Realme X7 Max review: Up to speed with 5G, but at what cost

Realme X7 Max begins at Rs 26,999. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Categorical)

On its official web site, Realme calls patrons to expertise the long run with the Realme X7 Professional. With the Realme X7 Max, it guarantees it’s going to get you there at full velocity. It is going to additionally value you much less cash. This future, presumably pushed by 5G, is a protracted solution to go however manufacturers like Realme — particularly Realme — are working additional time to make sure there is no such thing as a scarcity of units when the community arrives finally.

Just like the units themselves, {hardware} powering them can also be getting mature every day. Over the previous few months, each Qualcomm and MediaTek have launched a swarm of 5G-ready cellular processors, every extra succesful than the opposite although. The massive focus appears to be on making know-how increasingly accessible which is why we’re seeing loads of motion taking place within the mid-range phase currently. Qualcomm has a protracted record of Snapdragon 800- and 700-series system-on-chips whereas MediaTek is churning out equivalents beneath its Dimensity lineup by the dozen.

Additionally Learn | Realme 8 Pro review: Starry-eyed 108MP camera wonder

This brings us to the topic of this assessment–the Realme X7 Max 5G–and why Realme believes it might deliver you in control with 5G. This cellphone is powered by MediaTek’s strongest present gen SoC, the Dimensity 1200. In idea, this makes it essentially the most highly effective cellphone within the Realme X7-series. Much more highly effective than the Realme X7 Professional, which is technically, the “actual” flagship. A cellphone that was launched barely three months in the past.

One thing like this doesn’t occur fairly often. This makes the Realme X7 Max form of thrilling (that’s should you haven’t invested within the Realme X7 Professional already). However on the flip facet, it additionally makes you marvel, if there’s a catch.

Count on the sudden

The X7 Max is a mighty large that’s surprisingly gentle on its toes. On any given day, a cellphone like this would appear like a recipe for catastrophe. Realme has tamed the beast however greater than something, the X7 Max is a house run for MediaTek. After spending years taking part in second fiddle to Qualcomm, it’s lastly beginning to catch up. And if the Dimensity 1200 is any indication, the long run appears promising.

Dimensity 1200 is MediaTek’s first 6nm chip. It is usually the primary MediaTek chip to make use of the Cortex-A78 core. It has a tri-cluster CPU with a “prime” A78 core working at 3.0GHz, three different A78 cores at 2.6GHz, and 4 A55 “effectivity” cores at 2.0GHz. The Snapdragon 870 that it’s constructed to compete with—although it has a CPU that clocks larger at 3.2GHz—is predicated on the older A77 core(s) giving MediaTek a slight edge in benchmarks. There are in fact different components that weigh in, the place Qualcomm cruises forward, however the bottomline is, each chips are matched evenly.

Subsequent to the Dimensity 1000 Plus – seen contained in the Realme X7 Professional – we’re 22 p.c sooner efficiency. And it might probably do that whereas consuming as much as 25 p.c much less energy. Each chips pack the identical Mali-G77 GPU. Realme is utilizing quick UFS 3.1 storage (as much as 256GB) within the X7 Max, an enchancment over UFS 2.2 contained in the X7 Professional. There isn’t a expandable storage.

There’s an upgraded stainless-steel vapour cooling system contained in the X7 Max which is claimed to be an enchancment over the copper-based system seen within the X7 Professional. This is without doubt one of the only a few telephones beneath 20k to incorporate a devoted thermal answer, or not less than one which’s being marketed. However much more importantly, it really works.

This has two quick advantages. For essentially the most discerning person, the X7 Max doesn’t get highly regarded when pressured. For extra particular use circumstances, like gaming, this cellphone can play graphically demanding video games with persistently secure body charges with none seen throttling. Apart from Genshin Affect which for some cause has a chip-level cap, most video games together with Name of Responsibility: Cell play at maxed-out settings on the X7 Max and the expertise is satisfying. As a body of reference, the Snapdragon 870-powered Xiaomi Mi 11X’s gaming performance leaves a lot to be desired.

It’s commendable as a result of Realme has been in a position to obtain all this maintaining the size of the cellphone so compact, it doesn’t even really feel like a performance-oriented gadget, the primary time you see it. It has used copious quantities of plastic—whereas the Mi 11X is all glass—to have the ability to do that, positive, however whatever the construct supplies, this cellphone weighs simply 180 gram and measures solely 8.4mm. At a time when most telephones together with the X7 Professional are 6.5-inch and above, the X7 Max takes the highway much less taken. This can be a 6.43-inch cellphone. Name it a pocket rocket if you’ll.

Regardless of that, the cellphone doesn’t compromise on battery capability. Just like the X7 Professional, the X7 Max additionally comes with a sizeable 4,500mAh battery. Battery life is nice. That is simply a one-day cellphone for even essentially the most demanding customers. Charging, despite the fact that it tops out at 50W (that is 65W within the X7 Professional), remains to be one of many quickest on this value vary. For some context, the Mi 11X which additionally has roughly comparable battery life helps solely 33W quick charging.

The identical no-compromise method extends to audio. The cellphone comes with twin audio system with Dolby Atmos and Hello-Res help. High quality of those audio system isn’t that nice—relative to say the Mi 11X which has an “precise” stereo setup—however it will get the job completed whereas additionally retaining the headphone jack.

That is the primary Realme cellphone in its class to have an official IP ranking — that is IPX4. This implies it’s splash resistant. The Mi 11X with its IP53-rating can also be immune to mud.

Jack of all trades

Remainder of the package deal is principally Realme making an attempt to juggle many hats. Successful at some, failing at others. Design is probably its weakest hyperlink. It’s changing into repetitive and, in that course of, additionally it is shedding out on its premium attraction. The X7 Max appears to be a cross between the X7 Professional and the 8 Professional with a mixture of matte and shiny parts. There’s a sizeable holographic “Dare to Leap” slogan thrown into the combo and whereas it’s not as huge because the one on the 8 Professional, you possibly can’t simply not see it after which if you do, you possibly can’t unsee it. Realme telephones have seen higher days. Bear in mind the Realme 7 Professional? Or any of the Realme X Grasp Editions?

The 1080p Tremendous AMOLED show on the X7 Max reveals punchy colors and viewing angles are fairly good. Nevertheless it doesn’t get very vibrant. Even by Realme’s personal requirements, the panel is a step beneath the X7 Professional’s with brightness topping out at 1000 nits (the X7 Professional can go all the best way to 1200 nits). There isn’t a HDR help both. The in-display fingerprint reader isn’t essentially the most correct and there’s no display screen safety (X7 Professional comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5).

A silver lining is the sooner response fee. The 120Hz refresh fee within the X7 Max is paired with 360Hz contact sampling (240Hz within the X7 Professional) making it excellent for aggressive gaming – although the distinction could be seen to solely essentially the most eagle-eyed.

Essentially the most noticeable downgrade is coming within the digital camera division. The X7 Max has solely three cameras on the rear and solely one among them—the first—is usable. Realme is utilizing a 64MP IMX682 essential sensor within the X7 Max (the X7 Professional makes use of the IMX686) which clicks above common pictures in good gentle and good-enough pictures in synthetic and low gentle. Colors are sometimes saturated and end up trying pleasing on the cellphone’s vibrant display screen although a blown-out model seen on an even bigger display screen, say a laptop computer, reveals these pictures normally miss out on resolved element. Dynamic vary is common at finest. Realme’s night time mode implementation is best than a few of its rivals, in order that’s a plus. The opposite two cameras – 8MP ultra-wide-angle and 2MP macro – are barely serviceable.

As for video recording, the cellphone does effectively at 1080p@30fps. Gyro-based stabilisation helps take clear pictures.

The 16MP entrance digital camera (that is 32MP within the X7 Professional) captures good-quality selfies throughout lighting circumstances if at the price of resolved element.

Realme software program—that is Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 within the X7 Max—has each constructive and damaging features. It appears higher than MIUI, it’s quite a bit cleaner too – although this could change as MIUI 12.5 turns into extra broadly out there – and the truth that it offers you so many customisation chops together with the flexibility to vary icons is effectively appreciated. The whole lot works cohesively. However the replace rollout and long-term help is simply approach too tousled and uneven. My X7 Max assessment unit remains to be on the March safety patch, whereas a less expensive Realme cellphone, the 8 Professional, bought the April patch on schedule (within the month of April itself). Realme is heading in the right direction, if solely it might probably repair this disparity, issues could be even higher.

What you see is what you get

The X7 Max “works as marketed” and that’s its essential USP. Straight off the bat, this can be a high-performance gadget. 5G might appear to be an icing on the cake however make no mistake, Realme is admittedly severe about the entire democratisation of the know-how factor it retains speaking about in its advertising and marketing campaigns. Versus many rival telephones, together with these from sister model OnePlus, 5G is not only an afterthought right here. The X7 Max helps as many as seven bands (5G NR N1/N28A/N40/N41/N77/N78/N79) and when you might not be capable of use them simply but, it absolutely helps with the peace of thoughts. Paired with NFC and Wi-Fi 6, that is really a future-ready gadget. Hopefully, issues on the software program entrance would get higher with time.

Additionally Learn | Xiaomi Mi 11X review: Lot of phone for a lot less money, but should you bet your money on it?

As for the remainder of the package deal, Realme doesn’t actually make loads of tall claims. It’s what it’s. When you’re searching for an even bigger and brighter display screen, higher cameras, and sooner charging, you must in all probability be trying on the X7 Professional. Or higher but, try to be trying on the iQOO 7. The Mi 11X is also a viable option should you’re not significantly searching for class-leading cameras.

Professionals: Compact type issue, Quick 120Hz show, Quick efficiency, Doesn’t warmth up when pressured, Good battery life

Cons: By-product design, No HDR help, Cameras could possibly be higher, Sluggish Android replace rollout