realme has officially launched its newest number series with the realme 13 Pro+ 5G in the Philippines. With its striking Monet-inspired design, cutting-edge technology, and a feature set designed to impress, this device certainly makes a bold statement. But does it deliver on its ambitious promises, or does it fall short? We determine whether this smartphone is the right choice for you.
From a display that dazzles to a camera system that captures stunning details, the realme 13 Pro+ 5G promises to offer more than just the basics. Here’s what we had on unboxing: the phone itself, a colored, matte TPU case, documents for quick guide and warranty, a SIM ejector tool, the 80-watt charging brick, and a USB-A to USB-C data and charging cable.
Design and Construction
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G’s design stands out for its premium materials and artistic inspiration. The Emerald Green option utilizes premium vegan leather, which not only feels luxurious but is also dirt-resistant and provides a comfortable grip, leading to a distinctive and elegant look.
The Sunrise Halo design around the camera module, produced with a CNC process, adds a touch of sophistication and highlights the phone’s unique aesthetic.
Let’s take a look at the sides. Similar to the realme 12 Pro+, the realme 13 buttons and port placements are the same. The volume keys and the power/lock button are on the right side.
The USB-C port, the Dual SIM tray, the microphone, and 1/2 of the stereo speakers are at the bottom.
The phone measures 8.41 mm thick and weighs 190 grams. Despite its thickness, the realme 13 Pro+ 5G feels sturdy and well-built. The device is protected by an IP65 rating, which guards against dust and water splashes, making it durable for everyday use.
Display and Audio
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G excels with its high-resolution OLED display and smooth refresh rate. The 6.7-inch curved OLED display delivers vibrant visuals with a Full HD+ resolution of 2412×1080 pixels. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and responsive touch interactions. With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, it remains highly readable in bright sunlight, making it suitable for outdoor use.
The display incorporates several advanced technologies, including Pro-XDR for improved dynamic range and 2160Hz PWM Dimming to reduce eye strain during prolonged use. The 120Hz refresh rate combined with a 240Hz touch sampling rate ensures a fluid and responsive experience, ideal for gaming and high-performance applications. The display also supports 20,000 levels of automatic brightness adjustment and features AI-based eye protection, which adapts to different lighting conditions to reduce eye fatigue.
The audio performance is also robust, contributing to an immersive multimedia experience. It features dual stereo speakers that support Hi-Res audio. This setup enhances media consumption, offering clear and balanced sound for both videos and music. The audio performance complements the high-quality display, providing a well-rounded multimedia experience.
Camera
The camera system on the realme 13 Pro+ 5G is versatile and powerful. The main camera features a 50MP Sony LYT701 sensor with a large aperture of f/1.88. This setup excels in low-light conditions, producing clear and detailed images even in challenging lighting. The 8MP wide-angle camera offers a 112° field of view, making it well-suited for capturing wide landscapes or group shots.
One of the standout features is the 120x SuperZoom capability provided by the periscope camera, which supports detailed long-range shots. This camera is equipped with the Sony LYT600 sensor, which contributes to its impressive zoom performance. That, along with the brand’s HYPERIMAGE tech brings out vivid colors, reasonable sharpness, and good tones in photos and videos we took since we got the unit.
I tested the phone’s camera against different conditions in different environments and I was pretty impressed with it.
- The 6x zoom in video recording was delivered. I use it mainly to cover events and zoom in whenever I’m not near the stage, and I’m happy I can use it to capture clearer imagery while still being afar. This also makes the realme 13 Pro+ a recommended phone for concerts, which only is bestowed to very few devices.
- At 40x digital zoom, you can still read the signage on the first floor of Market Market from the top floor, which is already an accomplishment.
The AI Ultra Clarity mode enhances blurry images by improving resolution and detail, though it struggles with text-heavy images or scenes with motion blur.
The 32MP front camera delivers high-quality selfies with good detail. AI features such as AI Smart Removal and AI Group Photo Enhance further improve the camera’s versatility. The AI Smart Removal can intelligently eliminate unwanted objects or people from photos, while the AI Group Photo Enhance ensures clear facial details even in group shots.
The zoom capabilities and AI enhancements provide flexibility, though there are some limitations with specific types of images. Overall, the camera setup is suitable for a wide range of photography needs. After using the cameras for quite some time, I realized that this innovation to bring the zoom technology down to the upper mid-range level is insane, and is something definitely worth considering.
Performance and Connectivity
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, which is a 4nm 5G chip with a CPU clock speed of up to 2.4GHz. This setup includes four ARM Cortex-A78 cores and four ARM Cortex-A55 cores, paired with an Adreno 710 GPU. This configuration provides strong performance for both everyday tasks and more demanding applications, including gaming on popular titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, or even more demanding ones like Genshin Impact, and Honkai Star Rail.
The device supports up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage, with the option to expand virtual RAM up to 24GB. This ample memory and storage capacity allows for smooth multitasking and the ability to store a large number of apps, photos, and videos. The device also supports 5G connectivity and dual SIM cards, ensuring fast internet speeds and reliable connections. Dual Carrier Aggregation Technology enhances network performance by combining signals from multiple carriers.
A notable feature is the 9-layer 3D Vapor Chamber Cooling System, which includes a 4,500mm tempered VC and 9,953mm graphite to manage heat. This cooling system helps maintain performance during intensive tasks, such as gaming, by reducing thermal throttling.
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G delivers strong performance, supported by its powerful processor and extensive memory options. The cooling system ensures consistent performance under load, and the 5G connectivity provides fast and stable connections.
Battery and Charging
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G comes with a 5200mAh battery that offers impressive longevity. The phone supports 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging, allowing it to charge from 0% to 100% in about 49 minutes. This rapid charging capability is complemented by a battery that can last up to 413 hours on standby and provide substantial usage times for various activities, including 37.6 hours of call time and 18.67 hours of video playback.
The battery management system includes various safety features such as intelligent five-core chip protection and AI smart charging functions. These features help prevent overcharging and extend the battery’s lifespan. The realme 13 Pro+ 5G also supports smart charging adjustments based on usage patterns and environmental conditions.
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G offers excellent battery life and fast charging capabilities. The extensive safety features ensure reliable battery performance over time, making it a practical choice for users with heavy usage needs.
The Rundown: Who is it for?
The realme 13 Pro+ 5G is ideal for users who seek a high-performance smartphone with a blend of advanced features and stylish design. It is well-suited for photography enthusiasts who will appreciate its versatile camera system and AI enhancements. The device’s powerful performance and fast charging capabilities make it a good fit for gamers and heavy users who need reliable and quick power. Its premium design and high-end specifications also appeal to those who value both aesthetics and functionality, if price is not an issue considering there is a massive hike compared to the previous iteration.
However, I feel that the price is justified as realme has now focused on making its telephoto camera features the core of the phone’s entire existence and has drastically improved it since the last generation. This is something you can consider as a phone to use for taking photos and videos in events such as meetings, fan meets, symposiums, and even concerts, as it is a cheaper alternative to powerful phones that offer similar camera tech.
