Realme Narzo 20 Review - Android

It’s the first time that the Narzo series entered a lot of markets, including here in the Philippines. What we’re curious to see is, what does it offer to make it stand out in this already saturated entry-level market? We find out in our Realme Narzo 20 review.

Realme Narzo 20 Specs

• Android 10, Realme UI
• Dual SIM, Dual standby
• 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display, 1600 x 720 pixel resolution, ~270ppi
• 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio G85 octa-core processor
• 4GB RAM
• Mali-G52 MC2 GPU
• 64GB internal storage, expandable via microSD
• 8-megapixel front camera
• 48-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) rear cameras
• Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
• 4G LTE
• WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
• Bluetooth 5.0
• GPS, A-GPS, BDS, GLONASS
• USB Type-C
• Dimensions: 164.5 x 75.9 x 9.8mm
• Weight: 208g
• Colors: Victory Blue, Glory Silver
• 6,000mAh non-removable battery, 18W fast charging

What’s in the box?

Realme tried to pack in all the impressive essentials on the Narzo 20’s box. It has a large 18W fast charger, USB Type-C cable, and standard inclusions like a pre-applied screen protector, SIM ejector tool, and documentation.

But unlike most phones, it doesn’t come with a free clear case and a pair of earphones. You have to get them from Realme or other vendors.

Design and Build Quality

Realme sure knows how to make a budget smartphone. The Realme Narzo 20’s design and build is unlike any other Php7,990 smartphones that we’ve seen from other brands. However, it is reminiscent of Realme’s other smartphones in this price category.

The company used plastic to construct this thing. But what’s interesting is how they used plastic to create its robust structure. It’s surprisingly thick and solid when we tried bending it.

It also has a textured back with a V-design that saves you from fingerprint smudges and hairline scratches overtime. The review unit we have is the Blue Shade, while a monochromatic Glory Silver is also available. We’re really liking this clean color complimenting its elegant V-shaped lines and reflections.

The camera glass that holds all three cameras and the LED flash feels unnecessarily large, but at least it sits flush on the back panel with a minimal camera bump.

We also have the noticeably small fingerprint scanner, but it does the job just fine. The Narzo logo, instead of the Realme branding on the bottom right, clearly states that it’s from the company’s special line of smartphones.

The front of the Realme Narzo 20 looks too basic, nothing worth-noting. There’s the enormous 6.5-inch screen, with a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera. The top and sides bezels are fairly thin, while the chin is relatively thicker. There’s a thin opening on the top bezel for the earpiece.

There’s a tray on the left side that can house two nano SIM cards and a microSD card. While on the left, you can spot the volume controls and lock/power switch. The physical buttons feel surprisingly well-made, tactile, and clicky.

We then have the 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom and the only microphone, loudspeaker, and, thankfully, a USB Type-C port.

One of the highlight features of the Realme Narzo 20 is its enormous 6,000mAh battery. So don’t be surprised that it’s 9.8mm thick and weighs 208g. It feels large and bulky in the hands, but if you’re gonna use it for years, you can get used to its after weeks or months of use.

Display and Sound

You really can’t expect too much from a budget phone’s display. For as long as it’s large enough to handle multitasking and multimedia, sharp enough to make small texts readable, and bright enough to make it usable outdoors, you’re pretty much good to go.

That exactly what the 6.5-inch HD+ IPS screen on the Realme Narzo 20 has. The 1600 x 720 pixel resolution might not have the sharpest quality, but I doubt the normal eye can notice any difference.

As for the audio, again, there’s nothing too much to brag about here. The bottom-firing loudspeaker offers decent volume and clarity but with little to no bass, which’s only great for private listening. You can plug in a pair of earphones and play with the Realm Sound Technology in the Sound settings for a better experience.

Hardware and Performance

The Realme Narzo 20 is powered with a gaming-centric 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio G85 octa-core processor, one of the most powerful entry-level CPUs from MediaTek. It’s partnered with a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage.

Realme Narzo 20 benchmark scores:

We have no immediate issues with the performance. Browsing social media feeds was fast, video calls were seamless, taking pictures is fast — all of the basic and daily tasks you require are doable on this machine.

Although occasional and random hiccups and lags is to be expected from a budget phones like this one, but nothing too alarming.

Call of Duty Mobile and Realme Narzo 20

The gaming performance on the Realme Narzo 20 was also satisfactory. We could play Call of Duty Mobile and League of Legends Wild Rift at medium to high settings smoothly with unnoticeable lags and hiccups. Overheating is also not a big issue.

Software and User Interface

Just like its siblings, the Realme Narzo 20 runs on Android 10-based Realme UI. Unlike other Android interfaces, it has a much cleaner look. It will be updated to Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 very soon.

Still, the first version of Realme UI is enough to complement the hardware. The home screen and app drawer are clean; there are a few bloatware that can be uninstalled; Soloop app for fast and easy editing with free templates and stickers.

Customization for home screen animations, layout, icons, and more are present. App cloner for easy multi-account management.

Game Space optimizes the UI and system for a better experience. HeyTap cloud is essentially Realme’s take on iCloud.

Split-screen is also present. Although, with its not-so-large screen and low memory, using two apps side-by-side is finicky.

Security

The Realme Narzo 20 has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, which worked fast and accurately during our tests. Face unlock was decent too, but it does struggle at pitch-black rooms.

Typical privacy features are also included. There’s the number blocking and filtering, pseudo base station blocking, app lock, Kid Space, and Private Safe.

Cameras

With the Realme Narzo 20, you’re getting a 48-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel sensor. No useless depth sensor or “AI Lens” just to up the numbers. While on the front, we have an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.

The main camera takes 12-megapixel images with pixel binning. The images look clean, with enough details, exposure, and sharpness. You can enable Realme’s Chroma Boost feature to increase the vibrancy for a more Instagram-ready image.

48-megapixel | Outdoors

48-megapixel | Outdoors

19/01/2021 02:10 PM

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