The stereotypes we held for the smartphones falling under the budget category have begun to shatter — thanks to all the smartphones packed with more than decent specs and coming with lesser than ever prices. This very smartphone segment is where most Indian users can be found, and tech companies, with Xiaomi as the arguable leader, are doing quite well to cater to the needs of budget smartphone users.
Another such company is Realme, previously an OPPO sub-brand, which is giving a tough neck-to-neck competition to Xiaomi; the most recent Realme 3 Pro (the Realme 3 Pro launch date in India was April 26) proves that as it stands directly against the Redmi Note 7 Pro (the Note 7 Pro release date in India was February 28), looking right in its eye.
As the two devices — the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 3 Pro — with identical price, moniker, and design — are the new contenders, I have decided to conduct a mini-review based on some features, putting the Redmi Note 7 Pro vs the Realme 3 Pro, to decide which one is the better option if you want a decent smartphone without spending much.
So, here’s which smartphone I liked better —
Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro Comparison
1. Design
The Redmi Note 7 Pro had impressed me with its back design back when it was launched, and the Realme 3 Pro didn’t fail to do the job either. Both devices, while carrying the usual volume rocker, power on/off button, 3.5mm audio jack, SIM tray, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and speaker grille, come with similar design ethos (with identical color options) and it gets difficult to differentiate between the two from a distance, and for that matter at a closer look.
The Realme 3 Pro is lighter than the Redmi Note 7 Pro which makes the former a better device in terms of ease of usage and comfort. Hence, I like the Realme 3 Pro better than the Note 7 Pro in terms of the design.
2. Display
Both the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 3 Pro come with 6.3-inch notched Full HD+ displays each with different names for their notches; the Realme 3 Pro has a dewdrop notch and the Redmi Note 7 Pro has the Dot notch.
While both the smartphones’ screens are doing well and appear adequately lit in my Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro comparison, the Realme 3 Pro’s bezels were less as compared to the Note 7 Pro’s which made the viewing experience better on the former.
3. Cameras
The Redmi Note 7 Pro (48MP+ 5MP) and the Realme 3 Pro (16MP+5MP) come with quite promising dual rear cameras along with front shooters standing at 13MP and 25MP, respectively.
While the Redmi smartphone offers 48MP output, the Realme device has an Ultra HD mode to provide 64MP results, which appears impressive for budget smartphones.
Both smartphones deliver decent pictures, be it from the rear cameras or the front snapper. While the Realme 3 Pro manages to balance out color production and not over-process the image, the Redmi Note 7 Pro brings out more details.
The selfies also came out pretty well in the Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro comparison. However, the Realme 3 Pro washed them out a bit while Redmi Note 7 highlighted the subject well.
As a reminder, as this is not a detailed camera review, stay tuned to Fossbytes for an in-depth one coming real soon.
However, you can check out the Redmi Note 7 Pro review — a full review as well as the camera review on Fossbytes.
5. Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro: Spec Sheet Comparison
Here are the Realme 3 Pro specs and the Redmi Note 7 Pro specs for your knowledge:
| Specifications | Redmi Note 7 Pro | Realme 3 Pro |
| Display | 6.3-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Resolution | 2,340 x 1,080 pixels | 2,340 x 1,080 pixels |
| Battery | 4,000mAh | 4,045mAh |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 4GB/6GB/6GB |
| OS | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB | 64GB/64GB/128GB |
| Rear Camera | 48MP+5MP | 16MP+5MP |
| Front Camera | 13MP | 25MP |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 |
| Weight | 186g | 172g |
| Phone Features | IR Blaster | Fast Charger |
| Starting Price | Rs 13,999 | Rs 13,999 |
6. Biometrics
Both the Realme 3 Pro and the Redmi Note 7 Pro support a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and the Face Unlock feature. While both options work nicely, the fingerprint sensor and facial recognition on the Realme 3 Pro conveniently unlocks the device and more often than not was able to recognize my fingerprint and my face, respectively.
7. Other Minor Yet Noticeable Features
Notch
I liked the Realme 3 Pro’s notch more as the dewdrop notch is smaller which will prove less annoying for many notch haters out there.
Processor
The Realme 3 Pro has a Snapdragon 710 processor which is slightly better than the Snapdragon 675 chipset found in the Redmi Note 7 Pro.
SIM Slot
The Realme 3 Pro has a dual-SIM tray along with a microSD card slot which proves easier and better than the hybrid slot in the Note 7 Pro.
Charging Port
The Realme 3 Pro also has a micro-USB port which is upsetting given that most of the companies are inclining towards the USB Type-C port, even the Redmi Note 7 Pro.
Rear Camera Module
The Redmi Note 7 Pro has a protruding rear camera setup (due to the 48MP snapper) which is disturbing when the device is kept somewhere, which is not the case with the Realme 3 Pro.
Fast Charging
While the Redmi Note 7 Pro supports Quick Charge 4.0 tech, the Realme 3 Pro’s fast charger proves better as it is really quick to take in all the fuel as compared to the Note 7 Pro.
Verdict
The Realme 3 Pro and the Redmi Note 7 Pro are not only reminiscent of each other in terms of the design but also many things, and this makes it tough to declare the ultimate winner in this Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro comparison.
While we will soon be coming up with a full comparison review to conclude which device is the budget king (or maybe queen!), my feature comparison suggests that Realme 3 Pro is a feature-rich smartphone that comes with features that are not ignorable, and wins the battle against the Redmi Note 7 Pro.
