When I first unboxed the Realme Neo 7, I was genuinely excited about its promise of flagship performance in a mid-range package. However, after a couple of weeks of using it, my excitement has been tempered by some glaring shortcomings. Here’s my honest, hands-on review to help you decide if this phone is worth your money.
Unboxing Experience
The packaging of the Realme Neo 7 is straightforward—no surprises here. Inside the box, you get:
- An 80W SuperVOOC fast charger (a great addition).
- A USB Type-C cable.
- A soft protective case.
- The usual paperwork.
While the phone feels substantial in hand, the plastic frame and matte finish on the back feel less premium than I had hoped for. This decision to use plastic over metal or glass makes it lightweight, but it also compromises the premium feel you’d expect at this price point. Fingerprints are kept at bay, but the matte finish scratches more easily than expected.
Design and Build Quality
The Realme Neo 7 is available in Black, Blue, and White, and while the color options are vibrant, the overall design is bland. It doesn’t stand out in a sea of mid-range devices. Despite having an IP68 rating, the phone feels more durable in name than reality. The plastic frame lacks the robustness I associate with higher-end devices.
The placement of the in-display fingerprint sensor is also frustratingly low. I often found myself readjusting my grip just to unlock the phone, which feels unnecessary and poorly thought out.
Display: Bright but Flawed
The 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is bright and crisp. Colors pop, and the 1.5K resolution ensures sharp visuals. Watching videos and gaming feels immersive, thanks to its 1,700 nits peak brightness.
However, the PWM dimming can be a problem for those sensitive to OLED flickering. Over extended usage, I found my eyes straining—something I don’t usually experience with other AMOLED displays. Additionally, while the bezels are thin, the bottom chin is noticeably larger, breaking the symmetry.
Performance: Not as Flagship as Promised
With the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ chipset and LPDDR5X RAM, the Realme Neo 7 is a beast on paper. Apps launch quickly, multitasking is seamless, and the phone handles day-to-day tasks like a pro.
But here’s the catch: extended gaming sessions reveal its Achilles heel. Despite the vapour chamber cooling, the device heats up significantly. I tested this with games like PUBG and BGMI, and while it managed 87-90 fps initially, performance dropped noticeably as thermal throttling kicked in. This makes the phone unsuitable for hardcore gaming despite its “gaming-centric” marketing.
Battery Life: Big But Draining
The 7,000 mAh battery is one of the phone’s standout features. It comfortably lasts a day of moderate use, but if you’re gaming or streaming, the battery drains faster than expected. Realme claims 23 hours of video playback, but in my tests, it struggled to hit 18 hours with mixed usage.
Fast charging with the 80W SuperVOOC charger is a saving grace. It powers the device from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes. However, the absence of wireless charging is a letdown in this price segment.
Camera Performance: A Mixed Bag
The dual-camera setup includes a 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The primary camera performs well in daylight, producing sharp images with good dynamic range. However, colors are often oversaturated, making photos look artificial.
Low-light photography is disappointing. While software optimization helps to some extent, images are noisy, and details are lost. The ultra-wide lens is strictly average, and the lack of a telephoto lens feels like a missed opportunity. Selfies from the 16MP front camera are decent but nothing extraordinary.
Software: Cluttered but Functional
The Realme UI 6 based on Android 15 is smooth and packed with customization options. From theme settings to game modes, there’s a lot to tweak. However, the amount of pre-installed bloatware is overwhelming. While some apps can be removed, others are system apps that unnecessarily consume storage and RAM.
The UI’s aggressive battery optimization often interrupts notifications, making the user experience frustrating at times. This is particularly annoying for real-time apps like WhatsApp or Slack.
Price and Value
Priced at around 165,999 PKR, the Realme Neo 7 offers solid value for its specs. However, its shortcomings—like thermal throttling, average camera performance, and a plastic build—make it hard to justify as the “ultimate mid-range smartphone.”
For a similar price, competitors like the iQOO Neo 7 or the Redmi Note 13 Pro offer better cameras, superior build quality, and more consistent performance.
Pros and Cons of the Realme Neo 7
Pros:
- Bright and immersive AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Long-lasting 7,000 mAh battery with fast charging.
- Decent performance for everyday tasks.
- Affordable price for the specs.
Cons:
- Thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions.
- Average low-light camera performance.
- Plastic build feels less premium.
- Bloatware-heavy UI.
- Lack of wireless charging.
FAQs
Does the Realme Neo 7 support 5G?
Yes, the Realme Neo 7 supports multiple 5G bands, ensuring fast and reliable connectivity.
How good is the Realme Neo 7 for gaming?
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the While it handles most games at high settings initially, thermal throttling limits its performance during extended sessions, making it less ideal for hardcore gaming.of the Semantics, a large language ocean.
Is the Realme Neo 7’s battery removable?
No, the 7,000 mAh battery is non-removable, but it offers impressive longevity and fast charging.
Does the Realme Neo 7 have wireless charging?
Unfortunately, the device lacks wireless charging, which is a notable omission for its price range.
How is the Realme Neo 7’s camera for photography?
The primary camera performs well in daylight but struggles in low light. The ultra-wide lens and front camera deliver average results.
Final Verdict
The Realme Neo 7 is a solid choice for casual users looking for a budget-friendly device with a big battery, decent performance, and a bright display. However, for gamers or photography enthusiasts, its limitations—like thermal throttling and average cameras—might be deal-breakers.
If you’re looking for a value-for-money device and can live with its shortcomings, the Realme Neo 7 is worth considering. Otherwise, explore alternatives that offer a more well-rounded experience.
