For some time the name Realme is no longer unknown to the Android people. The brand has also begun to make its way in Italy for some time, with a market strategy reminiscent of that of Chinese giants that have made recent history, such as Huawei, Xiaomi and OnePlus.
With competitive prices, a stellar build quality, and top of the range features, Realme X50 Pro is a candidate to be the terminal to buy for this 2020, for all colors who want maximum power, without spending crazy figures. Here's what we liked about this smartphone, and what we didn't like, and what still could improve.
First of all, the aesthetics. Realme X50 Pro does nothing to be one of the most original terminals of this particular historical period. To tell the truth, this lack of originality little or nothing can affect the overall judgment of the smartphone. Nowadays they have been seen, it is appropriate to say, of all colors and all shapes. And so, if this device turns out to be not too original, it's time to get over it, and don't stress too much how it resembles that, or that other smartphone.
X50 Pro is well built, very firm in hand, and with the two colors Moss Green and Rust Redm, it still manages to get noticed. The front part, where the immense Super AMOLED display at 90 Hz stands out, is interrupted only by a double selfie camera, set inside the screen, in the upper left corner. In my opinion, the double configuration of the front chamber inside the display is not the most valid solution from an aesthetic point of view, but after a few days of use you get used to it, allowing this hole to disappear almost completely.
On the left frame of the terminal there are the volume keys, while on the right there is the standby, on / off key. On the lower part of the speaker grille, Nano-Sim compartment and USB-C input, while the upper part is almost clear. On the back a camera with 4 lenses , arranged in a traffic light, somewhat in the style of iPhone X, with an LED flash that is positioned alongside. Aesthetically, although the number of cameras is important, it is quite appreciable, also thanks to the size of the terminal itself, which distributes the different sensors well.
Realme X50 Pro, from an aesthetic point of view, is a terminal like many others. In labeling it like this, of course, there are not necessarily negative notes: it is a beautiful terminal, assembled in a masterly way, which certainly does not stand out for its originality. What we cannot keep silent, however, is the dimensional data: 207 grams of weight, for 158.96mm of height. 74.24mm wide and 9.37mm thick . The most disheartening data, among these, is certainly that of the thickness of almost 1 cm.
Technical specifications
If you only looked at the technical data sheet of the terminal, there would really be no reason not to choose it, especially in the face of the starting price of 599 euros. The figure that immediately catches the eye is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G processor, the most advanced currently on the market. It is a 7nm EUV, Octa-core CPU, clocked at up to 2.84GHz. It is flanked by a Adreno 650 GPU and a fifth generation AIE Qualcomm AI. To make the card stand out even more, the allocation of RAM, from 8 or 12 GB depending on the chosen variant, with 128GB or 256GB ROM .
Among other noteworthy specifications the battery, not so much for its 4200 mAh declared, but for the speed of fast charging at 65W , with a charger included in 10v / 6.5 package, of course with USB Type C cable. The manufacturer declares a charge from 0 to 100% in just 35 minutes , since we can confirm almost in full after numerous tests. Impressive!
The model we tested is the 12 GB of RAM, and considering the technical characteristics described above it is easy to understand how the device behaves in everyday use. Simply a splinter. Whatever the required operation, it is done instantly: whether it is web browsing, rather than running any app, or any game. The transition from one to the other, as well as the navigation of the UI is among the fastest ever. This is absolutely not surprising, considering the hardware it is equipped with. In all this, the under-screen sensor also works very well, with reaction times particularly close to the physical sensors.
In short, any action is carried out by the device with maximum speed and minimum effort. The display then adds that top-of-the-range touch, thanks to Super AMOLED technology and a 90Hz frequency. The display is one of the best features of the device, although we did notice a somewhat lazy brightness sensor in some circumstances in everyday use. In some cases we had to manually adjust the brightness of the screen, because it is absolutely not in line with the ambient light conditions.
As for the network, then, Realme X50 Pro 5G relies on the sub-6GHz frequency for 5G connectivity, which means that it works perfectly in Europe. Having a 5G phone with these specs at a price below 600 is certainly a remarkable fact and the X50 Pro 5G is the first on this stage of the top of the range at a reduced price. There is also support for WiFi 6, which supports download speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps.
Camera
On paper, even the photographic department of the X50 Pro 5G does not seem to compromise. On the back, in fact, insists a 64 MP main camera, an 8 MP wide angle, a 12 MP 2x telephoto lens and a 2 MP monochrome depth camera. The photographic sector does not translate into an excellent result in everyday use. Realme's X50 Pro takes good photos, no more, no less. On the one hand, always in consideration of the list price, and the features offered, one can only remain happy, but on the other hand one could expect that something more, which would have rightfully made this device enter the Olympus of smartphones. .
Good lighting results in good dynamic range, color accuracy and sharpness. However, as the lighting conditions worsen, the X50 Pro shows its first limitations. At this address we have shown you, without any type of filter, how this terminal takes the photos.
On many occasions, those in the sunlight, the photos offer good details and a good overall yield, even if at times some colors seem slightly dull. To obtain, instead, more saturated colors you will have to resort to the artificial intelligence option.
Without AI Active 
With AI active
Without AI Active 
With AI Active
The X50 Pro 5G can take photos at 20X zoom, albeit digital only. This means that the final 20X images appear to have a cartoon style filter. On these occasions, the details captured with the zoom are few.
As for the selfie side, however, in the front there are the 32 MP IMX616 selfie sensor and an 8 MP wide-angle selfie camera. This camera kit certainly manages to take well-made selfies, even if HDR doesn't seem to achieve exceptional dynamic range.
There is also a significant drop in image quality when switching from the standard to the ultra-wide selfie camera. The second type of shot introduces more noise, so that on particularly dark or cloudy days, it will be better to use a standard type shot.
Overall, you can be satisfied with the photographic side of this terminal, especially for photos in favorable light conditions. It does not excel, but after all the list price had to impose some small compromise in some sector.
We also tested the Zoom of this terminal, and in the following shots we show you a sequence of photos taken at 0.5x, 1x, 2, and 5x:
Zoom:
1x 
2x 
5x
It's still:
1x 
2x 
5x
Some examples of Macro photos:
Realme UI
The software side of this terminal has also been promoted, although the RealmeUI certainly cannot be considered among the tested graphic interfaces, being of young invoice. The terminal bases the user experience on Android 10. The system renders a feeling of modernity in all departments: from the notification area, to the settings menu and to the app drawer, although all seem particularly close to the stock version. It is important to note that Realme has opted for a reduction to the mini terms of the pre-installed bloatware.
The system enjoys a certain care in all departments, with the possibility of also changing the style of the icons, although the customization in this sense is not complete, because for example the possibility of using third-party icons on the system launcher is missing.
Autonomy
Although the 4200 mAh battery makes you turn your nose up on paper, considering that the weight of the 207 grams terminal suggested a higher nominal power, during daily use we had to change our mind. The terminal has excellent autonomy, and leads easily to the evening, with a good dose of residual percentage. Moreover, in these days of particularly intense use we have not spared it in any respect, making a massive use of it in any sector: from particularly frequent phone calls to continuous notifications, coming from emails and instant messaging apps. We have also stressed him from a videogame point of view, and he has never let us down. If you add to this the charging speed factor, it is well understood how X50 Pro is a terminal that will never abandon you when you need it.
Conclusions
Realme X50 Pro 5G is currently the real top of the economic range. Now that other competitors have abandoned the “top low cost” formula, X50 Pro is the only one in the scene to have such a low starting price, and to offer technical features of a certain level. It is a lightning bolt in daily use, as well as in charging. It takes good photos, albeit not on par with other much more expensive competitors, and overall it's the smartphone of choice if you're on a budget is 500 euros. This, as long as you accept significant weight and measurements.
PRO
AGAINST
Price and availability
Realme X50 Pro offers a list price starting from 499 euros in the variant with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of non-expandable integrated memory. The 8 GB + 256 GB version costs € 669.90, while the 12 GB RAM and 256 GB ROM version is offered for € 749.90.
