Realme has had a busy month in April thanks to several new releases that have graced the market. Performance-focused P-series smartphone portfolio has been unveiled by the firm. The new series’ entry-level smartphone, the Realme P1 5G, retails for Rs 15,999 in India. The phone has hardware, such as the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC with UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR4X RAM, that enables it to outperform its class. It has a full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a high peak brightness level of 2,000 nits for images. Although these features undoubtedly give the smartphone an alluring appearance, how does it perform in actual use?
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Verdict
Because of its exceptional performance, the Realme P1 5G is a great option for power users and gamers on a budget. Apart from its performance, the gadget also stands out for several other reasons, including its strong stereo speaker arrangement, 120Hz AMOLED display, decent battery life, and good daytime cameras. However, not everyone may be satisfied with the low-light shooting and software experience.
Design
In terms of design, the Realme P1 5G stays very close to its Realme 12 series siblings; the camera module still has a watch face-like appearance, but there isn’t a zip pattern in the center of the back panel like there was on the previous model. The Phoenix Red model that I was given has a rear panel that Realme refers to as having “feather texture,” which consists of feather-like strokes across the length of the back. In addition, the gadget comes in Peacock Green, a stunning green color with an identical design. The overall appeal is enhanced by the feather-like patterns, which have a glossy appearance and shimmer when exposed to bright light.
Weighing only 188g, the smartphone is stylish and very pleasant to hold. The speaker and 3.5mm connector are positioned on top, and the volume and power buttons are located on the right edge. The SIM card compartment, speaker grille, and Type-C port are located on the bottom.
Display
One of the most notable aspects of the Realme P1 5G is its display. The 6.67-inch AMOLED panel on the smartphone has a refresh rate of 120Hz, a 100% P3 color gamut, and a maximum brightness of 2000nits. The P1’s visual experience is enhanced to an unprecedented degree by the AMOLED panel, especially considering its price. Additionally, the display has excellent visibility both indoors and outdoors and is incredibly bright.
At midday, for instance, in blazing sunlight, the display is still readable, and easy to see what’s going on. The phone unlocks quickly and with great responsiveness thanks to the in-display fingerprint scanner. The multimedia experience is further enhanced by the adequately loud stereo speakers.
Cameras
The Realme P1 5G’s optics consist of a 2MP B&W lens with an f/2.4 aperture and a 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. The smartphone has a 16MP camera on the front for taking selfies and doing video conferences. This is a comparison with the Moto G64, a smartphone that the Realme P1 5G closely rivals. In the picture below, the Moto G64 outperforms the Realme P1 in terms of dynamic range, revealing more details in the darker areas. However, the outcomes are not always constant, with the Realme P1 winning out in other shots. In terms of details, the G64 again somewhat outperforms, although I think the colors in the Realme P1’s photos are better.
Because the camera lacks optical image stabilization (OIS), low-light photos are softer, lose resolution, and exhibit lens flare around light sources. There is a special night mode option for night photography in addition to the automated night mode that the camera offers. While the details are better in night mode, the sky is occasionally overexposed by the camera. Videos function similarly, though they perform better in daylight than in dim light. With its back camera, the Realme P1 can record 4K videos at 30 frames per second. It also has strong audio output and stabilization, and for the price, the results are good.
In the day, the selfie camera produces beautiful photos with accurate skin tones and details. Low light conditions cause the photos to appear softer and with less detail. The Realme P1’s cameras are not its best feature set overall, but for the price, it performs admirably. Although this is a common complaint about phones in this price range, the low-light photography may be improved.
Performance
Realme asserts some audacious things regarding the Realme P1 5G’s performance. The brand claims that because the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 meets all of its performance requirements, it is the quickest chipset available for less than Rs 15,000. Even more expensive smartphones only use UFS 2.2 storage. The processor is supported by up to 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of USF 3.1 storage, which is uncommon at this price range. We assessed the smartphone’s performance using a range of benchmarks and in-use tests to verify that assertion. With one of the finest performance outputs in its price category, the Realme P1 5G delivers on its promises. Below are some benchmark figures that I’ll compare with some of its key competitors.
With no latency or stutters, the smartphone provides excellent daily performance and can easily do all common tasks. It can even run graphically intensive games like BGMI and COD: Mobile at medium graphic settings with a steady 35 to 40 frames per second. It even provides good gaming performance. Lowering the graphics settings significantly improves the gameplay experience. Compared to other similarly priced competitors, the gameplay feels more bright because of the AMOLED display, as opposed to an IPS panel. For gamers, the smartphone is among the top options in its price range.
Software
The Realme P1 5G’s software is inconsistent, despite its strong performance. Realme UI 5.0, which is based on Android 14, is preinstalled on the smartphone. The user interface (UI) has several nice quality-of-life elements and is easy to use. Realme bombards you with numerous app recommendations during device setup, many of which are pre-selected apps that you must uncheck to continue. Fortunately, if you decide you don’t need the pre-loaded programs, you can remove them. It requires a bit more work and should be taken out of the Realme App Store’s “Hot Apps” section. Except for Mini Capsule 2.0 animations during music playback and charging, the smartphone does not have any software animations.
With the use of clever sensing technologies, you may rapidly scan any QR codes that are in front of the back camera by double-tapping the camera module. A different function reduces the sound of an incoming call if you happen to look at the front camera. Now, the instructions state to “glance,” but in my experience, you should really “stare.” Nevertheless, the feature was limited to normal calls and did not function for calls received through applications like WhatsApp. Except for Samsung phones like the Galaxy F15 5G, the Realme P1 5G provides two years of operating system updates and three years of software updates, which is common in this price range.
Battery and charging
The Realme P1 5G runs on a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W rapid charging. The smartphone demonstrated a commendable 16 hours and 20 minutes of runtime given its pricing on the PC Mark battery test. When used moderately, the device easily lasts a full day on a single charge; but, if you use it heavily, you might need to recharge it at the end of the day. The retail box includes a 45W fast charger. It takes about 50 minutes to fully charge a device from 20% to 100%.
In our 30-minute YouTube streaming test, the smartphone recorded a 3 percent battery reduction, and in our roughly 90-minute gaming sessions, it registered a 19 percent drop. A very reasonable result is a battery drain of 22% during heavy usage over around 2 hours and a little longer. The punch-hole cutout opens up into a vibrant island-style bar when charging actively. It may be expanded to display the current charge %, giving the user interface a nice little touch.
Final verdict
Thanks to its 120Hz AMOLED panel, the Realme P1 5G, which has a starting price of Rs 15,999, offers an attractive package with a focus on performance and the visual experience that goes along with it. The phone performs well, surpassing phones of a comparable price and matching the output of some phones that are priced higher. Although the display and performance are the standout features, the smartphone also has excellent daylight cameras, a long battery life, quick charging times, and a stylish appearance. The Realme P1 5G is an obvious choice for both performance-focused users and gamers due to its affordable price.
The Realme P1 5G’s main rivals are the Vivo T3x 5G, POCO X6 Neo, and the recently released Moto G64. Because of their larger 6,000mAh batteries and similar charging rates, the Vivo T3x 5G and Moto G64 may persuade customers looking for longer battery life. However, a comparable 120Hz AMOLED panel is available on the POCO X6 Neo, which greatly enhances the viewing quality. The Moto G64 is the Realme P1’s main competitor because it has a stock Android-like user interface and performs better in the camera department. Returning to the Realme P1, its exceptional performance makes it stand out.
