While megapixels used to be the currency used to evaluate the strength of smartphone cameras, Realme believes that AI imaging will become the new metric that defines the quality of smartphone cameras and, by extension, the brand of the smartphone itself.
For that purpose, The Hindu had the opportunity to review the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G phone – the top variant of the Chinese phone maker’s 13 Pro series. Here’s what we found in the process.
At a glance
The Realme 13 Pro+, an all-round strong performer, is a great device to look at and comes with a camera that will please mobile photographers, although some image stabilization is needed.
Loads of pre-installed apps, games, and unnecessary services are annoying
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Design
Even the most hardened gadget user’s heart will melt – at least for a few seconds – when they see the Realme 13 Pro+ for the first time.
The curved display of the phone wraps around the edges of the thin metal body, giving a beautiful immersive screen with almost invisible rails. Turn it over, and you will be mesmerized by the huge, glossy black camera phone with a border of a gold textured ring. The panel is on the back of the device which is bright and flaxen with shiny metallic silver stripes. The finish feels almost ceramic and the interplay of black and gold and silver is wonderful. This is a phone that should be called premium.
However, when you use the device, you will find some flaws. The phone is so thin and flat that it drops in the middle of a call or while texting is an ever-present risk. This means that users who love the Realme 13 Pro+ should invest in a strong protective case as well as a clear cover for their camera phone in order to extend the life of the device — even if it means compromising on aesthetics.​
On the other hand, the phone is well-made and durable; comfortably survived a short fall from our hands. The screen of our device seems to have reached us with a layer of tempered glass already installed.
Realme 13 Pro+ is available in Monet Gold and Emerald Green colors.
Technical Specifications
- Weight: 185.5 grams
- Display: 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, FHD + 2412×1080
- Refresh rate: up to 120Hz
- Peak brightness: 2,000 nits
- Processor: Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
- OS: realme UI 5.0, based on Android 14
- Battery life: 5,200 mAh
- Charging: 80W SuperVOOC
- Camera: 32 MP front camera, and 50 MP + 8 MP + 50 MP rear camera
- Storage: 12GB/512 GB (highest storage variant)
Display
The Realme 13 Pro + comes with a large, curved display and an almost invisible bezel as a result. The viewing experience is not only addictive, as the video colors are abundant but faithfully reproduced on the immersive screen. However, take into consideration the slim body of the phone and the need for a protective cover that will steal some area from the corner of the screen. Accidental activation is also a risk due to the screen’s curved edges and sensitivity.
With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, users can easily write text or watch content even in harsh light. While there are multiple color modes to improve eye health and comfort, the phone’s stunning display and color reproduction is also superior to its premium rivals. Its whites are cleaner and brighter, enhancing the viewing experience and making it the ideal device for photographers, media editors, and OTT viewers.
Ultra-slim phone is a joy to use, but very slippery | Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
Performance
While gamers who want the latest chipset on the market may be disappointed by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 mobile platform, more casual users and photographers will find no problem using the device as a work phone, a personal device, or both.
The phone lags a bit when fixing images with AI features, and some waiting is required. In addition, we love the smooth experience of the platform when using the device. Navigation on the device is easy and intuitive. The ‘AI boost’ feature also helps optimize the phone’s functionality.
One of the important perks is the smartphone speaker, which is of excellent quality. Sound is produced at high volume and full, without compromising balance or fidelity. The phone itself can easily be used as a small party speaker in a pinch.
The only downside to the Realme 13 Pro+, is that it is loaded with unnecessary apps, duplicate services, and pre-installed games. About 25GB of the device’s memory is taken up, and removing the Realme app itself is a difficult, if not impossible, multi-step process. Children, the elderly, or people who are averse to technology will need extra help setting up their phone in a way that minimizes the number of app notifications per hour.
The Realme 13 Pro+ comes with a large and impressive camera panel, but some extra protection may be needed Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
camera
The star of the Realme 13 Pro series is definitely the camera, as the company announced its collaboration with Sony and showed that the AI ​​camera in the series is the first to be supported by the Sony LYT-701 and Sony LYT-600 Periscope sensors. lens.
Trying out the camera for ourselves, we were pleasantly surprised by the clear and bright images taken, with excellent white balance and natural color rendering but still attractive. Bright skin tones in the image, giving the effect of studio lighting. The 120x zoom feels mostly gimmicky and unnecessary, although the navigation frame helps users orient the device. Image stabilization becomes a major issue when using the camera in low light conditions or when zooming. However, when used in light and stable conditions, the camera and AI architecture are impressive.
A landscape photo taken on the phone, followed by a highly zoomed-in second photo taken in the same location, showing the strength and clarity of the camera | Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
Various basic/pro and auto/manual camera modes, filters, and AI editing features will please more experimental photographers who like to play around with their phones. However, those who want a simpler experience will also be well served by the device, as it takes a picture that fits the frame with just a tap.
Photos taken at night are well-lit but clean, without much noise or color shift. However, due to poor image stabilization, we end up with very good shots filled with blurry or shaky subjects.
While night photography is easy for the camera, it struggles with capturing slow moving objects | Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
The phone’s AI Ultra Clarity feature, which is in beta, is an internet-based editing feature and is meant to upgrade existing images to deliver a sharper, cleaner version. We saw subtle improvements when using this feature, but struggled to add enlarged text, giving us GenAI-style squiggles instead of coherent letters. A lot of AI-powered editing is down to increasing brightness and contrast while the phone tries to fill in lost pixels.
Realme says users will be able to take ‘ultra clear DSLR-like photos’ on their smartphone. Let’s break this down. On the surface, shots taken with the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G and those taken with an entry-level DSLR camera can be mistaken. In fact, Realme may come out on top, as the final product colors look better than unedited RAW files from DSLR cameras. However, when you zoom in, the Realme phone’s image can be an AI-generated smear of color in places where the phone tries to fill in the missing pixels, while the zoomed-in DSLR image can store enough data to allow you to do something more complex. minor.
The color is made natural but still attractive | Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
In the end, it comes down to the user. While vloggers or models may opt for the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G camera to take quick but professional-looking photos even in dimly lit locations, wedding or professional photographers will stick with larger cameras.
All in all, the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G phone won’t replace your DSLR camera, but it can reduce your time editing images, and deliver a great camera at a sub-40k price. This is a fantastic achievement. With some software and processing upgrades, it will outperform some premium phone cameras as well.
A comparison to a DSLR camera is not accurate, but do not worry because the phone camera stands on its own merits | Photo Credit: Sahana Venugopal
Battery
Realme 13 Pro+ 5G is equipped with a comfortable battery, thanks to its capacity of 5,200 mAh. When used as a work and personal device, the battery lasts about a day, although there are modes that can increase battery life. Removing some bloatware and apps on your smartphone is also recommended to extend battery life.
An added advantage is that the phone’s battery doesn’t drain too quickly if the device is left to sleep for days, so users can pick up where they left off.
The battery goes from a little less than 20% to a full charge in just one hour, making it perfect for those who are on the move.
Verdict
Priced at ₹33,999 after corporate discount, the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G smartphone is an affordable adventure option. It’s a phone that ultimately speaks to camera lovers, but it also offers an immersive screen for movie fans, a handsome design for style icons, strong performance for office workers, and a formidable speaker for music lovers. This is a safe option that will give everyday users more than they expect.
We would prefer that future phones from the company’s premium segment come with pre-installed apps and less bloatware.
