A few days ago, Realme launched the most affordable 5G phone in Europe: the Realme 7 5G. But as you probably know, 5G phones are more expensive than 4G ones, even when they have similar specifications. Is it worth going for the Realme 7 5G despite it comes with an inferior specs sheet to 4G phones or it is better to opt for LTE devices with better specifications? We will try to answer this question in this comparison between Realme 7 5G and two best-sellers of the most recent period: Redmi Note 9 Pro and POCO X3 NFC. Note that we are referring to the Global version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro, not the Indian one.
Realme 7 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro vs Xiaomi POCO X3
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro | Xiaomi POCO X3 NFC | Oppo Realme 7 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm, 209 grams | 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm, 215 grams | 162.2 x 75.1 x 9.1 mm, 195 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, octa-core 2.3 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G, octa-core 2.3 GHz | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, Realme UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 64 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.2 16 MP f/2.5 front camera |
Quad 64 + 13 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 20 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.1 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5020 mAh, fast charging 30W | 5160 mAh, fast charging 33W | 5000 mAh, fast charging 30W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot, splash proof | Dual SIM slot, 5G |
Design
The POCO X3 NFC has the sturdiest design: instead of a classic plastic body, it sports an aluminum frame allowing for better resistance and a more elegant look. But it is thicker and less beautiful than the Realme 7 5G if we only consider the look. I prefer the Realme 7 5G because it has a more modern look, better color variants (imho), and a thinner design. I do not like the design of the Redmi Note 9 Pro due to its ugly and square-shaped camera module, but unlike the Realme 7 5G, it offers a glass back. Which is your favorite one?
Display
The most advanced display belongs to the POCO X3 NFC. Its panel comes with the Full HD+ resolution, the HDR10 certification for better image quality ad a 120 Hz refresh rate for a smoother viewing experience. The Realme 7 5G has a Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate as well, but it lacks the HDR10 certification. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is inferior because it lacks both HDR and a high refresh rate, so do not choose it if you need the best display.
Specs & Software
The Snapdragon 732G chipset found on the POCO X3 NFC is actually superior to the Snapdragon 720G SoC you can find on the Redmi Note 9 Pro and a lot of people trust it more than the Dimensity 800U of the Realme 7 5G. But with the Realme 7 5G, you can get up to 8 GB of RAM, while Redmi Note 9 Pro and POCO X3 NFC only offer 6 GB of RAM. Further, Realme 7 5G is the only one that supports 5G connectivity. And, at the end of the day, the MediaTek Dimensity 800U is at the same level as the Snapdragon 732G if not superior. For these last reasons, Realme 7 5G wins the hardware comparison.
Camera
On paper, the POCO X3 NFC has the best camera setup on the rear side. It sports a 64 MP main sensor just like the Redmi Note 9 Pro, but its secondary ultrawide sensor with its 13 MP resolution is actually better than the 8 MP sensors found on its rivals. The POCO X3 NFC also sports a great 20 MP front camera. Redmi Note 9 Pro has a better main camera than Realme 7 5G (64 MP vs 48 MP).
Battery
The king of battery life in this comparison is the Redmi Note 9 Pro: it has a smaller battery than POCO X3 NFC, but it is able to last more because it has a lower refresh rate. Naturally, if you do not use 120 Hz, you can get a longer battery life with the POCO X3 NFC.
Price
Redmi Note 9 Pro is actually priced less than €200/$237 globally, while you can find the Realme 7 5G and the POCO X3 NFC for €230/$273. If you care about 5G and you need to have the best connectivity options for the coming years, choose the Realme 7 5G as it sports similar specifications to its opponents. But if you need better cameras, then go for the POCO X3 NFC. With the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you can save some money, but for just 30€ it is worth going for the POCO X3 NFC.
Realme 7 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro vs Xiaomi POCO X3: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
PROs
- Very affordable
- Big battery
- HDR10
- Wide display
CONS
- Standard refresh rate
POCO X3 NFC
PROs
- Great price
- Best hardware
- Good cameras
- Stereo speakers
- 120 Hz HDR10 wide display
- Huge battery
CONS
- Nothing particular
Oppo Realme 7 Pro
PROs
- 120 Hz display
- Reverse charging
- 5G
- Compact
- Big battery
CONS
- Inferior camera
