Reviews

realme narzo 50A Prime review: A basic and stylish phone

A decent option

Published

June 16, 2022

Andre Ibarle

It seems that every model in realme’s Narzo series has seen considerable success especially on the budget gaming market. They’re known for delivering great performance at affordable prices and could even be considered among the favorites in their class.

This time, realme seems to be going on a different approach as they try to accommodate an even more specific audience. They divided their new Narzo 50 series in three variations — the Narzo 50, 50A and the 50A Prime.

In this review, we are taking a look at the slim and stylish variant among the three, the realme Narzo 50A Prime.

What’s in the BOX

Let’s first layout what we have inside the box.

The Narzo 50A Prime only comes with the unit, USB charging cable, SIM ejector pin and manuals. There’s no included charger, earphones or jelly case in sight. Hmm..

I understand the logic behind the omission of a charger and other accessories on higher end smartphones, but I do find it unfortunate that this one in the budget line didn’t have them as well. Being in this price segment, there are likely to be first time smartphone owners who’d probably look into getting this or would be given one as a gift. And they might be disappointed to know that the charger is sold separately.

Performance

A quick run down of the specs for the Narzo 50A Prime, this is running on the Unisoc T612 chipset with 4GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage.

The chipset on the Narzo 50A Prime has gradually been getting the attention of a lot of gamers on a budget on social media. Which is why I want to dive straight into the performance as I am curious with what this Unisoc chipset has to offer.

As a daily driver, it gives satisfactory results and is pretty capable on most use cases like social media and usual web browsing.

Gaming

Getting into gaming, I noticed that there is no dedicated game software that powers up when starting our games which isn’t really a big deal, but might raise eyebrows of some.

Starting off with a few matches on Call of Duty: Mobile in different configurations, on low settings, I did find that the experience is quite enjoyable. There were no significant slow downs that affected my gameplay and I generally had a good time playing on this. Turning up the game settings to medium however, is a different story.

While the game is able to run, the experience isn’t very pleasant. I ended up getting beaten by bots on the earliest levels of the game because of the lags. And aiming at enemies became a challenge as they had already moved before I was able to aim at them properly.

Moving on to Genshin Impact, I did set my expectations lower since this is a more graphically demanding game but strangely, it was able to run reasonably well on its lowest settings. This is quite the opposite with the older realme C25 that we previously reviewed. The Helio G70 chipset on that one ran very well on Call of Duty: Mobile but laggy on Genshin Impact.

For lighter games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Asphalt 9: Legends, the Narzo 50A Prime handles these nicely at the highest available settings. Gameplay is smooth all throughout my tests, but like the other smartphones on this level, the ultra settings is still not a selectable option for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Software

One of the ways that realme has done to enhance the performance on the Narzo 50A Prime, is to have it run a lighter version of their own realme UI with the realme UI R Edition.

To its credit, the differences were very subtle and the experience was pretty similar to the full fledged realme UI, but after using it for a while I started to notice that oddly, the UI felt slightly more sluggish. This is weird since the intention behind the R Edition is for it to run smoother on their more affordable line.

Some of the built in apps are also replaced with lesser alternatives like the Photos Gallery app and the camera app which we’ll get to later in this review. By and large, I noticed that this software feels rather inferior. One example of this is that there is no prompt to access the phone as an external storage when being plugged into my laptop. In fact, I actually failed to find a way to transfer my files to and from it via USB.

Premium-looking design

The design is actually one of the aspects that I feel the Narzo 50A Prime excels at. Having a kevlar pattern and a shiny back case makes it look like it’s worth more than it actually is. The unit is compact and light and it surely looks better than other models it is competing with.

Realme embraced the mostly flat design keeping the curves to a lesser degree. It has an aluminum frame which makes it not only look but also feel premium as well. But the plastic back case does seem like something that is prone to scratches.

There’s also the usual ports below with the 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C charging port and speaker grilles but an upgrade we get here from the typical budget smartphone is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the right.

Display

The Narzo 50A Prime, despite belonging in the budget tier, is sporting a 6.6-inch FHD+ display which is another somewhat commendable feat at its price point. It also features a 60Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Looking at the screen, I could say that it does look sharper when compared to its predecessors.

I appreciate the higher resolution, but it does also come with a dew drop notch which by today’s standards, already looks outdated. The side bezels are relatively thin but on the bottom, we can see that there is a rather thick bottom chin.

I also noticed that it does have a slight magenta tint which is evident in white backgrounds. The colors do seem like it has boosted its saturation so images may seem a bit different when viewed on other smartphones.

Having said that, at 600 nits peak brightness, I do want to recognize that it does perform well under direct sunlight which is very much appreciated.

Cameras

For the cameras we are getting a triple camera setup with a 50MP main shooter, 2MP macro, a B&W depth sensor plus an 8MP selfie camera.

Surprisingly, I did find the main camera on the 50A Prime to be relatively good provided that you are shooting in well lit environments. The photos are nothing exceptional but I’d say pretty decent with adequate detail and good colors.

As long as we manage our expectations, it is very possible to get good enough results in the right hands. I could even say I get better results on this than a few slightly more expensive phones.

However, as mentioned earlier about the camera software, the shooting experience feels like it’s held back by this. It feels unpolished and doing street photography on this is a bit of a pain.

There is no other indication that you have successfully taken a shot other than the faint shutter sound. There’s no blinking or flashing on the screen. There’s also no brief pause after a shot, just the slightest sound which you can barely hear when outdoors.

Battery

The Narzo 50A Prime may not come with a charger but it’s nice to know that it does support 18W charging. It is also packed with a decently sized 5000mAh battery.

For day to day use, the battery is sufficient and will last you more than you would probably need in a single day. On normal use with mostly social media and some casual game time, we were able to get a day and a half before having the need to charge. This is slightly below the battery performance we get from other models with a bigger 6000 mAh battery but at least the phone has kept its compact form factor.

Is the realme Narzo 50A Prime your GadgetMatch?

I feel like I’ve been too critical of this phone that I’ve been forgetting that it is only priced at PhP 7,999.

So going back to this consideration, I believe there are consumers who would fit this target demographic as it still does mostly what we would need at a passable level.

If you are strictly on a budget and you don’t require heavy gaming plus you appreciate a higher resolution screen and this slim premium design, I can say the realme Narzo 50A Prime is a decent option.

But if you’re into spec demanding tasks and all that good stuff, the Narzo 50A Prime might fall short and it may well be worth saving up a bit for its more powerful sibling – the realme Narzo 50. That one, comes with a charger.

Reviews

Redmi 12 review: Just the basics

Decent-performing, nothing exceptional

Published

September 20, 2023

Levi Verora Jr

The ever-worsening local economy and inflation rate makes us think from time to time if we will have to settle for less — not by choice but by necessity.

When it comes to smartphones, opting for an entry-level device might still be worth it, as their overall quality and suite of features have improved throughout the years to accommodate users.

Still, that depends on what you’re getting — which then depends on how much time you spend on your phone and how heavy you use it.

Xiaomi recently released the budget Redmi 12 which, on paper, can give customers a reliable budget option. But is it still worth it when put to the test?

First, here’s a quick overview of its specs and features:

MediaTek Helio G88 processor
Up to 8GB RAM, up to 256GB internal storage
MIUI 14 based on Android 13
5,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging
6.79-inch FHD+ DotDisplay, 90Hz
50MP main camera, triple-camera rear
8MP selfie camera
IP53 dust and splash resistance
Side fingerprint sensor

Watch our Redmi 12 unboxing.

@gadgetmatch

New budget phone alert! #Redmi12

♬ original sound – GadgetMatch – GadgetMatch

Don’t expect it to be 100% smooth

When we first turned this device on, it took a little while for everything to get configured and finished, which is quite expected from a phone in the budget segment.

It’s decent everywhere else. Physically, the phone has a good feel to it when held. The interface looks neat and non-confusing. The screen has ample brightness and good colors to watch videos on your desired streaming apps.

You can switch from one app to the other, browse casually, and take photos or videos without experiencing major issues, but still, don’t expect everything to be smooth.

For instance, the product does say being able to watch videos at up to a 2460 x 1080 resolution, but I recommended sticking to basic full HD as the playback becomes glitchy and delayed when a higher resolution is selected.

Moreover, try to avoid having several apps open. As this is a phone marketed to the Gen Z audience, it’s tempting to use it and have a ton of social media apps open in one go, from Facebook to TikTok to Instagram to X.

Naturally, there will be links that lead to external apps from time to time, like clicking an ad that leads to Shopee or Lazada, but just do your best to keep the usage as low as possible.

For productivity? It depends

It’s best to keep it simple when using the Redmi 12 for tasks. Besides, there are tablets and laptops if you really want to be “productive.”

Granted, it can handle light tasks such as typing on Google Docs or editing a photo on a free app, but if you are going to open a video editing app and piece together high-quality videos with captions and add music or audio, it will take a toll on the phone.

If anything, it’s good that the phone still kept usual features such as a 3.5mm jock for listening to important audio, and a hybrid slot for extra storage.

Gen Z-tailored cameras

As expected, the Redmi 12’s camera setup includes a 50MP f/1.8 main shooter along with an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera for the staple 0.5 selfies nowadays. There’s also a 2MP f/2.4 macro camera which works well to capture details up-close. In front is an 8MP f/2.1 selfie camera.

There’s a 50MP mode to take higher-quality photos with the main camera, although that will consume higher storage space.

The key here is to match the phone with sufficient lighting. It’s not ideal when used indoors; the captures simply lack brightness, sharpness, and vibrance and the results become noisier.

On the positive side, you can take this outdoors to get okay-quality shots at parks, malls, and everywhere else where the lighting is fine.

Do note that you will need to be extra steady when taking photos as it takes a little time to record what’s on the viewfinder. It does not work well in capturing moving subjects as well when zoomed in.

The macro lens, on the other hand, is hit or miss depending on the subject.

At the very least, 0.5 lens still work well in taking good landscapes or sceneries. The night mode feature also allows for more light to come in for your outdoor photos in low-light conditions.

You can also shoot full HD videos at standard 30fps, for your next TikTok or IG reels upload.

Take it easy on gaming

Oftentimes, people expect much from entry-level devices when it comes to gaming. Surprisingly, the Redmi 12 performed decently on space fantasy RPG Honkai: Star Rail and 5v5 mobile MOBA Wild Rift, provided that you put the settings to low or medium.

Funny enough, the loading screen for Honkai: Star Rail, which is set to the best quality, took a while to finish and was laggish just as expected, but after that, you’re all good. Just keep in mind to give this phone an ample amount of rest after.

Also, since this is just a budget phone, you will have to come up with your own “gaming” or “do not disturb” mode. That’s either setting the phone to flight mode and connecting it to Wi-Fi instead of data, or disallowing all other apps from running in the background. Basically, it’s every little thing that saves up RAM space while you’re gaming.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

As mentioned, getting a device that suits you still ultimately depends on your needs and preferences.

If you just want a good everyday perform to work so you can communicate and entertain yourself while stuck in traffic or during your free time, the Redmi 12 is a decent choice.

But if you need a high-performing device without having to break the bank. Well, just have more patience and save up, because there are better lower mid-range choices waiting for you.

If you’re really in an “I-need-a-phone-now” predicament, it doesn’t hurt considering the Redmi 12. But we have put everything on this review to make you think twice.

The Redmi 12 starts at PhP 7,999.

Reviews

Apple iPhone 15 Pro + 15 Pro Max Review: Huge Leap Forward

There’s more than just the Titanium Design

Published

September 20, 2023

GadgetMatch

As you may already know, Apple has released their Pro-level iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max flagships.

A lot of you say they don’t look very different from their predecessors last year — but there’s more than meets the eye.

Aside from the new colors and a tougher Titanium Design, there are hardware and software features you’ll exclusively find on the iPhone 15 Pro series.

Curious to know what the hype is all about?

Here’s our very, VERY in-depth review of the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max!

P.S: This is currently our second longest review video in our YouTube channel!

Reviews

OPPO A98 5G review: A+ for all-around experience

A strong contender in its category

Published

September 15, 2023

Tom Lorenz Alulod

The OPPO A98 5G has a very promising spec sheet. With that, you may be wondering if those figures actually translate into real-life use. After rocking the device for nearly two weeks, here’s an in-depth review of the OPPO’s newest midranger.

Before anything else, watch this unboxing

A Beauty that glows differently

The visual upgrade of OPPO A98 5G from its predecessor is very clear, so much so that the difference glows. The new design of the handset feels very refreshing to look at. Personally, I think the vertical pill-shaped camera module combined with the fingerprint and smudge-proof back panel look and feel more premium. Despite being made of plastic, the phone doesn’t look and feel cheap at all.

The handset I got is in Dreamy Blue. The blue shade changes when light casts on it, projecting a subtle glow that comes in the shades of purple, pink, and sometimes, orange. However, if you don’t feel like this color suits you, you can opt for the Cool Black variant of OPPO A98 5G, which leans more on simplicity and elegance.

The front of the phone also looks great with a single camera punch hole in the center. The bezels are also thin, pushing the screen ratio to 91.4%.

It may be light but hold it tight!

Despite having huge hands, I am certainly not a huge fan of big phones. Using the OPPO A98 5G was not a difficult experience for me. Although, I have a minor issue with the phone’s edges.

Don’t get me wrong, I love its trendy flat edges and one can argue that I am just nitpicking. But personally, I think this phone is not the easiest to hold because of its sharp edges. And because it’s also light at 192 grams, there’s a feeling that it might slip off my hands if I’m not gripping it tight enough. Don’t worry though, because its free jelly case solved the issue for me.

On the contrary, the OPPO A98 5G’s weight did not cause me any wrist strain even when I used it for an extended period of time. When it comes to the size, there are (a very few) times when I thought I would reach a part of the screen or a button easier if it’s not this big or tall but hey, the extra screen real estate definitely makes up for those not-so-important thoughts.

A screen that displays joy

Speaking of screen, the OPPO A98 5G sports a 6.72 inches FHD+ LTPS LCD display. While this isn’t technically that much of an upgrade from last year’s OPPO A96, the Chinese phone manufacturer still found a way to make it better by packing it with a 120Hz screen refresh rate, providing a smoother overall experience.

This is also power efficient as the screen refresh rate adapts and adjusts to whatever activity you are doing. For instance, you’ll get 30Hz while reading, 60Hz for watching videos, 90Hz while gaming, and 120Hz for scrolling on social media. These numbers translate to real-life use as I really enjoyed the smooth scrolling and I didn’t feel like it was draining my battery that much.

Glows for a day or two?

It’s not a secret that even on its midrange tiers, OPPO takes battery and charging seriously. OPPO A98 5G is not an exception with its 5,000mAh battery that juices up with the 67W SUPERVOOC charging technology. OPPO says it will only take 18 minutes to charge the phone to 50% and 44 minutes to fully charge it.

While I didn’t get that exact same time, I still managed to go from 20% to 100% in only 46 minutes. That’s pretty impressive for a midrange phone.

Depending on how heavy your phone use is, the OPPO A98 5G can really hold up to your lifestyle. I’m not really a heavy user so the phone lasted me for two days at most, still having a few percent left before I fuel it up again. Note that I am not into games but more of a social media scroller Gen Z.

It’s also worth noting that OPPO’s exclusive Battery Health Engine technology is present in the OPPO A98 5G. According to OPPO, this technology doubles the battery’s lifespan to four years or more by carefully monitoring your phone’s charging cycle to keep the battery in top shape.

Just powerful enough

Flipping the sheet around, the OPPO A98 5G is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 and comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage out of the box. The RAM can also be artificially expanded up to 16GB with OPPO’s RAM expansion feature. The storage can also be maximized to 1TB with the use of an external SD card.

Basic tasks like social media browsing wouldn’t shake the OPPO A98 5G, so to speak. It handles a lot of apps with definitive ease. In addition, it can also multitask just fine. Well, almost all of the time. I said “almost” because while switching apps back and forth is not a problem, I seldom find certain apps launching back from the start after re-opening them from the recent apps drawer.

Mobile gaming

Delving into the gaming realm, I will be honest. I am not really into gaming but for this review, I did play Asphalt 9 and Roblox consistently. I also asked my cousin to play his favorite mobile games — Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact.

Surprisingly, the OPPO A98 5G handles gaming really well. I played Asphalt 9 and Roblox in the highest graphics quality setting and I am genuinely amazed that I did not experience any lag or frame drop at all. As for Call of Duty Mobile and Genshin Impact, I also observed similar performance as long as the graphics quality is set to medium or low settings. Dialing the graphics quality to its maximum setting resulted in a few frame drops and faster increase in the smartphone’s temperature.

As for the device’s temperature, the OPPO A98 5G gets warm when used heavily for a longer period of time but it’s not warm enough to cause discomfort in your hands. A few minutes rest for the phone is all it takes for it to cool down.

It’s loud. But it can get louder!

My love for music and the music industry (Taylor Swift) were satisfied with how the OPPO A98 5G’s dual stereo speakers perform. Sure, the bass is not flagship level but the sound it produces is loud enough to fill a whole room with music. And if your surroundings are not as peaceful as you’d like, OPPO’s ultra volume mode will let the speaker surpass the usual 100% sound level and go as far as 200% for louder sound.

Classic OPPO camera

Cameras affect a lot of people’s purchasing decisions when it comes to smartphones. The OPPO A98 5G boasts its 64MP main camera, accompanied by its 2MP depth camera and a 2MP micro lens that could go up to 40X of microscope zoom. On the front lies a 32MP selfie camera.

The good news about OPPO A98 5G’s cameras is that they deliver classic OPPO photography. The cameras are indeed better than its predecessor.

It produces sharper and vivid images.

The extra HD setting that processes the photo to be 108MP is glorious.

The microscope photography is mind-blowing.

Night mode works just fine.

And the selfies are clear and crisp.

The video recording, however, is not that impressive. Sure, it’s usable but it’s nothing jaw-dropping. Limited to 1080p at 30FPS and EIS only available at 720p, it’s kind of underwhelming to see this kind of video quality at its price range.

A love-hate relationship

The latest member of the OPPO’s A series runs on Android 13 topped with ColorOS 13.1. The good thing about OPPO’s software is it’s really packed with features that will give its users more convenience. Take the background stream for example. This feature allows you to play YouTube videos as audio in the background without having to pay for a premium subscription.

The downside though is the UI still looks messy for me. Booting up the phone for the first time will give you a welcome to lots of bloatware apps. Fortunately, they can be uninstalled with a few taps.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

In conclusion, the OPPO A98 5G has certainly made a mark in the midrange smartphone segment. With its eye-catching design, impressive display, and powerful battery life, it offers a well-rounded experience for a lot of users.

The device’s ability to deliver smooth performance and handle gaming well are really worth considering. The camera system, although not perfect, still captures quality photos and offers intriguing microscope zoom capabilities.

With its competitive pricing, I can say that the OPPO A98 5G is a strong contender in its category, earning an A+ for its overall offering and total upgrade from its predecessor.

The OPPO A98 5G is priced PhP 18,999 and is available for pre-order until September 21st. The handset can also be purchased on Shopee and Lazada.