Realme recently unveiled its latest Narzo 70 Pro 5G in India. It costs Rs 19,999 and boasts several “segment-first” claims, aiming to disrupt the mid-range smartphone market. But does it live up to its claims successfully? We have spent some time with the phone, and here’s a breakdown of what impressed us and areas where there’s room for improvement.
Realme Narzo 70 Pro 5G
Rs 19,999What Is Good?
- Great AMOLED display with high brightness
- Excellent battery life with fast charging
- Good camera performance for the price
- Powerful enough for everyday tasks
- Unique air gesture control feature
What Is Bad?
- Some pre-installed apps
- Limited software updates
5 Things We Liked
Here are the things we feel stand in favour of Realme’s latest midrange:
Great Display
The NARZO 70 Pro 5G flaunts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display. The visuals are vibrant, and the colours pop. The 120Hz refresh rate is standard for the price, offering a smooth and responsive experience in daily usage. However, the real standout is the peak brightness of 2000 nits, making content viewing enjoyable even in bright outdoor conditions.
Capable Performer
The device draws power from the Dimensity 7050 chipset, which might not be the latest, but it delivers capable performance, especially considering the price. Everyday tasks like social media, emails, music streaming, and movie watching are handled with ease. Call of Duty: Mobile at high and very high settings did not cause any issues for the phone even after extended gaming sessions. Additionally, the phone stayed cool throughout, avoiding any throttling issues.
Air Gestures
The Narzo 70 Pro 5G boasts a unique feature called air gestures, which, as the name suggests, allows you to control the phone with hand gestures — similar to the Realme GT 5 Pro which is not available in India. Users can perform actions like taking screenshots, scrolling through pages, and opening apps with hand gestures. While this sounds futuristic and convenient, especially for situations with dirty or occupied hands, the implementation was a hit-or-miss. Gesture recognition wasn’t always consistent, requiring precise movements for successful execution. Hopefully, this can get better with updates over time.
Good Cameras
The Narzo 70 Pro 5G sports a 50-megapixel IMX890 sensor with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The primary camera on the device performs admirably in daylight conditions. Photos come out sharp with vivid colours and good details. Surprisingly, even low-light images were decent for the price, there was no excessive grain or loss of detail. The camera on the Narzo 70 Pro 5G is perfectly adequate for social media sharing.
Excellent Battery Life
The smartphone gets its juice from the 5000mAh battery, which supports 67W fast charging. We easily achieved more than a day’s usage on a single charge with moderate usage. Considering the price of the phone, the fast charging option is quite impressive and can charge the phone from zero to full in about 55 minutes.
2 Things We Wish Could Have Been Better
Here are the things we think leave room for improvement:
Software Experience
The Narzo 70 Pro 5G runs on Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0 out of the box. While the overall experience is good, the software can feel cluttered with bloatware apps. The number of bloatware might have been reduced, but it still doesn’t quite match the clean and streamlined experience offered by some competitors.
Additionally, the phone is only eligible for two major software updates and three years of security patches. This feels somewhat limited compared to brands like Samsung, which offer more substantial software support even on budget devices.
Familiar Design
The Narzo Pro 5G’s design language resembles the Realme 12 Plus but without the vegan leather finish. However, the retention of the same camera module and boxy design might occasionally lead to confusion with other Realme models, such as the Realme 12 Plus lineup.
Verdict
The Realme NARZO 70 Pro 5G offers a great value for money at Rs 19,999. It features a stunning display, excellent battery life, and a dependable camera system.
Although inconsistent, the inclusion of air gestures adds a breath of fresh air. The software experience could have been better with a lighter touch on bloatware, and the design might be uninspiring for some.
Overall, the Narzo 70 Pro 5G is a solid contender in the mid-range landscape, particularly for users who prioritise display quality, battery life, and fast charging.
