vivo iQOO U3x vs Realme 8 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme 8 5G emerges as the better choice. While both phones share 18W charging and similar battery endurance ratings, the Dimensity 700 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge in both everyday tasks and gaming, justifying its slight price premium.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo iQOO U3x | Realme 8 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1x | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 19 | 2021, April 21 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 22 | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 75.4 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185.5 g (6.56 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS 1.0 for iQOO | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| - | 24-bit/192kHz audio | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Aurora | Supersonic Blue, Supersonic Black |
| Models | V2106A | RMX3241 |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 118h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1413:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -27.8 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 302059 (v8), 361505 (v9) GeekBench: 1784 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo iQOO U3x
- Potentially cleaner software experience (vivo's Funtouch OS is generally less aggressive than Realme UI)
- Slightly more affordable (likely)
- Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset offers good power efficiency
- Less powerful processor compared to the Dimensity 700
- Limited gaming performance
- Camera performance likely inferior to the Realme 8 5G
Realme 8 5G
- More powerful MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset
- Better gaming performance
- Potentially more refined camera image processing
- Realme UI can be heavily customized
- Slightly higher price point
- Potentially more bloatware
Display Comparison
Both the iQOO U3x and Realme 8 5G share a nominal contrast ratio of 1413:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and panel type are missing. Given Realme's history, it's likely the 8 5G utilizes a slightly more color-accurate panel. The absence of high refresh rate support on either device is typical for this price bracket, but impacts smoothness during scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size or megapixel count. Without this information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Realme brand generally focuses more on camera marketing, suggesting a potentially more refined image processing pipeline. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical benefit due to the small sensor size and lack of optical image stabilization (OIS).
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 8 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 700, built on a 7nm process, boasts a more powerful CPU configuration with 2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 cores compared to the iQOO U3x’s 2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 cores on the Snapdragon 480 (8nm). This translates to a tangible performance advantage for the Realme 8 5G in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming. While both support 5G, the Dimensity 700 generally exhibits better modem efficiency. The Snapdragon 480 is adequate for everyday use, but the Dimensity 700 offers headroom for more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both the iQOO U3x and Realme 8 5G achieve an endurance rating of 118 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. Both also utilize 18W wired charging, meaning 0-100% charge times will be similar – likely around 2 hours. The battery capacity itself is not specified, but the similar endurance ratings suggest they are closely matched in terms of overall capacity and power efficiency.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO U3x if you prioritize a slightly cleaner software experience and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Realme 8 5G if you want a more capable processor for gaming, multitasking, and future-proofing your 5G experience, even if it means accepting a potentially more customized UI.