IF you are in the market for a 5G phone, getting one on a postpaid plan is still the best way to enjoy 5G speeds, ensure compatibility with the local network and so that you’ll never unexpectedly run out of data.
One device I’ve been using since I got it late November is the realme X50 Pro 5G. I normally switch phones after a few weeks to review the next one, but I still actually have my Smart postpaid SIM on the X50 Pro 5G, giving my iPhone 11 Pro Max an extended break.
realme was one of the rare brands that thrived despite the pandemic, and was relentless in releasing a lineup of phones for every market segment. It also dropped an assortment of AIoT devices throughout the year ranging from earphones, luggage, security cameras to sonic toothbrushes. The two-year old brand likewise scored several local and international awards for its quality products and business milestones as it soared to the top of the local smartphone market, becoming the No. 1 brand in the Philippines before 2020 ended.
The X50 Pro 5G is realme’s first 5G-ready flagship device in the county, and its spec sheet is packed with a top-shelf SoC, lots of RAM and storage, and a high refresh-rate display—but does it have enough to take on the big boys?
Here is our review of the realme X50 Pro 5G, its ups and downs.
The realme X50 Pro was first released in the early part of 2020, which explains why it looks more like the realme 6 than the more recent realme 7. So while it might not have the latest design, it still looks good and the Moss Green and Rust Red color options make it stand out. Our review unit came in the latter option, and it changes shades depending on how the light catches the phone. It’s really rather nice and radiates that subtle elegance. But do slap on the jelly case as it can be a bit slippery to hold. The phone feels really solid, and build quality is impressive. It may be a bit on the heavy side but its heft makes it feel more premium. So despite the dated look, the design and build gets an up.
The display of the X50 Pro 5G also gets an easy up for its size and screen quality. It has a 6.44-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080, but its the 90Hz refresh rate that make it a joy to look at as everything moves buttery smooth and responsive. You do have the option to downgrade to 60Hz to save battery and an Auto-Select option that selects the best refresh rate for an app. The colors look sharp and vibrant, and the blacks look deep. This is a phone that will make you binge-watch even more. For display features, you get screen color temperature, OSIE visual effects for a better viewing experience and improved color reproduction in supported apps. There’s also edge lighting for notification light effects, which, by the way, looks awesome and you get to choose from Neon Purple, Ocean Blue, or Amber Orange. The visual experience is further complemented by its dual stereo speakers which feature Hi-Res audio with Dolby Atmos. The audio quality is impressive for a smartphone. It gets loud enough, has the right amount of bass and clarity, and has very little distortion even if volume is set at max, thus another up.
The X50 Pro 5G was one of the first 5G smartphones powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G processor when the chip first made its global debut. It is paired with an Adreno 650 GPU, 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB UFS 3.0 with Turbo Write making it a full-fledged flagship phone as opposed to a mid-ranger that’s slapped with a flagship chip. Performance as you’d expect is flawless. Apps launch fast, and navigating the UI is very fluid and responsive, another up. Even when playing graphically intensive games such as Wild Rift, PUBG, Mobile Legends, gaming was smooth and lag free. Turn on Game Space and that 90Hz refresh rate to further level-up your gaming experience.
Now for the cameras. The realme X50 Pro 5G has a quad camera set-up, comprised of a 64MP main camera, 12MP 20x hybrid zoom telephoto lens, 8MP 119° ultra-wide-angle macro lens, and black-and-white portrait lens. For selfies, you get a dual-front camera of 32MP and 8MP super wide-angle camera. All those lens and robust camera features result in astounding photos—the best from the brand so far, so it also gets an up. You get clear photos with good colors. Exposure is accurate with good details and dynamic range. Selfies also look good with accurate skin tone and sharpness, and the wide lens lets you include more people in the frame. If you are a content creator, you can do a lot and experiment with the various camera modes available.
Keeping the phone going is a 4,200mAh battery. It can last a day with moderate usage consisting of a few hours of watching videos and playing games. But for a smartphone this powerful, I feel a bigger battery would have been better just so you could keep the 90Hz display on. It does have a high speed 65 watt fast charging capability though, which can fully charge the phone in less than an hour.
The realme X50 Pro 5G formally brings the brand to the 5G flagship arena and it’s a great smartphone overall with everything you need. It does, however, lack some of the extra features other flagships have like a proper IP rating or wireless charging but its affordable price tag makes it a good buy nonetheless.
You can get the realme X50 Pro 5G only from Smart and is available for Signature Plan M 1499 for P1,899 per month with a one-time cash-out of P6,900 on a 24-month contract. The price includes the monthly service fee of P1,499 for the plan and the monthly amortization of P400, and comes with 10GB Data, Unli All-Net Calls, Unli All-Net Texts, and 100 minutes calls.