realme 10 review
The Realme 10 is a mid-range smartphone that promises plenty of bang for your buck. This year's model brings significant upgrades, including a more powerful Helio G99 chipset, but with some notable trade-offs. The main camera resolution has been lowered and the ultrawide lens removed to balance out the price. With its AMOLED display, 90Hz refresh rate, and decent battery life, the Realme 10 is an intriguing option for those seeking a budget-friendly gaming experience.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme 10 is a mid-ranger that promises to deliver plenty of bang for your buck. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the build quality and design of this device. Firstly, the Realme 10's build quality is commendable. The phone is fairly light in the hand and made from plastic with a glossy gradient finish on both the back and frame. The flat design and matte finish on the frame add a touch of grip to the phone, making it comfortable to hold. One interesting design choice is the dual camera bump, which may not be functional but adds visual interest. However, one aspect that might raise some eyebrows is the lack of splash-proofing, which is something you can find on some competitors in this price range. This decision could make the phone less suitable for those who are prone to accidents or like to use their phone near water. Despite this, the design overall is sleek and modern, making it a great option for those looking for an affordable mid-ranger with a premium feel. The Realme 10's build quality and design will likely appeal to fans of the brand's aesthetic. In terms of materials, the plastic used feels sturdy and well-made, with no creaks or flexing when applying pressure. The glossy finish on the back does pick up fingerprints easily, but a quick wipe with a cloth should keep it looking clean and shiny. Overall, the Realme 10's build quality and design are solid aspects of this mid-range device. While there may be some minor trade-offs in terms of durability, the phone still looks and feels like a premium product at an affordable price point.
Battery Life
The Realme 10's battery life is an interesting aspect of the device. On one hand, it has a substantial 5000mAh capacity, which should provide adequate power for a day's use. In our tests, the phone delivered an overall endurance rating of 126 hours, which is impressive considering its price point. However, when compared to other devices in its class, the Realme 10's battery life falls short of being exceptional. It didn't quite match the record-breaking performance of last year's model, and it can be considered only "impressive" rather than outstanding. Fast charging support is available on the phone, with a 33W charger included in the box. While it's not excessively exciting, the ability to charge from 0 to 48% in half an hour is still a decent bonus for users who need a quick top-up. In daily use, we found that the battery life of the Realme 10 was more than sufficient, but not spectacularly good. If you're a heavy user, you may find yourself needing to charge the phone mid-day, depending on your usage patterns. Overall, while the Realme 10's battery life is respectable, it's not its strongest suit. It's worth noting that there are other devices in this price range that offer superior battery performance.
Display
One of the standout features of the Realme 10 is its display, which boasts a 6.4-inch AMOLED panel with a 1080p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The fast refresh rate is a welcome addition, as it smooths out movements on screen and provides a more responsive experience. In terms of sharpness, the Realme 10's display is plenty clear, making text and images look crisp and well-defined. As an AMOLED panel, the contrast ratio is also quite good, resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, it's worth noting that the color accuracy can vary depending on the color mode selected in settings. The Realme 10 also supports HDR content playback through a widevine L1 DRM certification, allowing users to enjoy full HD streaming without any issues. However, it's not capable of playing back HDR content, which may be a drawback for some users. In terms of brightness, the display is decently lit, with a maximum output of 430 nits in manual mode and 610 nits in auto mode when exposed to bright light conditions. This is sufficient for everyday use, but may not be ideal for viewing in extremely bright environments. Overall, while the Realme 10's display is not an outstanding upgrade from previous models, it still provides a decent viewing experience. The fast refresh rate and AMOLED panel work well together to provide a smooth and responsive experience, making it suitable for everyday use. However, users who require a more advanced display may find themselves disappointed by the lack of HDR support and relatively low brightness output.
Camera
The Realme 10's camera setup is perhaps its most noticeable downgraded feature compared to its predecessors. Gone are the triple cameras, replaced by a more modest dual-camera configuration. The primary camera boasts a 50-megapixel sensor, which would normally be expected to deliver high-quality images. However, in reality, it falls short of expectations. Photos captured with the main camera display a noticeable lack of detail resolution, with an artificial over-processed look that's more akin to a cheap smartphone camera than a mid-range device like the Realme 10. The dynamic range and colors are decent, but not particularly impressive either. Sharpening is also excessive, resulting in images that feel overly enhanced. The situation doesn't improve much in low-light conditions, where night mode processing kicks in. While exposure and contrast are good, detail levels suffer significantly, with smeared-looking images being the norm. Disabling night mode results in passable photos with a more realistic look, but they're marred by excessive noise. Portrait shots taken with the help of the depth sensor fare slightly better, delivering solid exposures, good separation, and decent dynamic range. However, the lack of advanced zoom processing means that any attempts to capture closer-up portraits result in simple crops and upscale jobs from the 12.5-megapixel images, rather than actual optical zoom. Selfies captured with the 16-megapixel front-facing camera are serviceable but not outstanding. They're characterized by low noise, accurate colors, good dynamic range, and acceptable detail levels for their class. Video recording is limited to 1080p resolution at 30fps, which feels somewhat antiquated given the capabilities of some competitors in this price segment. While quality is decent enough, the lack of electronic stabilization means that shaky footage can be a nuisance. Overall, while the Realme 10's camera may have been an attempt to cut costs and balance out the device's pricing, it's clear that compromises were made at the expense of image quality. The downgraded cameras are perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this otherwise decent mid-range smartphone.
Price and Value
The Realme 10 is the latest mid-range smartphone from the brand, promising "bang for your buck." Priced affordably, this device aims to provide a seamless user experience without breaking the bank. In this review, we'll focus on the phone's value proposition and whether it lives up to its price. The Realme 10 boasts impressive specs, including a new Helio G99 chipset, which is a notable step up from the previous model's Snapdragon 680. This upgrade translates to faster performance and smoother gaming experiences. Additionally, the device features a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for gamers and those who value a smooth UI. The phone's design is also worth mentioning, with a fairly light build and a glossy gradient finish on the back and frame. However, it's worth noting that there's no splash proofing, which might be a concern for some users. One of the most significant drawbacks of the Realme 10 is its camera performance. The downgraded main camera (now at 50MP) results in mediocre photo quality, with over-sharpened and artificial-looking images. While portraits are solid, the lack of advanced zoom processing and poor low-light performance are notable issues. Despite these limitations, the Realme 10 still manages to offer excellent value for its price. The device's battery life is impressive, lasting up to 126 hours in our proprietary tests. Fast charging capabilities (up to 33W) also make it convenient to top up the phone on-the-go. In conclusion, the Realme 10 delivers on its promise of "bang for your buck." While it may not be perfect, this mid-range smartphone offers a solid balance of performance, display quality, and battery life. For those who prioritize gaming and a smooth UI experience over camera capabilities, the Realme 10 is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Realme 10 boasts a new, more powerful Helio G99 chipset, built on a six nanometer process. This is a notable step up from the previous model's Snapdragon 680, which was lagging behind in performance comparisons. The upgrade translates to better CPU performance, with the Realme 10 handling tasks with ease. However, it's the GPU that truly shines, delivering among the best scores in its price range. This makes the Realme 10 an excellent choice for gaming on a budget, as well as providing a smooth and fluid user experience. Stress tests reveal no thermal throttling, even under prolonged peak performance. The phone's 5,000mAh battery life is still impressive, although not record-breaking like last year's model. The addition of 33W fast charging helps to replenish the battery quickly. One notable aspect of the Realme 10's performance is its ability to handle demanding tasks without breaking a sweat. This is particularly evident in graphics-intensive tests, where it outperforms many of its competitors. While not the most powerful phone on the market, the Realme 10 more than holds its own against other mid-range devices. Realme's decision to prioritize chipset performance over camera capabilities has paid off, resulting in a well-rounded device that excels in several areas. The Helio G99 provides a solid foundation for gaming and general use, making the Realme 10 an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and feature-packed smartphone.
Pros
1. The Realme 10 brings a new more powerful Helio G99 chipset, which is a notable step up from the previous model.
2. The phone performs better than the previous model when it comes to CPU tasks and has good GPU performance for gaming.
3. The phone's display is a 6.4-inch AMOLED with a 1080p resolution, fast refresh rate, and decent brightness.
4. The battery life is impressive, with an overall endurance rating of 126 hours in our proprietary tests.
Cons
1. The Realme 10 has a lower-res main camera compared to the previous model, which results in mediocre resolve detail and over-sharpening.
2. There's no support for streaming in HDR, which is a limitation for those who want to watch high-quality video content.
3. The speaker's loudness is just average, with sound focused mostly on the mids until you max out the volume slider.
4. The camera quality isn't great, especially in low-light conditions, where photos can be smeared-looking and noisy.