Amazing? Brave? Or a good exercise in branding? Realme Nazro 30 Pro 5G has got a lot of power under the hood, making it one of the top choices under Rs 20,000 but there are caveats, which we will soon talk about.
Like in the past year, Realme hasn’t refrained from putting in top specs, taking competition to the likes of Samsung as well as Xiaomi. Like the two rival brands, Realme now has an offering across a wide price segment. There is the Realme C11 for around Rs 7,500 while Realme X7 Pro 5G costs around Rs 30,000. Plus, there is the brand’s ecosystem products which is trying to go toe-to-toe with Xiaomi. In comes Narzo 30 Pro 5G, starting at Rs 16,999.
Dependable phone
The biggest strengths of the phone are camera, battery and processor. And the fence sitter is its 5G capabilities.
The variety of processors in the market at the moment is confusing to say the least. Complicating the issue is when a company like Samsung starts using processors from other manufacturers besides its own. Here we have the MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G processor. It’s a good choice not only for allowing 5G capabilities but for being power efficient. The ‘U’ in the processor stands for ‘ultra-connected’, supporting dual 5G SIM. Further, users can enjoy 120Hz display refresh rate, which is something many users are looking for. So this can handle most graphic-intensive games, besides most of the apps we use.
The camera set-up used by Realme this time features 48MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide and a macro lens. It’s not an out-of-the-box arrangement but Realme has managed to tune the software to take advantage of the sensors. Photos are crisp in daylight while the ultra-wide lens doesn’t do a bad job, keeping noise at bay. There is a night mode, which kicks in well while shooting indoors. In most houses, indoor lighting is not the best but the camera can do a good job. Where the camera is found lacking is night time landscape shots. Night mode helps but there is some noise. In the video department, there is stabilisation at 4K and 1080p but that’s not the case when you move into ultra-wide mode. But it’s enough for most people.
Sample shots from the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G — of a shop selling ittar on Chitpur Road and chocolate eclairs at Kookie Jar. Telegraph Picture
Like we mentioned, the processor is power efficient, allowing the battery to retain enough charge to last two days while charging up takes a little over 60 minutes. It’s a dependable phone that does some things very well.
The element of dependability can also be seen in the 1080×2400 FHD+ display. We can dive into the debate between AMOLED versus IPS LCD but there is an audience for both. Also, the display here is bright enough and the quality is good enough to stream films.
5G but Sirji, do you need it?!
The audience is divided about 5G. There are a few things to remember before we go ga-ga over 5G.
First, ask yourself if you will be travelling to a 5G zone for a long duration in the next few months. If the answer is yes, then this is probably one of the best phones to take advantage of 5G because it supports a lot of bands and there is 5G on both SIMs.
Second, if you are planning to buy a 5G-enabled phone just for future proofing, ask yourself if the technology will be at your doorstep in the next one year or more. Going by the way Indian government is handling 5G, chances of having it in the second half of 2022 is there but in a few cities. At first, network will be patchy. A connected point is how long will you hold on to your phone. Three years? In that case, this phone makes sense. In case you switch phones every two years, then be patient and maybe settle for something from Realme in the next some months.
Third, is it okay for you to spend that extra couple of thousand even if you don’t get to enjoy 5G in the next one year? There are several options in this price bracket.
Should you get it?
The area that needs improvement is software. I don’t want the app HeyFun on my phone. I want to delete the Realme Browser app but I can’t. Soloop is not a fun app. And out of the box, the phone comes with Android 10 and Realme UI 1.0. I am sure there will be an update very soon but if the brand is to make experience a cornerstone for its users, these issues need to be ironed out. Otherwise, there are no major flaws here. Excellent fingerprint scanner and good sound quality. The camera is decent while the battery and processor have enough fuel to offer long-term usage. Realme is a new brand compared to others but in a very short time it has managed to have a substantial user base. The market needs options and Realme is a valuable one. Realme Nazro 30 Pro 5G (Rs 16,999) wins with its build quality and hardware.
More about the phone
Device: Realme Nazro 30 Pro 5G (Rs 16,999)
High notes
- 120Hz screen refresh rate
- Battery easily lasts two days
- Good sound quality
Muffled notes
- Excellent 5G capabilities but in a market that doesn’t have 5G
- Software tweaks are needed
