Realme X2 Pro review: The benchmark for value flagships in 2022 - carterpaence

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Mechanical man Fundamental

Realme is on a roll this year. The brand swiftly climbed the ranks on the back of devices that offered stellar value for money, and Realme is now looking to fare the same in the value flagship category with the X2 Pro.

The X2 Pro boasts a lot of firsts for the brand: this is the basic fourth dimension the manufacturer is leveraging Qualcomm's flagship-tier Snapdragon 8xx chipset, the first time it put away a 90Hz panel on a earphone, and its first with 50W charging. The X2 Pro comes with the good ironware specs usable now, and it feels like Realme raided the most tempting features from fellow BBK-owned companies OnePlus and OPPO to create the device.

The resultant role is that the X2 Pro has more or less of the best hardware you'll line up therein category, and because Realme is look to build market share aggressively, the pricing is improbably low. If you're buying a OnePlus 7T in the UK, you'll have to cuticle out £549 ($720). The X2 Pro comes bent €449 ($499) for the example with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. You'Ra getting the same Snadragon 855+ chipset, same 90Hz AMOLED display, UFS 3.0 storage faculty, and a higher-reticuloendothelial system 64MP tv camera along with 50W charging.

Now that you understand the value, here's why the Realme X2 Pro is the bargain of the year.

At a peek

Realme X2 Pro

Bottom rail line: The Realme X2 Pro stands long-legged terminated the rest of the time value pack, with distinguishing features like the 90Hz panel and 50W wired charging giving it an vantage. The hardware you're acquiring here is incredulous, in particular considering how much it costs. Make no misunderstanding; the X2 Pro is the value flagship to ram down 2020.

The Good

Incredible value
90Hz AMOLED screen
4000mAh battery with 50W charging
64MP camera with 20x hybrid zoom
Snapdragon 855+ chipset

The Bad

Nonmoving happening Android 9 PIE

About this go over

I am writing this review after using the Realme X2 Pro for finished leash weeks in San Francisco. The phone was connected to T-Mobile's 4G electronic network for the duration of the refresh, and was running ColorOS 6.1 based on Android 9.0. It received a 1 software program update with bug fixes.

Realme X2 In favour of What I like

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Android Middle

There's nothing especially classifiable about the design of the X2 Pro — it looks near-identical to the Realme XT and the Realme 5 series. That was always going to atomic number 4 the case given Realme's frenetic launch schedule, but that doesn't make the X2 Pro any less exciting. There are no gradient patterns at the back this time around, but the blue imbue and the high-class curves give the twist a premium feel.

The X2 Professional has a mess of design similarities to the OnePlus 7T, and that's not a coincidence.

Like the Realme XT, the X2 Professional has a glass book binding that's protected by a level of Gorilla gorilla Looking glass 5. The back curves smoothly to meet the middle-frame, making it easier to hold the headphone. There's a covering around the mid-frame that gives it a matte texture. If anything, the twist feels similar to the OnePlus 7T, and that's no more coincidence. Both Realme and OnePlus are owned away BBK, and the X2 Pro is built in the same factory that also churns out the 7T.

There are minimal bezels up anterior, and you start out a tiny waterdrop cutout for the front camera. On that point's a wide grille above the cutout, and that's to accommodate the secondary speaker — some other area where the twist is similar to the 7T. The tv camera cutout itself is small and unobtrusive, and you don't notice information technology later on few days. The power release is located on the right, and the push button itself has a gold accentuate that gives it a number of flair. The dual SIM card tray sits above the power clitoris, and you get the volume rocker on the left.

You'll find a USB-C charging port at the bottom, and there's a 3.5mm jack to the left. Realme didn't see fit to emulate OnePlus therein particular area, and that's welcome news program for those that still like plugging in audio frequency gear. The primary speaker is located to the redress of the USB-C left.

Although the design at the back is plain by Realme's usual standards, there's a lot to be excited some at the front. The X2 Pro is Realme's first headphone to feature a 90Hz screen, and the 6.5-inch AMOLED panel is nonpareil of the best you'll find in this segment. Colors are slightly cooler out of the box, only you have the ability to adjust the coloration temperature to your tastes. The panel itself got bright enough that it wasn't an issue in my testing.

The X2 Affirmative is the most affordable telephone yet with a 90Hz AMOLED panel.

If on that point's a defining tendency for Android phones in 2020, it is inebriated refresh value displays. The permutation to a 90Hz refresh rank makes scrolling and animations that much sande, and once you use a phone with a high refresh rate, you wouldn't want to switch gage to a device with a orderly 60Hz control panel. The X2 Pro gives you the option to toggle the screen back to 60Hz, but the battery life from the 4000mAh battery is much than satisfactory to endmost well over a Clarence Shepard Day Jr., so you father't have to switch to 60Hz to conserve power.

Continued happening with the screen, the X2 In favor of features an in-screen proofreader that works just as loyal as the one on the 7T. Tending the hardware similarities, it is possible the telephone set is victimization the same sensor. It is smart to authenticate and has a low error rate, and is just as convenient as using a long-standing detector.

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Android Medial

On the computer hardware front, the X2 Pro is basically a turbocharged reading of the OnePlus 7T. Internally, you'll rule a lot of the same hardware components, including a Snapdragon 855+ chipset, UFS 3.0 storage module, and LPDDR4X RAM. The X2 Affirmative has a newer 64MP camera module at the backmost, and a marginally large 4000mAh battery that has 50W fast charging.

In every day usage, the X2 Pro absolutely flies — the computer hardware on offer up here is incredulous.

The Snapdragon 855+ could turn out to cost the go-to choice for value manufacturers even in 2020 considering Qualcomm's scheme with the Snapdragon 865 and 765. The Snapdragon 865 doesn't have a inherent modem at complete and it can only comprise opposite with the X55 5G modem, driving ahead costs for gimmick makers. The Snapdragon 765 has a 5G modem integrated into the SoC, but the Adreno 620 isn't quite as powerful as what you amaze happening the 855+.

So for device manufacturers looking to offer a 4G-only solution for markets corresponding India — where 5G is tranquillize very theoretical — the Snapdragon 855+ is the ideal choice for 2020. And Realme has a forefront-start in that area, and in terms of hardware this is clearly the phone to beat.

Specs	Realme X2 Pro
Software	Android 9.0 Proto-Indo European \| ColorOS 6.1
Display	6.5-edge in (2400x1080) 90Hz AMOLED
Chipset	2.96GHz Snapdragon 855+
RAM	6GB/8GB/12GB LPDDR4X
Storage	64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 3.0
Rear Camera 1	64MP ƒ/1.8 (primary)
Rear Camera 2	8MP ƒ/2.2 (fisheye)
Rear Camera 3	13MP ƒ/2.5 (2x soar up)
Rear Tv camera 4	2MP ƒ/2.4 (portraiture)
Front Camera	16MP ƒ/2.0
Security	In-display fingerprint
Battery	4000mAh \| 50W
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, BT5.0, NFC
Colors	Lunar White, Neptune Aristocratical
Dimensions	161 × 75.7mm × 8.7mm
Slant	199g

In day-to-Day use, the X2 In favor absolutely flies. The hardware on offer combined with the 90Hz dialog box and stereo sound make it a marvelous twist for gaming or screening multimedia system content connected the go. The twist likewise has Widevine L1, so you'll be able to stream Netflix in 1080p without any issues. The stereophonic system speaker in fussy is fantastic, and it is one of the loudest I've used on a telephone.

I didn't have any issues with cellular or Wi-Fi operation, and at that place's Bluetooth 5.0 as well as NFC for Google Pay. The phone has a decent set of LTE bands (1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/17/18/19/20/26/28/38/39/40/41) and even though it's missing band 66, it worked just powdered on T-Mobile's 4G network in California.

There are a lot of meaningful changes along the computer software side of things as well. The telephone set runs happening ColorOS 6.1, but Realme has added its own set of customization options, including a system-wide dark theme and built-in app draftsman. The user interface itself has picked up a a couple of tweaks, and thither are a good deal of white menu elements with blue accents, similar to what you get with pure Mechanical man.

Sure, ColorOS is still a heavy struggle, but Realme's additions here do a great job masking that. You too get navigation gestures, different battery saving modes, and enough customization options that you can set up the phone impartial the direction you want.

The 4000mAh battery is able to easily deliver deuce years' worthy of use from a full charge. Even with of import usage, the assault and battery wish last well over a day. Battery longevity hasn't been an issue connected any Realme headphone, and although there's a 90Hz screen this time close to, the X2 Pro manages to deliver stellar shelling life. And when you answer need to charge the call up, the bundled 50W SuperVOOC courser makes small bring off of charging times.

A full charge from flat to 100% takes just over 30 minutes, and while the phone does tend to get marginally sensual during this time, the trade-sour is well worth it. Au fond, you'll never have to leave behind the X2 Affirmative connected to a charger overnight. The phone also works complete USB-PD and Quick Charge 4, then if you have a courser lying around, it will regress to 18W charging.

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Android Central

Other marquise feature on the X2 Pro is the camera array at the back. The phone has cardinal cameras at the hindmost, with a primary 64MP Samsung GW1 sensor joined by a 13MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, 8MP fisheye lens, and a 2MP portraiture lens. You behind safely ignore the 2MP lens — it doesn't really add any meaningful value to the twist, but there's plentitude to like with the main 64MP module.

As we've seen with the Realme XT, the 64MP lens uses four-to-one pixel binning to produce 16MP shots. The photographic camera interface is too unchanged from earlier Realme phones, and all the shooting modes are easy laid impermissible in a ribbon. You'll also uncovering common toggles at the upmost, and there are modes for taking rich-res 64MP shots, macro, slow-motion, panorama, and a manual mode that lets you adjust E. B. White equilibrium and exposure settings.

Daytime shots from the 16MP main camera are stunning, with accurate colors and great dynamic range. The details are preserved at 100% soar up, and in full general the X2 Pro continues Realme's strong showing in this area. The zoom lens also fares well, and shots taken at a 2x zoom factor look just as vibrant. The ultra-big lens is more of a mixed bag, however, as colours lean to take care washed out.

The X2 Pro likewise does a great job in low-down-light shot scenarios, conserving inside information and minimizing racket. It's not quite as good A the Pixel 3a, but it comes pretty close. There's a dedicated night mode that relies on a similar technique A the Pel, producing a more vibrant shot in little to no light.

Last, the portrayal mode on the X2 Pro is fantastic, with edge detection that's ever on distributor point and little bokeh. The 16MP camera at the front is also comme il faut for selfies, and overall the X2 Pro takes some of the best shots you'll find on a sub-$500 phone. Realme stated earlier this year that it was emulating Google's philosophy in this orbit, and IT does look like that's working out for the brand.

Realme X2 Favoring What of necessity work

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Humanoid Central

Honestly, there's very undersized that the X2 Pro doesn't get right. The just downside with the call up is that IT's continual Android 9.0 impossible of the box seat, with no word on when the Android 10 update will be available. If information technology's some consolation, information technology looks like Realme is resolute getting its own custom skin off the ground not far, with the brand looking at to create a user user interface kin to pure Android.

There's no timeline happening when Realme leave infix its custom skin, and until that time you'll have to make suffice with ColorOS. That's basically the only issue I have with the X2 Pro at this channelize. Predestined, there's no microSD slot, but the inferior variant comes with 64GB of storage, and you hindquarters pick up a 256GB pick if you want many depot.

Realme X2 Pro Should you buy it?

Realme X2 Pro review Source: Harish Jonnalagadda/Android Central

There are few devices I give the sack urge as easily equally the X2 In favou. There really isn't anything wanting here, and the sheer evaluate you're acquiring for just €449 ($499) makes the X2 Pro one of the best phones in this category. Realme is in effect undercutting every early brand with the X2 Pro, and in doing so it is set its position in the value section.

Get's run through the standout features: the 90Hz AMOLED display is sublime, you drive the Snapdragon 855+ chipset paired with UFS 3.0 storage, the 64MP tv camera is one of the best in this category, and in that location's 50W pumped-up charging. The fact that Realme is able to deliver each of these features for under $500 is implausible, and it makes the X2 In favor of the call to beat.

It's an even more enticing option if you're looking to get word the X2 Pro in India. The base variant sold-out in the country comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and it costs just ₹29,999 ($420). Just the even better option is the 12GB/256GB variant, which is available for just ₹33,999 ($480. That's staggering when you describe for the fact that you're acquiring UFS 3.0 storage and the Snapdragon 855+ along with 50W tense charging. What you're getting Here is the pot of the year, and in that location isn't a device today that offers quite As practically ironware for the price as the X2 Affirmative.

There very isn't anything other out there that offers quite the unvarying put together of features at this price point. The X2 In favou absolutely nails the hardware basics, and the downright value on fling here makes it the default choice in the time value category Eastern Samoa we header into 2020.

The spick-and-span leader

Realme X2 Pro

One phone to rule them all.

The Realme X2 Affirmative stands improbable over the catch one's breath of the value battalion, with distinguishing features look-alike the 90Hz panel and 50W wired charging giving it an advantage. The hardware you're getting Here is incredible, particularly considering how a great deal it costs. Make no mistake; the X2 In favou is the value flagship to beat in 2020.

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