Realme X3 SuperZoom Review

Realme has as soon as once more raised the bar for what customers ought to anticipate from a mid-range premium smartphone with its new X3 and X3 SuperZoom gadgets. With costs beginning at simply Rs. 24,999 for the Realme X3 and Rs. 27,999 for the Realme X3 SuperZoom, you may anticipate a top-of-the-line 4G SoC, a quick 120Hz show, and high-quality optics. Today we’ll be testing the X3 SuperZoom, whose spotlight function is an impressive-looking telephoto digital camera that is able to 5x optical and 60x hybrid zoom. Periscope-style digital camera techniques have up to now been utilized in dearer Android telephones, however with the X3 SuperZoom, Realme is bringing this tech to a wider viewers.

Simply wanting on the specs and value, the Realme X3 SuperZoom appears all set to be an incredible all-rounder. Should you purchase it fairly than different equally priced choices such because the Realme X2 Pro (Review) or the OnePlus 7T (Review)? Let’s discover out.

Realme X3 SuperZoom cameras: Great in daylight

The important distinction between the Realme X3 and the SuperZoom mannequin is the telephoto digital camera. The X3 SuperZoom options an 8-megapixel periscope-style digital camera, which permits it to realize a claimed 5x optical zoom. This digital camera additionally has an f/3.Four aperture and optical stabilisation. The different cameras embody a major one with a 64-megapixel Samsung GW1 sensor, an 8-megapixel wide-angle digital camera, and a 2-megapixel macro digital camera. For selfies, you get two cameras embedded within the show, a important 32-megapixel digital camera with a Sony IMX616 sensor and a f/2.5 aperture, and an 8-megapixel wide-angle digital camera with a f/2.2 aperture.

The digital camera app gives buttons within the viewfinder to leap to zoom ranges akin to 2x, 5x, and 10x. The zoom buttons change to a vertical slider if you happen to long-press them, providing you with extra granular zoom management. You can push the slider all the best way as much as 60x, and that is even potential in Night mode. The X3 SuperZoom will digitally amplify a scene until about 4.9x, after which, it switches to the telephoto digital camera all the best way to 60x.

Even although you get 5x magnification, the true optical zoom stage appears to be about 2.1x, which I obtained by dividing the focal lengths of the principle and telephoto cameras. Most phonemakers by no means reveal true optical zoom values, as these are sometimes rather a lot decrease than marketed numbers, which in all probability does not make for superb advertising.

Naturally, I needed to evaluate picture high quality produced by the Realme X3 SuperZoom in opposition to a few of the greatest smartphones I may get my palms on — the OnePlus 8 Pro (Review) and the Samsung Galaxy S20+ (Review). At 5x zoom, the picture high quality from the X3 SuperZoom is spectacular. This telephone managed to seize higher particulars than the 8 Pro and Galaxy S20+, which says rather a lot. Moving to 10x magnification, the Galaxy S20+ caught up however the X3 SuperZoom continued to supply a clear picture with good particulars, nudging previous the OnePlus 8 Pro.

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At 20x zoom, we see that the Galaxy S20+ has the cleanest picture, however because of aggressive de-noising, it additionally flattens most textures. The OnePlus 8 Pro priorities element over noise, which is why the shot appears to be like a bit grainy however edges look sharper. The shot taken with the X3 SuperZoom falls someplace in between, because it does an honest job of cleansing noise but additionally crushes particulars within the shadows.

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At 30x, the standard of images taken by all three telephones takes a flip for the more serious, however the 8 Pro manages barely higher particulars. The X3 SuperZoom can preserve going until 60x, and as you may see, picture high quality suffers fairly a bit. However, contemplating the value distinction between the X3 SuperZoom and the others, it is a powerful efficiency general.

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In low gentle, the telephoto digital camera captures poor particulars, except you employ one of many Night modes. The Realme X3 SuperZoom options Nightscape 4.0, which incorporates further low-light capturing modes known as Pro Nightscape and Starry. The former principally offers you handbook controls and solely works with the principle digital camera, whereas the latter is claimed to have the ability to seize stars and constellations within the sky. I wasn’t capable of seize any stars because of a perpetually cloudy monsoon sky, however I hope it would work, given appropriate situations. Starry mode works with the principle and telephoto cameras.

Realme X3 SuperZoom tripod mode digital camera pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Tripod mode lets the shutter keep open longer to permit extra gentle to enter the sensor, however it’s simplest in case you have the telephone both resting nonetheless in opposition to one thing or on a tripod. This is one other useful function, and I managed to seize some handsome landscapes at nightfall utilizing this. It can be utilized with the principle, wide-angle and telephoto cameras.

Realme X3 SuperZoom low-light digital camera samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

Night mode works for the wide-angle digital camera too, which helps seize higher particulars. The important digital camera, surprisingly, did not handle superb high quality low-light pictures with out Night mode. In auto mode, textures typically seemed blurry and grainy, and edges had been poorly outlined. Night mode helped repair this however there’s nonetheless loads of scope for enchancment.

The important sensor actually shines when capturing in the course of the day. Details and colors are typically good and even the wide-angle digital camera manages to maintain up. Close-up photographs in daylight look good too, with loads of particulars and vibrant colors. The macro digital camera works decently nicely, supplied there is a good quantity of sunshine round. Even with out a devoted depth sensor, portrait photographs seemed good, with pretty correct edge detection.

Realme X3 SuperZoom major digital camera pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Realme X3 SuperZoom wide-angle digital camera pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Realme X3 SuperZoom close-up digital camera pattern (faucet to see bigger picture)

Realme X3 SuperZoom selfie digital camera samples (faucet to see bigger picture)

The X3 SuperZoom captures selfies on the full 32-megapixel decision, as an alternative of utilizing pixel binning for a smaller file measurement. Details are good when capturing in daylight, though HDR could be hit-or-miss. The wide-angle digital camera is helpful and I discovered HDR photographs to be a bit extra according to this sensor. Image particulars are typically weak in low gentle, however you should utilize Night mode for each selfie cameras, which helps getting barely higher images.

Now, let’s check out video. Unfortunately, Realme hasn’t included a Pro video mode, however the X3 SuperZoom can shoot as much as 4K at 60fps. You can swap between the principle, wide-angle, and telephoto cameras, supplied you are capturing at 1080p. At 4K, solely the first digital camera is used. Colours look fairly exaggerated at 4K, however not a lot at 1080p.

Stabilisation is nice in the course of the day, however in low gentle, video is grainy and your footsteps may cause annoying shakes within the video. There’s a toggle for Ultra Steady video, which boosts stabilisation for the principle digital camera. Enabling the ‘Max’ toggle switches to the wide-angle digital camera and crops footage for a gimbal-like impact, however picture high quality drops. The HDR toggle is meant to spice up the dynamic vary of video however I did not discover it to be as efficient as OnePlus’ resolution on the 8 Pro.

Overall, I feel the telephoto digital camera within the X3 SuperZoom is excellent, supplied you shoot primarily in daylight and at as much as cheap magnification ranges. I just like the expanded Nightscape modes too, which could be very helpful. However, with out Night mode, all of the sensors actually appear to battle with low-light stills and even video.

The Realme X3 SuperZoom has a powerful telephoto digital camera

Realme X3 SuperZoom efficiency: No complaints

Realme is bragging concerning the X3 SuperZoom’s means to pump out the best AnTuTu benchmark rating for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ powered machine. While Realme might need gotten its claimed 5,17,743 rating in its lab, I used to be solely capable of get round 5,08,491 factors, which remains to be good. Of course, a benchmark rating does not all the time assure real-world efficiency, however I’m glad to report that the X3 SuperZoom feels speedy in use. I’m utilizing the top-end variant, with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.Zero storage.

Apart from these stable core specs, the opposite motive for the snappy really feel is the 120Hz LCD show. Realme determined to go together with an LCD panel with a sooner refresh price as an alternative of a slower (90Hz) AMOLED panel, like on the X2 Pro. The 6.6-inch full-HD+ LCD panel is kind of good, with robust colors. A latest update seems to have mounted a difficulty with brightness that I seen once I first unboxed this telephone. However, I’d have most popular a slower AMOLED show, for extra vibrant colors and higher distinction at decrease brightness ranges.

One of the stuff you forfeit with an LCD panel is the opportunity of an in-display fingerprint sensor. The X3 SuperZoom has a capacitive sensor within the energy button on the correct, which works nicely with only a gentle faucet. There’s face recognition too, which is equally fast. Another helpful function that the X2 Pro has however is lacking right here is stereo audio system. The X3 SuperZoom has to make do with a single bottom-firing speaker. It’s loud, and there is Dolby Atmos too, however the expertise is not as immersive as I’d have preferred.

Realme UI runs nicely on the Realme X3 SuperZoom

Realme UI, based mostly Android 10, runs very nicely on the X3 SuperZoom. I seen the identical helpful customisations and shortcuts that we have seen in different latest Realme telephones, plus a system-wide darkish mode. You can examine them in additional element right here.

Gaming efficiency is great. The X3 SuperZoom can simply deal with demanding video games from the Google Play retailer. The physique of this telephone will get heat after extended gameplay however I by no means discovered it too scorching to deal with. Realme says it has used a vapour cooling system, which appears efficient.

You can use two Nano-SIM playing cards within the Realme X3 SuperZoom on the similar time, however there is no microSD card slot for increasing the interior storage. You additionally get dual-band Wi-Fiac, Bluetooth 5, and help for the standard array of sensors and satellite tv for pc navigation techniques.

Realme X3 SuperZoom battery: Heavy responsibility

Battery life was stable, and even with heavy utilization, I used to be capable of comfortably use the X3 SuperZoom for a complete day earlier than needing to cost it. The 4,200mAh battery additionally did nicely in our HD video loop check, lasting for an excellent 21 hours and 42 minutes. That’s spectacular, contemplating the top-end SoC and high-refresh-rate show. You get a 30W ‘Dart Charge’ quick charger within the field, which manages to fill the battery in a little bit beneath an hour. The Realme X2 Pro supported 50W charging, however that is nonetheless loads quick if you happen to ask me.

The Realme X3 SuperZoom has wonderful battery life and prices shortly

Realme X3 SuperZoom design: Classic Realme

I’ve stored this part for the very finish as a result of there’s not rather a lot that is new. In basic Realme vogue, you get a particular end for the again of the telephone, and this time it is stated to be impressed by the Arctic. The X3 SuperZoom is available in two colors, Arctic White and Glacier Blue, of which I’ve the previous. The curved glass again feels nice to the contact, because of its easy matte end. The machine feels sturdy general, and although the X3 SuperZoom is barely huge and hefty, it is nonetheless comfy to make use of.

Verdict: Should you purchase the Realme X3 SuperZoom?

If you’ve got made it this far, you in all probability know by now that the Realme X3 SuperZoom is certainly an excellent all-rounder. The base variant is priced at Rs. 27,999 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, whereas the second variant prices Rs. 32,999 for 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both variants of the telephone provide immense worth contemplating all of the options they pack in.

Some of this telephone’s robust factors embody the sleek show, wonderful battery life, robust efficiency, and the spectacular telephoto digital camera. Low-light digital camera efficiency remains to be a bit weak, and I do miss having stereo audio system.

The Realme X3 SuperZoom overlaps with the Realme X2 Pro (Review) a bit, however fairly than change it, I feel there’s sufficient motive for each to coexist. With the X2 Pro, you do not get the prolonged zoom vary and second selfie digital camera, however however, you get a richer HDR10+ licensed AMOLED show, stereo audio system, and 50W quick charging.

Ultimately, all of it will depend on what you need out of your smartphone. If a telephoto digital camera with a protracted zoom vary is the next precedence, then the X3 SuperZoom is the apparent selection. Else, if you happen to watch movies much more than you are taking images, then I really feel the Realme X2 Pro and even the OnePlus 7T (Review) are nonetheless nice choices.

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