Realme 17 Pro+ Review: specs and features, camera quality test, gaming benchmark, user opinions and photos

Realme 17 Pro+ – a successful treadmill?

Sometimes, after a bestseller, it's very difficult for a smartphone manufacturer to release an equally worthy follow-up, but often, another revolution in the price segment isn't needed. They simply create a roughly identical model with minor tweaks, launch it again, or even twice, and achieve commercial success. However, at some point, this system stops working. Has this point arrived with the release of today's review subject?

The appearance of the new device is excellent considering its price tag. It features a glass or leather-like back panel with a beautifully designed triple-camera assembly, a metal frame, and a slim body with IP68 water resistance. Add to this the narrow bezels around the screen with an integrated fingerprint scanner, and you have a very impressive exterior. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is also excellent. It also boasts an excellent 2800x1280 resolution for its diagonal size, providing excellent content clarity, as well as a flagship 144Hz refresh rate, peak brightness exceeding 3000 nits, and realistic color reproduction.

However, the technical specifications haven't received any additional performance upgrades. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 5 CPU, 8GB/12GB RAM, and Adreno 810 GPU scores nearly a million points in AnTuTu and eliminates lag in the Android OS, gaming performance is average; in resource-intensive games like Genshin Impact, Fortnite, Zenless Zone Zero, and similar titles, smooth gameplay is only expected with significantly reduced graphics settings. The battery, however, has been bumped up to an impressive 8000mAh, so you can go a couple of days without worrying about power outlets or power banks. Fast 120W wired charging is also a plus. Storage options are 256GB/512GB.

The photography capabilities are excellent, but they don't offer any significant advancements. The main 200-megapixel Samsung sensor and 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens (3.5x optical zoom) with hybrid stabilization, as well as the simpler 8-megapixel wide-angle lens, won't leave you short of high-quality daytime and evening shots. However, the level of detail is the same as its predecessor, and there's about the same amount of noise and blur in photos. Stereo sound quality is also similar. Other highlights include 5G support, an IR port, and an eSIM. Ultimately, this is still a relevant device, but one that hasn't undergone any significant changes. However, even these minor improvements are still enough to attract buyers.