Realme 7 hands-on - A small step forward - Android

Realme’s rapid iteration in the smartphone space has changed the industry over the last two years. While it is debatable whether releasing a huge number of variants is a great strategy, there’s no doubt it makes it possible to have an option for everyone. Six months after the launch of the Realme 6, the Realme 7 follows it up with a few design changes and other changes to keep it up to date.

Is the Realme 7 a good option for buyers looking for a great new mid-range smartphone? Let’s find out in Android Authority’s first impressions of the Realme 7.

Design: Subtle evolution

The Realme 7 takes a small step forward to keep up with modern design trends. While the Realme 6 went all-in on a flashy gradient-rich design, the refreshed model is a lot more subtle, while staying familiar enough.

The build quality is excellent for the price. The Realme 7 sports an all-plastic construction, but the back panel could confuse you. It feels remarkably like soft-touch glass and the dual-tone band on the left adds to the visual appeal. My only gripe is that, like all plastics, it attracts smudges that can be hard to get rid of.

The power button houses a fingerprint reader and is blazing fast at unlocking the phone.

The same attention to detail continues over to the ergonomics and buttons. The segmented volume rocker lies on the left and is very easy to press down on with a satisfying click. Meanwhile, the power button on the right doubles up as a fingerprint scanner.

I found the fingerprint scanner to be blazing fast at unlocking the phone. This is absolutely the way to go, compared to the less-than-stellar under-display implementations we often see in this price band.

Elsewhere, there’s a USB-C port and a single speaker along the bottom edge of the phone in addition to a headphone jack.

Weighing in at 196 grams, the phone is slightly on the heavier side, but while you do notice it, it’s not a major concern.

Switching over to the display, the 6.5-inch Full HD panel with Gorilla Glass 3 is excellent. The display sports a camera cutout at the top-left corner, and bezels are fairly minimal.

I found the default color tuning to be a bit oversaturated, making colors pop. However, the software makes it easy to adjust the color temperature to your liking.

The peak brightness levels are great and I had absolutely no issues viewing the screen outdoors. What’s even better is that the screen sports a 90Hz refresh rate, which is great to see at an affordable price point. It adds an extra level of fluidity to the user experience, especially while navigating the interface. You can lock the screen to 60Hz or 90Hz, depending on your preferences.

Finally, the Realme 7 lacks an IP rating, as is the norm in the entry-level, mid-range segment.

The Realme 7 doesn’t take a big leap forward in product design, but the changes here are all excellent and users will find little to complain about.

Software: Polarizing