Realme V23 vs vivo V23 5G: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme V23 and vivo V23 5G are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer attractive designs and a range of features, but which one delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The vivo V23 5G edges out the Realme V23 thanks to its superior chipset (Dimensity 920 vs 810), slightly faster charging, and impressive display brightness. While both are solid budget options, the vivo offers a more premium feel and better performance for the price.

PHONES
Phone Names	Realme V23	vivo V23 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands	SA/NSA	1, 3, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 7, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA

Launch
Announced	2022, April 14	2022, January 05
Status	Available. Released 2022, April 14	Available. Released 2022, January 19

Body
Build	Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Schott Xensation Up), glass back
Dimensions	163.8 x 75.1 x 8.1 mm (6.45 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)	157.2 x 72.4 x 7.4 or 7.6 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	190 g (6.70 oz)	179 g or 181 g (6.31 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Schott Xensation Up
Resolution	1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size	6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio)	6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz, 600 nits (HBM)	AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6 nm)	Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm)
GPU	Mali-G57 MC2	Mali-G68 MC4
OS	Android 12, Realme UI 3.0	Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, Funtouch 14

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM

Main Camera
Dual	48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens	50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.3, 105˚ (ultrawide)
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)	-
Triple	-	64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Dual	-	50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.3, 105˚ (ultrawide)
Features	-	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide)	-
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.3, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFC	No	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0	USB Type-C, 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, Wi-Fi 6 (market dependent), dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	-	Color changing back panel when exposed to sunlight

Battery
Charging	33W wired, 50% in 28 min	44W wired, 68% in 30 min
Type	5000 mAh	4200 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, Gradient	Sunshine Gold, Stardust Black
Models	-	V2130, V2303
Price	About 240 EUR	About 280 EUR
SAR	-	1.08 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 103h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-28.5 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 406498 (v8), 476058 (v9) GeekBench: 8421 (v4.4), 2140 (v5.1) GFXBench: 22fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Realme V23

Stylish Design
Decent Performance for Everyday Tasks
Competitive Price (potentially)

Less Powerful Chipset
Slower Charging
Lower Display Brightness

vivo V23 5G

Superior Chipset (Dimensity 920)
Faster Charging
Brighter Display
Excellent Battery Life

Potentially Higher Price
Nominal 'Infinite' Contrast Ratio (marketing)

Display Comparison

The vivo V23 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 629 nits, significantly brighter than the Realme V23. While the Realme's display is adequate, the vivo's offers better visibility in sunlight and a more immersive viewing experience. The vivo's 'Infinite' contrast ratio (nominal) suggests excellent color reproduction, though this is a marketing term and real-world performance may vary.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature dedicated camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. However, the Dimensity 920 in the vivo V23 5G generally supports more advanced camera features and image processing capabilities. Expect slightly better image quality and video recording on the vivo.

Performance

The vivo V23 5G's Dimensity 920 chipset provides a noticeable performance advantage over the Realme V23's Dimensity 810. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the vivo. Both phones utilize octa-core CPUs, but the vivo's Cortex-A78 cores offer superior processing power.

Battery Life

The vivo V23 5G claims an impressive endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. While the Realme V23's battery life is respectable, the vivo likely offers longer usage between charges. The vivo also has slightly faster charging (44W vs 33W), reaching 68% in 30 minutes compared to 50% in 28 minutes for the Realme.

Buying Guide

The Realme V23 is a good choice for users prioritizing a stylish design and decent performance for everyday tasks at a potentially lower price point. The vivo V23 5G is ideal for those seeking a smoother experience, faster charging, and a brighter, more vibrant display, even if it means spending a bit more.