Realme 13 Pro+ review

Solid primary, great zoom, meh ultrawide; also AI

The Realme 13 Pro+ shifts things around a bit in the camera department compared to the 12 Pro+, the most notable difference being the sensor in the zoom camera. Also new, by the looks of it, is the main camera's imager, though the numbers remain the same. The ultrawide and the selfie camera are seemingly unchanged.

Realme is proud of using Sony Lytia sensors on the main and telephoto cameras and has the branding printed left and right. The LYT-701 on the main camera is manifested as IMX 890 in hardware apps - just Sony things. It's a reasonably large 1/1.56" sensor in a lineage of proven performers.

The telephoto configuration is different, a 50MP LYT-600 replacing the 64MP imager of the previous model behind what is a very similarly-specced lens. This same Sony sensor was used on the primary camera of the Realme 12+ (non-Pro), for example, as well as the main camera of the Realme 13 Pro (non-plus), so it's got some solid credentials.

The ultrawide is an unassuming package of an 8MP sensor and a fixed-focus lens. On the front, another fixed-focus lens brings light to a 32MP Sony imager - the 13 Pro+ likes its Sonys.

The AI theme is going strong in the camera department, too. The AI editing options in the gallery we already mentioned (AI Ultra Clarity and AI Smart Removal), but there's also the AI HyperRAW Algorithm that's... the name for the 13 Pro+'s processing engine? AI Group Photo Enhance should ensure you get sharp faces on multiple people in the frame at different distances, and AI Audio Zoom should help with sound directionality in video recording. Lots and lots of AI.

• Wide (main): 50MP Sony LYT-701 (IMX 890, 1/1.56", 1.0µm - 2.0µm), f/1.9, 24mm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; 4K@30fps
• Telephoto, 3x: 50MP Sony LYT-600 (IMX 882, 1/1.95", 0.8µm-1.6µm), f/2.7, 73mm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS; 4K@30fps
• Ultrawide: 8MP SmartSens SC820 (1/4.0", 1.12µm), f/2.2, 16mm, fixed focus; FullHD@30fps
• Selfie camera: 32MP Sony IMX 615 (1/2.74", 0.8µm-1.6µm), f/2.5, 21mm, fixed focus; 4K@30fps

Daylight photo quality

Main camera

The main camera of the Realme 13 Pro+ captures very good photos in daylight. The overall look is quite contrasty - not necessarily in a bad way, but on certain instances, the shadows could benefit from some lifting in post processing.

We experienced no issues with white balance outdoors and things were also on point inside, with only the wooden wall paneling throwing things off more than usual.

Color saturation is well judged too, the vibrancy joining forces with the high contrast to make for some very pleasing, expressive results (excluding that last shot).

Detail is solid - it's rendered reasonably naturally in random textures, sharpening doesn't strike us as excessive, and noise is minimal.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x)

You can also check out a few photos of our usual mugshot model, in both Photo mode and Portrait mode. Skin tones are generally looking life-like and facial detail is rendered well. Now, you'll note the excessive saturation in the last photo, in contrast with the muted rendition in the first sample (though we already said what's to blame here) - so perhaps not the most dependable performance here, but not half bad either.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), Portrait mode

Here's also a handful of samples from the 50MP mode - mostly for completeness' sake since they're not too pretty to look at in terms of pixel-level detail.

Daylight samples, main camera (1x), 50MP

Telephoto camera

The 3x telephoto camera takes superb photos. Detail is excellent and we'd argue that the new 50MP(12.5MP) sensor takes sharper pictures with better definition than the 12 Pro+ with its 64MP(16MP) sensor. Contrast is once again high and the colors maintain a very pleasing level of saturation and fidelity.

The minimum focusing distance isn't too short, but you'd be able to get reasonably close to your subjects.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x)

Shots of people also look great on the 13 Pro+'s telephoto. We'd argue there's no need for Portrait mode, but the option is there if you'd prefer a higher level of separation from the background, particularly when the backdrop is closer to your subject.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x), Photo mode

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x), Portrait mode

The 50MP mode is once again more of a checkmark in the list of possible things, rather than a truly useful tool.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (3x), 50MP

The 6x button in the viewfinder is anything but useless, though - in fact, the results are great.

Daylight samples, telephoto camera (6x)

Ultrawide camera

The ultrawide camera's photos, on the other hand, are hardly worth raving about, but they're still quite okay given the unassuming hardware. Detail is alright, dynamic range is reasonably wide, colors are nice - really, the only thing this camera fails at is shooting nearby subjects.

Daylight samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Selfies

The selfies from the Realme 13 Pro+ are alright, but we're not exactly fans. If the auto HDR kicks in, which is nearly every time and normally a good thing, the photos have extra high sharpening. In the unlikely event that there's no HDR action (the very first sample), or you disable it specifically, there's finer detail but not a whole lot of contrast. And 32MP is way too much for selfies anyway - we've been droning about the Realme/Oppo 32MP cameras for ages now, and how they could do better by resampling them to a more sensible resolution and getting nicer results. Of course, you can always do that yourself.

Selfie samples

Low-light photo quality

Main camera

The Realme 13 Pro+'s main camera does a fine job in the dark - in full Auto, without you having to think about it. We're getting excellent exposures with expert highlight preservation and well developed darker areas. There are no issues with white balance with different light sources and color saturation remains great at night. Detail is also hard to complain about.

Low-light samples, main camera (1x)

Telephoto camera

The telephoto also does admirably at night, showing excellent dynamic range and great detail. We'll forgive it the occasional misstep with white balance.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (3x)

At 6x things aren't quite as spectacular, though you'll still probably very much enjoy the results if you refrain from pixel-level scrutiny and only look at your photos on the phone's screen.

Low-light samples, telephoto camera (6x)

Ultrawide camera

Fit to screen is how you should be looking at the ultrawide's photos in the dark, too - dynamic range is quite good and the color rendition is more or less likable, save for occasional the orange tendencies. From up close, however, you'll be greeted with a prevailing softness.

Low-light samples, ultrawide camera (0.6x)

Video recording

The Realme 13 Pro+ can record video up to 4K30 with its main camera and the telephoto on the back, and those can also do 1080p60, while the ultrawide maxes out at 1080p30. The selfie camera supports 4K30 too, but has no 60fps capability at any resolution.

The default codec is h.265 but you can switch to h.264. There is 'regular' video EIS available in 1080p, both at 30fps and 60fps, but the 4K clips will remain unstabilized, unfortunately. Additionally, an Ultra Steady option is also at your disposal - main camera 1080p60 only, slightly tighter crop.

You can check out the playlist below, which includes multiple video samples.

Video quality on the Realme 13 Pro+ is a complex topic. If you have means of supporting the phone, the 4K30 footage from the main camera and the telephoto is very good. Detail is excellent, the colors are likable and the high contrast looks good on them. Even in the dark, the main camera and the telephoto do quite well. But the fact that you don't get stabilization in 4K is a major downside.

The ultraiwide's video quality, meanwhile, barely qualifies for the word 'quality'. Overall, not the most convincing showing in the video capture department.