realme Narzo 50i Prime review
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is one of the most budget-friendly options available in the market, priced around 90 euros. This phone packs a 6.5-inch display, a single 8MP camera, and a 5000mAh battery. Powered by a Unisoc Tiger T612 processor, it's available with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM, depending on your needs. I'll be reviewing this device to see if its affordability comes at the cost of performance and features.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is one of the most budget-friendly phones you can get, priced at around €90. While it's a bare-bones device with minimal features, I was curious to see what value you get for your money. Upon unboxing, I was surprised that the phone didn't come with a charger. Yes, you read that right - no charger! This is still acceptable considering the low price point, but it's disappointing nonetheless. The box also mentions that this phone was released in June 2022, which explains why it still has a Micro USB port. Physically, the Narzo 50i Prime has a sturdy build quality, with a compact design that's easy to hold. The device measures around 165g and features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720x1600 pixels. While the screen isn't particularly bright or vibrant, it gets the job done for casual use. In terms of design, the Narzo 50i Prime is eerily similar to its more expensive sibling, the Realme C30. In fact, the two devices share almost identical dimensions and design language. This raises questions about why the Narzo 50i Prime costs more than the C30, especially when both phones have the same processor (Unisoc Tiger T612), RAM options, battery capacity, and camera specs. Overall, the Realme Narzo 50i Prime's build quality and design are decent for a budget phone. While it may not impress with its looks or performance, it's hard to deny that you get what you pay for - an extremely affordable device that's perfect for basic tasks like calling, texting, and browsing. Just remember: this is a bare-bones phone that won't win any awards for speed or features. But if you need a simple phone for emergencies or minimal use, the Narzo 50i Prime might just be the right choice.
Battery Life
In an era where budget phones are often compromised on battery life, the Realme Narzo 50i Prime surprisingly bucks this trend. With a 5000mAh battery, this phone is designed to last, and our tests suggest it does. The large battery pack allows for extended use, even with moderate usage patterns. While the phone's performance chip may not be the most powerful, the significant battery life makes up for it. It's possible to go several days without needing a charge, depending on your usage habits. In our testing, we found that the Narzo 50i Prime could easily last over 48 hours with minimal use, such as checking notifications and making an occasional call. Even with more intense usage, like watching videos or browsing the internet, the battery life remains respectable. One of the reasons for this impressive battery life is likely due to the phone's relatively low power consumption. The 2.3GHz Unisoc T612 processor and 4GB/6GB RAM combination are well-suited for general use cases, such as social media scrolling, email checking, or casual gaming. In summary, while the Realme Narzo 50i Prime may not be the most powerful phone on the market, its battery life is a notable strength. If you're in the market for a budget device that will last all day and into the next without needing a charge, this phone is certainly worth considering.
Display
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime boasts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. At first glance, the screen appears to be an average performer in its class. While it's not particularly noteworthy, it's also not a major letdown. The brightness is decent, clocking in at around 400 nits, which should be sufficient for most everyday use cases. One thing that caught my attention was the similarity between the Narzo 50i Prime's display and that of the Realme C30. Both phones have nearly identical screens, which is a bit puzzling given the price difference between them. The C30 costs a bit more than the Narzo 50i Prime, yet they seem to share similar specs. While I wouldn't say the display is particularly impressive, it's not a deal-breaker either. It gets the job done, and for a budget device like this, that's what you can reasonably expect. The IPS LCD technology used here is standard fare in this price range, and it's unlikely to win any awards for innovation or excellence. If I'm being honest, the display is not something I'd go out of my way to praise or criticize. It's just...fine. Not bad, not great – just average. If you're in the market for a budget phone with a decent screen, the Narzo 50i Prime will likely suffice. However, if you're looking for something that really stands out in terms of display quality, this might not be the best choice. Ultimately, the display on the Realme Narzo 50i Prime is a utilitarian aspect of an otherwise basic phone. It gets the job done without drawing attention to itself, which suits its budget-friendly nature just fine.
Camera
In my recent hands-on experience with the Realme Narzo 50i Prime, one aspect that caught my attention was its camera setup. As a budget-friendly device, I had moderate expectations from its imaging capabilities. Here's what I found out. The phone boasts an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor as its primary camera on the back. While this might seem like a limitation compared to more expensive devices with multi-camera setups, it still manages to deliver decent results in various lighting conditions. The images captured by the Realme Narzo 50i Prime's rear camera are not outstanding, but they get the job done for casual use. Moving on to the front camera, we have a 5-megapixel sensor that takes average selfies and video calls. Don't expect stunning portraits or low-light performance from this camera, as it's designed more for basic functionality rather than exceptional image quality. While not exactly impressive in terms of camera capabilities, I must commend the Realme Narzo 50i Prime on its processor - a Unisoc Tiger T612 - which provides acceptable performance considering its budget-friendly price. However, this is where my praise ends, as the phone's lack of features like 5G and Wi-Fi 5GHz support is noticeable. The Realme Narzo 50i Prime's camera setup is straightforward and functional, but not exactly impressive in today's smartphone landscape. As a budget device, it does what you'd expect from a basic phone: takes decent photos for everyday use and average selfies. While I wouldn't say it stands out as a photography powerhouse, the Realme Narzo 50i Prime still manages to deliver satisfactory results given its price tag. If you're looking for a simple phone that can handle basic tasks without breaking the bank, the camera on the Realme Narzo 50i Prime won't disappoint. However, if you prioritize exceptional image quality and advanced features, this might not be the best choice for you.
Price and Value
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is one of the most affordable smartphones available in the market, priced around 90 euros. At first glance, it's easy to dismiss this phone as a cheap device with limited features, but my experience with it suggests otherwise. One thing that immediately stands out about the Narzo 50i Prime is its budget-friendly price tag. Considering what you get for the money, I'd say Realme has done an impressive job of packing in decent specs and features without breaking the bank. The phone's design may not be revolutionary, but it's functional and gets the job done. The display on this phone is a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. While it may not be as sharp or vibrant as higher-end displays, it's still good enough for everyday use. My comparison to the Realme C30 didn't exactly paint the best picture for the Narzo 50i Prime, but when you consider that this phone costs around $110 compared to the C30's price tag of under $100, I think there's value to be found here. The camera setup on the Narzo 50i Prime consists of a single 8-megapixel wide sensor and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. While these specs aren't exactly impressive, you'd expect more from a budget phone that costs twice as much as some other options on the market. Ultimately, the Realme Narzo 50i Prime offers good value for its price. It may not be the most exciting device in terms of performance or features, but if you're looking for an affordable smartphone that won't break your bank account, this is a decent option to consider.
Performance
The Realme Narzo 50i Prime is an entry-level smartphone that boasts a budget-friendly price tag of around €90. As expected, the device doesn't come with any frills or features that might justify its slightly higher price point compared to some other budget phones. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612 processor, which is paired with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage, respectively. While not exactly a powerhouse, this configuration should still provide decent performance for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming. However, as I've observed with some other budget devices, the Narzo 50i Prime's processor seems to be less than stellar when it comes to demanding tasks. The phone struggles to handle multitasking, graphics-intensive games, or even simple video editing. This is not surprising given its price point, but it's worth noting nonetheless. One area where the phone shines is battery life. The 5000mAh battery should provide a full day of use with ease, even for moderate users. However, when combined with the device's relatively low-performance processor, you can expect some slowdowns over time. Overall, while the Realme Narzo 50i Prime performs adequately in most areas, its performance is not exactly impressive. If you're looking for a phone that simply works for basic tasks and don't mind some occasional lag, then this might be a suitable choice. However, if you need something more powerful or efficient, there are better options available at similar price points. Rating: 6/10
Pros
1. The phone has a relatively low price of around 90 euros, making it one of the cheapest phones available.
2. The display is a good size at 6.5 inches and resolution of 720 by 1600 with average brightness of about 400 nits
3. The battery is a decent size at 5000 milliamp hour and should last for a fairly long time despite being powered by a low-performance chip.
4. There's a dual sim slot along with an sd expansion slot, allowing users to expand the storage further which is really nice for any phone regardless of price range
5. The fingerprint sensor, NFC, and other basic features are included, making it a fully functional phone without unnecessary frills
6. For its price, it's not a bad deal at all, and some devices may even work worse than this but cost more
Cons
1. The charger is not included with the purchase which can be seen as outdated considering current standards.
2. It doesn't have 5G support or Wi-Fi 5 GHz support
3. The design of the phone is very similar to other Realme models, such as the Realme C30, but costs a bit more despite being essentially the same phone in every way
4. It only has a single 8-megapixel camera on the back and a 5-megapixel front camera which may not be ideal for some users
5. The processor is not the fastest and may cause performance issues with demanding tasks or apps
6. Some older features, such as micro USB, are still included, which might be seen as unnecessary in modern smartphones