Realme Narzo 80 Pro review
Realme Narzo 80 Pro Review: The Perfect Mid-Range Powerhouse?
In the ever-evolving smartphone market, Realme continues to carve out its niche with aggressive pricing, performance-driven hardware, and striking designs. One of its most anticipated releases in 2024 was the Realme Narzo 80 Pro, a phone positioned firmly in the mid-range segment but loaded with features that push it toward premium territory.
But does the Narzo 80 Pro live up to expectations? In this in-depth review, we’ll take a closer look at everything from performance and display to camera quality and battery life to help you decide if it’s worth your money.
📦 Unboxing Experience
Right out of the box, the Realme Narzo 80 Pro comes with the essentials. You get the handset itself, a 67W SUPERVOOC fast charger, a USB Type-C cable, a transparent TPU case, a SIM ejector tool, and the usual documentation. It’s great to see Realme continue including a fast charger in the box, especially when many brands are moving away from this.
📱 Design and Build: Sleek, Premium, and Youthful
Realme has put effort into crafting a phone that not only performs well but also looks the part. The Narzo 80 Pro comes in two striking finishes—Glass Green and Glass Gold. Both colors feature a unique glass-like finish on the back that shimmers under light, giving it a premium aesthetic despite the plastic frame.
The phone weighs around 190 grams and is quite comfortable to hold. The curved edges and slim profile help with one-handed use. While it’s not the most compact phone around, it’s surprisingly ergonomic considering the large display and battery packed inside.
You’ll also find the usual button placements—volume rockers on the left, power button on the right (no in-display fingerprint scanner though; it’s integrated into the power button), and a Type-C port at the bottom next to a single bottom-firing speaker.
Verdict on design: Premium looks on a budget, although the plastic frame might not be everyone’s favorite.
🔆 Display: AMOLED at Its Best in This Price Range
One of the highlights of the Narzo 80 Pro is its 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. AMOLED at this price point is still rare, and Realme nails it with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and sharp visuals.
Whether you’re streaming content on Netflix, browsing YouTube, or just scrolling through Instagram, the visual experience is immersive. The high refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and animations, enhancing everyday usability.
Touch response is quick, and brightness levels are sufficient even under direct sunlight. HDR support is available for streaming platforms like YouTube, although support for Netflix HDR is limited.
Verdict on display: Easily one of the best AMOLED panels under ₹20,000.
⚙️ Performance: MediaTek Dimensity 7050 is a Beast
Under the hood, the Realme Narzo 80 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. It’s essentially a rebranded Dimensity 1080, known for delivering reliable performance and power efficiency.
Apps open quickly, multitasking is smooth, and the phone can handle demanding games like BGMI, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Genshin Impact without major frame drops—though you may have to reduce the graphics settings slightly for the most intensive titles.
Thermal management is decent, and the phone doesn’t heat up drastically even after extended gaming sessions.
AnTuTu scores hover around the 500,000 mark, which is impressive for this segment and on par with the competition.
Verdict on performance: A great pick for gamers and power users on a budget.
📸 Camera: Sony IMX890 Delivers the Goods
Realme surprised many by including a flagship-grade 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor as the primary camera on the Narzo 80 Pro. This sensor has proven its worth on higher-end devices, and it shines here too.
Main Camera (50MP):
Daylight shots are rich in detail with accurate colors and good dynamic range. The sensor excels in well-lit environments, producing images that look like they came from a much more expensive device.
Low Light:
Thanks to the large sensor and Realme’s image processing, low-light shots are quite impressive. Noise is well controlled, and Night Mode helps brighten up shadows without overexposing highlights.
Secondary Camera:
The secondary 2MP B&W sensor is largely there for depth information and doesn’t add much value. This is one area where Realme could’ve done better—perhaps an ultra-wide or macro lens would’ve made more sense.
Selfie Camera:
The 16MP front camera takes decent selfies with good skin tones and details in daylight. Low-light selfies are serviceable but not outstanding.
Video:
The phone supports 4K video recording at 30fps. Stabilization is good enough for casual video, though not as strong as what you’d find in flagship phones.
Verdict on camera: The 50MP sensor is a winner. Skip the secondary camera and focus on the primary—it’s that good.
🔋 Battery Life and Charging: No Complaints Here
A 5000mAh battery backs the Narzo 80 Pro, and it easily lasts a full day with moderate to heavy usage. Whether you’re gaming, watching videos, or multitasking, you’ll rarely find yourself looking for a charger before bedtime.
What really sets it apart is the 67W SUPERVOOC fast charging. It charges from 0 to 50% in about 20 minutes, and a full charge takes roughly 45 minutes. That’s incredibly convenient for users who are always on the move.
Verdict on battery: Excellent longevity with blazing-fast charging. No compromises here.
📱 Software Experience: Clean, Customizable, and Future-Proof
The phone runs Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14, and it’s one of the better Android skins out there. The interface is clean, fluid, and highly customizable.
You’ll find features like:
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Icon and layout customization
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Always-On Display
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Smart sidebar
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App cloner
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Flexible dark mode options
There is some pre-installed bloatware, but thankfully most of it can be uninstalled.
Realme has promised 2 years of Android updates and 3 years of security patches, which is a welcome commitment at this price point.
Verdict on software: Clean, fast, and future-ready with solid update support.
🔊 Audio, Connectivity, and Extras
The phone features a single bottom-firing speaker, which is loud enough but not as immersive as stereo setups. For audio enthusiasts, the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack might be a letdown.
Connectivity options are all present and accounted for:
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5G support (dual-SIM)
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Wi-Fi 6
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Bluetooth 5.2
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Dual VoLTE
There’s no IP rating for water resistance, so keep that in mind if you’re prone to spills or drops.
Verdict on extras: Functional but misses a few niceties like stereo speakers and an ultra-wide lens.
💰 Pricing and Competition
The Realme Narzo 80 Pro is priced starting at ₹19,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant, and around ₹21,999 for the 8GB+256GB option. At this price, it competes with devices like:
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Redmi Note 13 5G
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iQOO Z9
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Moto G73
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Samsung Galaxy M14 5G (though less powerful)
Among these, the Narzo 80 Pro stands out with its AMOLED display, Sony sensor, and fast charging combination.
📝 Final Verdict: Is the Narzo 80 Pro Worth It?
Absolutely. The Realme Narzo 80 Pro delivers a flagship-like experience in several key areas—especially the display, performance, and primary camera—while keeping the price in check. There are a few compromises (like the lack of an ultra-wide camera and stereo speakers), but overall, it’s hard to beat this value proposition.
Who Should Buy It?
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Gamers on a budget
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Content consumers who value a good display
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Photography enthusiasts looking for great daytime shots
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Students and professionals who need a reliable daily driver
Who Should Skip?
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Audiophiles (due to mono speaker and no headphone jack)
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Users wanting ultra-wide or macro photography
⭐ Final Rating: 4.5/5
Realme Narzo 80 Pro proves that you don’t need to spend a fortune for a high-quality smartphone experience. If you’re shopping under ₹20,000, this should be at the top of your list.