realme X7 Max review
The Realme X7 Max is an alternative to the popular Realme GT, specifically designed for the Indian market and globally sold as the Realme GT Neo. The phone has a high-end MediaTek chipset, replacing the Snapdragon 888 in the original GT model. Design-wise, the X7 Max has a glossy stripe accent and shiny logo, giving it a rather catchy look. The phone's build is made from plastic, not glass, but still feels premium and on the lighter side. The display is a 6.43-inch AMOLED with a 1080p resolution, fast 120Hz refresh rate, and punch-hole selfie camera. The display itself is really nice, sharp, and contrasty, with vivid colors that can be made accurate with color settings. The phone's audio features a traditional headphone jack and hybrid stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. In terms of performance, the X7 Max has a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset, which provides flagship-grade performance comparable to Snapdragon 860 or 870 chipsets. Battery life is also good, with a 4500mAh battery that supports 50W Super Dart charging. The camera setup is identical to the Realme GT, with a 64MP main cam, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro cam. While not flagship-grade, the cameras are decent for the class, producing good quality photos and videos. Overall, the Realme X7 Max offers a great user experience, similar to the Realme GT, but at a potentially lower price point. If you can find it, it's definitely worth considering as a more affordable alternative to the flagship model.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme X7 Max boasts an impressive design that's both catchy and premium-feeling. The glossy stripe accent and shiny "Dare to Leap" logo give the phone a unique visual identity. Although it's not flashy, the overall look is still quite attractive, especially when caught in the right light. What's more, the textured matte finish seems to sparkle, adding to the phone's premium feel. In contrast to its sibling, the Realme GT, the X7 Max's build quality takes a slightly different approach. While the GT features a glass back, the X7 Max is made from plastic. However, this doesn't detract from the phone's overall feel, which remains sturdy and lightweight. The use of plastic may seem budget-friendly, but it actually contributes to the phone's reduced weight. The 6.43-inch AMOLED display on the Realme X7 Max is a real highlight, with a crisp 1080p resolution and fast 120Hz refresh rate. The punch-hole design for the selfie camera adds a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic. While the display itself is not particularly large, it's still quite vibrant and offers good color accuracy. In terms of size and weight, the Realme X7 Max feels comfortable in the hand, making it easy to hold and use for extended periods. The phone's dimensions are well-balanced, allowing for a seamless fit in one's pocket or bag. Overall, the Realme X7 Max's design is a testament to Realme's commitment to delivering high-quality devices at an affordable price point.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Realme X7 Max is its impressive battery life. With a 4500mAh power bank, this device can easily last a day and a half with moderate use. In our testing, we found that the phone scored a good endurance rating of 110 hours in our proprietary tests. The X7 Max also supports 50W Super Dart charging, which is surprisingly quick considering its lower wattage compared to the Realme GT's 65W charging. We observed that the phone can go from zero to 60% in just half an hour, making it a great option for users who need a rapid top-up. We attribute the improved battery life to the more efficient Mediatek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset used in the X7 Max. This chip provides flagship-grade performance without the hefty power consumption of its Qualcomm counterparts. While the Realme GT may have a slight edge in terms of charging speed, the X7 Max's battery life is still an impressive feat. Overall, we're pleased to see that Realme has prioritized battery life and efficiency in their latest offering, making it a great choice for users who want a reliable device without sacrificing performance.
Display
The Realme X7 Max boasts a stunning 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution, providing an immersive visual experience. The fast 120Hz refresh rate ensures that scrolling and swiping through the UI is silky smooth, while the 360Hz touch sampling rate takes it to a whole new level of responsiveness. The screen itself is truly impressive, featuring vibrant colors, high contrast, and sharp details. As an AMOLED display, it's capable of producing deep blacks, making for a more immersive viewing experience. HDR10 support adds another layer of depth to the visuals, although it doesn't quite match the higher-tier HDR 10+ found on some other flagships. In terms of brightness, the X7 Max delivers respectable results, reaching up to 430 nits with the slider. Boosting to auto mode can push this even further, up to 640 nits, making it suitable for use in bright sunlight conditions. The only drawback we noticed is the lackluster performance when running demanding games. We were unable to get them to run above 60fps, which may be a letdown for some users. However, for general usage and everyday tasks, the display shines, providing an engaging and responsive experience. Overall, the Realme X7 Max's display is a strong point in its favor, offering a great blend of visuals, responsiveness, and features that make it well-suited for daily use. While it may not be perfect, it's certainly a highlight of this device.
Camera
The camera department of the Realme X7 Max is where things get interesting. This phone shares its camera hardware with the more expensive Realme GT, and it shows in the quality of the photos. The primary sensor is a 64-megapixel unit that captures decent images with plenty of detail, punchy colors, and low noise. Portrait shots are also good quality wise, but subject separation could be improved. One of the standout features of the camera system on the Realme X7 Max is its ability to capture sharp photos in good lighting conditions. The colors are true to life, and the dynamic range is okay, with shadows that aren't totally crushed and highlights that aren't all blown out. Night mode also works well, restoring some highlight detail and making the photos sharper. The ultra-wide camera, however, is a different story. It produces soft and dark images in low light, with limited dynamic range. While it's not terrible, it's definitely not as impressive as the primary sensor. In terms of video capture, the main camera can record up to 4K resolution at 30fps, which is decent considering the price point. The footage has plenty of detail and low noise, but the colors are a bit too saturated. On the other hand, the ultra-wide camera is limited to 1080p resolution and produces dull footage with visible noise. One feature that's worth mentioning is electronic image stabilization (EIS) for videos shot in 1080p resolution from either camera. While it helps smooth out major bumps and shakes, there are still plenty of smaller ones left behind, making the footage feel softer than expected. Overall, the Realme X7 Max's camera system is a mixed bag. While it has some nice moments, such as good primary sensor images and decent night mode performance, it also struggles in low light conditions with the ultra-wide camera. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option that can still deliver decent photo quality, the Realme X7 Max might be worth considering.
Price and Value
The Realme X7 Max is an intriguing alternative to the popular Realme GT, with a unique selling proposition that makes it worth considering. Priced competitively, this device offers a compelling value proposition for those seeking a high-end smartphone without breaking the bank. One of the standout features of the Realme X7 Max is its Mediatek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset, which provides flagship-grade performance at a fraction of the cost. This powerful processor enables smooth gaming and everyday usage, making it an excellent choice for those who want a seamless user experience without sacrificing performance. Another significant advantage of the Realme X7 Max is its price. Compared to the Realme GT, this device offers similar specifications at a lower price point, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. In terms of value, the Realme X7 Max delivers. With a 6.43-inch AMOLED display, fast charging capabilities, and a quad-camera setup that produces decent photos and videos, this phone has all the makings of a flagship device. The addition of Dolby Atmos support and hybrid stereo speakers further enhances its appeal. While some may be deterred by the Mediatek chipset instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, it's worth noting that performance is still on par with other devices in this class. Overall, the Realme X7 Max offers exceptional value for its price. For those seeking a high-end smartphone without breaking the bank, this device is an excellent choice. In conclusion, the Realme X7 Max provides a compelling package of features and specifications at a competitive price point. Its Mediatek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset, combined with its sleek design, AMOLED display, and quad-camera setup, make it an attractive option for those seeking a high-end smartphone experience without the hefty price tag.
Performance
The Realme X7 Max, an alternative to the popular Realme GT, boasts a high-end Mediatek chipset, replacing the Snapdragon 888 in its sibling model. This upgrade provides flagship-grade performance, making it a compelling option for those seeking a powerful device without the hefty price tag. In our tests, the Realme X7 Max delivered impressive benchmark scores, comparable to phones running on a Snapdragon 860 or 870 chipset. Games ran smoothly, albeit with some limitations in high frame rates. The phone's thermals were decent, considering its non-gaming purpose. Moreover, 5G connectivity ensured seamless data transfer and online experiences. The Mediatek Demensity 1200 5G chipset, built on a 6 nanometer process, handled demanding tasks with ease. Although it didn't quite match the high benchmark scores of the Realme GT, its performance was still respectable. Overall, the X7 Max's performance was more than sufficient for everyday use, including gaming and multimedia consumption. The phone's UI ran smoothly and hiccup-free, thanks to Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11. The interface was clean and straightforward, with features like a smart sidebar, mini windows, and customization options. While not as powerful as some flagship devices, the Realme X7 Max's performance was more than enough for its intended audience. In conclusion, the Realme X7 Max delivers solid performance, making it an excellent option for those seeking a powerful device without breaking the bank. Its Mediatek chipset may not be as flashy as the Snapdragon 888, but it gets the job done with ease.
Pros
1. The Realme X7 Max has a nice looking design with a glossy stripe accent and shiny logo.
2. It features a great AMOLED screen with a fast 120Hz refresh rate, making swiping and scrolling extra smooth.
3. The phone has good battery life, scoring a good endurance rating of 110 hours in our proprietary tests.
4. It supports 50W Super Dart charging, which is still quite solid, although slower than the Realme GT's 65W charging.
5. The camera performance is decent, with solid 16MP photos from the main cam and nice detail and colors.
6. The phone has a traditional headphone jack and hybrid stereo speakers that earned a rating of 'very good' on our loudness charts.
7. It features an under-display fingerprint reader that's fast and responsive.
Cons
1. The design is not flashy, but rather catchy, which might be a subjective preference.
2. The phone has a mediatek Dimensity 1200 5G chipset, which doesn't quite reach the high benchmark scores of the GT, although performance is still flagship-grade.
3. Games run great, but lack of high FPS support and thermal issues might be a concern for heavy gamers.
4. The ultra-wide camera takes average-quality photos with different color rendition from the main cam.
5. Macro shots are decent but require manual focusing due to lack of autofocus.