Update: Pre-order price is now at P2,999
In the usual format for phone reviews, the price is revealed at the end. For the realme Note 50, it’s more than fitting to make an exception. The phone is priced at P3,599. For the price, you get a 6.7-inch HD+ 90hz refresh rate display, IP54 dust and water resistance, 8-core CPU, dual 4G sim plus micro SD slot, and a 5000mah battery that’s all packed in a 7.99mm ultra slim case.
The price is not a typo. In what could easily be priced in the five thousand peso range, realme has significantly brought down the pricing for a well-specced entry level device. So the next question is, what do you get for a sub 4k phone?
On hand, the realme 50 looks something that’s priced above its SRP. The dual tone glittery case gives it a posh look without looking tacky. The screen is bright and readable under indoor conditions and the fast default refresh rate makes it quite responsive. Under the hood is an entry level Unisoc T612 processor that gives the phone enough grunt for normal phone tasks such as social media, browsing, productivity, and even games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Genshin Impact on low settings.
As an entry-level device, the realme Note 50 handles connectivity well with dual 4G standby, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual band WIFI. It’s quite understandable that there’s no 5G for the price. Other features some users will appreciate is a standard analog headset jack and a fast fingerprint reader on the power button. A screen protector is also pre-installed with a jelly case in the box.
For the price, you might be wondering how realme was able to bring it down at that level. Under well-lit conditions, the rear main camera takes adequate shots. The camera UI is pretty basic, the only advanced feature included is AI scene recognition. Autofocus can be slow and there’s a noticeable shutter lag from the 13MP shooter. Since there’s really just one main camera, there’s really no way to make wide or macro shots. Zoom is purely digital. Although the battery is relatively ample at 5000mah, filling it up it takes a while with 10W charging. There’s no support for fast charging. To realme’s credit, they’ve included both a cable and charger in the package.
All things considered, the realme Note 50 currently offers the best bang for the buck for the entry-level segment. No phone under 4K should feel and work this well. But it seems, realme has done a spectacular job at making it a reality. Another good thing is that it makes the phone that’s packed with usable features quite accessible to those who may not be able to afford it previously.
Tech Specs
- Unisoc T612 Processor
- IP54 Dust & Water Resistance
- Up to 8GB Total RAM with up to 4GB Dynamic RAM Expansion
- 4GB+64GB with up to 2TB microSD expansion
- 5000mAh battery capacity with 10W charging (Type-C)
Display
- Screen Type: LCD
- Screen Size: 6.74″ •
- Screen Resolution: HD+ 720*1600 • PPI: 260 •
- Refresh Rate: 90Hz
- Touch Sampling Rate: 180Hz
- Brightness: 450 Nits (Typ); 560 Nits (HBM)
Camera
- Rear: 13MP+B&W Lens
- Front: 5MP
