Realme Note 50 Review: Is This the Best Entry-Level Phone of 2024?

In a market teeming with smartphones vying for the attention of budget-conscious, Realme has consistently carved out a niche for itself by offering devices that balance performance with affordability. As we step into a new year, it aims to solidify its position in the entry-level segment with the introduction of the Realme Note 50. This device marks a significant milestone for the brand, as it launches with the promise of blending modern aesthetics with functional performance, all at a price point that’s hard to ignore. With the market becoming particularly price-sensitive, the Note 50’s debut is not just another product launch; it’s a strategic move by Realme to capture the hearts and wallets of first-time smartphone owners and those looking to upgrade without breaking the bank.

The Realme Note 50 is poised as an entry-level champion, boasting specifications and features that aim to redefine what can be expected at this price range. From its large display and camera capabilities to the efficient Unisoc T612 chipset powering it, the device promises to deliver a balanced smartphone experience. But in a segment that’s as competitive as ever, does the Realme Note 50 manage to stand out? And more importantly, does it live up to the expectations set by Realme’s claims of offering “long-lasting value”?

In this review, we delve deep into the Realme Note 50, examining every aspect of the device to determine if it truly is the right choice for looking for an affordable yet capable smartphone upgrade this year. Join us as we explore the design, performance, camera quality, battery life, and much more, to give you a comprehensive look at what the Note 50 has to offer.

Realme Note 50 Features

Unboxing and What’s Inside the Box

Upon receiving the Realme Note 50, the first thing that catches your attention is its packaging. Realme continues its tradition of vibrant, yellow boxes, which stand out with their bold branding. The box’s simplicity hints at the device’s entry-level positioning, The Note 50 Smartphone is wrapped in a protective covering, the device in its sky blue variant immediately draws your eye, and the jelly case is clear, allowing the phone’s design to shine through while offering essential protection against drops and scratches.

The box includes a standard 10W charger and a USB-C cable for charging and data transfer. While the charging speed isn’t groundbreaking, it’s adequate for the phone’s target market. SIM Ejector is a small but crucial tool for accessing the dual nano-SIM tray, which also accommodates a microSD card for expanding the phone’s storage. A quick start guide and warranty information are included, providing essential details about the device’s use and maintenance.

Design and Build Quality

The Realme Note 50 marks a significant stride in Realme’s design philosophy, particularly for its entry-level lineup. When examining the front design of the Realme Note 50, it becomes evident that Realme has focused on creating a modern and user-friendly interface that resonates well, and features a large 6.74-inch display, this sizeable screen accounts for an impressive 85.5% screen-to-body ratio, minimizing bezels to provide an immersive viewing experience. The front camera of the Note 50 is housed in a waterdrop notch, in the top place to maximize screen real estate while minimizing interruption to the display. Despite being a budget device, it does not compromise on build quality.

At first glance, the Realme Note 50 exudes a certain charm with its Sky Blue variant, presenting a refreshing take on how entry-level devices can stand out visually. The device features a dual-texture finish on its back panel: the upper third boasts a glossy, reflective surface that catches the eye, while the lower two-thirds opt for a matte finish, offering a subtle contrast that not only adds to the visual appeal but also helps in reducing fingerprint smudges, a common grievance with glossy surfaces.

The camera module on the Realme Note 50 is thoughtfully designed, incorporating three circular cutouts on the glossy section. This arrangement, while primarily housing a dual-camera setup and an LED flash, mimics the aesthetic found in higher-end models, lending the device a more sophisticated look. The camera islands themselves, despite their size, contribute to the phone’s overall symmetry and design coherence.

The build quality of the Realme Note 50, despite its entry-level positioning, does not disappoint. The device opts for a plastic construction, a common choice in this price segment, which manages to feel sturdy and solid in the hand. Also, features an IP54 rating, offering a degree of dust and splash resistance not always found in budget devices.

With a flat frame design, the Realme Note 50 ensures a comfortable grip, making it easy to handle during extended use. Its physical buttons, located on the right side for the power and volume controls, offer a satisfying tactile response, though their flat design may require some getting used to. The left side houses a triple-card slot, accommodating two nano SIMs and a dedicated microSD card for storage expansion.

Display Quality

The Realme Note 50 makes a solid entry in the realm of affordable smartphones with a display that targets the essentials while offering a touch of modernity. Equipped with a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD panel, the device presents a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, ensuring that content is displayed with reasonable clarity and detail for its price point. What stands out is the phone’s 90Hz refresh rate, a feature often reserved for more premium models. This inclusion enhances the smoothness of scrolling through web pages and navigating the UI, providing a more responsive experience that users will appreciate.

Despite its budget-friendly nature, the display achieves up to 560 nits of peak brightness under High Brightness Mode (HBM), which is sufficient for most indoor environments. However, visibility under direct sunlight remains a challenge, a common compromise in this segment. The screen’s 260 PPI density and the 90.30% screen-to-body ratio strike a balance between affordability and immersive viewing.

The standout feature of the Note 50’s display is undoubtedly its 90Hz refresh rate. This inclusion is a nod towards a smoother user interface and a more fluid scrolling experience, which can significantly enhance everyday usability. Whether browsing through social media, reading online content, or navigating the phone’s menus, the elevated refresh rate provides a perceptible improvement in responsiveness compared to the standard 60Hz found in most budget devices. However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of this feature can be contingent upon the software optimization and the hardware capabilities that support it.

Software and User Interface

The Realme Note 50 operates on the Realme UI T Edition, which is based on Android 13, offering users a near-stock Android experience. This customized interface is tailored to complement the entry-level hardware of the Note 50, offering an optimal balance between functionality and resource efficiency. Realme UI T Edition is a lighter version of Realme’s proprietary user interface, designed specifically for its more budget-conscious devices. It aims to provide a user experience that is both straightforward and efficient, stripping away any superfluous elements that could potentially hinder the phone’s performance.

The interface of the Realme Note 50 is notably clean and user-friendly, featuring large, easy-to-read icons and a well-organized settings menu. Out of the box, the Realme Note 50 comes with a selection of preloaded apps, including popular choices like Lazada, LinkedIn, Netflix, TikTok, and Spotify. While some users may appreciate the convenience of having these apps ready at their fingertips, others might find them unnecessary. Recognizing this, Realme has made it easy for users to uninstall any pre-installed apps they don’t need, providing a way to free up storage space and further tailor the user interface to their preferences.

Performance and Benchmarks

In the realm of entry-level smartphones, the Realme Note 50 introduces itself as a device that doesn’t aim to break records but rather to provide a reliable, everyday user experience. At its core, the Note 50 is powered by the Unisoc T612 processor. This chipset, tailored for budget smartphones, is built on a 12nm process technology, featuring two high-performance Cortex-A75 cores running at 1.82GHz and six efficiency Cortex-A55 cores.

This octa-core chipset, designed for efficiency and stability, operates alongside 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The 4GB of RAM, supplemented by up to 4GB of virtual RAM expansion, allows for effective multitasking, enabling users to switch between apps with minimal lag. However, users engaging in heavy multitasking or running RAM-intensive applications might notice performance dips. The inclusion of a dedicated microSD card slot for up to 2TB of expandable storage is a thoughtful addition.

In our testing, the Realme Note 50 achieved a score of approximately 247,000 in the AnTuTu benchmark. This score is indicative of its position as an entry-level device, capable of handling day-to-day tasks such as social media browsing, video streaming, and light gaming. In Geekbench tests, the phone presented modest results, further emphasizing its suitability for basic usage rather than intensive applications. In single-core and multi-core tests, the device recorded scores of 412 and 1,489, respectively. PCMark Work 2.0 Performance: Achieving a score of 5,980 demonstrates its efficiency in handling work-related tasks such as web browsing, video playback, and document editing

Gaming

When it comes to gaming, the Realme Note 50 manages to hold its ground within its limits. Popular titles like “Mobile Legends” and “Call of Duty: Mobile” are playable at low to medium settings. However, users looking to play more demanding games should temper their expectations and be prepared for compromises in graphical fidelity and frame rates. So, Lightweight titles like “Subway Surfers” and “Candy Crush” run flawlessly.

Camera Capabilities

At the heart of the Realme Note 50’s photography suite is a dual-camera system, headlined by a 13-megapixel main sensor accompanied by a black-and-white lens. In well-lit environments, the 13-megapixel main camera captures images with commendable detail and vibrant colors. The sensor’s performance is optimal when conditions are ideal, producing photos that are pleasing to the eye and suitable for social media sharing. However, like many entry-level smartphones, the Note 50 faces challenges in low-light scenarios. Images tend to exhibit noise and a significant reduction in clarity, a common issue among phones in this price bracket.

The inclusion of a black-and-white sensor enhances the device’s capability to capture depth information, facilitating better portrait shots with more accurate background blur (bokeh). This adds a creative layer to the photography experience, allowing users to experiment with depth effects.

Front Camera

Selfie enthusiasts will find the 5-megapixel front-facing camera to be a basic yet functional tool. In favorable lighting conditions, it produces decent selfies that maintain good color reproduction and sufficient detail for casual use. The camera also includes beauty modes and filters, offering users a range of options to enhance their selfies before sharing.

Video Recording

The Realme Note 50 supports video recording at a resolution of up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. This capability is in line with expectations for an entry-level smartphone, providing the means to capture moments in motion with acceptable quality. While it may not boast advanced stabilization features, the video output is adequate for everyday recording tasks.

Battery Life and Charging

The Realme Note 50 is equipped with a substantial 5000mAh battery, this capacity is particularly impressive given the phone’s entry-level positioning, which aims to deliver all-day longevity even under considerable use. The device supports 10W charging, which, while not the fastest available in this category, aligns with the phone’s affordable nature and ensures a balance between performance and cost. Charging from 0 to 100% can take approximately 3 hours, which might be a consideration for those used to faster-charging speeds. However, given the phone’s price point and target market, this slower charging rate can be seen as an acceptable trade-off for the benefit of extended battery life.

Pricing and Final Verdict

The Realme Note 50 has been strategically priced to make a significant impact in the competitive smartphone market. With an official price tag of 90$, Realme aims to attract budget-conscious consumers seeking a smartphone that balances cost with performance and features. This aggressive pricing strategy positions the Realme Note 50 as a formidable contender in the entry-level segment, offering more opportunity to own a smartphone that promises a modern design and a decent user experience without breaking the bank.

Additionally, the device is also listed on major e-commerce platforms, including AliExpress and Amazon, making it convenient for shoppers to buy the phone online and have it delivered directly to their homes.

Realme’s decision to set such a competitive price is seen as a direct challenge to other smartphone brands, especially with the growing presence of manufacturers like Itel, TECNO, and Infinix from the Transsion Group, as well as HONOR, which have been targeting similar market segments. When considering the Realme Note 50, it’s important to see how it stacks up against its competitors in the entry-level market. This segment is fiercely competitive, with brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and other emerging players offering compelling options.

The Realme Note 50 emerges as a commendably priced entry-level smartphone, making it an accessible option for a wide audience in the market. Its key strength lies in its solid battery life, thanks to the 5000mAh battery that ensures long-lasting performance, catering well to daily usage without frequent recharges. In addition to its strong battery performance, the Note 50 offers a smooth user interface experience. Running on Realme UI T Edition based on Android 13, the device provides an experience that is close to stock Android. This optimization ensures that the phone runs smoothly, enhancing the overall user experience by minimizing lag and improving responsiveness.

The design and build quality of the Realme Note 50 also stand out. Despite its classification as an entry-level phone, it boasts a design that resembles lower mid-range devices, offering a good hand feel and aesthetic appeal.

However, the Realme Note 50 is not without its drawbacks. The modest performance of its 13-megapixel main camera, particularly in low-light conditions, may not meet the expectations of photography enthusiasts. This limitation is somewhat expected in this price segment but is still a point of consideration for users for whom camera quality is a priority. Additionally, the device lacks certain high-end features that are available in more expensive models, such as a high-resolution display, advanced camera capabilities, and fast charging, which might deter those seeking a more feature-rich smartphone experience.

Another notable limitation is the phone’s charging speed, which is capped at 10W. This relatively slow charging may not be ideal for those who require quick power-ups during busy days. The absence of gesture navigation might also disappoint those accustomed to more modern interface experiences, and the HD+ display’s resolution and brightness may not satisfy those looking for sharper and more vibrant screen quality, particularly in brightly lit environments.