The realme 7 has now been confirmed to launch in Philippines on September 30 alongside the realme 7 Pro. Before it launches, let’s take a quick look at its feature set and what it can offer to its fierce and loyal fan base.
realme 7
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G95 |
| Screen | 6.5-inch IPS, 2400 x 1080, 90Hz, 480nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB |
| OS | Android 10 with realme UI |
| Rear Camera | 64MP f/1.8 Main, 8MP f/2.3 Ultrawide, 2MP f/2.4 Macro, 2MP f/2.4 Depth |
| Front Camera | 16MP f/2.1 |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB UFS 2.1, expandable via MicroSD Slot |
| Network | Dual-SIM, 4G LTE |
| Connectivity | Dual-band WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C |
| Battery | 5,000mAh, 30W Fast Charging |
| Others | Side-mounted Fingerprint Scanner |
| Colors | Mist Blue, Mist White |
Like most of the entries in realme’s smartphone range, the realme 7 is encased in their now iconic yellow box with its numbered emblem embossed at the front. Inside is the usual selection: the smartphone itself, a silicone case, documentation, a SIM pin ejector, a USB Type-C cable, and its 30W Dart charger.
A Bump in Chipset and a 90Hz Screen for Gaming
Unlike the realme 7 Pro, the realme 7 retains the 6.5-inch IPS 2400 x 1080 90Hz screen from its predecessor. The display’s increased refresh rate from the normal 60Hz is a welcome addition in any smartphone as it allows you to experience a smoother gaming experience. Even without gaming, the 90Hz screen can be immediately felt as it delivers more fluid animations in general while using the smartphone.
The chipset of the realme 7 gets a slight update to the Helio G95 platform instead of preserving the G90T from the realme 6. While both chipsets are largely the same having the same two Cortex-A76 cores at 2.05GHz and an additional six Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0GHz, the Mali-G76 MC4 on the Helio G95 is running a bit faster at 900MHz compared to the 800MHz Mali-G57 MC4 on the G90.
This should give the realme 7 a bit of an advantage in gaming especially in more demanding titles. When paired with its 90Hz screen, then the smartphone could possibly turn into a preferred smartphone for both casual and hardcore gaming.
Same Design and Camera Sensor as the Pro
Instead of having a comet falling down like the 6, the realme 7 has a similar two-tone design as the Pro version. Although made out of plastic, it has a matte finish that lends to a somewhat premium feel. Design-wise though, it is muted compared to its predecessor although the matte rear now better resists fingerprint marks.
The realme 7 largely has the same quad camera setup as the smartphone before it. Headlining is a 64MP f/1.8 main camera backed by an 8MP f/2.3 ultrawide, a 2MP f/2.4 macro, and a 2MP f/2.4 depth lens. The sensor, however, has been upgraded to the Sony IMX682.
Taking a few snaps using its main 64MP f/1.8 rear camera produces pretty good results especially in broad day light. Details are sharp and colors pop. Thanks to the help of HDR, dim subjects with bright backgrounds can be easily captured with just the right of exposure on both.
Larger Battery than the 6
One of the upgrades that the realme 7 receives over the 6 is a larger battery. While previously, the 6 only had a 4,300mAh battery, its successor now has a larger 5,000mAh battery. Charging speeds, however, are relatively the same with the smartphone having the brand’s 30W Dart charge.
First Impressions
Unlike the realme 7 Pro which removed some of the features that we loved from the 6 Pro and replaced it with others, the realme 7 seems like an incremental upgrade over its previous iteration. Not much has changed with the latest generation.
It still packs a 90Hz screen and a 64MP f/1.8 main camera with a couple of improvements such as a slightly faster chipset, a better camera sensor, and a larger battery. But would these be enough to make it standout? We’re not quite sure yet. We’ll be putting the realme 7 through its paces and our review should be published on its release on September 30, 2020 alongside the realme 7 Pro through a livestream on realme’s official Facebook page.