With its latest smartphone, Realme strikes a big blow in the anthill. While competing manufacturers are now launching premium models at 1,000 dollars, the Realme X50 Pro is much more accessible. We have already tested it for you.
Since its launch two years ago in India, the smartphone brand Realme, Oppo’s cousin, has grown steadily. If it has been confined to entry-level or mid-range smartphones for a long time, it is now attacking the high-end market. And at a time when all the main manufacturers are tending to approach – or exceed – the 1,000 dollar mark, the Realme X50 Pro is a particularly attractive device. So here’s the full phone test to see what’s going on.
REALME X50 PRO TECHNICAL SHEET
| Realme X50 Pro 5G | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 158.96 x 74.24 x 9.36 mm |
| Weight | 207 gram |
| Screen | 6.44 ”2400×1080 FHD +, 90Hz Ultra Smooth Display (Gorilla Glass 5, digitizer tactile 180 Hz) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm) |
| OS | Android 10 + Realme UI 1.0 |
| RAM | 6GB / 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 Quad-channel |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.0 + Turbo write + HPB |
| microSD | Non |
| Main sensor | 64 MP, f / 1.8, 26mm (wide angle), 1 / 1.72 “, 0.8µm 12 MP, f / 2.5, 54mm (telephoto), 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f / 2.3, 13mm (ultra wide angle), 1 / 4.0 “, 1.12µm 2 MP B&W, f / 2.4, (depth) Video: 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @ 30 / 60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Secondary sensor | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide angle), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultra wide angle), 1/4.0″, 1.12µm Vidéo : 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Battery | 4200 mAh (SuperDart Flash Charge 65 W, 0 – 100% in 35 minute) |
| 5G | YES |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint scanner under the screen |
| Water resistance | n.c |
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A CAREFUL DESIGN, BUT WITHOUT MADNESS
The Realme X50 Pro incorporates most of the elements that can be expected on a high-end smartphone in 2020. Whether it is the back or the front, it is clearly a smartphone that follows the trend. However, there is one thing that surprises us when we take it in hand, especially when comparing with the other premium models launched this year, it is its format.
With the exception of the Huawei P40 and Samsung Galaxy S20, most of the other models launched in this first half display diagonals of the screen that we will politely describe as massive. Here, it’s almost a reassuring format that Realme offers us.
Admittedly, we don’t have a 6-inch screen like Samsung or Huawei, but the 6.44-inch screen diagonal allows us to use the smartphone relatively comfortably with one hand. This does not prevent it from being particularly heavy with a weight of 207 grams. For comparison, it’s a similar weight to that of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro which sported a 6.67-inch screen.
This massive weight is partly explained by the thickness of the Realme X50 Pro, necessary to integrate its large battery, which we will come back to later. With a thickness of 9.36 mm, it holds quite well in hand, however. Whether it is for use with one or two hands, it turns out to be rather comfortable even if, necessarily, one will prefer to use it with two hands given its format.
On the back of the Realme X50 Pro, we will find a fairly original frosted glass surface. It must be said that Realme did not settle for a gray, black, or white back. In the model we tested, the back varies between burgundy and chocolate depending on the light to which it is subjected.
Realme has also launched another color, pine green. The glass surface is quite pleasant to the touch, but unfortunately, it will tend to slide the smartphone quite easily with your hands and even capture fingerprints.
Still, on the back, we will also find a photo module positioned at the top left vertically. Composed of four devices, which we will come back to later, it has the advantage of not protruding too much from the shell, allowing the smartphone to be used placed flat on a table.
Also on the front, the Realme X50 Pro incorporates fashionable elements in 2020. We are therefore entitled to a screen that occupies a large portion of the front panel with edges of 4.5 mm at the top, 3.5 mm on the sides, and 5.5 mm at the bottom. You will understand, we are not entitled here to a curved screen on the side edges. A design element that some may regret, but which many will praise for the ease of use.
Note also that the smartphone is pierced at the top left to integrate not one, but two cameras for selfies. An approach similar to that of Huawei on the P40 for example. Overall, the sensors are forgotten, even if they slightly decrease the size of the status bar as we will come back to in the software section.
On the right edge, there is the sleep button, easily accessible with your thumb and on the left, the volume buttons, which are also easily accessible with your index finger. It is on the lower edge that we will find the USB-C socket, the drawer for a single nano-SIM card – without storage extension – as well as the speaker for calls. Note that the Realme X50 Pro takes advantage of stereo speakers, since the call speaker, positioned above the screen, is also used for media playback, video, games, or music. However, the Realme X50 Pro, unfortunately, does not have a headphone jack.
Overall, we, therefore, have a fairly conventional smartphone for its design. The reflections on the frosted glass really do all the effect of the smartphone which nevertheless offers a fairly classic appearance, without great risk-taking. The Realme X50 Pro does not reinvent the smartphone, but it at least has the merit of offering good, fairly neat finishes. Note, however, that the Realme X50 Pro is not certified for its waterproofness.
A BRIGHT SCREEN, BUT PERFECTIBLE CALIBRATION
The Realme X50 Pro is equipped with an Oled screen, but as we have seen, with a flat shape, without curves on the sides. It offers a definition of 2400 x 1080 pixels, a display ratio of 20:9. On the diagonal of the screen, we are entitled to a 6.44-inch panel, enough to offer a display density of 408 pixels per inch which will be sufficient to consult the smartphone without detecting the pixels in the vast majority cases, outside of virtual reality.
To this technical sheet, Realme has also added a refresh rate of 90 Hz, accessible directly in the smartphone settings. It must be said that for a few months, the trend has been clearly towards smartphones with a high refresh rate, beyond 60 Hz, for more fluidity in the display.
In reality, however, it’s hard to really take advantage of 90 Hz on the device. If the refresh rates of 120, as on the Oppo Find X2 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S20, provide real added value, this is less the case with the 90 Hz rate offered on the Realme X50 Pro.
It must be said that the animations in particular are particularly fast in the interface. Finally, it is especially in the scrolling of pages that he will be most felt, whether on Instagram, on the Web, on Twitter, or even in the application drawer.
Note also that the Realme interface allows you to return to a 60 Hz mode to save battery, to force 90 Hz for all content, or to automatically select the refresh rate depending on the compatibility of the application.
The AMOLED screen of the Realme X50 Pro allows you to easily view its contents even in broad daylight, in strong sunlight. Obviously, who says Oled screen also says infinite contrast so no worries on that side.
Due to the confinement, I did not have access to our probe to measure the screen calibration. However, I could compare it with that of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite, whose screen temperature is set to 6486K, a level extremely close to the reference 6500K for white sunlight.
I was able to note, with the default calibration of the Realme X50 Pro, in bright color mode, a slightly cooler white balance, which draws more towards blue. We can however switch to soft mode, with slightly duller colors, or warm the temperature of the screen to approach the calibration of the Samsung smartphone, at least in terms of temperature.
Finally, in the display settings, it is possible to activate an “OSIE visual effect” mode. This is supposed to change the colorimetry and the vividness of the colors depending on the type of content you are watching. In use, however, difficult to see a real difference with and without effect.
Overall, Realme smartphone, therefore, offers a more than the adequate screen, with good brightness and a refresh rate pleasing to the eye, but does not, however, compete with the top names in the genre with perfectly calibrated panels and rates. refresh at 120 Hz as we can see around 1000 dollars.
A CAREFUL REALME UI INTERFACE
The Realme X50 Pro is one of the first smartphones to take advantage of Realme UI, the brand’s interface that frees itself from Oppo’s ColorOS. At least in part. Because between Realme UI and ColorOS 7, there is barely more difference than between EMUI and Magic UI at Honor.
So we end up with an interface based on Android 10 – with the security patch of March 2020 at the time of this test – particularly neat. In fact, Realme UI borrows a lot from ColorOS 7, which we’ve already tested with the Oppo Find X2 Pro.
A particularly neat interface and practical to use. However, the manufacturer has come a long way since the previous versions of ColorOS were poorly translated, messy, with too many badly organized options, and without overall consistency.
In fact, Realme UI has just slightly modified the display of certain options, in particular, to adapt them to an audience that is not necessarily Chinese. Thus, the quick settings icons are not surrounded by a green square, but by a blue circle. A roundness that is also found in the form of customizable icons.
At the launcher, we will find an integrated Google search bar just above the dock icons. The settings screen is similar to that of ColorOS 7 with just a few modified options such as a “Realme Lab” allowing access to experimental options, in this case sharing music in Bluetooth on two transmitters, a headset, and an enclosure for example.
All in all, we are right here with an interface rich in customization features. We can thus take advantage of a dark theme, an application drawer, gestural navigation, or navigation by reverse buttons. You can also modify and customize the shape of the application icons or slide your finger down the screen from anywhere on the home screen to open the notifications screen.
In short, Realme UI is a real success for the brand. The interface is intuitive, rich in functionality, and offers everything you would expect from a successful Android interface. Among the main criticisms that we can make him, a screen “intelligent assistant” just as useless as on ColorOS and that we would have greatly preferred to see replaced by Google Discover. Another criticism can be made about the status bar.
In fact, the two modules integrated into the punch take up a lot of space and it quickly comes to not being able to display all the notification icons at the top of the screen. It’s very simple, beyond two icons, the system displays a point suggesting that more are waiting for us by scrolling down the panel, Pity.
On the side of biometric recognition, the smartphone is equipped with a fingerprint reader positioned under the screen. If it is rather fast and effective for detection, without too many false negatives, we would have appreciated that it is positioned a little higher for easier access to the finger.
The smartphone also benefits from 2D facial recognition. If it is not as secure as the 3D versions that can be found at Huawei, Google, or Apple, the fact remains that it also allows rapid unlocking of the smartphone.
Finally, note that the Realme X50 Pro is compatible with Widevine DRM at the L1 level, which therefore allows it to play Netflix, Disney Plus, myCanal or Molotov content in Full HD.
BEST PERFORMANCE ON THE MARKET
The Realme X50 Pro is equipped with the Snapdragon 865 chip from Qualcomm, the most powerful currently available on Android. Depending on the version, Realme backed 8 or 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 or 256 GB of UFS 3.0 storage. The model we tested was equipped with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, the highest configuration of the smartphone.
With such a chip, the Realme X50 Pro logically behaves like a charm and whatever task you expect from it. In web browsing, it does not quiver, it manages to flow smoothly from one application to another and does not slow down in 2D and 3D mobile games.
When Fortnite is launched on Realme’s phone, the game automatically configures itself with a frame rate of 30 frames per second, epic quality, and 75% 3D resolution. Unfortunately, the Epic Games does not allow the passage to a higher frequency in 60 fps.
However, I was able to increase the 3D resolution to 100% without any problems. The parts remained fluid, between 29 and 30 frames per second despite some small drops at 27 frames per second, but nothing dramatic.
On-Call of Duty Mobile, the game was launched automatically this time in very high quality, the maximum, as well as with a high frequency. I was able to push the frequency to “max” and activate the anti-aliasing there too without any problem. The game remained smooth and if my team lost, I can only blame my lack of talent.
In order to compare the performance of the Realme X50 Pro, I submitted it to various benchmarks already tested by several smartphones now available at the same price level, the Samsung Galaxy S10, Huawei P30 Pro, and OnePlus 7T. I also integrated the OnePlus 8 Pro, currently one of the most powerful smartphones on Android, with the same Snapdragon 865.
| Realme X50 Pro (60 Hz) | Samsung Galaxy S10 (Full HD+) | OnePlus 7T | Huawei P30 Pro | OnePlus 8 Pro (120 Hz) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoC | S865 | Exynos 9820 | S855+ | Kirin 980 | S865 |
| AnTuTu 8 | 591 734 | NC | 444 287 | NC | 584 217 |
| PCMark 2.0 | 12 126 | 7 781 | 10 476 | 9 173 | 11 364 |
| 3DMark Slingshot Extreme | 7 170 | 4 357 | 6 294 | 4 243 | 7 089 |
| 3DMark Slingshot Extreme Graphics | 8 211 | 5 260 | 7 154 | 4 374 | 8 103 |
| 3DMark Slingshot Extreme Physics | 4 966 | 2 752 | 4 431 | 3 841 | 4 929 |
| GFXBench Aztec Vulkan High | 30 / 20 FPS | 20 / 16 FPS | 25 / 18 FPS | 16 / 13 FPS | 18 / 20 FPS |
| GFXBench Car Chase (onscreen / offscreen) | 45 / 51 FPS | 37 / 39 FPS | 37 / 46 FPS | 29 / 33 FPS | 26 / 51 FPS |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.0 (onscreen / offscreen) | 60 / 125 FPS | 58 / 86 FPS | its 59/97 FPS | is 59/89 FPS | 59/123 FPS |
| Sequential read / write | 1 745 / 764 Mo/s | 815 / 194 Mo/s | 1400 / 221 Mo/s | 903 / 232 Mo/s | 1 731 / 754 Mo/s |
| Random read / write | 53,9k / 51,6k IOPS | 35,5k / 6,3k Mo/s | 42k / 6,9k IOPS | 43,4k / 6,6k IOPS | 52,8k / 50k IOPS |
Concretely, the Realme X50 Pro, therefore, outperforms its competitors, launched last year. It even achieves results similar to those of the OnePlus 8 Pro, yet launched at 400 dollars more. Note, however, that if Realme’s smartphone achieves a better “on-screen” score on the GFX Bench tests, it is because it was configured with a refresh rate at 60 Hz, while the OnePlus 8 Pro l was at 120 Hz, more resource-intensive.
A VERSATILE CAMERA… IN FULL DAY :
The Realme X50 Pro is equipped with a module with four cameras placed on the back. From top to bottom, we will find:
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12 megapixel telephoto module, 54 mm (f / 2.5) equivalent, x2 optical zoom, x5 hybrid zoom.
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64-megapixel wide-angle module (Samsung Isocell GW1 sensor), 26 mm equivalent (f/1.8).
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8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module, 15.7 mm equivalent (f/2.3).
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2 megapixel black and white depth module (f/2.4).
On the side of the camera interface of the Realme X50 Pro, it is possible to switch from ultra-wide-angle to hybrid x5 zoom through classic wide-angle with the different settings selected by the manufacturer.
By zooming in and out, you can obviously go through intermediate levels but also go up to 20x digital zoom. Obviously, do not rely too much on it to take detailed shots, it is an accessory and we will, therefore, prefer to focus on the four zoom levels highlighted by Realme.
The photos below were all captured in automatic mode, without AI, and with automatic HDR with, from left to right, ultra-wide-angle mode, wide-angle, x2 zoom and x5 zoom:
Overall, the Realme X50 Pro does well on these different focal lengths. Independently of each other, the smartphone manages to capture enough detail and manages the high dynamic ranges very well.
However, there is a strong disparity in colors between the different objectives. This is particularly significant in the third series where the background building changes from a deep blue on the ultra-wide-angle to a more yellow tint on the wide-angle and greener on the telephoto lens.
A problem that is also found in the photo of the shelves with, in addition, a concern for uneven exposure even if the focus was each time on the same element.
It is obviously in the night shot that the Realme X50 Pro will have the most trouble. If the wide-angle shot is correct, nothing more like that of the x2 zoom, the other two suffer from other problems. On the ultra-wide-angle side, there is indeed far too little exposure because of the sensor and the smaller aperture of the lens.
As for the x5 zoom, this time it is the level of detail that disappoints. It must be said that at this zoom level in low light, the Realme X50 Pro prefers to use the main sensor. And although it is capable of recording 64 million pixels, it cannot do miracles on such a level of digital zoom.
The Realme X50 Pro also incorporates a night shot mode to compensate for its shortcomings in low light:
Unfortunately, if we can note better management of the white balance with this mode, as well as a much clearer sky, it does not correct the defects that we could cite with the automatic mode. The ultra-wide-angle remains particularly dark, while the x5 zoom clearly lacks detail.
The portrait mode of the Realme X50 Pro is quite effective even, something rare enough to emphasize, against the light. The smartphone manages to combine both portrait mode and HDR as we can see in the first series.
It even succeeds in properly trimming the face as seen in the third series. Even when the background is quite complex, composed of several elements of different shapes and colors. There is also a fairly well-respected skin tone and grain.
Finally, the Realme X50 Pro only sins once again in low light where it has much more difficulty in proposing a clear face because of the blurring of camera shake.
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32-megapixel wide-angle module (f/2.5).
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8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle module (f/2.2).
Enough to take a selfie alone or capture group shots or make video calls to many. Note that here too the Realme X50 Pro incorporates a portrait mode, but it is only available with the wide-angle, not with the ultra-wide-angle module.
If the wide-angle module is efficient enough and does well in portrait mode, the ultra-wide-angle module acts more strangely. It tends to unnecessarily accentuate the contrast on the face as if to artificially bring out the details. Note that, this time, portrait mode does not manage the HDR at the same time.
On the video side, note that the Realme X50 Pro is capable of shooting sequences in 4K at 30 FPS or in Full HD at 60 FPS. Unfortunately, it is therefore not possible to shoot in 4K at 60 FPS, no more than in 8K. Finally, for selfies, the smartphone allows capture in Full HD at 30 FPS. It is also possible to enjoy a slow-motion mode at 120 frames per second in Full HD.
FAST CHARGING… MORE THAN FAST
The Realme X50 Pro is equipped with a 4200 mAh battery. In use, it offers comfortable autonomy that easily exceeds the day. I was able to use it with three different recharge cycles, each time with a different refresh rate for the screen.
The first time, I used the Realme X50 Pro with the automatic refresh rate. By trusting the smartphone to adapt the refresh rate of the screen according to the content, it took me almost 44 hours before falling to 10% of battery, a duration during which the screen remained on for 4h47.
During this time, I consulted Twitter for 1 hour 45 minutes, Chrome for 1 hour 30 minutes, YouTube for 45 minutes, the camera for 30 minutes, and Messenger, on a video call, for 30 minutes as well.
Finally, by configuring the smartphone with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, I was able to hold 51 hours before falling to 10% of batteries, including 6:05 during which the screen remained on. During this period, I notably consulted YouTube for two hours, Google Chrome for one hour and Twitter for 50 minutes.
Overall, we, therefore, have a Realme X50 Pro which holds up particularly well in terms of autonomy and should easily last the day, or even an additional day in some cases with more moderate use or the activation of 60 Hz.
But it is especially in terms of charging that the Realme device stands out. It must be said that the manufacturer comes with a 65 W charger (10V, 6.5 A) fully compatible. Logical when you know that Realme originally came from Oppo and that the manufacturer offered such a load power on its Find X2 Pro.
Concretely, with 5 minutes of charge, the Realme X50 Pro could go from 10 to 32% and it will take an additional 5 minutes to reach 50%, in just 10 minutes. For a load of 10 to 100%, you will have to wait just 29 minutes. It is therefore one of the fastest charges on the market. Unfortunately, the Realme smartphone does not offer wireless charging.
REALME X50 PRO NETWORK AND COMMUNICATION
Regarding connectivity, the Realme X50 Pro is compatible with all of the 4G frequency bands available in most countries, whether it is the B1 (2100 MHz), the B3 (1800 MHz), the B7 (2600 MHz), B20 (800 MHz) or B28 (700 MHz).
For 5G, it is both compatible with 5G SA and 5G NSA. However, if it is compatible with the bands n1 (2100 MHz), n41 (2500 MHz), n78 (3500 MHz), and n79 (4700 MHz), it does not support millimeter waves beyond 6 GHz which will be used for 5G in a few years.
The Realme X50 Pro is also compatible with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / ax), geolocation by GPS, Glonass and Beidou, NFC and Bluetooth 5.1. Regarding Bluetooth, it also benefits from the SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC Bluetooth audio codecs.
Regarding voice calls, the Realme X50 Pro does a good job of filtering out ambient noise so that the other party can clearly see your voice. Because of the confinement, I could not test it on the street, but with traffic sounds broadcast on my speakers. The person on the line heard my voice in a rather compressed way, but without perceiving the noises around except for a motorbike engine.
REALME X50 PRO PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Realme X50 Pro is already in pre-order. It will be available from May 11 in two colors: burgundy red or pine green. Three configurations are available with the 8/128 GB version at 665 dollars, the 8/256 GB version at 776 dollars, and the 12/256 GB model at 832 dollars.
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