The Realme 13 Pro+ 5G was launched today for the global market with it being an update device to the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G which was launched just last February. On paper the difference between the two devices is not that significant. This is a review for Realme 13 Pro+ 5G to make it easier for you to make the most accurate choice.
Specifications
Realme 13 + 5G
Screen 6.67″ AMOLED, FHD+, 120Hz
Dimensity 7300 Energy Processor (4nm)
4x 2.5 GHz Cortex-A78
4x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55
Mali-G615 MC2 Graphics Chip
RAM 12 GB LPDDR4X
14 GB Virtual
Storage 256/512 GB UFS 3.1
Primary Camera 50MP, f/1.8, OIS (Wide Angle)
2MP, f/2.4 (Depth)
Front Camera 16MP, f/2.4
5000mAh battery
80W (Wired)
5G Dual-SIM Sim/Telephony
Stereo Speaker Audio
WiFi network 6,
Bluetooth 5.4
NFC
Infrared None
Waterproof IP65
Fingerprint Scan System under the screen
Face scan
Sale Price RM1399 (12/256 GB)
RM1799 (12/512GB)
Screen
The screen is a 6.67″ AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate but not of the completely flat LTPO variety. Every touch is detected well and there is no visible latency effect. Despite operating brightly under the blazing sun, it's a shame the screen doesn't support any HDR formats on Prime Video, Netflix or Disney+ Hotstar apps. This is the same issue I faced with Realme 13 Pro+ before.
Biometrics
The fingerprint scanner system under the screen is of the optical type with its location a little further down so that it makes the process of unlocking the device a little tedious. Although a little annoying, it's a very fast fingerprint scanner. There is also a facial scanning system that unlocks faster and is less intrusive. I have a feeling this is the standard panel Realme uses as all their OLED products have the fingerprint scanner located quite low.
Design
The design is the same as the Realme 13 Pro series, only the sides are much flatter and without the vegan leather back panel option. The entire rear panel is made of metal with a dual-tone finish that looks premium on the reviewed gold color device.
On the right side is the audio adjustment button and also the power button. There is a speaker grille on the top and bottom that provides a balanced stereo audio experience. Meanwhile below there is also a USB-C charging port and also a SIM tray that supports two nano-sized SIMs as well as a micro SD card up to 1TB. At the top there is also a 3.5mm audio jack but no IR emitter.
The buttons used feel sturdy and pleasant to press. The camera bump on the back panel is round and it houses two cameras and a flash light. Don't be fooled because even though it looks like a triple camera like the 13 Pro, the 13+ is only equipped with a dual camera combining a 50MP wide angle lens with OIS and a 2MP depth sensor. This is paired with a 16MP sensor on the front. Although the hump is not thick it is still large enough that the device can be placed relatively flat on the table.
The metal finish on the back makes the device look quite premium and very comfortable in the hand. It also conducts heat better when compared to glass or vegan panels. I feel this panel also does not trap dirt easily. The silicone frame provided goes some way to solving any long-term fouling issues.
The device still has NFC support as well as IP65 waterproof capabilities. Through the NFC system there is no issue to top up the TnG NFC card and also use the phone as a digital key instead of a physical card to enter the office. Why isn't this feature on more modern devices because it makes me no longer have to worry about leaving my door access card at home before going to the office.
Usage – Realme UI 5.0
Realme UI 5.0 is based on Android 14 so there are many standard features included such as multi window, child mode, gestures and one hand mode. This is the same version of the operating system as the Realme 13 Pro+ 5G and therefore in my opinion both devices offer the same experience.
The Realme UI 5.0 interface is similar to ColorOS because it is minimalist, easy to understand and operates smoothly even though the 13 Pro+ is simply equipped with a mid-range processor that is not very powerful. The Dimensity 7300 Energy used is the same CPU core configuration (4x Cortex A78 and 4x Cortex A55) as the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 used on the 13 Pro+ 5G.
The model I reviewed is equipped with 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM which can be increased up to 26GB of RAM using virtual memory mode. 12GB RAM size in my opinion is more than enough for various common applications. I didn't notice any scrolling issues, the app was slow to launch and the app had to be refreshed frequently.
Because we are now in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), there are some smart features included. First of all is AI Smart Loop which shortens the process of doing some trivial tasks. For example, the edited picture can be directly shared to WhatsApp or Gmail by simply pressing it in the Photos application and then dragging it to the side to enter the AI Smart Loop interface. The process of sharing images is as simple as dragging & dropping.
Then if the text of the address is received, press the received text and drag it to the Google Maps icon in the AI Smart Loop. There are slots for five favorite apps in the AI Smart Loop. If other applications want to be used, there is a wheel that rotates allowing all applications installed on the phone to be used in the AI Smart Loop.
It is strange that the AI Smart Removal feature is not given once. This is the automatic photo editing feature in the Realme Photos app. So here the difference lies in the more limited AI features compared to the 13 Pro model which supports this AI editing feature.
Benchmark
Let's see the performance of Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip on Realme 13 Pro+ 5G. It's a mid-range chip equipped with four old Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores and an Adreno 710 GPU. I compared this chip with Dimensity 7300 (CMF Phone 1), Dimensity 7020 (Infinix Note 40 Pro) and Dimensity 8200 Ultimate (Infinix GT 20 Pro).
AnTuTu 3D
Realme 13+ 5G – 741,709
Realme 13 Pro+ 5G – 613,504
CMF Phone 1 – 644,913
Infinix Note 40 Pro – 450,320
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 933,015
Geekbench 6
Realme 13+ 5G – 621/594/1095
Realme 13 Pro+ 5G – 327/342/699
CMF Phone 1 – 1044/2927
Infinix Note 40 Pro – 1120/3338
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 1244/3516
Geekbench AI
Realme 13+ 5G – 921/2127
Realme 13 Pro+ 5G – 899/2763
CMF Phone 1 – N/A
Infinix Note 40 Pro – N/A
Infinix GT 20 Pro – N/A
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Realme 13+ 5G – 855
Realme 13 Pro+ 5G – 809
CMF Phone 1 – 851
Infinix Note 40 Pro – N/A
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 1736
The performance of running common applications is very satisfactory as they can be opened quickly and do not get stuck. Playing simple 3D game apps like Temple Run 2 can also be done without any issues. Realme 13+ 5G is the official device for Mobile Legends competition and the performance of this game is very good. It's just that games with heavier graphics like COD Mobile need to be played on medium settings.
What's interesting here is that the 13+ 5G recorded higher scores (except the multi-core Geekbench 6 score) than the 13 Pro+ 5G. This makes the lack of an AI Eraser feature on 13+ all the more strange. It is clear that the NPU capabilities of the device are higher compared to the 13 Pro+ 5G.
Camera
If you look at the camera specifications, you can see why the 13+ 5G is sold at a more affordable price because it is only equipped with one camera. The wide-angle lens is paired with a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS and a 2MP depth sensor. The selfie camera is 16MP which is placed in the front screen hole. No ultra-wide-angle or zoom lenses are provided.
In a good lighting situation, the photos taken are satisfactory, but I feel it is a bit dark compared to the real situation. Consistently, the image is dimmer with night mode even though the captured image is not very clear. Here the 13 Pro+ 5G has much better photography capabilities.
Night mode
Without a dedicated telephoto lens, the zoom capabilities of this device are quite weak. Pictures only look good up to 2X. After this level of zoom the captured image looks like a water painting generated by generative AI.
1X zoom
2X zoom
5X zoom
10X zoom
20X zoom
Telephony, WiFi and GPS
5G cellular performance is excellent as well as fast WiFi if you have a WiFi 6 modem at home. The GPS performance is also no less good with the location in applications such as Waze and Google Maps can be detected in just a few seconds.
Audio
With both speakers firing to the sides, the audio output is comparable to the 13 Pro+ model. The audio sounds balanced because the speaker configuration used only sounds a bit "thin" at louder audio settings. Only OReality Audio audio system is provided without Dolby Atmos support. At the top there is a 3.5mm audio jack allowing AUX cables or other audio accessories to be connected.
Battery
The 5000mAh battery is big enough for the device to last all day. If the cable is unplugged at 7am, it can last until 10pm in moderate use. Recharging the battery can be done in around 40 minutes which is very fast for an entry-level mid-range phone. An 80W charger is included with every purchase of the Realme 13+ 5G.
What's in the Box
Here are the components included with each purchase.
1x Realme 13+ 5G
1x Plastic protective frame
1x USB-A to USB-C Cable.
1x 80W USB-A Charger
1x Guidebook and safety.
1x SIM Pin
Conclusion
The Realme 13+ 5G, which despite being sold at a more affordable price than the 13 Pro+, is equipped with a more powerful processor. It has no problem running various common applications and even mid-range games like Mobile Legends. Battery performance is also satisfactory aided by fast charging.
The weakness of this device lies in the camera system which is not capable enough. The 2X post zoom will start to look like a watercolor. Later only one wide-angle lens was given whereas now ultra-wide-angle lens is considered a necessity.
In Malaysia Realme 13+ 5G is sold at a price of RM1399 for 12/256GB and increases to RM1799 for 12/512GB. I see this device as quite an interesting choice for those looking for a moderately capable gaming device at an affordable price.
PRO
Attractive design with metal panel feels premium.
Beautiful screen, responsive and fast.
The battery is long-lasting and supports 80W fast charging.
IP65 waterproof protection.
3.5mm audio jack.
CONS
The camera capabilities are not very satisfactory.
No HDR support.
Some AI features are not included.