Realme 7 Pro review

Android 10 with Realme UI

The Realme 7 Pro boots Android 10 with Realme UI 1.0. The phone supports fingerprint unlock and the optical sensor works very well - it's fast and with high accuracy. You can also add a face for even speedier unlock - though this is not as secure.

The new launcher looks a lot like vanilla Android with no-nonsense homescreens, simplistic notification/toggles area, and easy-to-use task switcher. An App drawer is available, too, and it is as clutter-free as one could hope for. You can opt out of the app drawer, if that's your thing.

Realme UI 1.0

Always-on screen is available (called Screen Off) and it can show the usual content - clock, date, notifications icons, battery.

Realme UI supports different icon packs, so if you are not happy with the default one, you can opt for material style, pebbles, or you can even fully customize them by your liking.

Dark Mode is available, too, and it can be manual or scheduled. You can also opt to force it on third-party apps, though this doesn't always end well.

AOD • Customizing icons • Customizing icons • Customizing icons • Dark Mode • Dark Mode

There are a lot of powerful tools within the settings menu if you want full control over your Android OS. Or you can leave everything as is and enjoy hassle-free Android experience optimized by Realme's AI algorithms and machine learning.

Settings

Similar to the recent Galaxies, the Realme UI offers a Smart Sidebar on the edge of the screen - you can customize the actions and app shortcuts that appear there.

Smart Sidebar

The multimedia apps such as Gallery, Music, and Videos - are provided by Realme. There is also a redesigned File Manager and even a Phone Manager app. This completes the non-Google app list.

Gallery • Music • Videos • Phone Manager • File Manager

We are fond of the Realme UI and we like the new direction. The interface is snappy, clutter-free and easy to use. Yet, it retains plenty powerful tools should you choose to dig deeper and use them.

Performance and benchmarks

The Realme 7 Pro employs the same Snapdragon 720G as the Realme 6 Pro. The SoC uses an octa-core CPU in a 2+6 configuration - 2x2.3GHz Kryo 465 Gold (A76-derivative) cores and 6x1.8GHz Kryo 465 Silver (A55-derivative) cores. It also comes with Adreno 618 GPU.

The Realme 7 Pro is available in Europe in just this one configuration - 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS2.1 storage.

We know what to expect, but still - let's run some tests!

We start off with the CPU-focused GeekBench - here the Realme 7 Pro inches ahead of every other competitor in single- and multi-core performance and is only bested by the Kirin 810-equipped Huawei.

GeekBench 5.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Huawei P40 Lite
  1862
• Realme 7 Pro
  1811
• Redmi Note 9S
  1785
• Poco X3 NFC
  1777
• Realme 6
  1726
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  1694
• Realme 7
  1681
• Realme 6 Pro
  1666
• Realme 6i
  1349
• Redmi Note 9
  1292

GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Huawei P40 Lite
  591
• Realme 7 Pro
  576
• Redmi Note 9S
  570
• Poco X3 NFC
  568
• Realme 6 Pro
  565
• Realme 6
  548
• Realme 7
  536
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  521
• Realme 6i
  388
• Redmi Note 9
  361

In terms of GPU performance, the Realme 7 Pro posts strong numbers for the class even if it fell at the bottom of our charts. Its scores are on par with the rest of the bunch, bested only by the Huawei P40 Lite. Note that the Realme 6i had an advantage in these tests as it has a 720p display.

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Realme 6i
  31
• Huawei P40 Lite
  30
• Realme 7
  28
• Realme 6 Pro
  27
• Realme 6
  27
• Poco X3 NFC
  27
• Redmi Note 9S
  26
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  26
• Realme 7 Pro
  25

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Huawei P40 Lite
  18
• Realme 7
  17
• Realme 6i
  17
• Realme 6 Pro
  16
• Realme 6
  16
• Poco X3 NFC
  16
• Redmi Note 9S
  15
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  15
• Realme 7 Pro
  14

Throwing all the components into the mix in Antutu, the Realme 7 Pro is on par with the Realme 6 Pro, the Poco X3 NFC. Once again, the Kirin 810 proves superior, too.

AnTuTu 8

Higher is better

• Huawei P40 Lite
  325777
• Realme 7
  292828
• Realme 6
  288931
• Poco X3 NFC
  283750
• Realme 7 Pro
  278414
• Realme 6 Pro
  268785
• Redmi Note 9S
  254000
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  253271
• Realme 6i
  202275
• Redmi Note 9
  200414

It's clear the Realme 7 Pro is one capable smartphone, on par with its current competitors in terms of performance and even having an edge if we consider the AMOLED screen. It handles intensive tasks and popular games well. And if a game feels choppy, you can lower its resolution from the Game Space app and thus boost its performance. And for a budget mid-ranger - that's more than enough.