Another brand adopts the latest and most successful MediaTek Helio chip with an affordable smartphone Realme 10. The model debuted back in the fall and is not a hot novelty, so in this article I will focus on the user experience.
Specifications
- Screen: 6.4 inches, 20:9 aspect ratio, Super AMOLED, 2400×1080 pixels, 411 PPI, 90Hz.
- Operating system: realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12.
- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99, 6 nm.
- CPU: Cortex-A76 (2×2.2GHz) + Cortex-A55 (6×2.0GHz).
- GPU: ARM Mali-G57 MP2.
- Memory: 4/128 GB, 8/128 GB or 8/256 GB, UFS 2.2, microSD card.
- Main camera: 50 MP (f/1.8, phase detection autofocus) + 2 MP (depth sensor), LED flash.
- Front camera: 16 MP (f / 2.45).
- Battery: 5000 mAh, 33 W charging.
- Dimensions: 159.9 × 73.3 × 7.95 mm, 178 grams.
- Slots: 2 nanoSIM + microSD memory card, triple tray.
- Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NFC, USB OTG.
- Sensors: accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, proximity, illumination, fingerprint scanner in the power button.
Appearance
Flat ends instead of a rounded body, a banal glittery gloss instead of a relatively strict design, two separate protruding lenses instead of a single main camera unit. The design and practicality of the Realme 10 have taken a few steps back when compared to the previous Realme 9 4G. Our hero does not flirt with a more expensive design, but is almost a complete copy of the budget Realme C33. This may be Realme’s new design code, but introducing it from lower models is not the best solution in terms of image.
There is no tactile pleasure from glossy plastic. But I was pleased with the moderate dimensions. Despite the flat ends, the device fits well in the hand and does not feel like a “shovel”. And this is subject to a reasonable diagonal of 6.4 inches.
The kit includes a case made of slightly tinted silicone. But even without it, the case does not suffer from soiling and minor scratches. My Realme 10 looks like new after a few weeks of casual everyday use.
Display
The entire BBK concern and Realme in particular are in no hurry to change an excellent screen for a better one, continuing to use 6.4-inch AMOLED with a round cutout for the front camera on the left. This is a really smart choice, as the image looks good in any conditions, and the automatic brightness works out correctly. By the way, Realme 10 is not helpless under the sun, as the manually set maximum brightness of 507 cd / m² is additionally accelerated by the light sensor. The minimum level is 1.89 cd/m². A refresh rate of 90 Hz is enough to not complain about the lack of smoothness.
An additional plus in my eyes deserves a full-fledged Always-On with color and animated splash screens. Customization is on top, for example, in my case, the clock, date, charge level, and notification icons are displayed. For comparison, competitors from Transsion Holdings (Infinix, Tecno and itel), which are gaining popularity, still cannot boast of an adequate Always-On option.
What the Realme 10 lacks is an in-display fingerprint scanner. Here the fingerprint is located in the power button and in practice there are no problems with it. Although those who hold the smartphone in their left hand will have to get the hang of applying the index finger.
Hardware and software
Inside the MediaTek Helio G99. Should I stop praising him? Not! There is nothing better for the middle segment today: 6 nm process technology, 2 Cortex-A76 cores (2.2 GHz), 6 Cortex-A55 cores (2 GHz) and Mali-G57 MC2. Performance is excellent: a solid 30fps on high settings in Genshin Impact, not worse in PUBG on high settings. And most importantly, work under load without overheating and, as it should, without degrading performance over a long distance.
And with the memory you need to be more attentive. There are three modifications for 4/128 GB, 8/128 GB or 8/256 GB. I got the minimal version with 4 GB of RAM and another 4 GB of swap file. According to my observations, more than a couple of applications do not linger in the background. And when quickly switching between tasks with the transition to the desktop, there are noticeable sagging animations. I think 8 GB of RAM will soften this moment, so you should look at older modifications for yourself. The issue of built-in memory is not so acute, since it is possible to install a microSD memory card in a triple tray.
realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 has everything for which it is customary to love the “green robot”. Nice appearance, support for Material You color schemes, an excellent set of options from Realme itself. The speed of work is also pleasing, the smartphone is very responsive both in the shell itself and when running third-party applications. However, as noted above, when switching quickly between programs, lags still occur. You should not expect miracles from Helio G99 as a flagship, but the chip is excellent at its level.
More than a dozen third-party programs installed out of the box as promos. All of them are removed without a trace and problems. The incident happened with ghost labels for programs from the Russian package. They cannot be removed from the desktop, since the “delete” button does not appear in any form when the launcher is in mode without a separate application menu. There is also no switch in the settings. So I had to remove the extra labels in one of the trash folders.
In Realme 10, they did not save on trifles: there are a couple of microphones, a 3.5 mm jack is located at the bottom, all sensors, navigation works fine, NFC is available. The low class becomes apparent when the vibration from the noisy eccentric motor is triggered. The sound from the only speaker also does not cause much sympathy. This is not the case when you can listen to music without a speaker.
Camera
There are two large lenses on the back cover. In fact, only the main Samsung JN1 sensor at 50 megapixels is involved in the shooting, and the second 2 megapixel peephole helps only in portrait shooting. During the day, the quality pleases, as the software takes care of all the work and works cool with color.
Hybrid 2x zoom without loss of quality is relevant only during the day. In bad conditions, noise, loss of detail and other flaws in night shooting on the Realme 10 come to the fore.
The Samsung JN1 sensor installed here is really weak in bad conditions. Apparently, therefore, on the Realme 10 automatic machine, it hybridly increases the shutter speed, forcing you to keep the smartphone motionless for half a second. If you need to shoot something instantly (for example, a moving object), I recommend switching to the “Street” mode with a priority on the shooting speed. There is also a separate night mode, but with its help, shooting takes at least a second. Below in the gallery is a visual comparison of the three modes: “Street”, “Auto” and “Night”. In the first two cases, excessive highlighting and an unsuccessful fight against noise at the cost of detailing are noticeable.
Given the feature described above, Realme 10 can also shoot in the evening-night city. To summarize and look at recent smartphones, the POCO M5 has an identical main camera that shoots well during the day and passes at night.
The 16 MP front camera pleases with good photos in any conditions without problems with details. HDR support, face-lit screen and a good portrait mode – there is everything you need for decent social media selfies.
Autonomy and charging
The undoubted advantage of inexpensive smartphones is battery life. So Realme 10 with a 5000 mAh battery lasts me one and a half to two days. And this is subject to 5-6 hours of active screen, constant mobile Internet and regular distribution of Wi-Fi. An excellent result is obtained thanks to an economical chip and a good display.
The company focuses on charging speed, which is why the Realme 10 is equipped with a decent 33W adapter. He copes with a full charge in an hour and a half. You can safely leave your smartphone at the outlet at night, as the optimized night charging mode will bring the charge to 100% only in the morning to avoid increased battery wear.
Review after 3 weeks of use
The number line of Realme smartphones is slowly developing in accordance with the requirements of the market, and the 10th model, based on this statement, turned out to be good. Chic Helio G99, the ability to choose the amount of memory and good cameras for a reasonable price. Indeed, since the fall, Realme 10 has fallen in price a little and is now sold for a price of 16 to 20 thousand rubles in Russian retail. The money is completely fair, no complaints.
I do not like the heel counter made of plain glossy plastic, as it is corny unpleasant to the touch. While its visual appeal is undeniable, the neon stripes and sequins are eye-catching. Although for me a good AMOLED with an intelligent Always-On mode is much more important, which primarily affects the user experience. If we talk about impressions in general, I enjoyed using Realme 10, the smartphone is comfortable and hassle-free.
Pros:
- excellent screen with full Always-On;
- good dimensions with a diagonal of 6.4 inches;
- cool realme UI shell without Asian flavor;
- MediaTek Helio G99 without heating and throttling;
- good front camera;
- USB-C and audio jack.
Minuses:
- no more than a couple of applications in the background for the 4 GB version;
- unpleasant to the touch gloss.
May not like:
- normal sound and slight vibration.
Source: Trash Box
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
