A new name will debut in the smartphone market in Russia: today Narzo is a line under the patronage of Realme, and in the future it will be an independent brand. The company plays in the ultra-budget segment, giving the maximum for the minimum money. Test today Narzo 50i – in all senses, a basic model based on a simplified version of Android Go for devices with weak hardware.
Specifications
- Screen: 6.5 inches, aspect ratio 20: 9, IPS, 1600 × 720, 270 PPI, 60 Hz.
- Operating System: realme UI Go Edition based on Android 11.
- Chipset: UNISOC (Spreadtrum) SC9863, 28nm.
- CPU: Cortex-A55 (4 × 1.6 GHz + 4 × 1.2 GHz).
- GPU: PowerVR Rogue GE8322.
- Memory: operational 2/4 GB (LPDDR4x), built-in 32/64 GB.
- Main camera: 8 megapixel (f / 2.0), autofocus, LED flash.
- Front camera: 5 MP (f / 2.2).
- Battery: 4880mAh, 10W charging.
- Dimensions: 165.2 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm.
- Weight: 195 grams.
- Slots: 2 × nanoSIM + microSD memory card (triple tray).
- Communication: 4G, Bluetooth 4.2, single-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n, GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, USB OTG.
- Sensors: illumination, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass.
Appearance and ergonomics
Narzo has its own handwriting in the design of smartphones – soft pastel colors and textured plastic, pleasant to the touch. It is the texture in combination with the smooth soft-touch coating that visually divides the back cover into lower and upper halves. The materials are practical and durable, no signs of use in two weeks. My Narzo 50i is green, there is also a classic black.
The back cover and side bezel are one piece. The volume rocker and the power button are located nearby on the right side.
An inexpensive smartphone does not even have a fingerprint scanner, only face recognition using the front camera. Instant triggering can only be counted on during the day, at dusk, recognition takes 3-4 seconds and rarely succeeds, and at night it is completely impossible. The conclusion is simple, for data protection it is better to use a graphic key or a password.
Display and sound
Despite the general status of the base model, there is a good 6.5-inch IPS in place of the display without an air gap between the glass and the matrix. The maximum brightness with the declared 400 cd / m² is actually equal to 378 cd / m², the minimum is 1 cd / m². Out of the box, the glass is covered with a protective film that should not be removed – there is no oleophobic coating on the main glass.
In the settings, a full set of options: dark theme, blue intensity reduction, color temperature adjustment and standard system scaling.
The loudspeaker on the back has the simplest sound – flat and without accent on low frequencies. To prevent the sound from drowning out when the smartphone is on the table, there is a large protrusion next to the slots. There is only one microphone at the bottom, there is no noise cancellation during phone calls.
Camera
The main camera is the only one – 8 megapixels with f / 2.0 aperture and autofocus. This time, Narzo did not invent 2MP ballast auxiliary eyes for macro and portrait photography. Software capabilities are minimal – automatic HDR and portrait with blur adjustment. There is no night mode.
The 5 megapixel front camera with f / 2.2 aperture is pleasantly impressive. Daytime shots are light balanced and detailed enough. On sunny days, HDR will help without automatic activation. With the deterioration of illumination, noise appears and details disappear. You can compensate for this moment by backlighting the screen. Portrait mode does not always separate the background correctly.
Software
The smartphone is based on Android Go with a special version of the proprietary shell. To make it easier, visual effects have been removed from the system and lightweight options for standard applications, such as a gallery and an assistant, have been installed. Although on Narzo 50i you can install any programs from Google Play.
The Realme shell primarily influenced the launcher. The general style, curtain, settings menu and standard applications came from a clean system performed by Google. Navigation can be done with a standard navibar, two buttons or gestures. There are plenty of functional additions. I liked the swipe controls, for example: if you bring your smartphone to your ear, the call will be answered automatically.
There are very few third-party applications, they are all removed by regular means. The Russian package is not preinstalled. From time to time, the App Market branded store sends intrusive notifications. They can be removed through the settings or by completely disabling the application by standard means. There are no other advertisements in the Narzo 50i shell.
Iron and communication
Inside Narzo 50i is installed an inexpensive three-year-old UNISOC (Spreadtrum) SC9863 chip. It contains 8 economical Cortex-A55 cores: 4 of them operate at 1.6 GHz and another 4 at 1.2 GHz. The figures are quite modest, but this is enough for the smooth operation of the system and simple applications. You can also count on games, but only for casual ones, you should not expect anything more from the PowerVR Rogue GE8322.
But under load, the smartphone shows itself perfectly, despite the 28 nm process technology. Maximum productivity is maintained over long distances. The decrease in indicators is stepwise and does not exceed 11%.
The speed of the drive meets the minimum requirements for a smooth interface. Its size also affects the RAM, I highly recommend the older version 4/64 GB, not the younger 2/32 GB.
On the left side there is a triple tray for two nanoSIMs and a microSD memory card. All wireless interfaces except NFC – you won’t be able to pay with Narzo 50i. The outdated versions are dictated by the chip from 2018: LTE with all the necessary frequencies, single-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and navigation with an electronic compass. Accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, as well as light and proximity sensors – all sensors are hardware and work correctly.
Autonomy and charging
A 4880 mAh battery is installed inside, which lasted almost 23 hours in the Treshbox autonomy test. The indicator is not bad for this capacity, but I want to see more from Android Go. The chip of the system is a mode of increased economy with a limited set of applications and a reduced screen brightness. The interface becomes dark, although in the case of IPS, this does not affect anything.
Trashbox.ru battery test results:
27:47
24:54
23:29
23:10
22:56
19:30
19:10
19:07
17:07
15:25
14:18
13:03
13:00
11:31
11:28
11:21
10:18
9:32
All battery test results and test method description
A full charge from a standard 10W adapter takes exactly 3.5 hours.
Not without annoying savings – an outdated microUSB is installed on the bottom end. Symmetrical USB-C has been around for a long time, but not in this case. An audio jack is mounted near the bottom end.
Recall after two weeks of use
Despite its basic status, Narzo 50i fully copes with its tasks – calls, correspondence in messengers or navigation are given without problems. From this it follows that the novelty is a good choice for children or elderly relatives and the first contender for the role of a second smartphone. In this vein, only microUSB is embarrassing, because the main devices have long been equipped with symmetrical USB-C. A simplified version of Android Go is only for the good: there is nothing superfluous in the system, the interface works faster than in full-fledged Android, with other different things.
The most interesting thing is the cost. The standard price of Narzo 50i just over 10 thousand rubles seems overpriced. I wonder how quickly it will be reduced to an adequate 7-8 thousand rubles. The brand is aimed at online sales and is rarely seen in brick-and-mortar stores.
Pros:
- fresh look made of plastic, pleasant to the touch;
- bright and high-quality display;
- nimble operation of Android Go;
- no throttling under load;
- triple tray for simultaneous installation of two SIM and memory card.
Minuses:
- lack of oleophobic coating;
- outdated microUSB.
May not like:
- lack of a second microphone for stereo;
- lack of a fingerprint scanner.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
