Realme X3 hands-on review

Camera

The Realme X3, being the non-SuperZoom in the family, is missing the 5x zoom periscope telephoto that earned the phone its name.

The X3's telephoto offers a 2x zoom lens (or a 51mm equivalent focal length) with an f/2.5 aperture. OIS is missing, sadly.

The other modules are the same between the two phones, and yes, that does include one 2MP macro cam, but if we get at least 3 separate focal lengths, we're fine with any extra units that are there just to infalte the camera count.

The primary camera uses a 64MP Samsung Tetracell sensor and takes 16MP shots by default with a full-res mode also available. The lens has a 26mm equivalent focal length and an f/1.8 aperture. There's no OIS on this one either, as there isn't on the telephoto.

Then there's the ultra wide angle camera. An 8MP sensor is paired with a 16mm equivalent f/2.3 aperture lens. There's no autofocus capability, unfortunately.

The camera app is the same as the one we found on the SuperZoom and the other recent Realmes. Most of the modes are on the main rolodex (including the 64MP mode) and you can switch them by swiping across the viewfinder - that only works one mode at a time, but swiping on the actual mode 'dial' will let you switch quickly between more distant modes. A 'More' pane holds additional modes, including a Pro/Expert one with advanced photographic controls. Starry mode for capturing night skies is also available.

Camera UI

We know you'd like to see some images taken on the Realme X3, but we couldn't get around to shooting samples, with all the lockdown and social distancing measures in place. And a comparison between the X3 and the X3 SuperZoom would also be nice, yes, but as it stands, our units happen to be on two different continents so that's not happening for now.

Wrap-up

The Realme X3 and X3 SuperZoom make a nice pair. The SuperZoom is the (more?) camera focused of them, the plain X3 lets you save some cash if you're willing to live without the 5x periscope. It's a marginal difference in price between the two (INR2,000 if you match the RAM and storage at 8GB/128GB) and we can't see it affecting purchasing decisions all that much, not between these two in particular, anyway.

Realme X3 SuperZoom • Realme X2 Pro • Realme 6 Pro

An X2 Pro, on the other hand, would require stretching your budget, even for a base 64GB model, but it has its advantages - an HDR-capable OLED display (if 'only' 90Hz), stereo speakers and a headphone jack, even faster charging, a superior fingerprint sensor. On the opposite end is the Realme 6 Pro - at about two thirds of a base model X3, that'll give you mostly the same hardware, with the only major downgrade being the Snapdragon 720G chip, itself more than a decent performer. Options aplenty in Realme's midrange roster.

All in all, the Realme X3 is a reasonably well rounded package - at first glance, but also accounting for our experience with its close relative, the X3 SuperZoom. Both X3s make a whole lot more sense at their asking price in India than what Realme charges for the SuperZoom in Europe. Even so, we can't help but think that better value can be had on other models in the company's lineup.