Realme 7 5G
Another fine budget phone from Realme.
Realme has bombarded the budget phone market in recent months with the Realme 7, the Realme 7 Pro, and now the Realme 7 5G.
Despite its shared name and superficial similarities, this latest model isn’t merely a tweaked take on one of its brothers. For all intents and purposes, this is the China-only Realme V5, but with a faster chipset and a higher refresh rate display.
This different path means that the Realme 7 5G clashes a little with the Realme 7 Pro. It’s better in some ways, and worse in others.
Realme’s refined design work continues here with an appealing split-mirror finish that’s just flashy enough, without straying into gaudy territory. This is a weighty, solid-feeling phone too, with barely a hint of the plasticky cheapness that often affects the sub-$600 smartphone category.
The Realme 7 5G runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 800U, a new mid-range 7nm chip from the Taiwanese semiconductor maker.
Aside from being 5G-ready, the
Dimensity 800U represents a healthy power boost over the previous Dimensity 700 series. According to Realme, that includes 1.4x faster app launch times, 11% faster performance in CPU benchmarks, and 28% faster performance in GPU benchmarks.
The headline feature, however, is a double take-worthy 120Hz display. We’re used to seeing such rapid refresh rates on flagship phones, and it’s certainly impressive seeing such a spec trickle down to a more accessible price point.
This choice to emphasise refresh rate means that you lose out on the benefits of AMOLED, which is a compromise we’re not sure we’d make given the choice. But choice is precisely what Realme is giving you, and those in the ‘hertz til it hurts’ brigade will lap it up.
You’re dealing with a reasonably strong performer here too. MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U does more than provide 5G connectivity – it also outperforms many of its silicon rivals, and even matches the Realme 7 Pro. It’s aided by a clean UI that doesn’t lay on the bloat, which we appreciate.
There are no surprises when it comes to the Realme 7 5G’s camera performance, for better and for worse. It takes reasonably balanced shots in good lighting, but the quality falls off in more demanding conditions, and the macro lens is a waste of space.
It’s good to see Realme backing up that fast display refresh rate with a sufficiently meaty battery. At 5,000mAh, you’ll get through a full day with plenty to spare – and possibly a second if you don’t hit the media too hard.
The Realme 7 5G makes it a trio of classily competent affordable phones from the manufacturer.
Like the Realme 7 and Realme 7
Pro before it, this is a well-balanced phone with an appealing design and decent performance – this time with the added bonus of a 120Hz display.
Jon Mundy
It’s certainly impressive seeing such a spec trickle down to a more accessible price point.