Realme X3 hands-on review

GSMArena team, 26 June 2020.

Software

The Realme X3 runs Android 10 with an in-house layer of Realme UI on top. We've had plenty of experience with it on the X3 SuperZoom and multiple units from the 6-series and we're liking its more relaxed approach to customization and more stock-ish look than previous iterations.

Realme X3 hands-on review

The UI defaults to a nav bar for navigation but you can opt for gestures in settings. Folders open full screen, but the icons remain within easy reach. An app drawer is also present with a row of suggested apps up top. The pre-installed apps are mostly the same as on other recent Realmes, but the App Market, for example, is missing.

Lockscreen - Realme X3 hands-on review Folder view - Realme X3 hands-on review Tools - Realme X3 hands-on review App drawer - Realme X3 hands-on review Quick settings - Realme X3 hands-on review Task switcher - Realme X3 hands-on review
Lockscreen • Folder view • Tools • App drawer • Quick settings • Task switcher

The 120-hertz display is one of the Realme X3's key selling points. In the Settings menu, you get to select between an auto mode that'll pick the best refresh rate for the task at hand, or forced 60Hz or 120Hz setting. Much like the SuperZoom, the X3 wouldn't always respect these settings - all in the name of power-saving, of course - and it will adjust the refresh rate as it sees fit in both Auto and 120Hz mode.

About screen - Realme X3 hands-on review Settings menu - Realme X3 hands-on review Display settings - Realme X3 hands-on review Refresh rate options - Realme X3 hands-on review
About screen • Settings menu • Display settings • Refresh rate options

One observation we had was that the X3 has the Google default apps for Dialer and Messages, as opposed to the in-house customized solutions we've seen previously. Realme tells us that will be the case going forward.

Benchmarks

The Realme X3 is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset - the beefed up version of Qualcomm's 2019 flagship-grade silicon. That's shared with the X3 SuperZoom from this year, but also the slightly older X2 Pro. Meanwhile, the X2 from 2019 uses the midrange 730G, while this year's 6 Pro opts for a 720G. We ran a bunch of benchmarks on the Realme X3 and here are the results.

GeekBench 4.4 (multi-core)

Higher is better

  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    11151
  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    10493
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    10115
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    7846
  • LG Velvet
    7660
  • Realme 6 Pro
    7027
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    7008
  • Realme X2
    6926
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    6639

GeekBench 4.4 (single-core)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    3683
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    3553
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    3524
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    2844
  • LG Velvet
    2708
  • Realme 6 Pro
    2643
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    2558
  • Realme X2
    2508
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    2429

GeekBench 5.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    2732
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    2579
  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    2572
  • LG Velvet
    1905
  • Motorola Edge
    1862
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    1862
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    1785
  • Realme X2
    1750
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    1694
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    1692
  • Realme 6 Pro
    1666

GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    790
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    756
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    738
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    591
  • Motorola Edge
    586
  • LG Velvet
    586
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    571
  • Realme 6 Pro
    565
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    548
  • Realme X2
    545
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    521

AnTuTu 8

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    487203
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    477905
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    459497
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    325777
  • Motorola Edge
    305989
  • LG Velvet
    297372
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    279625
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    272229
  • Realme 6 Pro
    268785
  • Realme X2
    257443
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    253271

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    74
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    69
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    65
  • Motorola Edge
    34
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    34
  • LG Velvet
    33
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    31
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    30
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    30
  • Realme 6 Pro
    30
  • Realme X2
    29

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    56
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    56
  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    45
  • Motorola Edge
    32
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    30
  • LG Velvet
    29
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    27
  • Realme 6 Pro
    27
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    26
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    26
  • Realme X2
    24

GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    47
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    43
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    41
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    21
  • Motorola Edge
    19
  • LG Velvet
    19
  • Realme 6 Pro
    18
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    18
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    17
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    17
  • Realme X2
    16

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

  • Realme X3 (hands-on)
    42
  • Realme X3 SuperZoom
    35
  • Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
    34
  • Motorola Edge
    18
  • Huawei P40 Lite
    18
  • LG Velvet
    16
  • Realme 6 Pro
    16
  • Xiaomi Redmi K30
    15
  • Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
    15
  • Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
    15
  • Realme X2
    13

Reader comments

  • ARIS SHEIKH
  • 07 Aug 2021
  • GRQ

Best photos

  • Gamer
  • 01 May 2021
  • 354

Hello, i take it for pubg I think this device is a good device? So what's good and what's bad

  • Minato
  • 25 Feb 2021
  • U{W

If you prioritize performance over display quality then go for it.