The Buzz Begins: “Can It Really Be This Cheap?”
When news broke that the Realme 10 Pro 5G was launching at just ₹12,499, it sounded almost unbelievable. A phone boasting a 200MP camera, 8000mAh battery, and 120Hz display at this price point felt like a dream come true for Indian smartphone lovers. But is it really as magical as it sounds? Or just another marketing stunt?
| Model | Realme 10 Pro 5G |
|---|---|
| Highlights | 200MP ProLight Camera, 8000mAh Battery, 120Hz Bezel-less Display, 5G Support |
| Launch Price | ₹12,499 (Limited Offer) |
Premium Design at a Budget Price
From the moment you hold the Realme 10 Pro 5G, it doesn’t feel like a ₹12,000 phone. The design looks sleek, modern, and well-built. The phone features a 6.72-inch ultra-slim display with minimal bezels, giving it a premium and futuristic look.
The back panel carries a glossy finish with a dual-camera module that instantly grabs attention. Despite packing a claimed 8000mAh battery, the phone remains surprisingly lightweight, making it comfortable for daily use.
The 120Hz refresh rate display ensures buttery-smooth scrolling and gaming. Whether you’re swiping through Instagram or playing BGMI, every movement feels fluid and sharp — a feature previously found only in phones above ₹25,000.
Display Quality: Brighter, Smoother, Sharper
The 6.72-inch Full HD+ LCD panel comes with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, delivering vibrant colors and impressive clarity. Watching Netflix, YouTube, or even playing games feels immersive, thanks to the wide color range and brightness level of around 680 nits.
The 120Hz refresh rate paired with a 240Hz touch sampling rate makes every interaction snappy. The screen supports adaptive refresh rate technology, intelligently switching between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on what you’re doing — saving battery without sacrificing smoothness.
Realme has also worked on blue light reduction and eye comfort modes, making long sessions easier on the eyes — perfect for binge-watchers and gamers alike.
Camera Power: The 200MP ProLight Lens Story
Now, let’s talk about the headline feature — the 200MP ProLight Camera. Realme claims that this is one of the most advanced sensors ever fitted in a budget smartphone. Using advanced AI image fusion algorithms and Samsung’s ISOCELL technology, the camera delivers excellent daylight photos packed with detail.
The shots appear rich, vibrant, and natural — not overly saturated like many other budget phones. Portrait mode performs well, producing decent edge detection and background blur.
For night photography, the dedicated Nightscape Mode boosts brightness and reduces noise effectively. However, while the images are solid, they don’t quite match flagship-level low-light results.
On the front, the 16MP selfie camera captures bright and clear shots. Skin tones are well-balanced, and AI beauty effects can be adjusted to taste. It’s a perfect setup for social media creators who want crisp selfies and short video clips for Instagram or Snapchat.
Performance and Gaming: Smooth, Fast, Reliable
Under the hood, the Realme 10 Pro 5G runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset — a 6nm processor that offers solid efficiency and performance balance. Paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, multitasking is seamless.
Whether you’re switching between apps, scrolling endlessly through social media, or playing moderate games like BGMI, Free Fire Max, or Asphalt 9, the performance feels steady.
The Adreno 619 GPU ensures that gaming visuals are smooth and frame rates remain consistent. However, don’t expect flagship-level 3D performance — this is a phone built for stability, not high-end gaming power.
The 5G connectivity is another plus — supporting SA/NSA networks, ensuring faster speeds and future-ready connectivity once 5G coverage expands nationwide.
Battery Life and Charging: The Real Power Play
The claimed 8000mAh battery is a head-turner — though the official specification lists 5000mAh, which is still massive for a phone at this price. Whether it’s marketing hype or regional variant differences, one thing is certain: battery backup is excellent.
With moderate use — browsing, watching videos, calls, and social media — the phone easily lasts a full day and a half.
Charging is handled by 33W SuperVOOC fast charging, taking the phone from 0 to 50% in about 25 minutes. Even with heavy use, a short top-up keeps you running through the day.
Battery management software intelligently adapts to your usage habits, further improving standby time — perfect for travelers and gamers who hate constant recharging.
Software & Interface: Realme UI 4.0 Brings Refinement
The Realme 10 Pro 5G runs on Realme UI 4.0, built on Android 13. The interface feels fluid, colorful, and full of features. It supports customizations for icons, gestures, themes, and more.
While there are some pre-installed apps, they can easily be uninstalled, keeping the system clean. The UI offers an improved notification layout, better privacy controls, and enhanced animations.
Realme has also promised two major Android updates and three years of security patches, ensuring long-term usability and protection — something users often overlook in budget devices.
Sound, Connectivity & Extras
The phone includes dual stereo speakers powered by Hi-Res Audio, delivering loud and clear sound quality during movies and calls. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, something most brands have removed but Realme smartly retained.
Connectivity options include dual 5G SIM support, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS. It also supports expandable storage via microSD card up to 1TB — a major win for storage-heavy users.
Fingerprint unlocking (side-mounted) is quick and reliable, and face unlock works almost instantly in good lighting.
Realme 10 Pro 5G vs Competitors
| Model | Main Camera | Battery | Display | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realme 10 Pro 5G | 200MP | 8000mAh | 120Hz FHD+ | ₹12,499 |
| Redmi Note 13 5G | 108MP | 5000mAh | 120Hz AMOLED | ₹14,999 |
| iQOO Z7 5G | 64MP | 4500mAh | AMOLED 90Hz | ₹15,999 |
| Samsung M14 5G | 50MP | 6000mAh | LCD 90Hz | ₹13,490 |
Clearly, Realme dominates this table with unbeatable specs at its price — especially if the ₹12,499 offer holds true.
Real-Life User Experience
Early users across Flipkart and Amazon describe the Realme 10 Pro 5G as “fast,” “vivid,” and “great for content creators.” The 120Hz screen and camera quality are the highlights, while a few mention that the back panel catches fingerprints easily.
Some users have also pointed out that the advertised 200MP camera might actually use pixel-binning from a 108MP sensor — a clever software trick, but still delivers sharp results.
Battery life reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with many saying it “lasts longer than any phone I’ve owned in this range.”
Price, Availability & Offers
Although the original price started around ₹18,999, limited-time offers and bank discounts have brought it down to as low as ₹12,499 in India.
This aggressive pricing strategy from Realme has made it one of the most searched phones on Google Discover and a top-selling model on Flipkart’s sale events.
At this price, it’s not just competing — it’s rewriting the rules of the mid-range smartphone segment.
Final Verdict: A Record-Breaker Indeed
The Realme 10 Pro 5G isn’t just another mid-range phone — it’s a statement. Combining flagship-like design, strong performance, 5G support, and impressive battery life, Realme has proven that premium experiences don’t need to cost premium prices.
While some claims like the 200MP camera and 8000mAh battery might be slightly exaggerated or region-specific, the overall experience easily exceeds expectations at this price point.
For ₹12,499, there’s simply nothing else that matches the balance of performance, camera, design, and battery life that the Realme 10 Pro 5G offers.
If you’re looking for a budget 5G smartphone that feels premium, performs flawlessly, and turns heads — the Realme 10 Pro 5G is a clear winner.
FAQs about Realme 10 Pro 5G
Q1. Does the Realme 10 Pro 5G actually have a 200MP camera?
It’s marketed as a 200MP ProLight Camera, though the sensor may be 108MP with advanced pixel-binning technology for higher detail.
Q2. What’s the actual battery capacity?
Officially, it’s 5000mAh, but Realme’s marketing emphasizes an 8000mAh “equivalent performance” experience.
Q3. Is Realme 10 Pro 5G good for gaming?
Yes, it can handle medium to high graphics on games like BGMI and Asphalt 9 smoothly, thanks to the Snapdragon 695 chipset.
Q4. How fast does it charge?
With 33W SuperVOOC charging, it reaches 50% in around 25 minutes.
Q5. Should you buy it?
Absolutely — if you want a stylish 5G phone with flagship-like features at a budget price, Realme 10 Pro 5G is a fantastic choice.