Realme X3 hands-on review

Introduction

Realme unveiled the X3 to the world yesterday at an event in India alongside the already official X3 SuperZoom. While we had already reviewed the SuperZoom, the Realme X3 proper was new to us, so we jumped at the opportunity to spend some time with it.

The X3 and X3 SuperZoom aren't all that different, in fact. Obviously, the SuperZoom's periscope telephoto is exclusive to that model and the vanilla X3 gets a more modest 2x zoom module instead. The rest of the rear cams are the same between the two. Over on the front, the Realme X3 gets a 16MP main selfie shooter in place of the SZs 32MP unit, but keeps the secondary cam for ultra wide selfies. So there's been a couple of camera downgrades, but still a compelling configuration after all.

And that's really all that sets them apart. The Realme X3 is still powered by the same Snapdragon 855+ chipset that true flagships had last Fall, a 120Hz 6.6-inch LCD sits on the front and there's a 4,200mAh battery to get you through the day.

Realme X3

• Body: 163.8x75.8x8.9mm, 202g; glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame; Colors: Glacier Blue, Arctic White.
• Display: 6.6" IPS LCD, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 399ppi; 120Hz refresh rate.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm): Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485); Adreno 640 (700 MHz).
• Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM; UFS 3.0.
• OS/Software: Android 10, Realme UI.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.72"; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm, 1/4.0"; Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.5, 51mm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4; LED flash, HDR, panorama.
• Video capture: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS
• Front camera: Wide (main): 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm. Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2; Panorama; Video capture: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
• Battery: 4200mAh; fast charging 30W.
• Misc: Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass.

You also get much the same bundle with the X3 that ships with the X3 SuperZoom. A 30W fast charger comes in the box and we clocked a full charge from flat at 58 minutes on the SuperZoom, so with the identical bits between the two handsets, there's no reason to expect anything else from the X3. You do have to use the included cable, however, as it's a proprietary system - though OnePlus and Oppo cables may still work, wink.

Inside the box, you'll also get a smoked transparent silicone case - great for protection and also for preventing wobbling when the phone's lying down on its back. That's one thing we noticed in our early experience with the X3, more of which - on the next page.