Realme 13+ 5G Review: Performance Powerhouse That Doesn’t Break the Bank

Realme is poised to add to its number series by introducing two new 5G smartphones: the Realme 13 5G and the Realme 13+ 5G. These devices are part of the Realme 13 Pro Series and are designed to deliver exceptional performance while remaining budget-friendly. This review will share our insights on the Realme 13+ 5G smartphone. It boasts impressive specifications, including the Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset, a Sony LYT-600 sensor, 80W wired fast charging, GT Mode, and more. But do these features position the Realme 13+ 5G as the top contender in its category? Let’s explore.

Realme 13+ 5G Review – Design & Build

Realme is a brand that continuously experiments with design and color to cater to diverse users. With the Realme 13+ 5G introduction, the company presents what it terms Victory Speed Design, appealing to Gen-Z and adult consumers. The Realme 13+ 5G is available in three colors: Victory Gold, Speed Green, and Dark Purple. I had the opportunity to review the Victory Gold variant and was impressed by its appearance upon unboxing.

The back panel features a marble-like design on the lower half, complemented by the Realme logo. The upper half has a sleek gold finish, housing a prominent circular camera module with three camera cutouts and an LED flash. One of these cutouts is a dummy, as the device has only two rear camera sensors. The entire rear panel has a smooth texture and visually striking look from a distance.

The device features edges that share a uniform golden hue and are rounded on all four sides, enhancing grip comfort. The right side has the power button and volume controls, while the left remains unoccupied. You will find the SIM tray, speaker grille, and USB-C port on the bottom edge, whereas the top edge includes a secondary speaker, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an infrared sensor. Regarding the display, it boasts a flat screen with slimmer bezels compared to previous models, significantly improving the gaming experience.

ALSO SEE: Realme 13 Pro Plus Review: Delivers on All Fronts

The sole drawback of the device regarding its design and construction is that, although it weighs 185 grams and has a thickness of 7.69mm, it feels somewhat cumbersome when held. I found using one hand challenging, and the weight became noticeable during extended use. Aside from this minor issue, the overall design is satisfactory. The Realme 13+ 5G boasts an IP65 rating, ensuring protection against dust and water.

Realme 13+ 5G Review – Display

The Realme 13+ 5G features a 6.67-inch E4 OLED display that delivers stunning visuals. The screen showcases vibrant colors with remarkable accuracy. The E4 OLED technology enhances brightness levels, significantly improving the content viewing experience. With a 120Hz refresh rate, users enjoy smooth scrolling, whether reading, gaming, or engaging in other activities. The 180Hz touch sampling rate provides exceptional responsiveness, instantly capturing even the slightest gestures. The Display Settings Menu allows users to toggle between Light Mode and Dark Mode, as well as HDR Video mode, to boost brightness for HDR content, adjust font size, enable eye comfort settings, and manage sleep mode, among other options. Additionally, users can select from standard, high, or auto-refresh rate settings.

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Realme 13+ 5G Review - Software

The Realme 13+ 5G operates on Realme UI 5.0, built on Android 14. A significant drawback is the extensive amount of pre-installed bloatware on the device. Applications such as Reel Short, Amazon, Netflix, LinkedIn, Spotify, and others are already included. Additionally, various games are pre-loaded, which is frustrating. While some of these applications can be removed, Realme’s proprietary apps cannot be uninstalled.

Aside from the bloatware issue, the user interface is vibrant and intuitive, featuring functionalities like Always-On Display (AOD), Sleep Capsule, heart rate monitoring, Kids Mode, Safe Space, Smart Sidebar, AI Smart Loop, and AI Summary. These features enhance the overall user experience, making it more interactive and enjoyable.

Realme 13+ 5G Review – Performance

Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset, the Realme 13+ 5G has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. This chipset utilizes advanced 4nm process technology, and while Realme claims an AnTuTu score exceeding 750,000, the actual performance was slightly lower. The 12GB of RAM is further enhanced by an additional 14GB of Dynamic RAM, bringing the total to 26 GB. During testing, I managed to run over 10 applications simultaneously without experiencing any lag or stuttering. Additionally, apps load quickly, and switching between them is seamless. The 256GB storage provides ample space for videos, photos, and essential documents.

‘GT Mode’, which we usually get in the flagship GT series, has been interpolated into the Number series lineup for the first time. This feature must be activated to enhance the device’s gaming performance. However, it does come with the drawback of increased battery consumption. To further optimize gaming capabilities, the Realme 13+ 5G supports fast gaming at 90 FPS, an uncommon feature in this market segment. Realme asserts that it can maintain a 90 FPS frame rate for six popular games: BGMI, Free Fire, PUBG, MLBB, HOK, and COD. Users have reported a seamless gaming experience on the device, achieving full 90 FPS and HD graphics for extended periods.

The Realme 13+ 5G features a 6050mm2 vapor cooling system, which enhances the gaming experience by preventing the device from overheating during intense gaming sessions. However, my experience with this claim was disappointing, as the device became warm even during a basic benchmark test. While playing BGMI, I noticed it started to heat up after approximately 15 to 20 minutes of gameplay.

Realme 13+ 5G Review – Cameras

The Realme 13+ 5G features a dual camera setup at the back. It is the first in the segment to feature a Sony LYT-600 50MP sensor with Optical Image Stabilization. It also has a 2MP Mono camera. At the front is a 16MP selfie snapper.

Let’s begin with the 50MP primary sensor. This sensor captures images that are both lifelike and color-accurate in natural lighting. There is no edge distortion, and the colors appear sharp and vibrant. The photographs are rich in detail, which remains intact even when zoomed in. Users can take photos using 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x, and 20x zoom options, and I tested the same scene across all these zoom levels. The 1x and 2x modes produce clear and crisp images, while the level of detail diminishes in the 5x, 10x, and 20x modes. Nonetheless, the greens, blues, reds, pinks, and greys all appear realistic and suitable for social media sharing.

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Now, let’s examine the primary sensor’s low-light indoor capabilities. Under challenging and dim lighting situations, it captures commendable images with nearly true-to-life colors and vibrancy. The photographs exhibit good detail, although some clarity is lost when zooming in. Even in the most minimal lighting, the images remain clear without noticeable edge distortion. However, there is a higher noise level in indoor shots compared to those taken outdoors. Overall, the Sony LYT-600 sensor performs admirably outdoors and indoors.

Street Mode allows you to capture images at two focal lengths: 26mm and 52mm. For those looking to enhance their social media presence, various filters are available, including street, B&W Plus, 90s Pop, Crisp, Cinematics, and more. Portrait Mode improves the appearance of subjects in the frame, providing a more flattering representation compared to the standard 1x photo mode by enhancing their features.

The true test of any camera arises when it encounters a scene filled with vibrant colors. I captured such a scene using the smartphone’s main camera, which beautifully rendered all the colors. It adeptly managed the spectrum of hues, resulting in a striking image. Special recognition goes to the 50MP Sony sensor for achieving this remarkable outcome.

A 2MP Mono sensor is useless as it doesn’t come with auto-focus, and the images taken have a good amount of edge distortion. Detailing is very low, and the overall quality of the images could be more impressive.

The 16MP front-facing camera performs exceptionally well, even in low-light environments. The selfie captured indoors benefited from the sunlight present in the room. The sensor effectively maintains focus on the subjects, providing impressive detail. The skin tone appears authentic and natural without the use of any filters.

The following selfie was captured in very low light conditions, and due to the presence of more than two individuals, it qualifies for AI Clear Focus. While the application of AI Clear Face did not significantly enhance the image, the selfie remains highly suitable for social media. The subjects and the background are well-represented, with minimal noise in the image. Taken with Night Mode activated, I was genuinely impressed by the capabilities of the selfie camera.

Realme 13+ 5G Review – Battery Life and Charging

Like many other smartphones, the Realme 13+ 5G has a robust 5000mAh battery. This substantial battery capacity provides extended usage, accommodating hours of gaming without interruption. Throughout a typical workday, I utilized the device for various activities, including calls, messaging, benchmarking, gaming, video streaming, and music playback. By the end of the day, I still had 22% battery life remaining, which is quite satisfactory. Even if the battery does deplete a bit sooner, the 80W wired fast charging feature allows the device to fully recharge from 0 to 100% in just 45-46 minutes, which is remarkable for a smartphone priced under 25,000.

If you are somewhere outdoors and don’t have access to an adapter or charging point, you can turn on the Power Saving Mode or Super Power Saving Mode to make the existing battery last longer. GT Mode, meant for gamers, can also be enabled via the Battery Settings Menu. It increases the performance of the device but does consume slightly more power.

Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Realme 13+ 5G 5G?

Smartprix Rating: 8/10

Design and Build: 8/10

Display and Speakers: 8/10

Software and Haptics: 8/10

Performance: 8/10

Camera: 8/10

Battery Life and Charging: 8/10

The Realme 13+ 5G stands out with its impressive features such as the Dimensity 7300 Energy chipset, a remarkable 26GB of dynamic RAM, and 80W wired fast charging. Its E4 OLED display and 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor further enhance its appeal. As for gaming, this smartphone can easily handle a full day of moderate to heavy use. While it does have some drawbacks, like bloatware, a less-than-stellar 2MP sensor, and a somewhat bulky feel, these issues are minor when considering its performance capabilities at a price point below 25,000.

First reviewed in August 2024.

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