Device review: Realme 7 5G

Realme reaffirms 5G commitment with release of solid budget device 4.5/5

Realme has added to its plethora of device releases in 2020 with its latest 5G smartphone. The Realme 7 5G is the latest addition to the Realme 7 series released earlier this year and features some slight upgrades on the original device.

However, the major point to note about the release of this device is the renewed focus on the budget 5G smartphone race. With this device, Realme has again outdone itself by releasing the most affordable 5G smartphone in Europe at £279, but Amazon customers can buy the device for £229 for a Black Friday special offer.

To be able to boast one of the most affordable 5G phones in Europe is some achievement for Realme who still manage to impress despite its rapid slate of releases this year.

Despite being incredibly similar to its predecessor in a number of ways, the Realme 7 5G is an essential addition to Realme’s portfolio and the 5G market as a whole. The device brings 5G connectivity to a wider audience and it comes in the form of a solid smartphone which certainly provides competition to the budget smartphone market.

Hardware Specs

OS: Android 10, Realme UI 1.0
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G
Screen: 6.5 inches
Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels
Memory: 6GB RAM
Internal storage: 128GB
Rear camera: Quad Camera with 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP
Front camera: 16MP
Video: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps
Battery: 5000mAh, 30W fast-charging
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C
Dimensions: 162.1 x 75 x 9.1mm
Weight: 194g

Design and unboxing

In terms of design, there really isn’t too much of a difference between the 5G variant of the device and the original Realme 7. The Realme 7 5G features the standard jelly case, USB-C charger, and the 30W fast-charging adapter that will charge the device in around 65 minutes.

On the front, there is plenty of space on its 6.5-inch screen with a slight cut-out on the top-left of the device because of its selfie camera. The device boasts a 90.5 per cent screen-to-body ratio and a great 120Hz refresh rate.

The smartphone features the same glossy two-tone finish as the Realme 7 on the back of the device but does weigh in slightly less at 194g compared to 196.5g. At the bottom of the device, there is a 3.5mm headphones jack despite Realme pushing its new Buds Air Pro wireless earphones before Black Friday.

The only major difference I can see is in the camera design. The quad-camera doesn’t follow the same vertical pattern as it did on the Realme 7 and instead features the first three camera lenses with the final camera placed next to it rather than below it.

While the design does look great as it did with the original Realme 7, there is nothing truly distinctive about the smartphone which indicates that it offers 5G connectivity.

Camera

The Realme 7 5G comes equipped with a 48MP primary lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a macro lens, a B&W lens, and a 16MP selfie-camera.

The main snapper takes some wonderfully detailed photos as the Realme 7 did. This is perhaps the area where the least improvement has been made between the Realme 7 and the 5G variant of the device, but below are some pictures I have taken with the main camera.

The Night Mode is a high point for the device as you can see below. You may have to wait 3 seconds for Night Mode snaps but they are most definitely worth it as you can see below.

The Realme 5G also supports a new Cinema Mode which uses a 21:9 frame for recording and supports custom adjustment of exposure, shutter, and zoom features for professional-level movie making. The video recording capabilities of the phone is super impressive for a budget device and captures some solid clips, albeit not as solid as some of the higher-end devices like the Huawei Mate 40 Pro which is also quadruple the price.

Performance

The Realme 7 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G chipset which is a major upgrade on the MediaTek Helio G95 processor used by the Realme 7. The Dimesnity 800U has a much better overall chip score than the Helio G95 and performs significantly better for the battery life of the device.

The Dimensity 800U is superior in just about all aspects and is the main upgrade from the Realme 7. The chipset coupled with the upgraded 120Hz offers a very good gaming experience.

With that said, the Realme 7 5G runs very smoothly without any major lags or glitches. I was using a variant of the device that came packed with 6GB of RAM, a slight downgrade on the Realme 7 I used which came with 8GB of RAM. The Realme 7 with 8GB of RAM retails for around £239 and this device with 6GB of RAM will retail for around £279 after the Black Friday sales meaning it is the only major downgrade in terms of the performance.

Again, with this device, the standout feature in terms of performance is the fast-charging it offers. The 30W dart charging for its 5000mAh battery is supremely impressive and works near enough the same as the Realme 7, charging the device fully in 65 minutes.

Offering flagship-level fast-charging on mid-range and budget devices is one of the key reasons Realme sustains its success and fans will be glad to know that the charging speed does not disappoint.

At a glance

Speed – 4.5/5
Camera – 4/5
Battery – 4.5/5
Design – 3.5/5
Value – 5/5
Price – £279 but £229 for Black Friday

Verdict

While Realme continues to release devices thick and fast, it’s budget range remains competitive. The Realme 7 5G is a solid budget 5G option for those who don’t want to be spending too much on a 5G smartphone. My main criticism with the Realme 7 was it didn’t feature too many upgrades from the Realme 6, and before using the smartphone I thought this would again be the case with the Realme 7 5G.

The inclusion of the Dimensity 800U 5G chipset alone makes it worth spending the £279 asking price, but keep in mind that the Realme 7 5G only comes with a 6GB RAM variant. For those that do not want to sacrifice 2GB of RAM for 5G connectivity, the Realme 7 may be a better option.

The Realme 7 5G is available to pre-order now from Amazon and will go on sale from November 27.

The device will initially be on a Black Friday offer of £229 but will then retail for £279.