As we often state in our reviews these days, the dynamics of the affordable phone market have radically changed in the last couple of months and comparisons with the last-gen models, in this case – the 6 Pro, feel pointless (if they ever were relevant in the first place). So in our Realme 7 Pro review, we will mostly be talking about where it stands in comparison to current relevant options. Contents:
Realme 7 Pro price and specificationsRealme 7 Pro unboxingRealme 7 Pro review: Design and buildRealme 7 Pro Review: Display qualityRealme 7 Pro Review: Performance and SoftwareRealme 7 Pro Review: Camera performanceRealme 7 Pro Review: Battery and AudioRealme 7 Pro Review Verdict: Should you buy it?
Realme 7 Pro Price and Specifications
Realme 7 Pro Unboxing
The Realme 7 Pro has the usual set of box contents which include:
HandsetPre-installed screen protectorProtective case65W Dart chargerUSB Cable (Type-A to Type-C)SIM ejector and documentation
Realme 7 Pro Review: Design and Build
Realme has done a fine job with the design. The polycarbonate back is soft to touch and adorns a split gradient pattern that Realme terms “mirror design”. The gradient is subtle and appealing. There are curves in all the right places that make the phone feel elegant and comfortable to hold and operate. It’s also a solid phone with a metal side frame and ‘three layers of splash-resistance’. And there is no appreciable camera bump to be wary of. The display on the front is shielded by Gorilla Glass 3 and a pre-installed screen protector. There is a punch-hole selfie camera on the top right and side bezels are reasonably narrow. The chin at the bottom is noticeably broad, but that’s perhaps not a deal-breaker for phones in this segment. The volume rocker and power button (with the signature yellow accent) are within easy reach and offer good tactile feedback. It’s just that the volume down and power key are positioned exactly opposite to each other leading to many accidental screenshots.
The Realme 7 Pro has stereo speakers (more on that later) and isn’t skimping on essentials like the audio jack and dedicated card slot. All ports and cutouts at the bottom are symmetrically aligned. So, yes, a job well done.
Realme 7 Pro Review: Display and Unlocking
It’s been a while since Realme brought in an AMOLED display phone in the under 20K segment. The trade-off is that the screen doesn’t support high-refresh-rate. The Realme 7 (review) has a 90Hz screen, but the panel on the 7 Pro is better and gives users an option to switch to a relatively color-accurate sRGB profile (Gentle). There is also a smooth scrolling option under Realme Lab that makes the scrolling feel smoother (making up to an extent for lack of high refresh rate). The ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Vivid’ profiles that target wider color gamuts have bluish whites but other colors feel more vibrant. Between the eye comfort mode, color temperature toggle, and three preset color profiles, most users should be able to narrow down on a setting that suits their taste. If you are fastidious about display colors, it’s worth mentioning that the Galaxy M31s fairs better in this regard. Outdoor visibility is above average. Thanks to the AMOLED screen-type, contrast is pleasantly high, there are deep blacks to savor in the dark mode, and there is the ever-useful Always-on mode listed as Screen-off clock (not customizable). We do wish Realme adds more patches of grey in its dark mode to reduce eye strain while reading texts like notifications. The phone does have a useful eye comfort mode and there’s the option to turn on DC Dimming and eliminate lowlight flicker listed under Realme Lab. The phone had a DRM L1 certificate and support HD streaming on Prime videos and Netflix. There is the new Goodix fingerprint reader (white light) under the screen that’s reasonably snappy and reliable. Users may also combine both Face and fingerprint unlock to further improve unlock speed and accuracy. Update: HD streaming is working now. We have updated the review to reflect the same.
Realme 7 Pro Review: Performance and Software
Realme used to have class-leading chipsets and has earlier offered the Snapdragon 720G in way cheaper phones priced under Rs. 15,000. But these are different times, and we’d say the Snapdragon 720G is in no way a letdown. It’s also backed by ample LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.1 storage, and the performance we are getting on the Realme 7 Pro is really solid. We have been testing the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant for this review. Day-to-day usage is smooth and the high-end games that we tried ran smooth. Pubg runs at HD-HDR and perhaps that’s the last time we are using that as a reference. If you absolutely must have the best chipset for the price, you may try your luck in one of the Poco flash sales. The Realme UI software felt more stable this time around. Realme is also using more of Google apps and google feed on the pane left to the home screen. It’s not a light skin, but it’s in line with the global taste and is highly customizable. We don’t have many complaints with the interface design. Since Realme is using Google dialer, call recording will work with a prompt that plays on both ends. This is just something you need to be aware of before you make your buying decision. One omission we ran into is Google’s Nearby share, a file-sharing service that we are quite used to by now. This is again very likely to be added in future updates. Realme 7 Pro has dual-band Wi-Fi, Dual SIM VoLTE, and Wi-Fi calling support. We didn’t face any issues with call quality in our area.
Realme 7 Pro Review: Camera performance
Let’s start with the camera specs. There are four cameras on the rear with 64MP Sony IMX682 in the lead. The primary snapper is assisted by an 8MP wide-angle camera and a basic 2MP B&W portrait camera, and 2MP macro camera. There’s also a 32MP selfie camera on the front which just as the primary sensor bins four pixels to 1 and churns out 8MP images.
The primary camera does a great job in proper daylight. Colors are close to natural, dynamic range is wide, and there are adequate details. The shutter isn’t particularly snappy and at times the camera struggles to lock focus, but you’d still be able to take great shots in perfect lighting and with steady subjects.
In low light, the primary camera can get good details but it becomes a bit unreliable. There is also a night mode and it works really well. The other three cameras on the rear don’t have much to add. The wide-angle shots lack details and leave a lot to be desired. The portrait mode can detect subject edges well but for substantial blur you will have to push the bokeh toggle close to 100%. The macro camera lets you get close to subjects, but once again the details are murky. You’d be better off sticking to the primary camera for closeups.
Primary cameraMacro camera
The 32MP selfie camera on the front works well in proper lighting. Beautification is turned on by default for the selfie camera and a few other modes. The camera app isn’t very engaging either. There are definite improvements in Realme’s image processing software and that should give the Realme 7 Pro an edge over the competition.
Realme 7 Pro Review: Battery and Audio
Battery backup on the Realme 7 Pro is excellent. The 4500mAh battery lasts more than a day with moderate to heavy usage, and the 65W fast charging further ensures that you can top up the lost juice in no time. A full charge takes merely 35 minutes! And 10 to 12 minutes of charging can fill the battery to 50 percent. This is simply an unmatched experience and has us spoilt for good. As for audio, the handset has two speakers that can together get substantially loud. This counts as a bonus for people like me who often consume media without headphones. Audio quality, however, leaves a lot to be desired and you’d be better off with your headphones while listening to music.
Realme 7 Pro Verdict with Pros and Cons
The Realme 7 Pro offers great value for its price. Highpoints include its AMOLED display, awesome dart charging convenience, and the elegant, ergonomic design. The primary 64MP camera performance is above average and comparable to the best available options under 20k, but the overall camera performance is a mixed bag. It will be up against the likes of Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Poco X2, and Samsung Galaxy M31s (review), and the overall experience is comparable. If you are a power user on a budget, we could definitely recommend this as an option. Pros
65W fast chargingAMOLED displayDependable performanceDecent designLoud stereo speakersDedicated card slotImproved camera performance
Cons
Not a very versatile camera Haptic feedback motor is inconsistent
Question: What is the SAR value of Realme 7 Pro? Answer: Head SAR – 0.734W/Kg; Body SAR – 0.516 W/Kg Question: Does Realme 7 Pro support HD streaming on Netflix and Prime Videos? Answer: Yes, the handset supports up to Full HD streaming resolution on Netflix and Prime Videos. HDR is not supported. Question: Does Realme 7 Pro support Wi-Fi calling and dual-band Wi-Fi? Answer: Yes, it does. Question: Does Realme 7 Pro have FM Radio? Answer: No, it does not. Question: Does Realme 7 Pro support Dual 4G VoLTE? Answer: Yes, it does. Question: Does Realme 7 Pro have a telephoto zoom camera? Answer: No, it doesn’t. Question: Does Realme 7 Pro support auto call recording? Answer: No. The phone has call recording but it works with a warning prompt for both caller and receiver.
Realme 7 Pro First Impressions Video [in Hindi]
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