The Realme 13 Pro+: Is It Still the King of Camera Phones?
The Realme 13 Pro+ has arrived, and it’s making a bold statement: this phone is all about the camera. Building upon the strong foundation laid by its predecessor, the Realme 12 Pro+, the new model boasts hardware upgrades and AI-powered features designed to deliver an even more impressive photographic experience. But with a slightly higher price tag, the question remains: does the Realme 13 Pro+ still reign supreme as the best camera phone in its segment? Let’s delve into the depths of this phone and see if it lives up to the hype.
Realme 13 Pro+ Design: Looks and Feels Premium
The Realme 13 Pro+ doesn’t stray too far from its predecessor when it comes to aesthetics. However, a new glass-backed option has been introduced, adding to the premium feel. The Monet Gold color variant, which we received for review, features a captivating glass back with a unique wave pattern reminiscent of sand dunes. The curved edges of the rear panel ensure a comfortable grip, despite the plastic frame, which unfortunately remains unchanged.
The phone has a plastic frame and Gorilla Glass 7i on the front
The iconic large circular camera module with its flute bezel remains intact, now adorned with the HyperImage+ logo at the bottom. The removal of the vertical strip seen on the leather variant of the Realme 12 Pro+ results in a cleaner rear panel, allowing the camera module to take center stage.
The button layout is consistent with the previous model, with the volume and power buttons positioned on the right edge. The left edge remains devoid of any buttons. The top edge houses a speaker grille and microphone, while the bottom edge features a second speaker grille, SIM tray, USB Type-C port, and another microphone. The phone boasts an IP65 dust and water resistance rating, adding a layer of protection.
The box contents include an 80W charger, USB Type-A to Type-C cable, a case, a SIM ejector tool, and accompanying paperwork.
Realme 13 Pro+ Display: Curvy with Slim Bezels
On the front, the familiar display setup persists. The 6.7-inch AMOLED curved panel boasts a full-HD+ resolution with a 120Hz refresh rate. Users can toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates, with an auto mode intelligently selecting the best refresh rate based on screen activity. The display features slim bezels all around and a hole-punch cutout at the top center for the front camera. An under-display fingerprint scanner, conveniently placed at the bottom, delivers fast and reliable performance.
The panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 2,000nits of peak brightness
While the overall specifications might seem similar to the Realme 12 Pro+, there are notable improvements. The Realme 13 Pro+ now boasts a significantly brighter panel, achieving a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. This enhancement makes the screen easier to read outdoors, even under intense sunlight.
A pre-applied protection film covers the display, but it’s advisable to remove it and consider a different screen guard. The display is shielded by Armor Shield Glass with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 7i, providing robust protection. The curved sides contribute to a thinner appearance and feel, adding to the phone’s sleek design.
Realme 13 Pro+ Software: AI and Bloatware Infused
The Realme 13 Pro+ is packed with a variety of features, and while many are useful, some may find the bloatware a bit excessive. However, the inclusion of system-wide AI features adds a welcome touch. The phone ships with Realme UI 5.0, built on top of Android 14. Realme has promised two years of software updates and three years of security patches. If you can overlook the bloatware such as Hot apps, Hot games, Glance lock screen, and ad-filled keyboards, you’ll discover a smooth and refined UI. Navigation between apps is seamless, and we encountered minimal lag throughout our testing.
There’s still a lot of bloatware, but the UI is overall smooth to use
Among the AI features, AI Screen Recognition provides a "Circle to Search" functionality similar to Google’s offering. The AI Smart Loop feature simplifies sharing images, text, and other content. The Air Gestures feature allows for limited app control using air-based gestures, but it proves to be more of a gimmick than a reliable tool. The AI Eye Comfort feature attempts to detect eye fatigue and adjusts screen temperature. In reality, it simply changes the display temperature to a warmer hue, a feature that doesn’t require AI for implementation.
Two standout AI features within the camera are AI Eraser and AI Ultra Clarity, which consistently deliver impressive results. For a detailed look at these AI camera features, check out our dedicated story on the Realme 13 Pro+ camera features. Realme has aptly named its new image processing algorithm AI HyperRAW. Additional AI features include AI Group Photo Enhance for selfies and AI Audio Zoom for video recording.
Realme 13 Pro+ Performance: Decent
While the Realme 13 Pro+ provides decent performance in daily tasks and gaming, it’s not positioned as a performance powerhouse. Don’t expect a major performance leap compared to the Realme 12 Pro+. The phone relies on the same 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC paired with the Adreno 710 GPU. Our review unit came equipped with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, representing the top-end configuration. The phone uses LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.
You can play most games on the phone, and it doesn’t heat up too much
The Realme 13 Pro+ handled daily tasks with ease, including web browsing with Chrome, running multiple background apps, using the camera, and smoothly scrolling through social media feeds like Instagram. Gaming performance was also commendable, allowing for fluid gameplay with most titles. However, graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact and BGMI likely necessitate medium settings. The phone did exhibit a slight warmth during prolonged gaming sessions and extended camera use, but it remained within acceptable limits.
Below are the benchmark scores for the Realme 13 Pro+ compared to its rivals:
| Benchmark | Realme 13 Pro+ | OnePlus Nord 4 | Poco F6 | Samsung Galaxy A35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 Single Core | 902 | 929 | 1,835 | 1,013 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi Core | 2,764 | 3,817 | 4,693 | 2,805 |
| AnTuTu v10 | 6,86,071 | 1,074,178 | 1,457,491 | 606,767 |
| PCMark Work 3.0 | 12,699 | 12,336 | 15,753 | 13,176 |
| 3DMark Wild Life | 3,088 | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | 2,816 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited | 3,103 | 11,588 | 11,734 | 2,800 |
| 3DMark Sling Shot | 6,346 | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | 5,481 |
| 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme | 4,810 | Maxed Out | Maxed Out | 4,655 |
| GFXBench Car Chase | 25fps | 60fps | 71fps | 225fps |
| GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 | 48fps | 60fps | 112fps | 46fps |
| GFXBench T-Rex | 60fps | 60fps | 120fps | 94fps |
The benchmark scores paint a clear picture: while the Realme 13 Pro+ delivers respectable performance for everyday use, it falls behind its competitors when it comes to raw power. However, the Realme 13 Pro+ isn’t designed for power users but rather for those who prioritize exceptional camera capabilities.
For connectivity, the phone features Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and the standard GPS features. It supports dual 5G standby and utilizes nano-SIM cards. The Realme 13 Pro+ comes with a dual speaker stereo setup, with the bottom speaker providing the bulk of the volume. The speakers are loud and deliver decent bass, offering a pleasant audio experience.
Realme 13 Pro+ Cameras: Impressive
The Realme 13 Pro+ truly shines in its camera capabilities. The cameras are the star attraction, with the telephoto sensor being a standout performer. Three of the four cameras boast Sony sensors, a testament to Realme’s commitment to camera quality. Realme has announced a strategic partnership with Sony to integrate Lytia sensors across its flagship devices. The phone boasts dual 50-megapixel sensors at the rear, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide unit, and a 32-megapixel Sony front camera. The camera app is user-friendly, with all the essential elements conveniently placed. The phone offers a wide range of focal lengths, extending from 0.6x to 6x.
The Sony cameras perform very well
Let’s examine the main camera first. The 50-megapixel Sony LYT 701 sensor produces exceptional results in well-lit conditions, capturing stunning details, remarkable dynamic range, and accurate white balance. While the saturation can sometimes be slightly excessive, and images can appear overly contrasty, this tendency is more noticeable in photos with abundant foliage. The camera also handles low-light scenarios admirably, even excelling in dedicated night mode. Photos exhibit impressive detail, even in darker areas, with consistent performance in terms of white balance, color saturation, and exposure. The camera also accurately renders natural skin tones. Below are some samples from the main camera:
Now, let’s turn our attention to the telephoto camera. The Realme 12 Pro+ impressed us with its periscope telephoto sensor, and the Realme 13 Pro+ has taken things to the next level. Pictures captured at 3x zoom are brimming with details, boasting vibrant color saturation and excellent contrast. The telephoto lens produces a natural bokeh effect, adding depth to the images. Here are some shots taken with the telephoto camera:
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