I admit to being a bit prejudiced with the Realme brand since its launch since all the sub-brand devices used before have various issues. Redmi is cheaper than Xiaomi with a more plastic build quality. Honor also under Huawei used to have the same issue as well as disappointing camera performance. Realme in my opinion definitely has the same issue.
But lately I have reviewed Realme GT NEO 3 and Realme 9 Pro+ which are both much better than the initial guess. Ok maybe it's more of a preconceived notion because I'm sure the device will disappoint because I'm more comfortable with a flagship class device. So when Realme 10 Pro+ I commented on it with a more open heart because I wanted to see if Realme would once again succeed in captivating hearts.
Specifications And Design
Realme 10 Pro+
6.7″ AMOLED screen
FHD+, 120Hz, HDR10+
MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor (6nm)
2 X 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 chips
6 X 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G68 MC4 Graphics Chip
8GB LPDDR4X RAM
Internal Storage 256 GB UFS 2.2
Primary Camera 108MP, f/1.8 (Wide Angle)
8MP, f/2.2 (Ultra wide angle)
2MP, f/2.4 (Macro)
Selfie Camera 16 Megapixel f/2.5
5000 mAh battery
67W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof None
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM 1599 (8/256GB)
The 6.7″ AMOLED screen is of the curved type on the sides and it supports a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Personally, I no longer like using devices with curved screens, but I still like them because they provide a more premium looking design. The screen design is beautiful because it has thin bezels on all four corners. At a glance the Realme 10 Pro+ screen has a screen that is compatible with that found on more flagship devices.
With AMOLED technology, the screen displays vivid colors and dark blacks like black holes. HDR10+ content is supported with no issues displaying HDR content on the YouTube app. But unfortunately during the review period HDR support for Netflix has not been given because each device has to undergo an approval process from Netflix.
Under bright sunlight the screen can still be seen clearly. Every touch is detected well with animations displayed clearly without significant ghosting issues. Overall the screen is very good without any major issues. The only minor issue I noticed was the rather noticeable camera hole. When watching a video in full screen mode, this hole will block part of the content you want to watch.
There is a fingerprint scanner built under this screen. But I feel the position is too low to access it easily. It would be better if it were raised half an inch up as used on Oppo and Samsung devices. The scanner is of the fast optical type. The unlocking process happens almost overnight. Through Realme Lab, this fingerprint scanner can also be used to scan the pulse.
I also quite like the haptic system through the linear motor used. Touch feedback on the screen feels more natural than typical haptic systems.
The audio and power buttons are placed on the side and are made of sturdy metal material. Its position is also easily accessible unlike the fingerprint scanner. A USB-C charging port, a speaker grille and a tray for dual-SIM nano are placed at the bottom of the device. The sole is of the type that needs to be poked with a needle to be removed from its slot. A slight disappointment here is that there is no 3.5mm audio jack which is usually provided on mid-range devices.
The design of this device is beautiful and attractive helped by the back panel that has a gradient color. Most importantly this device is very comfortable in the hand and not slippery. The plastic back panel is also not easily dirty.
The device is powered by an eight-core MediaTek Dimensity 920 chip produced using 6nm technology. It consists of two Cortex-A78 cores and six Cortex-A55 cores (based on Cortex-A55) with a Mali-G68 MC4 GPU. The chip is quite old and is the same as the one used in the previous Realme 9 Pro+.
This is paired with 8GB RAM memory and 256GB storage in Malaysia. No microSD card support is included to add cloud storage. If you feel that the RAM size is not satisfactory, the Dynamic RAM Expansion feature comes with the option of adding 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of RAM virtually. With this the owner can have a device with up to 16GB of RAM to allow more applications to be launched simultaneously.
The battery used has a capacity of 5000 mAh that supports 67W fast charging through the USB-C port. Large enough size for a mid-range device with a moderately fast charging system. Many other flagship devices only support 25W charging with the same capacity. No wireless charging support is included by Realme.
The camera system consists of a 108MP wide-angle lens, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro on the back. Even though the 10 Pro+ is a newer device, it doesn't come with any OIS system on the main camera which was earlier on the Realme 9 Pro+. On the front, the 16MP selfie camera is included in the camera hole that I mentioned a few paragraphs above.
The camera is placed in a hump that is not very high with three cameras placed in a hump of the same size. The device can still be placed flat on a table but we recommend that the transparent frame provided by the owner be used as it will keep the lens on the bump better protected from damage.
All these components are included in a relatively thin body for a device equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. One feature that Realme did not include on the 10 Pro+ is waterproof capability. It is not dust or water proof in any situation though.
Software
The Android 13 operating system is used with the latest Realme UI 4.0 launcher. A good move from Realme because the Android 13 operating system has been launched since August. It doesn't make sense to launch a new phone in December that still uses Android 12.
The interesting features of Realme UI 4.0 are more feature additions such as better widget support, security, more comprehensive AOD and optimizations that will further smooth the use, reduce battery and avoid heating.
Another interesting series is Dynamic RAM Expansion which allows virtual memory to be added as needed. It can be turned off if not needed. Usage is very smooth and fast even with only 8GB of RAM. Applications can be launched quickly without any critical issues.
One issue that may need to be touched upon is that some apps cannot be downloaded from the Play Store. For example Netflix does not appear at all when searching. I had to install it by sideloading and the app works as usual.
Realme also did not say how long the update will be given. However, previously the Realme 9 series was given operating system support for up to two years and security patches for three years. So I feel Realme 10 Pro+ will also be given the same operating system support.
Additional features provided by Realme are:
Flexible Windows – Displays multiple applications in floating windows.
Gestures – Support multiple gestures to control the device and take screenshots.
Kids Space – A mode for children with some apps that can be locked.
Smart Sidebar – Quick shortcuts to eight preferred applications directly from the sidebar.
Quick Launch – Launch three popular apps directly from the lock screen.
Simple Mode – Simple mode for the elderly with a larger interface and louder ringing.
Edge Lighting – A notification light that uses the entire side of the screen.
Always on Display – Display important information on the locked screen.
Bench mark
The benchmark scores recorded are as below:
Geekbench 5
Realme 10 Pro+ – 843/2372
Realme 9 Pro+ – 813/2314
Oppo Reno8 Z – 674/1921
Antutu 3D
Realme 10 Pro+ – 517,313
Realme 9 Pro+ – 494,818
Oppo Reno8 Z – 398,307
The score recorded by the Realme 10 Pro+ is slightly higher than the Realme 9 Pro despite being equipped with the Dimensity 920 processor and the same 8GB RAM configuration. This confirms the claim that Realme UI 4.0 can improve device performance compared to Realme UI 3.0.
We compared these two devices with Oppo Reno8 Z equipped with Snapdragon 695. Dimensity 920 processor seems to be more powerful than Snapdragon 695. In daily use this processor is powerful enough to run various applications used every day without any serious issues.
In terms of performance, games such as COD Mobile and PUBG can be played smoothly on medium settings only. Uniquely enjoying the highest graphics settings you still need a device with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip.
Telephony and GPS
The device is equipped with a sub-6GHz 5G modem but at this time it is not yet supported by DNB. During the review period only the LTE network could be tested and no serious issues were found. Phone calls are crystal clear with VoWiFI support as well but no VoLTE support. WiFi speed is also very satisfactory due to support up to WiFI 6.
GPS performance as good as cellular performance. The location can be easily tracked when the application is opened. The GPS connection is never interrupted even in the middle of Kuala Lumpur between tall buildings.
Camera
The tri-camera system used is equipped with a 108MP wide-angle sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front, a 16MP selfie camera is used. There is no OIS system used on the main camera but there is a nona-binning system that combines 9 pixels into 1 on the wide angle lens. On paper this is a sensor combination that is not very balanced because it still maintains a 2MP sensor that we often say is not very satisfactory in quality. No OIS is also a little disappointing as it is usually essential for night mode.
There are various support modes such as night mode, macro, Street Photography, Starry Mode, Tilt Shift and many more to provide more extensive photography capabilities. The camera app is easy to use with a feature that activates artificial intelligence that will process images after they are taken.
The quality of pictures that the 10 Pro+ camera is capable of taking is very good for a device in this class. The use of a large main sensor helps produce images that are not only sharp but with striking color reproduction. In a good lighting situation the quality of the pictures taken is very satisfactory. Night mode is also quite good despite the lack of an OIS system. In all the pictures we managed to capture the image was still sharp and there were no serious noise issues.
The macro mode is not as satisfying as expected. Even when the artificial intelligence feature is activated, the camera app doesn't automatically switch to macro mode automatically which we find odd. The resulting picture is a bit blurry. The ultra wide-angle mode is also good but less sharp than the 108MP main sensor due to its small sensor size.
The main advantage of the Realme 10 Pro+ camera is that only the main sensor supports lossless zoom up to 3. It can do digital zoom up to 10X zoom but we do not recommend it because the resulting image looks soft and less than satisfactory.
I need to compare the camera of the 10 Pro+ with the 9 Pro+ because both devices have almost comparable specifications as well as two different camera systems. In my opinion the 9 Pro+ camera is better especially in night mode because of the OIS system. The colors on the 10 Pro+ are better but in my opinion overall the 9 Pro+ camera is more balanced and can be expected in more situations.
Battery
The 5000 mAh battery is quite large and the device can last up to 22 hours in moderate usage with a SOT of around 8 hours. On heavier usage SOT up to 10 hours can be enjoyed but the device only lasts around 13 hours. The included charger supports 67W SuperVOOC. This time the SuperDART branding is no longer used. The recharging time of this relatively large battery is only about 45 minutes which is quite fast.
Realme provides a battery health feature where it can be programmed to charge 100% at a certain time. Fast charging is only at the beginning with it slowing down the closer it gets to full capacity. I use this feature when I want to charge the device while sleeping. With this feature the battery life will last longer with this feature similar to what can be found on Sony and Apple devices.
Audio
The screen is beautiful, the design is attractive and the camera is also quite good but the realme 10 Pro+'s most notable shortcoming lies in its audio capabilities. Although there are stereo speakers, the audio output is like a fizzy drink can. There is absolutely no bus with a flat sound. At the highest setting the audio is loud but not clear.
Although the audio is balanced from both speakers, the pans are like a cheap pair of speakers on a gaming console. Dolby Atmos support is also missing. Audio is only satisfactory when using a pair of wireless earphones as there is no 3.5mm audio jack.
In the box
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Realme 10 Pro+
1x Translucent silicone frame.
1x 67W SuperVOOC two-pin charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x SIM Pin.
1x Manual
Conclusion
Realme 10 Pro+ has an attractive design matched with a pretty beautiful screen, a satisfactory chip, the latest operating system and a large enough battery size. On paper the large sensor should offer good photographic capabilities. But again the large main sensor is paired with two less satisfactory sensors. As a result, the photographic performance of this device becomes less balanced. The included speakers also do not pass the minimum standards.
There's no denying the 10 Pro+ is a flagship-looking device. However, being beautiful on the outside alone is not enough if the package offered is not comprehensive. In my opinion Realme 9 Pro+ is a better choice (and only RM100 more expensive) if you want better camera capabilities because there is an OIS system, more satisfying audio, never mind a smaller battery and an operating system that is one generation behind.
Pro
Large screen with thin bezels.
Interesting design.
Using Realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13.
Long lasting battery with fast charging.
Satisfactory performance for the majority of needs.
Good main camera.
Pulse scanner built into the screen.
Cons
Some applications cannot be downloaded.
Disappointing speakers.
The 2MP macro camera is still disappointing.
No OIS.
Has 5G support but not yet DNB supported.