At the same time that it celebrates the second year of its existence globally and about to close, Realme is one of its most complete offers in the mid-range. The Realme 6 Pro lands on Oppo’s second-brand specialty terrain, having almost everything at a takedown price. Gets it?
Realme knows how to give as much as anyone at the lowest possible price. It is not for nothing that its CEO celebrated a few hours ago to have slipped into fourth place by none other than India. Quite a phenomenon in the second largest smartphone market globally, which is not exactly insensitive to price. Seventh in the world data , distributing just over 7 million of these devices in a hectic first quarter of the year. The bar is therefore very high for the new Realme 6 Pro.
Despite this, it is more than likely that if you have reached this point, both the Realme 6 Pro and the brand itself are unknown totals for you. And is that just a year ago , this was not even available in many Countries. Therefore, if you are thinking of renewing your smartphone, it is easily the first time that you face this relatively new option.
Realme is not limited to terminals in the input and middle ranges. It also gives surprises outside of them and beyond. It always does, yes, trying to keep the balance between the number of trends it tries to embrace and the one it puts on the label accompanied by the euro symbol. Let’s see which way it leans this time.
The Realme 6 Pro takes over from a generation with a surprisingly short life. Launched last October, the Realme 5 Pro had a big difference with this model: its price. We will see if, or for whom, this update is justified, going from 199 at the time to 329 euros for the single version that is on sale now. In addition, of course, the Realme 6 something more basic and that was advanced to this about a month.
The propensity for abundance, a feature now somewhat different
A slightly larger screen, 90Hz refresh rate, and now more dominant perforation account for much of the visual changes in Realme’s new generation of terminals. The result is more than known among all the types of terminals available: a format somewhat above the ideal and difficult to handle with one hand. And except for the rear effect, there is not too much aesthetic variation to put on the table.
What is striking is that Realme insists on this format with the refresh rate at 90 Hz – which are appreciated – when the requirements that it considered previous have not yet been met on the screen. And it is that although the colors are not bad and have a correct brightness, this varies strongly little by little, we tilt the terminal, expose it to more than avoidable reflections or analyze the various obscurities on its edges – especially around the cameras.
The Realme 6 Pro slightly updates its internal engine. A Snapdragon 720G gives renewed efficiency to still modest performance but enough to play titles like PUBG or Fornite , and even beat them. Of course, the new chipset turns its back on 90 Hz in all these situations, and beyond moving between the menus it will end up looking, comparatively, even somewhat slower.
The memories that accompany it are really enough, what we ask ourselves is perhaps too much for the type of device we are dealing with. 8GB of RAM , a typically expensive component, seems like way too much on a smartphone that could perhaps be paired with a somewhat more basic option. Similarly, although somewhat more unnoticed, the 128 GB of internal memory passes. Capacities that contrast with the most basic variant of a much more complete X2 Pro , which is born in enough 6 and 64 GB.
The Realme 6 Pro does receive, from the hand of a larger size, another of the specifications that continues to grow in 2020. A battery that rises to 4,300 mAh –6.5% above the 5 Pro– that can now be charged with up to 30 W –50% -. That is, an autonomy without a doubt of two full days – confined: using Wi-Fi and with a slightly lower brightness – that can be recovered beyond half in just thirty minutes. Keep in mind, it has a bit of a trick : notification and multitasking management can be too aggressive by default.
Some extra details that we could be counting on:
- There is a dual SIM slot and a microSD memory card , simultaneously. In addition to headphone jack and FM radio.
- There is no stereo sound , and the mono is rather basic.
- ¿ Wireless charging ? No. What about water resistance ? Neither. ¿ NFC for payments? Of course.
Some of these characteristics are common among the ranges themselves. The dilemma is that above 300 euros we already compete closely with some terminals that already have some time, but also with characteristics and qualities that have been with us for at least five years. Or, with others like the new iPhone SE, which focuses on the basics – but on getting it right – and it’s not that far away. But this is not over, let’s continue.
Six cameras; four really useful
In the Realme 6 Pro we find a total of six cameras. Two in front, four behind. An abundant amount considering the range, which warns us that perhaps they are not all the most useful, but can suffer from a new disease called sensoritis . On-board sensors and optics are as follows:
- 8 “super wide angle , 1/4″ in size and f / 2.3 aperture. Yes Optical Stabilization (OIS).
- 64 MP wide angle – Samsung GW1 -, 1 / 1.7 “and f / 1.8, which produces 16 MP images by default thanks to pixel bining . Also without OIS.
- 2x 13 MP, 1 / 3.4 “and f / 2.5 telephoto . Again, without OIS.
- 2 MP, 1/5 “and f / 2.4 macro sensor .
At the front we find a double configuration that gives us extra angular coverage:
- 8MP, 1/4 “and f / 2.2 super wide angle.
- 16 MP wide-angle –Sony IMX 471, the same that we see in the OnePlus 8 -, 1/3 “and f / 2.1.
As we can imagine and we will see shortly, the main sensor gives more than decent results in a variety of situations – also difficult ones. The others are both too small and poorly equipped: no optical stabilization, another one of the inventions that has been with us for a long time, but still costs to fit in many devices. Having sensors to play with is fine, but as long as you have complied with the basics in which there is no need to demonstrate any utility at this point.
Both the rear macro sensor and the front super wide-angle – the rear is close to adding up – are strongly limited by a tiny, OIS-free format. Let’s see some.
If the lighting is correct, the three sensors provide relatively consistent results, although we can easily see a loss of dynamic range – worse shadows and highlights – in both ultra-wide angle and telephoto. Also, shaky photos can be relatively normal when light falls.
In adverse conditions the Realme 6 Pro can also provide good results, partly thanks to a night mode that, although it must be activated manually, is one of the best results.
Finally, a selfie in normal situations will work as expected. However, the front ultra-wide angle performs much less, and loses utility, quickly taking photos to their limit. Instead of these two cameras, with a painful perforation on the screen – it darkens around it – perhaps a single, decent camera with a large angular coverage and preset with a little zoom would be more important.
conclusion
In the Realme catalog there is beginning to be saturation and some offers begin to touch each other. Quite simply, it is difficult to differentiate and understand the purpose of each of them. Although the Realme 6 Pro has a lot of what matters and something beyond, it also exceeds in some rather expendable details when more basic and useful features have not been covered yet .
Before 90 Hz I would put a panel of higher quality and with fewer reflections. Before 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal, a lower price or a higher performance processor. Before the macro sensor, optical stabilization to the main one. Before introducing an ultra-wide-angle in the front, I would think if its performance justifies a large and annoying cut. Water-resistance or wireless charging are some of the great forgottens when they can be found easily in depreciated, high-quality ranges and from a few years ago.
Also, more modest terminals from last year, such as the Mi 9T, are already a sensible price step behind and a point in qualities ahead. We are facing a terminal capable of everything, with correct performance and splendid autonomy, although it could be more consistent in some decisions, or even cheaper.
Pros
- Fair performance and a large battery achieve endless autonomy.
- Versatile cameras , covering the entire focal spectrum, although with deficits such as optical stabilization.
Cons
- 90 Hz screen , although with uneven brightness and high reflections.
- Finishes and sensations easy to beat, little attention to detail.
- It combines excesses in the expendable with defects in the useful .
- It does not stand out for its price .
