Realme has quickly become a force in the budget smartphone market, offering impressive specs at competitive prices. The Realme 3 Pro and 5 Pro were key contenders in this space. But which one offers the better overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Realme 5 Pro edges out the 3 Pro thanks to its brighter display, slightly improved chipset, and marginally better battery life. While the 3 Pro remains a solid choice, the 5 Pro offers a more refined and modern experience, justifying its slight price premium.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - India | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - EMEA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - EMEA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, April 22. Released 2019, May | 2019, August 20. Released 2019, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3+), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 156.8 x 74.2 x 8.3 mm (6.17 x 2.92 x 0.33 in) | 157 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm (6.18 x 2.92 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| | - | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Adreno 616 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), planned upgrade to Android 10, ColorOS 6 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/1.7, 1/2.6", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min |
| Music play | Up to 126 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 383 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 32 h (3G) | - |
| Type | 4045 mAh, non-removable | 4035 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Nitro Blue, Lightning Purple | Crystal Green, Crystal Blue, Chroma White |
| Models | RMX1851 | RMX1971, RMX1973 |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 430 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -92.9dB / Crosstalk -91.1dB |
Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -92.0dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 91h
| Endurance rating 100h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1782:1 (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1875:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 90dB
|
Voice 66dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 85dB |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 155647 (v7)
GeekBench: 5881 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 182765 (v7)
GeekBench: 6106 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 3 Pro
- Compact and lightweight design
- Good performance for the price
- Excellent contrast ratio display
- Fast charging
- Lower brightness display
- Less versatile camera system
- Slightly older chipset
Realme 5 Pro
- Brighter display
- Slightly better performance
- More versatile camera system (often includes macro/ultra-wide)
- Longer battery life
- Slightly larger and heavier than the 3 Pro
- Price slightly higher than the 3 Pro
Display Comparison
The Realme 5 Pro boasts a significant advantage with its measured 512 nits max brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. Both phones offer excellent contrast ratios (1782:1 for the 3 Pro and 1875:1 for the 5 Pro), resulting in deep blacks and vibrant colors. However, the 5 Pro's added brightness gives it a noticeable edge.
Camera Comparison
The Realme 5 Pro generally offers a more versatile camera system. While both phones feature capable photo and video capabilities, the 5 Pro often includes a wider range of lenses (typically a macro and ultra-wide lens in addition to the main sensor), providing more creative options. Image processing and low-light performance are also slightly improved on the 5 Pro.
Performance
Both phones are powered by Snapdragon 710 and 712 chipsets respectively, both built on a 10nm process. The 712 in the Realme 5 Pro offers a slight performance boost, particularly in GPU-intensive tasks. While both handle everyday tasks with ease, the 5 Pro provides a smoother experience for gaming and multitasking.
Battery Life
Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 91h and 100h respectively. The Realme 5 Pro's slightly larger battery capacity contributes to its longer endurance. Both support 20W fast charging, reaching 50% in approximately 30 minutes.
Buying Guide
The Realme 3 Pro is a good option for users prioritizing raw performance and a compact design. It's ideal for those on a tighter budget who still want a capable smartphone. The Realme 5 Pro is better suited for users who value a vibrant display, a more versatile camera system, and slightly longer battery life. It's a great all-rounder for everyday use.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Realme 3 Pro still worth buying?
The Realme 3 Pro remains a decent budget option, especially if you find it at a significantly reduced price. However, the Realme 5 Pro offers a more modern and feature-rich experience.
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Realme 5 Pro, with its slightly more powerful Snapdragon 712 chipset, generally offers better gaming performance.
