vivo NEX 3S 5G vs Realme X50 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Two Snapdragon 865 Flagships

Both the vivo NEX 3S 5G and the Realme X50 Pro 5G represent a fascinating period in smartphone history – the peak of Snapdragon 865 adoption before the 865+ and subsequent generations arrived. While both devices share the same core chipset, they diverge significantly in areas like charging speed and battery endurance, making a direct comparison crucial for anyone considering either phone in today's market.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing convenience and rapid replenishment, the Realme X50 Pro 5G emerges as the winner. Its 65W SuperDart charging, capable of a full charge in just 35 minutes, significantly outperforms the vivo NEX 3S 5G’s 44W charging, despite both phones boasting a comparable 90h endurance rating.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo NEX 3S 5G Realme X50 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 25, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2020, March 10. Released 2020, March 142020, February 24. Released 2020, March 05
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm (6.59 x 3.00 x 0.37 in)159 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm (6.26 x 2.92 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight219.5 g (7.76 oz)205 g (7.23 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2256 pixels (~363 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.89 inches, 119.3 cm2 (~93.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10+Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, Funtouch 10.0Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.5, 54mm (telephoto), 2x optical zoom, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide), PDAF Auxiliary lens
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 52mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Dual-32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
FeaturesLED flash, HDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm-
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with dual speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging44W wired65W wired, PD, 100% in 35 min
Type4500 mAh4200 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, OrangeMoss Green, Rust Red
ModelsV1950ARMX2075, RMX2071, RMX2076
PriceAbout 630 EURAbout 360 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 90h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 592447 (v8) GeekBench: 3175 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo NEX 3S 5G

  • Potentially refined software experience with Funtouch OS
  • Similar battery endurance to the Realme X50 Pro
  • Shares the same powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset

  • Slower 44W charging compared to the Realme X50 Pro’s 65W
  • Less detailed display specifications

Realme X50 Pro 5G

  • Blazing-fast 65W SuperDart charging (35 minutes to 100%)
  • Higher peak display brightness (635 nits)
  • Competitive price point

  • Software experience may be less polished than vivo’s Funtouch OS
  • Camera specifications are unknown without further data

Display Comparison

Both phones utilize panels capable of displaying vibrant colors, but the Realme X50 Pro 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 635 nits, suggesting a more visible display in direct sunlight. While both likely employ high refresh rate displays (a common feature for 865 phones), this isn't explicitly stated in the provided data. The Realme X50 Pro’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a typical OLED panel, offering excellent blacks. The NEX 3S 5G’s display characteristics are less defined, leaving brightness and color accuracy as potential differentiators favoring the Realme.

Camera Comparison

The provided data only indicates that both phones feature photo and video capabilities, lacking specifics on sensor size, aperture, or optical image stabilization (OIS). Given Realme’s history, the X50 Pro likely prioritizes versatility with multiple lenses, while vivo often focuses on image processing algorithms. Without detailed sensor information, it’s impossible to definitively declare a camera winner. The absence of any mention of a telephoto lens on either device suggests a focus on wide and ultrawide photography.

Performance

At the heart of both devices lies the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+), paired with an identical CPU configuration: an octa-core setup featuring a 2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core, three 2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 performance cores, and four 1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. This means raw processing power will be virtually indistinguishable between the two. However, thermal management – not explicitly detailed – could be a deciding factor. The 7nm+ process node aims for improved efficiency, but real-world throttling under sustained load will depend on each manufacturer’s cooling solution. Both likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, contributing to fast application loading and multitasking.

Battery Life

Both the vivo NEX 3S 5G and the Realme X50 Pro 5G achieve an endurance rating of 90 hours, indicating similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the crucial difference lies in charging speed. The Realme X50 Pro 5G’s 65W wired charging, coupled with Power Delivery (PD) support, allows for a complete charge in just 35 minutes. In contrast, the vivo NEX 3S 5G’s 44W charging is significantly slower. This disparity makes the Realme X50 Pro 5G far more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo NEX 3S 5G if you prioritize a potentially more refined software experience (typical of vivo’s Funtouch OS) and are less concerned with absolute charging speed. Buy the Realme X50 Pro 5G if you value blazing-fast charging, maximizing uptime, and a more aggressive price point, making it ideal for power users and those constantly on the go.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Snapdragon 865 in the Realme X50 Pro 5G throttle during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 865 is a powerful chipset, sustained high performance can lead to thermal throttling. The Realme X50 Pro 5G’s thermal management system will determine how effectively it mitigates this. User reports suggest moderate throttling after prolonged gaming, but performance remains generally strong.
❓ Does the Realme X50 Pro 5G support Power Delivery (PD) for charging with third-party chargers?
Yes, the Realme X50 Pro 5G explicitly supports Power Delivery (PD) charging, allowing you to utilize compatible USB-C chargers for faster and more efficient charging. This provides flexibility beyond using only the included charger.
❓ Is the 90Hz display on the Realme X50 Pro 5G noticeable in everyday use?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, the X50 Pro is known to have a 120Hz display. This higher refresh rate results in smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming experiences, making it noticeably more fluid than a standard 60Hz display for users accustomed to higher refresh rates.