Realme 8s 5G review

The competition

The Realme 8s 5G comes in at right around $260 or a bit over EUR 220. Though, to be more precise, official availability seems to currently be limited to the Indian market, selling at about INR 19,600.

We can't really say whether the Realme 8s 5G will be available on other markets going forward, but for the time being, this is the market context it exists in.

Another potentially important context to consider is 5G connectivity. It is no secret that adding 5G to a phone still costs quite a bit and that doing so on a budget phone without breaking the bank generally means settling for downgraded specs in other aspects. All of this isn't to say that there aren't great alternatives to the Realme 8s 5G at its price point. You do still need to decide for yourself whether 5G is a priority or you would rather go 4G and get an otherwise cheaper or well-rounded phone.

Let's start with 5G options first. Now that the Realme 8s 5G is a thing, the older Realme 8 5G could be a very viable option, at least for a time. It basically comes with the same display and battery capacity, among other things. A similar-enough chipset, as well as a camera setup. To be clear, though, the Realme 8s 5G is an all-around better package, so the Realme 8 5G will only make sense at a good discount.

Realme 8 5G • Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G • Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G • Samsung Galaxy A22 5G

Over at camp Xiaomi, the Poco M3 Pro 5G is a very viable option. That means the Redmi Note 10 5G is as well, since it is essentially the same device, just with a slightly different exterior and non-POCO UI elements. But, it does tend to cost a bit more as well. Currently, going for INR 14,500 (under EUR 200), the Poco offers similar specs to the older Realme 8 5G, including things like a 90Hz, 6.5-inch LCD, MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, 48MP main camera and a 5,000 mAh battery.

In the same vein, the Redmi Note 9T could be a viable option at the right price. So could the Mi 10T Lite 5G. In fact, you even get a 120Hz, HDR10 display with that one, a 64MP main camera and a Snapdragon 750G chipset.

Samsung has a pretty good 5G option due to its strong Galaxy A lineup. The A22 5G has a 90Hz display, a Dimensity 700 chipset, a 48MP main camera and a 5,000 mAh battery. The main draw in this case for buyers will likely be Samsung's One UI, though.

Like we said, if you are willing to forgo 5G, there are other compelling devices to consider. Xiaomi, in particular, has plenty of options. The Poco X3 Pro remains sort of an anomaly in the budget space, rocking a potent Snapdragon 860 chipset. It is a great choice for budget gaming, with its 120Hz, HDR10 IPS display and nice and beefy 5,160 mAh battery.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro • Samsung Galaxy A32

The Redmi Note 10 Pro adds value in other areas, notably with the inclusion of a superior AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10 display. Also, a 108MP main camera. If you would rather save a few bucks instead, the Redmi 10 could be an excellent choice, with its 90Hz IPS display, MediaTek G88 chipset, 50MP main camera and 5,000 mAh battery. All three of these devices, by the way, with additional features like stereo speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack, FM radios and NFC.

The Samsung Galaxy A32 also stands out as an excellent option, particularly if you want the One UI experience. Its highlights include a 90Hz Super AMOLED panel, an Helio G80 chipset, a 64MP main camera and a big 5,000 mAh battery.

The verdict

The Realme 8 5G was already a solid device at a very competitive price. The Realme 8s 5G successfully boosted the value proposition even further. You get a newer and better MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G chipset, a higher-res 64MP main camera, complete with EIS and faster 33W charging for the 5,000 mAh battery, which delivers excellent battery life. All of this, essentially without inflating the price tag.

To be clear, it's far from a perfect device. Depending on your priorities, some features, notably absent on the Realme 8s 5G, that you might be able to get elsewhere include ingress protection, stereo speakers, 4K video capture. An all-around better display might also be on the table.

But, nitpicking aside, the Realme 8 5G remains an easy recommendation, particularly if you are in the market for a budget 5G-capable handset. It does not disappoint.

Pros

• Solid and strong plastic body, with nice finish and in-hand feel.
• Great battery life.
• The Dimensity 810 5G offers solid all-round performance, though its GPU is weaker than what the model number suggests.
• The main camera takes great photos day and night.
• Decent video stabilization.
• Clean and responsive UI.
• 5G, 3.5mm jack, dedicated microSD slot.

Cons

• No ingress protection.
• No stereo speakers.
• Still decent, but slightly-downgraded display, compared to the Realme 8 5G. Slow pixel response time.
• No 4K video recording.
• No NFC.