Realme 3 review: A worthy Xiaomi Redmi Note 7, Samsung Galaxy M20 rival

Realme 3 comes with ‘next-gen 3D unibody gradient design’ and high-end specifications. Read our full review.

Realme 3 is available in India at a starting price of ₹8,999 (HT Photo)

Brand: Realme
Product: Realme 3
Key specifications: 6.2-inch HD+ notch display, MediaTek Helio P70 processor, 3GB/4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage, ColorOS 6.0 Android Pie, 13MP+2MP Rear Camera, 13MP Selfie Camera, 4,230mAh battery
Price: ₹8,999 (base price)
Rating: 3.5/5

Realme's rise in popularity in India suggests that people want better looking phones even in the budget category. It does not mean consumers are willing to compromise on the specifications front - a gap very well capitalised by Realme. From Realme 2 Pro to Realme U, Realme phones have bet big on design without giving underwhelming specs. The latest Realme 3 is no different.

Launched at a starting price of ₹8,999, Realme 3 takes on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 and Samsung Galaxy M20 which more or less have similar set of specifications, features and design. Realme 3 uses a Helio P70 processor for performance. It also has dual-rear cameras including a special night mode.

Design

We've talked about Realme 3's design in detail in our first impressions. A quick recap, Realme 3 does away with the graphic-style design. It now has a trendier gradient design with a unibody theme. The material is still plastic but it does not feel cheap at all. The 3D blending colour is indeed good to look at.

Realme 3's design, however, isn't perfect. It's quite slippery. If you've sweaty palms, you will find the phone little difficult to grip. The rear panel is also quite vulnerable to scratches and fingerprint smudges which take away the sheen after longer usage.

That said, most of the phones with similar design face this issue. Looking at the trend, smartphone makers are soon going to embrace proper glass even for the budget segment. If you're planning to buy Realme 3, we recommend you to use a back cover.

Realme 3 does not have USB Type-C charging port (HT Photo)

Realme 3 does not have USB Type-C charging port (HT Photo)

Camera

Realme 3 comes with a dual-rear camera setup including 13-megapixel and 2-megapixel sensors. It also features include f/1.8 aperture, 5P lens, nightscape, Hybrid HDR, Chroma Boost, Portrait Mode, and 1.12um pixels. On the front it has 13-megapixel selfie camera with 1.12um pixels, AI Beautification, HDR and AI Facial Unlock.

After having used a slew of underwhelming cameras on sub- ₹15,000 phones, Realme 3's camera has been a pleasant experience. Realme 3 delivers near-excellent results in daylight while retaining details and colours. A few shots, however, tend to oversaturate - something Realme may have to fix with future software updates.

A shot from Realme 3 in daylight with HDR mode on (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

A shot from Realme 3 in daylight with HDR mode on (Image resized for web) (HT Photo)

The Chroma Boost enhances brightness and colour level. You'll have to be really careful when to use this mode otherwise chances are photos may have unrealistic colours. Realme is extensively marketing the "Nightscape" mode. Photos taken with this mode are indeed much better, especially in lowlight. The image processing is a bit slower than expected.

Low light photos leave a lot to be desired. The photo has been taken without Nightscape mode. (Image resized for web). (HT Photo)

Low light photos leave a lot to be desired. The photo has been taken without Nightscape mode. (Image resized for web). (HT Photo)

Performance

Realme 3 is powered by MediaTek Helio P70 processor with 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants. The smartphone handles day-to-day tasks such as browsing, video streaming, emails and instant messaging with ease. If you push the phone little bit, say longer sessions of camera or graphic-intensive games, you will notice a minor deterioration. But that's for power users. As far as battery life goes, Realme 3 can easily last a day on medium to light usage. Power users would like to carry the charger. Note that it does not have USB Type-C which could have paved way for faster charging on the phone.

Verdict

Realme 3 isn't a perfect phone but this is one of the best you can buy in India under ₹10,000. It looks beautiful and camera in general is impressive. If you're looking for a phone that has the modern gradient design and does not compromise on the performance, Realme 3 is definitely worth considering. You can also consider Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 and Samsung Galaxy M20 which more or less almost similar things to offer.