 5 delivers satisfactory sharpness and detail in images and text. While it may not match the pixel density of higher-end devices, it still offers a visually pleasing experience for everyday use.

The Realme 5 does not offer a high refresh rate or HDR support, which are typically found in more premium devices. However, considering its price point, these omissions are understandable.

Overall, the Realme 5's display provides a good balance of size, clarity, and color accuracy, making it a suitable choice for users looking for a budget-friendly device with a decent viewing experience.

Performance

The Realme 5 boasts a powerful performance thanks to its Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 chipset. This octa-core processor, consisting of 4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold and 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver cores, delivers smooth multitasking capabilities and impressive app loading speeds. The device handles daily tasks with ease, providing a lag-free and smooth user experience.

When it comes to gaming, the Realme 5 performs admirably. The Adreno 610 GPU ensures that graphics-intensive games run smoothly, providing an immersive gaming experience. The device handles most popular games without any noticeable lag or stutter. With its system optimization and thermal management, the Realme 5 maintains consistent performance even during extended gaming sessions, keeping the device cool and preventing any major performance drops due to overheating.

In terms of benchmark tests, the Realme 5 performs well across various synthetic benchmarks. It achieves decent CPU and GPU benchmark scores, showcasing its processor efficiency and GPU capabilities. The device's graphics scores are particularly impressive, allowing for visually stunning gameplay on supported games.

Overall, the Realme 5 offers a solid performance for its price range. It excels in everyday tasks, delivers smooth gaming experiences, and performs well in benchmark tests. The combination of its Snapdragon 665 chipset and Adreno 610 GPU ensures a smooth and lag-free user experience. Whether you're multitasking, gaming, or simply navigating through the device's interface, the Realme 5 provides a reliable and efficient performance.

Software and User Interface

The Realme 5 runs on the Android 9.0 (Pie) operating system, which can be upgraded to Android 10 with the Realme UI. This provides users with the latest features and improvements in terms of performance and security. The Realme UI offers a clean and user-friendly interface with a few customization options, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences.

One notable aspect of the software on the Realme 5 is the minimal amount of pre-installed apps or bloatware. This means that users have more control over which apps they want to install, without being overwhelmed with unnecessary applications. The absence of bloatware also helps in keeping the device's storage space free and efficient.

The Realme UI on the Realme 5 offers a smooth and fluid experience, thanks to its optimized performance and the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset. The operating system and interface work seamlessly together, ensuring a lag-free experience during multitasking or while running demanding applications.

Additionally, the Realme 5 comes with features like a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing the overall user experience. These sensors provide added convenience and security to the device, making it more functional and user-friendly.

In conclusion, the software on the Realme 5 offers a user-friendly interface, minimal bloatware, and the latest Android operating system. With its clean and optimized performance, users can enjoy a smooth and efficient experience while exploring the features and capabilities of the device.

Camera

The Realme 5 boasts an impressive quad-camera setup that offers versatile photography capabilities. The primary camera features a 12-megapixel sensor with a wide aperture of f/1.8, allowing ample light to be captured for sharp and detailed images. The secondary camera is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, perfect for capturing expansive landscapes or group shots. For close-up shots, the device is equipped with a 2-megapixel macro lens, enabling users to capture intricate details with a shallow depth of field. Additionally, a 2-megapixel depth sensor ensures accurate bokeh effects for stunning portrait shots.

In terms of image quality, the Realme 5 excels in daylight photography, producing vibrant and natural colors with excellent sharpness. The camera's dynamic range is commendable, allowing for well-balanced exposures in high-contrast scenes. When it comes to low-light performance, the device utilizes advanced noise reduction techniques to capture clear and detailed images even in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a dedicated night mode further enhances low-light sensitivity, enabling users to capture stunning nightscapes with reduced noise and improved clarity.

The Realme 5 offers a range of camera features to enhance the photography experience. The device supports HDR mode for capturing scenes with a wide range of brightness levels, ensuring well-exposed images in challenging lighting conditions. The panorama mode allows users to capture sweeping landscapes with ease, while the pro mode provides manual control over settings for advanced users. AI scene recognition automatically identifies different scenes and optimizes camera settings accordingly, resulting in enhanced image quality.

When it comes to video recording, the Realme 5 supports 4K video capture, allowing for detailed and high-resolution footage. Video stabilization ensures smooth and steady recordings, while slow-motion video capabilities provide the opportunity to capture and relive moments in stunning detail. The device also supports time-lapse recording, allowing users to create captivating videos of events unfolding over an extended period. With its range of camera features and impressive image and video quality, the Realme 5 is a capable device for capturing a wide variety of photographic moments.

Battery Life

The Realme 5 boasts an impressive battery life with its Li-Po 5000 mAh non-removable battery. This large capacity battery ensures a longer screen-on time and standby time, allowing users to enjoy their device for extended periods without worrying about running out of power. The device also features power-efficient hardware components and optimization features, contributing to better battery performance and efficiency. While the Realme 5 supports fast charging, it is limited to 10W wired charging, which may not be as fast as some other devices in its price range. However, the device does not support wireless charging options. Overall, the Realme 5's battery capacity and performance provide a reliable and long-lasting experience for users, making it suitable for those who prioritize battery endurance.

Connectivity and Networking

The Realme 5 offers a range of connectivity options to ensure seamless communication and internet access. It supports various network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, allowing users to stay connected wherever they are. With its dual SIM capability, users can easily switch between two different SIM cards for added convenience. The device also supports Wi-Fi 802.11 standards, enabling fast and reliable wireless internet connectivity. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures efficient and stable data transfer between devices, while GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS provide accurate positioning and navigation capabilities. However, the Realme 5 does not support NFC, so contactless payments and file transfers may not be possible. It features a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer, but it does not support USB-C. Additionally, the device does not support wireless charging. Overall, the Realme 5 offers a decent range of connectivity features, ensuring that users can stay connected and enjoy fast data speeds for browsing, streaming, and sharing content.

Additional Features

The Realme 5 offers several standout features that make it an attractive option in its price range. While it doesn't have water resistance or wireless charging capabilities, it does come with a range of advanced sensors. These include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enhance the overall user experience by enabling features such as auto-rotation, motion-based gaming, and improved location tracking. Additionally, the Realme 5 has a large 5000mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. This is especially useful for users who rely heavily on their smartphones throughout the day. Overall, the Realme 5 offers a great combination of features, performance, and affordability, making it a strong contender in the mid-range smartphone market.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Realme 5 is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a range of features at an affordable price point. When comparing it to other related gadgets in the market, it competes with devices such as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and the Samsung Galaxy M20.

In terms of specifications, the Realme 5 stands out with its large 6.5-inch IPS LCD display and a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. It also features a quad-camera setup on the rear, including a 12 MP wide lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP depth sensor. This camera setup is comparable to the Redmi Note 8, which also offers a quad-camera setup with similar specifications.

When it comes to performance, the Realme 5 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset, which is a mid-range processor. It offers smooth multitasking and decent gaming capabilities. The Redmi Note 8, on the other hand, is equipped with a Snapdragon 665 as well, providing similar performance levels.

One of the standout features of the Realme 5 is its massive 5000 mAh battery, which provides excellent battery life. This is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy M20, which also offers a large 5000 mAh battery.

In terms of pricing, the Realme 5 is positioned as a budget-friendly option, with a price tag of around 190 EUR. This makes it a competitive choice in the market, offering good value for money when compared to its competitors.

Overall, the Realme 5 offers a solid set of features and specifications at an affordable price point. It competes well with other related gadgets in the market, such as the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and the Samsung Galaxy M20, providing a compelling option for budget-conscious consumers. Its standout features include a large display, quad-camera setup, and a long-lasting battery, making it an attractive choice in its price range.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Realme 5 offers a compelling package for its price range. With its large 6.5-inch display, it provides an immersive viewing experience. The quad-camera setup, including a 12MP main sensor, delivers good quality photos with decent detail and vibrant colors. The long-lasting 5000mAh battery ensures extended usage without the need for frequent charging. While the plastic build may not feel as premium as some other devices, it does offer a sturdy construction. Overall, the Realme 5 is a budget-friendly smartphone that delivers solid performance, impressive battery life, and a versatile camera system, making it a suitable choice for individuals seeking value for their money.