- Realme has launched the Realme 8 5G in India.
- It has the same price as the 4G model but makes a few cutbacks.
Realme launched the Realme 8 series earlier this year, with the standard Realme 8 and Pro model both being 4G models. What if you want next-generation connectivity on a budget though? That’s where the newly announced Realme 8 5G comes in.
The BBK-owned brand is taking the same route that Xiaomi took with the Redmi Note 10 5G, as the Realme 8 5G essentially trades a few of the 4G model’s features for super-fast connectivity.
That means you’ve got a phone with a much more modest camera setup than the Realme 8, for starters. The new phone ditches the 4G model’s ultra-wide lens and 64MP main camera in favor of a 48MP main camera and a pair of 2MP sensors (macro and monochrome). Fortunately, you’ve still got a 16MP camera for selfies in a left-aligned punch-hole cutout.
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Other notable downgrades from the Realme 8 include a switch from an OLED screen to an LCD panel (albeit with a refresh rate upgrade to 90Hz), and 18W wired charging (down from 30W). We also see a switch from an in-display fingerprint sensor to a side-mounted scanner, although this might be an upgrade for many consumers.
Otherwise, the Realme 8 5G boasts a Dimensity 700 5G SoC, 4GB or 8GB of RAM (with the ability to use storage space as virtual RAM), 128GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery. With the exception of the chipset, this is largely in line with the 4G variant.
Realme’s new 5G device goes on sale in India for a starting price of Rs 14,999 (~$200) for the 4GB/128GB model, making it identical to the Realme 8’s starting price tag. Expect to pay Rs 16,999 (~$226) for the 8GB/128GB option. The first sale kicks off on April 28, and the phone will be available in Supersonic Black and Supersonic Blue options.
