Realme 8i Review

The Realme 8i is a powerful smartphone that falls in the category of mid-range price segment and is packed with some quality features at a very affordable price. It is sleek and has robust built quality, making it look like a premium smartphone and giving a premium feel when taken in hand. Therefore, it justifies the price at which it comes. For those looking for a smartphone with some rich features within a reasonable price range, the Realme 8i could be the best smartphone they can choose. It has all the quality features like a vibrant display, a powerful processor, and a set up of impressive camera.

Specifications

Now, let's look at the specifications of the Realme 8i with the help of the following table:

Design and Build Quality

Realme 8i comes with a very captivating design that is mixed with style as well as functionality. It is sleek and modern, which gives it a very aesthetic look and is enough to turn heads. The device has a glossy finish, and the color options available to the users are Space Black and Space Purple. The slim profile and minimal bezels create an immersive viewing experience, allowing the vibrant display to take center stage. Realme has paid careful attention to detail, producing an elegant and sophisticated device.

The build quality of the Realme 8i is also impressive because of its sturdy construction. The materials used to craft the device are of high quality, giving it a premium feel. Because of the high-quality materials used in making this phone, the device is very durable and can withstand the rigors of daily use. Realme has taken care of the finer details of the device, like ensuring that the buttons of the device respond well and ports are constructed well. Overall, the Realme 8i is built to last, making it a reliable companion for your mobile needs.

Realme has considered ergonomics while designing the Realme 8i, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable user experience. The sleek and slim device makes it very easy to hold and operate with one hand and gives the user a fantastic usage experience. The device's buttons are also well-placed, making it possible for the user to access them conveniently. Whether you use the phone for gaming, browsing, or any other purpose, it will be a hassle-free experience as it will not cause any difficulty while handling it.

Display

The Realme 8i has a display of size 6.6-inch which gives the user a quality visual experience. There are six refresh rates of Realme 8i, i.e., 30Hz, 48Hz, 50Hz, 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz, making the display very smooth and offering fluid animations. The refresh rate management used by Realme in this device is very impressive as it allows the users to adjust the refresh rate automatically to optimize the device's battery life. It has been seen that while watching any content on Netflix, the refresh rate dropped to 60Hz, and while watching Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, or movies, the refresh rate came between 60Hz to 120Hz.

The display offers Full HD+ resolution, giving users prominent and detailed visuals. The display has a slight notch (usually a punch-hole) for the selfie camera on the top left of the screen, which maximizes the area of the display. The display is perfect for gaming or multitasking; however, the Realme 8i could have been improved in terms of better viewing angles.

The Realme 8i gives an impressive experience to its users in terms of streaming capabilities because it is WideVine L1 compliant. Various OTT services, like Netflix and Amazon Prime, work perfectly in High definition on Realme 8i. However, one of the drawbacks of the Realme 8i display is that it does not support HDR playback, and also, the users may need some help in terms of visibility because the peak brightness of the device is just 480 nits. Nevertheless, the Realme 8i's screen features a touch sampling rate of 180Hz, ensuring excellent responsiveness to taps and swipes.

Connectivity and Ports

The data transfer and seamless communication are made possible by Realme by providing several ports and connectivity options to the users in the Realme 8i. Realme 8i is a dual SIM device, meaning the users can put and use two different SIM cards simultaneously. However this feature is prevalent in smartphones, but it is still important to be mentioned separately.

If we talk about the connectivity options that Realme provides in this device, it supports 4G LTE, which though may sound like a drawback as there are already many phones with 5G compatibility. This feature makes it possible for the user to access fast and reliable internet. With a stable 4G connection, users can easily access online games, stream movies without minimal lag, and continue browsing.

Likewise, the wireless connectivity option is also made available by Realme in this device as it comes with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac. The user can connect the device to any Wi-Fi network and enjoy the fast internet of such Wi-Fi. There is another option for wireless connectivity that Realme 8i offers: Bluetooth 5.1 technology. Users can connect their wireless headphones, smartwatches, or any speaker to the device using Bluetooth.

The physical connectivity option available in the device is a USB Type-C port which is now commonly offered in many new devices. Buyers can use this port to transfer data with faster-transferring speed without even using Bluetooth. This port is also used to power up (or charge) the device. It typically ensures a reliable and sturdy connection, creating a hassle-free user experience.

In addition to the charging port, the Realme 8i also has a headphone jack available, which can be crucial for mid-range segment buyers. The buyers can connect their wired headphones using this jack without using any adapter/ connector. This is a convenient feature for users who prefer traditional audio accessories or want to enjoy high-quality audio without latency.

A fingerprint sensor is also available on the right side of the device and is very convenient for the users to reach there. This fingerprint sensor makes the device more secure as it can lock and unlock only with your fingerprint. Additionally, the device offers Face unlock functionality, utilizing the front camera for fast and reliable facial recognition.

Software and Performance

The latest Android 11 operating system has been installed in the Realme 8i, and the user interface used in the device is Realme UI 2.0. The combination of these two makes the device a perfect package in terms of software. A number of features come with the combination, because of which the device becomes a very user-friendly option, and it also makes the running of the device very smooth.

The processor which has been used here is the new MediaTek Helio G96 processor. It has been proven to be one of the best processors because of its capability to easily perform the day to day tasks. This processor also allows the user to run any game on the device smoothly and without lag. The device performs very well whether you are multitasking, gaming, or streaming any movie on any OTT platform.

There are two options available to the users regarding RAM, 4 GB and 6 GB. The RAM is enough to run multiple tasks on the device and for the smooth switching of applications. The user can run multiple applications at the same time, and the performance of the device will not upset the user as it runs smoothly without any lag.

Additionally, in terms of storage, too, there are two options available to the users, 64GB and 128 GB. Because of this large storage capacity, this phone gives users enough space for their photos, videos, applications, and other files. The best part about the storage of Realme 8i is that it can be extended up to 256GB if the user wants it. This can be expanded with the help of a microSD card that users can buy separately and insert into the SIM card tray.

The user interface of the Realme 8i can be customized according to the user's preferences, as the interface used here is Realme UI 2.0. The device's user interface is simple and clean, and the users will not have difficulty using it. Due to its simple user interface, various features and settings of the device can be accessed very easily, which is very important as many smartphone users are unaware of all the smartphone's features and may find it difficult to understand and use it.

The software also has additional features, like Dark Mode, Digital Wellbeing, and other tools for optimizing the system to improve the users' overall experience. To ensure that the device stays up-to-date and secure, Realme provides regular updates to the device, which will make the device compatible with new applications and handheld devices even after getting old.

Camera Support and Stability

The Realme 8i camera setup will impress buyers with its quality pictures and video. Realme 8i comes with a three-lens camera setup. Out of these three cameras, one is the primary camera which is 50MP and has an aperture of f/1.8, which allows it to take great shots which are clear and sharp with fine details. In comparison, one of these three cameras is a macro camera which is 2 MP, and the third one is a portrait camera which is 2 MP. With the help of both these additional cameras, users can take close-up shots and blur-background images, which add versatility to their photography. The portrait camera puts an attractive bokeh effect on the shots.

The camera interface is very simple, making it comfortable for all types of users to click shots and easy for them to navigate. Realme also offers various camera modes, making the shots more impressive. The users may also change the camera's settings according to their requirements. Some modes you must try with the Realme 8i camera are Night Mode, Portrait Mode, and Panorama to capture the best shot in different lighting conditions and scenarios.

The photos clicked by the camera of this device appear vibrant and well-balanced. The best part is that the primary camera clicks the photos with accurate colors, whereas the macro camera perfectly captures the tiny details of one subject place closed to it. The depth sensor also works well and helps create the background blur, allowing the users to take shots that look professional.

If we talk about video recording, then in that aspect too, the camera of Realme 8i will not disappoint you as it supports recording with up to 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. Because of this, the video footage appears very clear and smooth. It is important to note that the video footage captured by Realme 8i is so stable because it comes with electronic image stabilization (EIS), which helps the camera by reducing camera shake to deliver stable and smooth video footage.

Besides, the device's front camera is 16 MP with an aperture of f/2.05, perfect for taking detailed and vibrant selfies. The color grading of the pictures taken from the front camera makes the pictures look more authentic.

Charging and Battery Life

The Realme 8i has a reliable battery that is enough to keep the phone powered the whole day. The capacity of the battery of Realme 8i is 5000mAh and provides enough power to perform daily tasks or activities on the phone without charging it frequently. The device will last for the whole day even if used heavily, which shows how powerful the battery is.

If we talk about the charger that comes with the device, it does not disappoint here, too, as it comes with a fast charger of 18W support which charges the phone very quickly. As it is a fast charger, it is very useful for those who always stay in a hurry. They can just put the phone on charge, and the charger will help the device replenish the battery quickly.

The Realme 8i features a USB Type-C port as a charging option, making the charging fast and providing a reversible connection. Type-C port is very common in new smartphones and is in demand. This is because it reduces the hassle of putting the cable in the port available in the device for charging. The other best things about the device are that it has the facility of reverse charging and OTG (on-the-go). These features of Realme 8i allow the user to charge any other device using the battery power of Realme 8i and use the external storage devices. With reverse charging, users can charge devices like earphones or even any other smartphone.

In addition to the impressive battery power of Realme 8i, there are some intelligent battery management features that it offers for the optimization of power consumption, and it also extends the battery life. These features intelligently adjust background app activities and optimize system performance to maximize battery efficiency.

In terms of real-world performance, the battery life of the Realme 8i is impressive. It can easily handle a full day of regular usage, including multimedia consumption and gaming, without immediate recharge. This reliability allows you to stay connected and engaged with your device throughout the day without worrying about running out of battery power.

Verdict: Is the Realme 8i worth buying?

After thoroughly evaluating the Realme 8i, it's time to assess whether this smartphone is worth your investment. The Realme 8i shines as a mid-range device that offers a compelling package of features and performance at an affordable price point.

With its sleek design, robust build quality, and vibrant display, the Realme 8i stands out in aesthetics. The device delivers a smooth and responsive performance thanks to its powerful processor and ample RAM. Whether browsing the web, streaming videos or playing games, the Realme 8i handles everything easily.

The camera capabilities of Realme 8i are awe-inspiring and allow the user to take quality photos. However, there are some limitations as well, as the camera does not perform well in low light conditions, but the overall performance of the camera is satisfying for everyday use.

Another best thing about this device is its powerful battery, which lasts the whole day, even with heavy use. Furthermore, the fast charger that comes with it makes it easy for users to charge their devices conveniently. These qualities of Realme 8i make it more popular among users. Unfortunately, the phone does not support 5G, which is the only major drawback of this phone.

Overall, Realme 8i is a very value-for-money smartphone if we consider the price range in which it falls. It is best for those buyers who need a smartphone with many features but without spending a lot of money. If you're looking for a reliable device that delivers performance, aesthetics, camera capabilities, and battery life without breaking the bank, the Realme 8i is worth considering. However, it's important to note that the Realme 8i may not be ideal for users who rely heavily on HDR content playback or require the absolute best camera performance in challenging lighting conditions.