THE PRETTIER, SMALLER SIBLING - realme 5i

Last year, realme came out with a new entry-level quad camera series consisting of the realme 5 and 5 Pro. This 2020, the latest addition has arrived on Philippines shores: the realme 5i. Specs- and price-wise, it’s almost the same as the realme 5. So, what’s special about this version?

- AYIE LICSI

For a budget phone, the realme 5i offers a lot of shooting modes. The rear cameras are adequate enough for taking snaps for Instagram, but the front camera is another story. The 8MP front shooter does the job, but let’s just say it’s not the most flattering selfie camera.

The realme 5i’s rear definitely took a different path from that of the other iterations. Its plastic body feels sturdy—maybe that’s also why it doesn’t have a jelly case out of the box. Personally, I like the look of the 5i better than the other models in the 5 series. Our unit came in a gorgeous Forest Green and I like how it looks when light bounces off it.

Big-title mobile games run lag-free on this device and the UI is pretty friendly and easy to navigate for first-time smartphone users. What probably has to be one of the highlights is the battery. With a 5,000mAh capacity, I binged on YouTube videos for a couple of hours and I still have juice left at the end of it.