Realme 16 Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Realme 16 5G - Controversial, but Original

The Chinese company Realme is a worthy competitor to all smartphone market leaders, regardless of price point. However, the developer understands that leadership today doesn't guarantee a favorable future, which is why it strives to refine and improve its products. Thus, the subject of today's review is, in many ways, more interesting than its direct competitors, although not without its share of controversial aspects.

The design of the new device is one of its strong points. The stylish horizontal photo module cluster ends with a small mirror for perfect selfies. This solution is beautiful, unusual, yet unique. The rounded shape of the case is extremely ergonomic, and it is IP68 water-resistant. The attractive color options of the rear panels and the thin bezels around the entire display are also impressive. The 6.57-inch AMOLED panel is decent, although standard for devices in this price range. The FullHD+ resolution is sufficient for crisp content, and the 120Hz refresh rate ensures smoothness. There are no obvious issues with color reproduction or brightness (up to 4000 nits).

The technical specifications aren't exactly impressive, but the combination of the MediaTek Dimensity 6400 Turbo processor, 8GB/12GB RAM, and Mali G57-MC2 GPU is also beyond criticism. A performance score of 400,000-450,000 points in the AnTuTu benchmark suggests there's no reason to complain about the RealmeUI interface. However, the device isn't suitable for gamers, as truly resource-intensive apps can only rely on the minimum graphics presets. However, the battery has been increased to 7000mAh, so battery life of around 10-12 hours of active screen time is a reality. Additionally, there's 60W fast charging, but it's wired only. The phone has 256GB of storage, but a microSD card slot is available.

The main 50-megapixel Sony IMX852 camera module without optical image stabilization and the 2-megapixel depth sensor will certainly produce high-quality daytime shots, but sometimes you'll need several takes to get them. However, evening photos will be downright mediocre. There's no stereo sound, and there's no headphone jack. However, there is support for 5G networks and NFC. Overall, this isn't a revolutionary device, but it's a well-balanced, long-lasting, and functional device for the price.