After its successful arrival in the Philippines seven months ago, the new mobile brand Realme has been making waves in the mid-range category. Some of its best-selling entry-level phones have captured the hearts of consumers. With its latest offering the Realme 3 Pro, the brand is set to elevate the game in the industry by giving a value-for-money phone that doesn’t compromise in performance.
Design: 4/5
Inspired by the Le Mans track and racing, the Realme 3 Pro boasts a trendy, gradient back panel with an S-shaped pattern that gives a grating effect when exposed to light. We got our test unit in stunning nitro blue, giving the smartphone a more premium look. It is made with a 3D plastic shell with curves for better grip and streamlined design. Realme’s branding can be seen through the silver logo on the bottom left corner of the panel, as well as the signature yellow rings on its dual cameras. Its fingerprint scanner can also be seen at the back.
Power buttons are placed on the right side of the smartphone while the volume rockers and the dual SIM tray and memory card slot are on the left. The speaker grill, 3.5mm audio jack, and the micro-USB port are all placed at the bottom edge.
Hardware: 4/5
Sporting a dewdrop notch, the Realme 3 Pro has a bigger display compared to its predecessor. It debuts with a 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 and a pixel density of about 408 ppi for better viewing experience. Equally exciting, its internal hardware boasts an octa-core Snapdragon 710 processor backed by Adreno 616 GPU that promises buttery smooth frame rates to gameplay. It has a whopping 6 GB RAM and an expandable 128 GB of internal storage (up to 256 GB via micro SD slot) that can accommodate even the most demanding mobile games in terms of memory space.
For mobile photography junkies, the Realme 3 Pro offers a dual camera system which consists of 16-megapixel Sony IMX 519 and 5-megapixel rear sensors. Together with its 25-megapixel selfie camera, it is backed-up with AI scene detection and AI Beauty for better post-processing. Among its highlights include the 4,045 mAh battery with VOOC 3.0 fast charging which will be discussed further.
User Experience: 4.5/5
As a casual gamer, it is hard to look for a smartphone that offers an optimized gaming experience. The Realme 3 Pro definitely deserves to be called a real gaming pro phone with its GameSpace mode, a dedicated feature that blocks notification and frees up more RAM while playing. It also improves battery life and data network to provide uninterrupted gameplay of online FPS and MOBA titles. I didn’t encounter any lags when I tried playing Mobile Legends through Wi-Fi and data connection, which is quite surprising. It delivers super smooth performance even though there are apps running on the background.
I also liked how snappy its facial and fingerprint unlock is, and it’s probably one of the fastest in its class. The massive battery which supports fast charging through VOOC 3.0 technology is what I really loved about this phone. It only took me about an hour to fill the battery from 5% to 100% and it lasts a day with regular use.
Realme’s dedicated UI, the ColorOS 6, is based on the latest Android Pie. However, it feels dated with its animations and transitions. Some of the pre-installed apps cause bloatware to the device which is a major turn off for those who prefer a simple yet fast mid-range phone.
Unlike its previous models, the Realme 3 Pro is calibrated with neutral colors. It has a color calibration tool that can be tweaked according to your liking. The screen can go up to 400nits of brightness when used outdoors, making the device usable even under direct sunlight. Another noteworthy feature is the pre-installed Night Shield mode that protects users with sensitive eyes from eye strains.
As for the camera, the phone really shines on low light shooting. You can get clean images even without turning on the night mode. Should you want brighter photos with minimal noise, just turn on the night mode in the camera app.
Value: 5/5
Putting it with an attractive price point, the Realme 3 Pro is a value-for-money smartphone that every gamer should own. At PHP 12,990 (4 GB RAM + 64 GB memory) and PHP 14,990 (6 GB RAM + 128 GB memory), it has a number of gems on its crown that other brands in its class cannot match. True to its motto, the device is a real gaming pro.
Specifications:
- Display: 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS LCD, 2340 x 1080 resolution
- Rear camera: 16 MP Sony IMX 519 + 5MP with f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures and dual pixel PDAF, AI recognition, AI Beauty
- Front camera: 25 MP with f/2.0 aperture
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 AIE, octa-core
- RAM: 6 GB
- Memory: 128 GB
- Operating System: ColorOS 6.0 (based on Android Pie)
- Battery: 4,045 mAh battery (with 20 W VOOC 3.0)
- Colors: lightning purple, nitro blue, and carbon grey
- Dimensions: 156.8 x 74.2 x 8.3 mm
- Weight: 172 g
What’s Hot:
- Great battery life with flash charging
- Elegant back design
- Remarkable performance
What’s Not:
- Doesn’t support NFC technology
- Fussy software
- Poor audio quality
Bottomline:
It’s great value for money and student-friendly.
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE July 2019 Issue
Reviewed by Jewel Sta. Ana