The latest addition to the Realme P-Series has arrived. Realme has launched the Realme P2 Pro 5G in India, aiming to capture the competitive mid-range smartphone segment. Priced starting at Rs. 21,999, the Realme P2 Pro 5G boasts impressive specifications, including the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, a 5200mAh battery, 80W fast charging, 512GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, a 50MP camera, and an OLED display. It operates on Android 14 and incorporates AI features such as AI Eraser and AI Ultra Clarity. The question remains: can this device stand out in such a crowded market? Let’s explore this in the review:
Jump to :
- Design and Build
- Display
- Software
- Performance
- Cameras
- Battery and Charging
- Verdict
Realme P2 Pro 5G Price & Availability
Realme P2 Pro 5G comes in three storage configurations-
- 8GB RAM+128GB storage-Rs.21,999
- 12GB RAM+256GB storage-Rs. 24,999
- 12GB RAM+512GB storage-Rs. 27,999
It comes in Eagle Grey and Parrot Green hues.
Pros
- Stylish & sleek design
- Good selfie camera
- Long battery life
- Fast charging
- Decent performance
- 512GB storage
Cons
- Loads of Bloatware
- Poor Thermal performance
- Underwhelming low-light camera performance
- Unreliable air gestures
Realme P2 Pro 5G Review – Design & Build
Realme consistently experiments with design and color, evident in the Realme P2 Pro 5G. The smartphone is available in two shades: Eagle Grey and Parrot Green, with the latter being the color I received for review. The back of the device features an appealing design, highlighted by a cushion-shaped camera module and hexagonal details. The Parrot Green hue is distinctive, complemented by a textured finish that showcases a brush-stroke pattern. It offers a comfortable grip and resists smudges and fingerprints. The curved edge display also enhances its ergonomics, making it easy to hold.
The rear panel features a cushioned camera module extending outward slightly, housing two camera sensors and an LED flash. The Realme branding is displayed in silver at the bottom. A gold-colored trim surrounds the camera module and the entire body.
The right edge features the power button and volume controls, while the left edge remains unoccupied. The speaker grille, USB-C port, and SIM tray are on the bottom edge, whereas the top edge is equipped with a secondary speaker and an IR blaster.
The smartphone weighs 180 grams and boasts a slim profile of 8.21mm, making it feel lightweight and elegant in the hand. It is rated IP65, protecting against water and dust, and features Armor Shield Glass for enhanced durability. The Rainwater Smart Touch display lets you use your phone even with wet fingers. The device also holds SGS certification for AI Eye Protection, providing users with a more comfortable and less straining viewing experience.
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Realme P2 Pro 5G Review – Display
The Realme P2 Pro 5G features a 6.7-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution. The screen delivers vibrant colors and offers satisfactory viewing angles. Being a curved display, it is prone to accidental touches; however, its overall performance is satisfactory. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth scrolling experience for reading, browsing, and gaming activities.
Realme has increased the local peak brightness from 950 nits to 2000 nits, significantly enhancing outdoor visibility in direct sunlight. The Realme P2 Pro also holds a Widevine L1 certification, allowing users to enjoy Full HD content on streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube.
The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which isn’t the best protection but is still acceptable considering the smartphone’s price.
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Realme P2 Pro 5G Review - Software
The smartphone is equipped with Android 14 and runs on Realme UI out of the box. One of the main drawbacks of this operating system is the significant amount of pre-installed bloatware. Upon initial setup, users will find over 60 applications already on the device. This includes various third-party applications such as Netflix, Snapchat, Spotify, Myntra, and more.
Additionally, there are several pre-installed games like Block Blast and Talking Parrot. While users can uninstall many of these apps, certain applications from Realme, including Community, Game Center, ORoaming, and Music, cannot be removed. This abundance of bloatware can be frustrating, particularly since some is not removable.
The user experience, aside from the pre-installed bloatware, closely resembles that of other Realme devices. It also includes a range of AI features. For instance, AI Smart Loop can identify content and offer suggestions for sharing. Additionally, AI Smart Removal enhances photos by eliminating unwanted objects or individuals.
AI Ultra Clarity comes in its BETA version and enhances the sharpness to improve the photos by unblurring them.
The device is equipped with Air Gestures, which enable hands-free operation and allow you to manage your device without physical contact. However, this feature may occasionally be inconsistent, making it less reliable for those who prefer not to use their hands. Realme has committed to providing two years of operating system updates and three years of security updates for the smartphone.
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Realme P2 Pro 5G Review – Performance
The Realme P2 Pro 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, efficiently managing your daily activities, including multitasking. During my experience, I engaged in texting, making calls, browsing social media, watching videos, listening to music, and enjoying casual gaming. It comes with a maximum of 12GB RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage, making it easy to switch between applications and store various content.
While the device is not specifically designed for intensive gaming, it can run games such as BGMI and Asphalt 9 for approximately 15 to 20 minutes without experiencing lag or frame drops. However, performance began to decline after this duration, with noticeable stuttering and decreased graphics quality. Additionally, thermal management could be improved, as the device tended to heat up significantly during gaming sessions or benchmark tests.
An extra GT Mode enables users to customize CPU and GPU frequencies for enhanced response times. This mode can be toggled on or off while playing, providing a more fluid gaming experience, although it does require increased power consumption.
The results of benchmark tests are given below.
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Realme P2 Pro 5G Review – Cameras
The Realme P2 Pro 5G has a dual-camera configuration on the rear. This setup consists of a primary 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens. Additionally, Realme has integrated its HYPERIMAGE AI+ photography technology into this smartphone, enhancing clarity, dynamic range, and portrait quality. Now, let’s discuss the cameras’ practical performance.
The 50MP primary sensor captures vibrant and bright images in daylight, but the level of detail falls short compared to some rival models. The newly released Vivo T3 Pro provides sharper and more detailed photographs at a similar price point.
The low-light capabilities of the primary sensor are quite satisfactory. Images appear bright and clear and retain a fair amount of detail. While there is some noise present in photos captured with Night Mode, the device effectively handles low-light and indoor photography. Users can take advantage of 0.6x, 1x, 2x, and 5x zoom options with the main camera, and all four zoom levels are accessible in Night Mode as well.
The discussion now shifts to the ultrawide sensor. The 8MP ultrawide camera captures a broad field of view and provides a commendable level of detail in its images. While some colors may appear slightly oversaturated, this is not a consistent issue across all subjects. Given its price point, the performance of the ultrawide camera is quite satisfactory.
The device also features a portrait mode that delivers exceptional performance within its category. In low-light environments, the Realme P2 Pro effectively captures portraits with nearly precise skin tones and intricate details. While facial features are rendered adequately, there are minor issues with edge detection.
The Realme P2 Pro 5G features a 32MP front-facing camera. The true performance of a selfie camera is often revealed in low-light situations, and this model excelled in that regard. We captured a selfie in a dimly lit café at night, where the lighting was suboptimal, yet the camera effectively highlighted our facial details and skin tones. The background was nicely blurred, keeping the four of us in sharp focus, and the color representation was impressive as well.
The results of using AI features have been attached in the software section of the review.
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Realme P2 Pro 5G Review – Battery Life and Charging
The Realme smartphone is equipped with a robust 5200mAh battery, offering 200mAh more capacity than many of its rivals. With moderate usage, which encompasses making calls, messaging, taking notes, playing casual games, streaming videos on YouTube, listening to music, and conducting benchmark tests, the battery lasts throughout the day. I began my day with a full charge, and by the end of my workday, I still had 14% battery life remaining. However, on days dedicated to gaming and extensive content consumption, I found it necessary to recharge the device by the evening.
The Realme P2 Pro 5G features 80W wired fast charging capabilities. It takes approximately 45 minutes to charge the battery fully from 0 to 100%. While the charging speed may not be the fastest available, it is quite suitable for a smartphone in the under 30,000 price range. Additionally, the charger is included in the package, which is beneficial.
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The Realme P2 Pro 5G, priced at Rs. 21,999 for the base model, strikes a commendable balance between aesthetics, performance, and functionality. This smartphone boasts a range of impressive features, including an extended battery life, 80W fast charging, a satisfactory selfie camera, and up to 512GB of internal storage, ensuring robust performance. Additionally, it offers advanced capabilities such as a Rainwater smart touch display, an IP65 rating, and various AI functionalities. While there are some drawbacks, such as the presence of bloatware, subpar low-light camera performance, and limited thermal efficiency, these issues may be overlooked for those seeking a dependable mid-range device that fits within a budget.
First reviewed in September 2024.