realme Narzo 30A review
The Realme Narzo 30A is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises "bang for your buck." As the latest offering from Realme's sub-brand, Narzo, this device is designed to meet the needs of consumers looking for an affordable daily driver. The phone features a polycarbonate back with a textured pattern design, which not only looks stylish but also resists fingerprint smudges. The camera module is positioned on the upper left side, accompanied by a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and Realme Narzo branding. Under the hood, the Narzo 30A boasts a Mediatek Helio G85 processor, Mali-G52 GPU, and 4GB of RAM. This configuration delivers smooth performance for casual gaming and day-to-day use. The phone's battery capacity is impressive at 6000mAh, with 18W fast charging and reverse charging capabilities. The camera setup, although unassuming, produces sharp photos in well-lit conditions, but struggles when zooming or taking portraits. The selfie camera delivers fair color reproduction and clarity. Video recording options are limited to 1080p at 30fps or 720p also at 30fps. The Realme Narzo 30A is priced at PHP 6,490, which is PHP 1,000 less than its predecessor, the Narzo 20. This makes it an attractive option for those on a tight budget who still want a phone that can handle daily multitasking and casual gaming. The phone's design and build quality are impressive, and the battery life is exceptional. Overall, the Realme Narzo 30A is a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable smartphone that can keep up with their daily needs.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme Narzo 30A is the latest budget smartphone from Realme, and it's interesting to see how they've tweaked their design language for this device. The first thing that strikes you about the phone is its high-quality polycarbonate back with a cool diagonal stripe textured pattern design. We like how this style doesn't attract much fingerprint smudges, similar to last year's Narzo 20. The square camera module on the upper left and rear fingerprint scanner on the upper middle are both well-placed and functional. The branding on the phone is also tastefully done, adding a touch of personality to an otherwise minimalist design. Our unit came in the laser black colorway, but it's also available in laser blue for those who prefer a different hue. The build quality of the Narzo 30A is solid, with no major flexing or creaking when pressed. The phone feels substantial in hand, thanks to its moderate weight and well-placed buttons. We appreciate how easy it is to reach both the power button and volume rocker on the right side, while the dual nano sim tray with a dedicated micro sd card slot are situated on the left. Overall, we think the design of the Narzo 30A is an improvement over its predecessor. The addition of a textured pattern adds visual interest without making the phone look too flashy or attention-seeking. While it may not be the most groundbreaking design, it's certainly a step up from previous Realme offerings and one that should appeal to fans of budget-friendly smartphones. Design-wise, the Narzo 30A is an excellent option for those on a strict budget who still want a phone with a solid build quality and decent looks. With its official price set at PHP 6,490, it's certainly an attractive proposition – especially considering its performance and feature set, which we'll be exploring in our next review piece.
Battery Life
The Realme Narzo 30A's battery life is undoubtedly one of its strongest suits. The device comes equipped with a whopping 6000mAh capacity, making it a beast for daily multitasking and gaming use. In our standard video loop test, the phone lasted an impressive 33 hours and five minutes, playing a 1080p movie at 50 brightness and volume on airplane mode with headphones plugged in. This is a testament to the device's efficiency and battery capacity. The PC Mark's battery test also yielded a respectable score of 17 hours and 45 minutes, further solidifying the Narzo 30A's battery life credentials. With such a massive battery capacity, users can easily expect two to three days of use without needing to recharge. And when charging is necessary, it takes around two hours for a full charge. The Realme Narzo 30A's battery life is definitely one of its standout features, making it an excellent choice for those who value a phone that can keep up with their daily activities without needing constant top-ups.
Display
The Realme Narzo 30A boasts a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display with a mini drop notch to house its front camera and above that is its front-firing speaker. The design language is identical to the Narzo 20, but we appreciate the rugged look with the additional pattern style. In terms of display quality, the Realme Narzo 30A delivers on expectations. It features a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels with 270 PPI, and a peak brightness of 570 nits. The display is vibrant and accurate, with decent viewing angles that make it suitable for casual media consumption. Under direct sunlight, the display remains clear when set to maximum brightness level. While not perfect, the display quality is respectable enough for day-to-day use. However, don't expect high-end visuals or color accuracy, as this is a budget smartphone. One notable omission in the display department is the lack of HDR support. Additionally, the phone's screen can get quite reflective under bright lights, which may cause some visibility issues. Nonetheless, the Realme Narzo 30A's display performs admirably considering its price point. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a decent display, the Narzo 30A is worth considering. However, if you're particular about display quality or want a phone that can deliver premium visuals, this may not be the best option for you. Overall, the Realme Narzo 30A's display is an average but acceptable part of its overall package, and it gets the job done for casual users. 3.5/5
Camera
The camera performance of the Realme Narzo 30A is a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's surprising to see sharp photos both from the rear and front shooters, especially considering the price point of this device. The 13-megapixel main sensor with PDAF takes clear shots under well-lit conditions, producing accurate colors. However, when it comes to zooming in or taking low-light shots, the camera struggles to deliver. The lack of detail and noise in images is noticeable, especially when compared to other smartphones in this price range. Moreover, the absence of an ultra-wide option means that users will have to rely on the main sensor for their photography needs. The portrait mode also has its limitations, as it doesn't quite manage to separate the subject from the background with a high degree of precision. Night photography is another area where the camera falls short, producing shots that are often noisy and muddy. However, using the dedicated night mode does improve the quality of images taken in low-light conditions. Selfies, on the other hand, fare better, with fair color reproduction and clarity. The 8-megapixel front camera takes acceptable photos, but they're not particularly impressive when compared to what other smartphones have to offer. Video recording is another area where the Narzo 30A's camera falls short. The phone can only record at either 1080p or 720p resolution, with a maximum frame rate of 30fps. This means that users won't be able to take smooth and stable videos using this device. Overall, while the Realme Narzo 30A's camera performance is decent for its price point, it's not exactly impressive when compared to other smartphones in this range. The lack of detail and noise in images, especially when zooming in or taking low-light shots, is a letdown. However, users who only need to take casual photos and don't mind the limitations will find the camera to be adequate for their needs.
Price and Value
The Realme Narzo 30A is the latest budget smartphone from the brand, offering exceptional value for its price. Priced at 6,490 pesos, it's a trimmed-down version of the Narzo 20, but still packs some impressive features. One of the standout aspects of the Narzo 30A is its affordability. At just 1,000 pesos less than the Narzo 20, it offers a more affordable option without compromising on performance. The phone's hardware is still very good for 2021, making it an excellent choice for those on a strict budget under 7,000 pesos. The battery life of the Narzo 30A is also noteworthy, with a massive 6,000mAh capacity that can easily last two to three days without needing a charge. The presence of fast charging (18W) and reverse charging are added bonuses, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can handle daily multitasking and casual gaming. In terms of value, the Narzo 30A offers an excellent price-to-performance ratio. Its sleek design, decent display, and snappy performance make it a compelling choice in its price segment. While some may argue that it's not the best camera or processor on the market, the overall package is still very impressive. For those looking for a budget smartphone that can handle daily tasks and gaming without breaking the bank, the Narzo 30A is an excellent option to consider. Its value proposition is hard to beat, making it a great choice for those who want a reliable phone without sacrificing features or performance.
Performance
The Realme Narzo 30A is a budget smartphone that promises to deliver a lot for its price. One of the key aspects that caught our attention was its performance. Under the hood, we have a MediaTek Helio G85 processor paired with a Mali-G52 GPU and 4GB of RAM. In day-to-day use, such as browsing the web and navigating through social media, the Narzo 30A performed smoothly without any hiccups. We also ran it through some benchmarking apps to test its capabilities, and it delivered respectable scores. When it comes to gaming, the phone can handle casual games with ease. We were able to play graphically intensive titles like Genji Impact and Asphalt 9 with occasional frame drops when playing on high graphics settings. To improve the gaming experience, we suggest playing on low graphics settings. The Narzo 30A's performance is comparable to its predecessor, the Realme Narzo 20. The Helio G85 processor is still a decent choice for a budget smartphone in 2021. However, we did notice some heating issues when playing games or using resource-intensive apps for an extended period. Overall, the Realme Narzo 30A's performance is decent for its price. It can handle daily multitasking and casual gaming without any issues. While it may not be the most powerful phone on the market, it gets the job done, making it a good option for those on a tight budget.