realme 8i review
The Realme 8i is a brand new budget smartphone that packs an incredible array of features at an affordable price point of around 199 euros. This device boasts a stunning 120Hz ultra-smooth display, which is a remarkable feat considering the low price tag. In terms of design, the phone has a sleek metal frame and a two-tone finish on its Space Black color variant. It's also relatively thin and light, weighing in at just 194 grams. The Realme 8i features a triple hybrid SIM tray, allowing users to insert up to two 4G nano SIM cards and a microSD card for expanded storage. The phone also boasts a large 6.6-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Google Widevine Level 1 certification, and a 50MP primary camera. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, which provides decent performance for gaming and everyday use. The phone also features an 18W fast charger, 5000mAh battery, and Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0 on top. The cameras are decent for the price point, but not groundbreaking. However, users can take some excellent photos with minimal effort. The phone's software is smooth and customizable, with plenty of features to enhance the user experience. Overall, the Realme 8i offers incredible value for money, making it a solid choice for those looking for a budget smartphone without sacrificing too much performance or features.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme 8i is the brand's first budget smartphone, priced around €199, and it's a game-changer in its segment. The phone boasts an incredible 120Hz ultra-smooth display, which is unheard of at this price point. But what about the build quality and design? The Realme 8i's construction is impressive, with a metal frame that runs around the device and a plastic back cover that feels sturdy and well-made. The color, called "Space Black," is a two-tone finish that looks nice, despite being a fingerprint magnet. The phone measures 8.5mm in thickness and weighs only 194 grams, making it a thin and light smartphone to hold. The design is sleek, with clean lines and minimal bezels. The power button and fingerprint sensor are built into one, which is super fast and convenient. On the top, there's nothing, but on the sides, you'll find a volume rocker and a SIM eject tool. The bottom of the phone features a headphone jack, microphone, Type-C charging port, and a single speaker. The placement of these ports is convenient and easy to access. On the back, there's a triple-camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, accompanied by two 2MP lenses for black and white and macro shots. On the front, you'll find a 16MP AI camera. Overall, the Realme 8i's build quality and design are impressive for its price point. The phone feels premium in hand, and the attention to detail is evident in every aspect of its construction. While not perfect, it's a solid effort from Realme to create a budget smartphone that looks and feels like a more expensive device.
Battery Life
One aspect that truly impressed me about the Realme 8i is its remarkable battery life. With a massive 5000mAh power cell, this phone is designed to keep going all day long, and then some. In my testing, I found that the device was able to deliver an impressive 28 days of standby time, which is unheard of in this price segment. But it's not just about the sheer capacity of the battery - it's also about how efficiently the phone can utilize it. Realme has done a fantastic job in optimizing the battery life, and I found that the device was able to last for around 11 hours straight on a single charge, streaming YouTube videos non-stop. What's more impressive is the phone's ability to recover from heavy usage. During my gaming session, which lasted for around 30 minutes, the temperature of the device rose to 44 degrees Celsius, but it still managed to retain its performance and didn't exhibit any signs of overheating. The inclusion of an 18W fast charger in the box is also a welcome feature, as it ensures that you can quickly top up your battery when needed. I was able to get around 50% charge in just 36 minutes, which is impressive considering the phone's large battery capacity. Overall, the Realme 8i's battery life is its true standout feature, and one that will make it a great companion for users who are always on-the-go.
Display
The Realme 8i is a budget smartphone that punches above its weight in many areas, and one of the standout features is its stunning display. Priced around 199 euros, this phone offers an incredible 120Hz ultra-smooth display, making it a rare find at this price point. The 6.6-inch IPS LCD display is generously large, and its crisp visuals are enhanced by a 2400 x 1080 resolution, resulting in a pixel density of 399 pixels per inch. The screen's peak brightness reaches an impressive 600 nits, making it suitable for outdoor use. The display's refresh rate can be set to either automatic or manually chosen between 60Hz and 120Hz. One of the most notable aspects of this display is its silky smoothness, thanks in part to Realme's collaboration with Mediatek on a brand-new chipset, the Helio G96. This partnership allows for a seamless viewing experience, making it perfect for media streaming or gaming. The Google Widevine Level 1 certification also ensures that Netflix content can be streamed in HD. In short, the display on the Realme 8i is an absolute winner, offering unparalleled value at its price point. It's a feature that sets this budget smartphone apart from others in its class and makes it a must-consider for anyone looking to upgrade without breaking the bank.
Camera
One of the key features of the Realme 8i is its camera setup, which includes a triple-camera arrangement on the back and a single front-facing camera. The primary sensor is a 50-megapixel unit, accompanied by a 2-megapixel black and white lens and a 2-megapixel macro lens. On the front, there's a 16-megapixel AI-driven camera. In terms of camera performance, the Realme 8i delivers decent results, especially considering its price point. Indoor shots taken with the primary sensor show good detail and minimal noise, even in low-light conditions. The Night mode feature works well, too, producing images that are surprisingly clear and detailed. The macro lens is a nice addition, allowing users to capture extreme close-up shots of small objects or details. However, it's not particularly impressive in terms of image quality, often resulting in soft or blurry images. Portrait mode shots are also commendable, with the phone doing a good job of separating the subject from the background. The 50-megapixel mode is a nice touch, allowing users to capture high-quality images with minimal effort. The front-facing camera takes decent selfies, with good detail and minimal noise. However, it's not particularly impressive in terms of image quality, often resulting in soft or blurry images. Video recording is also possible, but with some caveats. The maximum resolution supported is 1080p, which is a bit disappointing considering the phone's other features. Image stabilization is available, though, making it easier to capture smooth footage. Overall, the camera setup on the Realme 8i is decent for its price point. While it may not deliver outstanding results, it's a solid performer that can take good photos and videos in various conditions. If you're looking for a budget smartphone with a capable camera system, the Realme 8i is definitely worth considering. The Realme 8i's cameras are decent for its price point, but may not impress those expecting higher-quality images.
Price and Value
Priced at around 199 euros, the Realme 8i is an impressive budget smartphone that offers incredible value for your money. In today's market where high-end devices are flooding the shelves, it's refreshing to see a brand like Realme deliver a device that checks most of the boxes without breaking the bank. The Realme 8i's display is one of its standout features - a stunning 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate that makes for an incredibly smooth user experience. The phone also boasts Google Widevine Level 1 certification, allowing you to enjoy Netflix in HD. With a price tag of just 199 euros, it's hard not to be impressed by the sheer value on offer here. But what truly sets the Realme 8i apart is its ability to deliver a premium experience without sacrificing performance. The phone's MediaTek Helio G96 chipset provides decent specs, and with 5GB of virtual RAM, you can expect seamless UI performance. Add to that an impressive 5000mAh battery that promises up to 28 days of standby time, and it's clear that Realme has aimed to make this phone a real showstopper. While there may be some compromises made in the camera department, the triple-camera setup on offer here is still more than capable of taking decent photos. And with a price point that's lower than most mid-range devices, it's hard not to feel like you're getting a steal. Overall, the Realme 8i is an outstanding budget smartphone that offers incredible value for your money. If you're in the market for a reliable device without breaking the bank, this phone should be high on your list of considerations.
Performance
The Realme 8i is a budget smartphone that offers incredible value for money. One of its standout features is its performance. The phone is powered by the Mediatek Helio G96 chipset, which is a 12-nanometer octa-core chip clocked at 2.05 GHz. This provides more than enough power to handle everyday tasks and even some demanding ones. The Realme 8i has been put through various benchmarks, including Geekbench and Antutu. In the Geekbench Multicore test, it scored an impressive 1627, while in the Antutu test, it achieved a score of 290k. These scores are higher than what you'd expect from a budget smartphone, making the Realme 8i a strong contender in its price segment. The phone's performance is further enhanced by its 6GB of virtual RAM, which can be expanded to up to 11 hours of non-stop YouTube streaming or 28 days of standby time. This suggests that the Realme 8i has been optimized for battery life and performance. In terms of gaming, the Realme 8i has shown some impressive results. In our tests, it was able to handle demanding games like Call of Duty: Domination without any significant issues. The phone's temperature also stayed within manageable levels during intense gaming sessions, indicating that its cooling system is effective. Overall, the Realme 8i's performance is a highlight of this budget smartphone. It offers more than enough power for everyday tasks and can even handle some demanding ones, making it an attractive option for those looking to upgrade without breaking the bank.
Pros
1. The phone offers incredible value for your money.
2. The display is super smooth and a pleasure to work with, reaching 600 nits of peak brightness that's good enough for seeing the display outdoors.
3. The phone has a massive 5000 milliamp hour battery that can give you 28 days of standby, 47 hours of talk time, and around 11 hours of non-stop YouTube streaming.
4. The phone is super slim and light, weighing only 194 grams and measuring 8.5 millimeters in thickness.
5. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, and the face unlock feature is also super fast.
6. The Realme UI 2.0 software is smooth and fast, with lots of customization options.
7. The camera setup is decent for the price, allowing you to take some decent-looking photos with minimal effort.
Cons
1. The phone does not have NFC or 5G connectivity.
2. There are a lot of pre-installed apps that you may not need, taking up storage space.
3. No 4K video recording on the back camera, with the maximum resolution supported being 1080p.
4. No stereo speakers, just a single bottom-firing speaker.
5. The phone can get slightly warm to the touch during prolonged gaming sessions.
6. Some users may find the two-tone finish and fingerprint magnet design off-putting.