Yes, kids. There’s Another One from Realme
It’s been a little over a month since Realme launched the 5 Pro, which just shattered their local sales records. The so-called “Speed Monster” certainly has a lot to offer in terms price and performance but, now, the company has decided to launch another smartphone in their mid-range lineup that has a couple of major upgrades — the Realme XT.
Is this Php 16,990 device worth considering? Hopefully, I help you make that decision.
Simple and Clean
The Realme XT is a classy looking device with a great build. The review unit that was sent to me is in the Pearl White color variant, which gives the device a simple and clean look that has a quiet elegance.
I know that might sound a little pretentious so I’ll put it plainly…MAGANDA SIYA, GUYS!
The same can be said about the Pearl Blue but I definitely prefer this one.
Both the front and back panels have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection so, if accidents were to happen, you know it can stand a bit of a beating.
My only complaint about its design is the rather huge camera bump. The included case does level it out and prevents the array from getting scuffed up but, if you’re the type to bring around your smartphones without protection, be extra mindful when placing it on a table.
Two Thumbs Up on the Display
The Realme XT gets a much better display than its sibling that were released a few weeks ago.
You now have a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with an AMOLED panel and, I don’t need to tell you that the picture quality is fantastic on this device.
I can happily go on YouTube binges and scroll through my social media feeds. Panels like these really make consuming content a grade-A experience.
Unfortunately, we do have to dial down that grade a little bit because of the audio department. The lone speaker on the bottom sounds a little muffled, which slightly affects vocal quality.
It’s not that big of a deal but I would recommend that you bring a pair of earphones. Also, you have to remember that the XT and most Realme devices do not come with earphones in its packaging.
Same Processor, Same Performance
At the core of the Realme XT is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 AIE processor. Now, if that sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same processor as the Realme 5 Pro. It definitely has enough number-crunching power, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage to round out the package, so it can definitely handle both work and play.
It has the chops to handle our favorite titles on the Google Play Store as well but I do suggest turning down settings for games like NBA 2K20 or when you’re playing Battle Royale Mode in Call of Duty to get you those extra frames for a smoother experience.
I really feel that Realme missed a bit of an upgrade to the processor to the XT to separate it a more from the 5 Pro but it definitely ain’t bad at all.
64MPs Leading the Charge
One area that got a big upgrade is the main camera of the quad system that the XT has.
While having four rear cameras isn’t something groundbreaking for smartphones nowadays, the fact that it has a main 64-megapixel camera makes this standout.
By default, the resulting image does get binned to 16MPs but the overall image quality is pretty good. You can use Ultra 64 mode to get more details but, unless you’re pixel peeking or really zooming in on social media, the compression kinda negates it a little bit.
Colors straight out of the camera are pretty good as well but you can give it more of pop but it can get overboard.
Night mode does a great job as well but it works best if you have a tripod. Don’t get me wrong, handheld shooting is pretty good but it has some catching up to do with Huawei’s AI stabilization though for its price point, I think I might be nitpicking a little bit.
Selfies do a pretty good job as well but you’ll start to see quality dip a bit in low-light situations.
Great Battery Life
Now, of course, all of the great things about this device would all be for naught if you don’t have juice.
Thankfully, I got a sold day’s worth of battery life on the Realme XT when I was pushing it really hard. With moderate use and being tethered to a WiFi, you can definitely get more.
Our battery benchmark had it clock in at 11 hours and 19 minutes, which is pretty good for its battery capacity.
Verdict: Good Things Come in Threes
There’s a saying that “the best things in life, come in threes” and the Realme XT definitely completed the brands trifecta to potentially end the year with a big sales push to get their global ranking even higher.
The only thing that could divert potential buyers is that it’s price tag of Php 16,990 now puts it within striking distance of the flagship killers that are less than Php 20,000 such as the Xiaomi MI 9T and the Huawei Nova 5t. That and maybe the fact that they could possibly bring the X2 Pro over to the country. Take that with a grain of salt though.
Despite the factors, the Realme XT still deserves your consideration if you’re looking for a device with a great display, is a solid performer, and you want the insane megapixel count.
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