Realme 7 Review - Android

Realme 7 Review - Android

The Realme 7 precedes a midrange device that oddly dominates its “Pro” counterpart in some key areas. If you can still remember only 6 months ago, the Realme 6 was favored more by fans than the 6 Pro as it offered better value for the price. But does the same go with the Realme 7? […] More

This article, Realme 7 Review, was originally published at NoypiGeeks | Philippines Technology News, Reviews and How to's.

The Realme 7 precedes a midrange device that oddly dominates its “Pro” counterpart in some key areas.

If you can still remember only 6 months ago, the Realme 6 was favored more by fans than the 6 Pro as it offered better value for the price. But does the same go with the Realme 7? Is it still a more valuable option than the 7 Pro? And in general, is it a device worth checking out? We find out in our Realme 7 review.

Realme 7 Specs

  • Android 10, Realme UI
  • Dual SIM, Dual Standby
  • 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS display, 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution, 405ppi
  • 90Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass
  • TÜV Rheinland certified
  • 2.05GHz MediaTek Helio G95 octa-core processor
  • 8GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • Mali-G76 MC4 GPU
  • 128GB UFS 2.1 internal storage, expandable via microSD
  • 16-megapixel front camera, f/2.1
  • 64-megapixel (IMX682, f/1.8) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.3) + 2-megapixel (mono) + 2-megapixel (macro) rear cameras
  • Side-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
  • HSPA+, 4G LTE
  • WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • GPS, A-GPS, BDS, GLONASS
  • USB Type-C
  • Dimensions: 162.3 x 75.4 x 9.4mm
  • Weight: 196.5g
  • Colors: Mist Blue, Mist White
  • 5,000mAh non-removable battery, 30W Dart Charge

Design and Build Quality

We’ve always commended Realme for being creative and not lazy in coming up with new designs on its every smartphone. Although unlike their predecessors, the Realme 7 series shares identical designs instead of being completely different.

Realme-7-series-price-Philippines-2612LR: Realme 7 | 7 Pro

They both have the same split design, with a vertical strip on the left side that transcends to the quad-camera glass on the top and the Realme logo on the bottom.

The only thing you can set them apart is by the camera layout. As you can see, the Realme 7 has all four cameras fall in a straight line, while the Pro model has an inverted L-shape layout.

LR: Realme 7 | 7 Pro

It’s available in two colors: there’s a Mist Blue and the one we have here, the Mist White. Despite its smoked, AG-processed, plastic material, it has light reflections that make it looks really premium. For protection, you can use the included clear case.

The overall build quality is decent. It’s slightly bulkier than the 7 Pro, but that’s primarily due to its larger 5,000mAh battery.

Taking a tour, we have a decent 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS screen, with passable bezel thickness, which was streamlined with its punch-hole for the selfie camera.

The front is protected by an unnamed Corning Gorilla Glass version. There’s also a pre-applied screen protector, which was put really well that you don’t notice it’s there. Oh, and there’s also a tiny slit on the top for the earpiece.

Realme-7-Review-NoypiGeeks-5614

The top is clean, so it may not have a secondary mic for noise cancellation on calls. While on the bottom, we have the headphone jack, built-in mic, loudspeaker, and the USB Type-C port.

We also have the SIM tray on the top left side that can accommodate two nano SIM cards and microSD all at the same time. Below that is the volume controls.

Realme-7-Review-NoypiGeeks-5615

On the left side, we have the lock/power switch. As you can see, it sits flat, unlike the other two buttons. That’s because it doubles as a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

All in all, we’re satisfied with the Realme 7’s design. It may be made of plastic instead of more premium material, but thankfully, the design is clean and straightforward, and the overall weight is heavy enough to assure you that there’s valuable cargo inside.

Display and Audio

The Realme 7 has a 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS screen. What makes it more appealing than the Pro model is its fast 90hz refresh rate — which Realme removed on the former in lieu of a more colorful Super AMOLED panel.

We found no complaints during our time with it. Just like most IPS panels, it provides decent colors, contrast, and sharpness, but obviously, not as vibrant as an AMOLED panel.

The main highlight here is the 90Hz refresh rate, which makes everything fast and smooth — from browsing the UI to playing supported games. Although, its difference between the regular 60Hz screen is barely noticeable.

You can set the refresh rate to auto, which intelligently switches to 90Hz and 60Hz depending on the task on hand to conserve battery.

As for the audio, we have a single bottom-firing speaker on the Realme 7, unlike the stereo speakers that the Pro model has. It provides enough volume for private listening, and has acceptable sound quality and balance.

You can plug in a pair of earphones via the headphone jack for a more immersive experience. It doesn’t come with one, so you have to purchase it separately.

Hardware and Performance

The MediaTek Helio G90T is considered as one of the most powerful chipsets to grace the midrange segment. And with the Helio G95 of the Realme 7, we’re expecting nothing less.

Realme 7 benchmark scores

Realme-7-benchmarks-Review-NoypiGeeks

Partnered with its 8GB of RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 storage, and 90Hz screen, the Realme 7 did provide a seamless experience during our tests. You can run basic apps fast and switch between them without a hitch.

That includes taking pictures, participating in video conferences, social media apps, and more.

Realme-7-Review-Call-of-Duty-CODM-NoypiGeeksCall of Duty Mobile settings on Realme 7

Gaming was also great on this thing. Partnered with the Mali-G76 MC4 GPU, you can play demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile, with the graphics and frame rate set to High.

With that, it’s no surprise that lighter games like Among Us and Mobile Legends also ran smoothly on this device.

Software and User Interface

Just like its brothers, the Realme 7 runs on the latest Android 10-based Realme UI. It’s already confirmed to receive the upcoming Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 update, so rest assured it’s fairly futureproofed.

Realme-7-interface-NoypiGeeksHome Screen | Drop-down menu | App Drawer

Overall, the interface is really clean. Not as straightforward as stock Android, but it’s getting there. The home screen and lock screen looks neat, and swiping up reveals the app drawer, which you can disable in the settings menu if you want to go with the iOS-like, no-app-drawer layout.

Realme-7-Dark-Mode-NoypiGeeksGoogle screen | Search Tab | Dark Mode settings

On the farthest left of the home screen, you can spot the Google Search, Weather, and News. Swiping down from the desktop reveals the local search tab.

There’s the Dark Mode feature for a stealthy look, which works on the UI, native apps, and most third-party software. You can manually turn it on in the drop-down menu, or automate it in the settings. It can be set it to ‘Sunset to Sunrise’ or on a specific schedule.

Realme-7-software-update-NoypiGeeksFocus Mode | Customization settings | Smart SideBar

The user can also choose between focus and driving modes, which simplifies the UI and blocks notifications so you don’t get distracted. It can even display encouraging texts and play ambient music to help you stay focused.

Customization options are also present. You can set themes, wallpapers, and icon styles to fit your style. Moreover, Smart SideBar is accessible by swiping from the corner of the screen. It gives you quickly take screenshots, screen recording (with adjustable resolution and audio reference in the settings), and access to your chosen apps.

Realme-7-Split-Screen-NoypiGeeksDigital Wellbeing | Split Screen | App Cloner

Digital Wellbeing shows your smartphone usage and habits, Parental Controls regulates smartphone usage, three-finger split screen if you want to use two apps side-by-side, and app cloner for easy multi-account management.

Realme-7-Game-Space-Review-NoypiGeeksGame Space | Uninstall-able native app | HeyTap Cloud

Game Space is an app that lets you configure Realme 7’s performance before you ran a game for a more optimal experience.

Disappointingly, there are preinstalled Google and Realme apps that can’t be installed. But we bet most of them will be useful for you, so you wouldn’t mind keeping them. We also have OPPO’s HeyTap cloud if you want to play with it.

06/10/2020 09:17 AM