Realme 13 Pro 5G Review: Aesthetically pleasant with next-gen features

Realme 13 Pro Review: Realme has been on a spree of launches this year, with the latest one being the Realme 13 Pro. The device has a capable camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor with OIS support and offers other features like an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance. In this review, we shall analyse whether the Realme 13 Pro justifies its price tag and lives up to expectations. 

With a thickness of 8.23mm and a weight of 188 grams, the device feels solid and comfortable to hold. The glass back, adorned with a sunblasted finish, looks aesthetically pleasing. Typical of Realme, the circular camera module on the back offers a luxurious look, akin to a luxury watch. The device features an in-display fingerprint sensor which works with a breeze. For charging and data transfer, it has a USB Type-C port and stereo speakers. Additionally, it comes with an IP65 rating for water and dust resistance. 

Sporting a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, the Realme 13 Pro boasts a vibrant display. It offers a refresh rate up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of up to 2,000nits. The display maintains sharpness and remains bright enough during outdoor use. The extremely thin bezels offer an immersive content-viewing experience, making it an ideal device for watching a variety of content. Additionally, the device is equipped with a Rainwater Smart Touch, which shields the display from false touches. 

The Realme 13 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, supported by up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB internal storage. The device performs well when tested under modest usage scenarios. If your day-to-day activities include streaming content on Netflix or YouTube, browsing social media, capturing photos, and more, the device performs satisfactorily. However, gaming with high graphic settings might encounter some hiccups. On our performance benchmarks, the device offers moderate performance. Notably, the device has received a capable cooling mechanism, bolstered by a 9-layer 3D VC cooling system, which prevents it from overheating. 
The smartphone runs on Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. The UI is smooth and manageably responsive but is not free from bloatware. The UI comes with significant AI features, such as AI Ultra Clarity (which helps in improving the quality of photos), and AI Smart Loop (which acts as a recommendation tool by recognising different types of content). The company offers two years of major software updates and an additional year of security patches. 

The device features a triple camera setup comprising a 50MP primary sensor with OIS support, an 8MP ultrawide shooter, and a 2MP macro sensor. The camera quality is further boosted with the AI-based Hyperimage+ technology, which is instrumental in enhancing the quality of the photos. Other AI features elevating the camera prowess include AI Audio Zoom, AI Portraits, and more. The primary sensor performs better than the other cameras in the setup. The colour representation is near-natural, while details are also decent with a better dynamic range. The ultrawide sensor sometimes lacks details, and the colours seem to be taking a toll. Portrait photos are good, though not the best in the segment. The skin tones could have been better with a bit less brightness. In low-light conditions, the Realme 13 Pro captures good photos with satisfactory noise management. For selfies, there’s a 32MP shooter, taking photos with significant details and near-natural skin tones. 

The Realme 13 Pro packs a 5,200mAh battery with 45W charging functionality. The device easily lasts a day under modest usage conditions, including playing games at lighter settings, multitasking, content streaming, and capturing photos. It takes a little over an hour to get fully charged. 

The Realme 13 Pro is a perfect amalgamation of aesthetic appeal and camera prowess. With an elegant design and curved edges, the device feels stylish. The camera quality is decent considering the segment, and the battery capacity is another positive. However, the smartphone may trail behind some of its competitors in performance, and some users might have apprehensions regarding the cluttered UI. Overall, for a sub-Rs. 30,000 category, the device deserves proper consideration. 

Realme 13 Pro: Pros

- Aesthetically pleasant design

- Vibrant display

- Good battery life

Realme 13 Pro: Cons

- Cluttered UI

- Performance could have been better

- Only 2 years of major software updates