Realme recently held a launch event to announce the Realme 11 5G series of smartphones, namely, the Realme 11 5G and Realme 11X 5G in India. Both smartphones feature the same display, chipset, RAM type, storage type, and battery. The Realme 11 offers better specifications in the areas of primary camera, selfie camera, and fast charging capabilities than the Realme 11X 5G. However, this does not mean that the 11X is an incompetent device. Starting at Rs 14,999(~$181), the Realme 11X 5G is an impressive offering in the affordable 5G phone segment. Here is our review of the Realme 11X 5G to find out if it lives up to its reputation as one of the best 5G phones in the Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 price range in the country.
Realme 11x 5G review: What’s in the box?
The Realme 11x 5G’s retail box includes the following items:
- Realme 11x 5G handset
- 33W SuperVOOC charger
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- TPU case
- SIM ejector tool
- Safety Guide
- Quick Guide
Design and Display
| Dimensions | Display | |
| Size – 165.7 x 76 x 7.9 mm | 6.72-inch IPS LCD display | 1500:1 contrast ratio |
| Weight – 190 grams | 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+) | Widevine L1 |
| 20:9 aspect ratio | 91.4% screen-to-body ratio | |
| 120Hz refresh rate | Dragontrail protection | |
| 180Hz touch sampling rate | ||
| Up to 680 nits of brightness |
The Realme 11x 5G is a beautifully designed smartphone that exhibits a captivating S-curve gradient light effect on its polycarbonate rear. This surface has a shimmering texture, and when exposed to light, it reveals a mesmerizing interplay of blue and purple hues, accentuating the S-shaped pattern. The rear panel does not attract fingerprint marks at all. However, it feels a bit slippery to hold. Besides the Purple Dawn variant that I had the chance to assess, the Realme 11x 5G is also available in Midnight Black, which exudes a subtle and refined appearance.
There is a large round camera island, which houses two cameras, an LED flash, and “64 MP AI Camera” text. The flat frame of the device is grey in color with a microphone at the top and a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille on the bottom. The left side features a SIM slot, and its right edge is populated with a volume rocker and a power button, which doubles up as a fingerprint sensor.
Moving to the front, the Realme 11X 5G sports a 6.72-inch LCD panel with a punch-hole design. The chin of the device is thicker than the other bezels. The screen supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate (offering 60Hz, 120Hz, and auto-select options).
In the auto option, the refresh rate can range between 120Hz/90Hz/60Hz/50Hz/48Hz and 45Hz, according to the company. However, I could only find it switching between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz. It offers color modes, such as Vivid (P3) and Natural. The screen has a slight blue tint, which can be corrected using the color temperature setting. It also supports Widevine L1 for viewing HD quality content on streaming platforms. However, there is no HDR support. As far as screen brightness is concerned, users may find it difficult to view display contents in direct sunlight. To sum up, the Realme 11x 5G has a decent display.
Performance and Software
| MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus | 5,000mAh battery |
| 6GB / 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM | 33W charging |
| 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage | Android 13 OS, Realme UI 4.0 |
| 8GB of virtual RAM |
The Realme 11X 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100 Plus chipset, built on an advanced 6nm process. Alongside up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and virtual RAM, paired with UFS 2.2 storage, the device delivers a robust performance foundation. Its gaming prowess is notable, offering a smooth gameplay experience at medium graphics settings and ensuring fluid gameplay without noticeable hitches. Titles like PUBG support Smooth or Balanced graphics settings with a maximum Ultra frame rate. For HD graphics in PUBG, a high frame rate is attainable, providing an approximately 35 to 40 fps gaming experience. It is worth mentioning that while the gaming experience is generally solid, users may encounter some gyro lag during motion-oriented gameplay.
Under the hood, the Realme 11x 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. The phone can be fully charged in under 80 minutes. There is a Super Power Saving Mode, which can offer up to 2 days of battery life when activated.
The Realme 11X 5G runs on Android 13, which is overlaid with Realme UI 4.0. It offers a fluid experience and lots of customization features, as expected. However, there are many pre-installed apps that users may not want to see, as well as recommendations. On the bright side, the device is promised to receive two years of OS upgrades and three years of security updates. Here is a look at how the device performed on benchmarking apps.
Photography and Other Features
| Rear Camera | Other features | |
| 64MP OmniVision OV64B main camera | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner | Single speaker |
| 2MP OmniVision OV02B1B depth sensor | Face unlock | 3.5mm audio jack |
| LED flash | Wi-Fi 5 | x-axis linear motor |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | MicroSD card slot (hybrid SIM slot) | |
| 5G (n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n28 /n40/n41/n77/n78) | ||
| Front Camera | GPS | |
| 8MP OmniVision OV08D10 camera | USB-C |
The Realme 11x 5G comes with photography modes, such as Photo, Video, Street, Night, Portrait, 64M, Pro, Panorama, Film, Tilt-Shift, Dual-View Video, Time-Lapse, Slow-Mo, and Text Scanner. It goes without saying that the 64-megapixel OV64B primary camera is one of the major strengths of the Realme 11x, as it produces flagship-level camera shots. The same camera is also available on high-end phones, such as the Poco F5 series, the OnePlus Ace 2V, and the OPPO Reno 9.
The main camera on this device is truly a pleasant surprise, delivering impressive results in various lighting conditions. In well-lit environments, it captures photos with exceptional dynamic range and remarkable details. The colors, though slightly enhanced, retain a natural appearance that always feels appropriate.
The 64-megapixel camera supports 2x in-sensor zoom, which functions like a telephoto camera. It can capture zoomed-in shots with good details. Indoor photography is a breeze for this camera, particularly in good lighting. Enabling the 64M mode enhances both colors and details, providing an even more satisfying result.
The performance of the camera struggles in poor or inconsistent lighting. Nighttime shots can appear overly sharpened and sometimes fuzzy, with a less-than-ideal dynamic range. Fortunately, the night mode does improve low-light performance, albeit with slightly slower processing times. Overall, this camera provides commendable performance, especially considering its price point, delivering sharp, well-detailed shots with impressive dynamic range and color accuracy.
The 8-megapixel front camera produces decent selfies with natural skin tones in good lighting but can have some noise in challenging conditions. Overall, it’s suitable for sharing on social media. The 64-megapixel and 8-megapixel cameras can shoot up to 30fps Full HD videos. The rear camera lacks support for stabilization while shooting videos.
Regarding other aspects of the Realme 11x, its side-mounted fingerprint scanner is both dependable and swift in operation. The inclusion of a hybrid SIM slot enables users to simultaneously use a nano-SIM and a microSD card, providing flexibility for storage and connectivity needs. Furthermore, the 5G connectivity on this device is stable, ensuring a smooth online experience. Call quality is also commendable, making it a reliable choice for communication and connectivity.
Verdict
The Realme 11x is an attractive choice for individuals seeking a budget-friendly 5G phone with strong photography capabilities. It boasts a well-crafted design and reliable all-day battery life, making it suitable for daily tasks. Its overall performance is seamless, though the presence of pre-installed apps, which some users may find bothersome, is a matter of personal preference. If photography isn’t a top priority when shopping for an affordable 5G phone, there are more economical alternatives available, including the Poco M6 Pro 5G, Redmi 12 5G, Infinix Hot 30 5G, Tecno Pova 5 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M14, Galaxy F14, and the upcoming Moto G54.
Variants, Price and Availability
In India, the Realme 11x 5G is available for:
- 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage: Rs 14,999 (~$181)
- 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage: Rs 15,999 (~$193)
- Colors: Midnight Black, Purple Dawn
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Realme 11x 5G review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Realme.
