At the end of July, Realme introduced the Realme 13 Pro Plus, a successor to the 12 Pro+, and packed it with several AI enhancements. This new version brings subtle improvements, like a 50MP telephoto camera, a larger 5,200mAh battery with 80W fast charging, and a more advanced 6.7-inch OLED display. It has dual speakers, an under-display fingerprint reader, IP65 water and dust protection, and the same primary camera sensor and Snapdragon 7-series CPU as its predecessor. The phone mainly relies on AI capabilities, even if the majority of these improvements appear to be minor. Do you think the Realme 13 Pro Plus is worth it? To discover out, let’s get into the specifics.
Design & Build Quality
The Realme 13 Pro Plus marks a noticeable shift in design, offering a glass-back option alongside its familiar vegan leather models. Its Armor Shield Glass with Corning Gorilla Glass 7i adds durability while delivering a sleek, albeit slippery, finish. The color options are eye-catching; for instance, the Monet Gold variant shines with a sparkly finish resembling sand wave patterns, while the Emerald Green version is notably lighter and thinner, holding a drop resistance certification.
One of the most striking design elements is the camera island, which is large and noticeable. The design aims to add elegance, with a luxurious watch-dial look, golden rims, and intricate metal lines. While the phone’s edges are curved, which adds thickness compared to its competition, it doesn’t feel bulky in hand. The device’s IP65 rating makes it resistant to dust and water splashes, but it’s important to note that it’s not suitable for full water submersion.
Other notable features include a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer at the bottom of the device, along with Hi-Res stereo speakers that deliver an impressive audio experience. The under-display fingerprint scanner is responsive and adds a layer of security.
Display Performance
Realme continues its focus on visual quality, with the 13 Pro Plus sporting a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 1080x2412px resolution, the same as the 12 Pro Plus. The display features a 10-bit panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling and an overall fluid experience. The screen’s peak brightness reaches an impressive 2,000 nits, allowing for excellent visibility outdoors. Users can toggle between three different refresh rate modes, but gaming enthusiasts may find the 60fps limit disappointing.
Thanks to its AMOLED technology, you get rich contrasts, punchy colors, and the characteristic deep blacks. Unfortunately, HDR support is absent, but you can still enjoy Full HD streaming thanks to Widevine L1 certification. Although Realme doesn’t officially support Google’s Ultra HDR photo standard, the phone’s Photos app offers a similar feature for images captured with the 13 Pro Plus, further improving photo quality.
The phone’s audio experience is solid as well. It houses two speakers, one at the bottom and another at the top, which doubles as an earpiece. When held in landscape mode, the speakers automatically adjust to provide a stereo effect. The bottom speaker delivers more punch, but overall, the sound quality is well-balanced, enhancing the multimedia experience.
Software and Performance
Out of the box, the Realme 13 Pro Plus runs Realme UI 5.0, which is based on Android 14. The phone comes with the June 2024 Android security patch and is expected to receive two major Android updates and three years of security updates. Realme UI 5.0 brings a host of useful features, including performance improvements, better privacy tools, and the new “GO Green” feature, promoting climate awareness.
One interesting addition is File Dock, which allows users to organize and share information using gestures. The Flash Capsule feature provides quick access to third-party services, making everyday tasks more efficient. The phone also comes pre-loaded with apps like Facebook and Amazon, though these can be uninstalled.
Under the hood, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, built on a 4nm process. While it offers slightly better performance than the previous Dimensity 7050 chipset found in the Realme 11 Pro+, it doesn’t compete with more powerful phones like the OnePlus Nord 4 or POCO F6, which target power users. That being said, for casual users who prioritize good photography and overall balanced performance, the Realme 13 Pro Plus holds its ground.
During testing, the phone achieved respectable benchmark scores, with an AnTuTu score of 677,898 and Geekbench scores of 865 (single-core) and 2,720 (multi-core). These numbers indicate a solid performance, even if it’s not the fastest in its price bracket. The phone remains steady under load, throttling only minimally during stress tests, which means it can handle most tasks, including gaming, without much issue.
Camera Features
The Realme 13 Pro Plus makes some notable improvements in the camera department. The most significant change is the new 50MP sensor in the telephoto lens, which replaces the 64MP sensor from the previous model. The ultrawide and selfie cameras remain largely unchanged, but Realme has bolstered its camera capabilities with AI-powered enhancements like AI Ultra Clarity, AI Smart Removal, and AI Group Photo Enhance.
In daylight conditions, the main camera produces stunning images with excellent contrast and sharpness. While some photos might benefit from post-processing to lift the shadows, the overall color balance is impressive, and the detail is outstanding, both indoors and outdoors. Portraits, too, come out with pleasing skin tones and great facial detail, although there are instances where colors may appear slightly oversaturated.
The telephoto lens performs exceptionally well, especially in portrait mode. Even at 3x zoom, the camera captures crisp and detailed images. The 50MP mode, while not delivering higher pixel-level detail than expected, provides sharper and more defined images compared to its predecessor.
Additionally, the 6x zoom option in the viewfinder offers excellent results, adding versatility to the camera experience.
Battery Life and Charging
Realme’s 13 Pro Plus comes with a massive 5,200mAh battery, the largest in the Realme number series. The 80W fast charging feature is a step up from the 67W charging seen in the Realme 12 Pro+, and it can charge the phone from 20% to full in around 40 minutes. Even a quick charge for 18 minutes will get the battery up to 40%.
In real-world usage, the battery easily lasts through a full day of regular use. During our tests, the phone lasted over 11 hours with a mix of streaming, web browsing, and casual gaming. It used just 5% of its battery after 30 minutes of YouTube streaming and around 22% during more intensive tasks like gaming. This combination of long battery life and quick charging makes the Realme 13 Pro Plus highly convenient for users who are always on the go.
Final Verdict: Should You Buy?
If you’re looking for a solid all-rounder with an emphasis on photography, the Realme 13 Pro Plus is a great option. The AI-enhanced camera system, coupled with a durable design, vibrant display, and long battery life, makes it stand out. Priced at around $395, the Realme 13 Pro Plus provides excellent value, though users looking for peak performance may want to explore other options. It strikes a good balance for casual users who want a phone that can handle both everyday tasks and deliver quality photos without breaking the bank.
