realme is ending 2021 with the launch of a new entry-level contender under its narzo series. The realme narzo 50i aims to be the smartphone of choice for those who want a decently capable device for everyday use on a budget-friendly price tag.
Specifications
| Display | 6.5-inch HD+ |
| Processor | UNISOC SC9863A (Octa-Core) |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB (Expandable) |
| Camera | 8MP Rear, 5MP Front |
| OS | realme UI Go Edition (Android 11) |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| SRP | PhP6,290 |
Unboxing
realme has opted for a different design for the packaging of the narzo 50i, which uses a pull-out box from the to or bottom. Inside, you’ll find the following.
- Documentation
- Data Cable
- Power Brick
The design of the narzo 50i utilizes a two-texture matte surface – one part grooved and offers good grip, and the other part is smooth.
The build quality is what one would expect at this price point – mostly plastic, without the flimsy feel. It uses a Micro USB port, which is a bit disappointing, but at least, they decided to keep the headphone jack. Both the power button and volume rocker are located on the right side.
Despite only having HD+ resolution on its 6.5-inch screen, watching videos on YouTube still gives an enjoyable experience. 60 fps videos still look fluid enough, though colors aren’t as punchy as you would expect.
realme did not disclose the name of the processor that runs the device, but another source points to a UNISOC SC9863A SoC. The fact that the brand does not want to disclose this is quite odd. I mean, if you’re buying a product, I think that you have the right to know what is in that product.
No benchmarks for now, but I’m expecting this chip to be capable enough to handle light daily tasks and a bit of gaming on the side, and no, I’m not talking about something like Genshin Impact. Probably casual and less resource-intensive titles.
At the back the device is a single 8MP camera capable of recording 1080p videos and features 4x digital zoom. I don’t expect much, except photos that are probably good enough for quick social media updates, but nothing more. There is also a 5MP selfie camera with AI-assisted beautification.
realme narzo 50i runs on realme UI Go Edition, which is supposedly designed for devices with less than 2GB of RAM, allowing for faster startup times and more storage for apps. So far, I haven’t encountered any major stutters or slowdown from the UI, which is probably a sign that this version of Android is lighter and less demanding to the hardware.
As for its battery, the device packs a 5,000mAh power pack. Considering that this has an HD+ display with a 60Hz refresh rate, as well as a UI that’s lighter, I’m expecting a lot of uptime. There’s no support for fast charging, so expect a long time near the socket.
So far, I’m on the fence on this device, as to whether it’s worth its PhP6,290 price tag. I mean, it does look good, but when you consider what it offers in other departments, I can’t help but feel like many things could’ve been executed better. We will have the full review soon, and I’m hoping to be proven wrong.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
