I’ve been using the Realme 15 Pro 5G for three weeks. During this time, its performance has been stable and reliable. With a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip, a 7000mAh battery, a 50MP camera and a 144Hz AMOLED screen, it offers impressive features at a starting price of RM1799. But how much do these specs translate into real-world usage? Here’s my full review.
Specifications
Realme 15 Pro 5G
6.8-inch screen, 1280 x 2800 pixels
OLED, 144Hz, 6500 nits (peak)
19.5:9 ratio (~453 ppi)
Corning Gorilla Glass 7
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor (4nm)
1 x 2.8 GHz Cortex-720 chip
4 x 2.4 GHz Cortex-720
3 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-520)
Adreno 722 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB RAM
256/512GB Internal Storage
(no microSD card)
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS
50 MP, f/2.0 (ultra-wide)
4K@30/60FPS
Front Camera 50 MP, f/2.4 (wide),
4K@30/60fps
1080p@30/60fps
Battery Si/C Li-Ion 7000 mAh
80W wired
Dual SIM/Nano SIM Telephony
NFC Yes
Infrared Yes
Waterproof IP68/69/66
Scanning System Fingerprint Scan
Face Scan
Selling Price RM1799 (12/256GB)
RM2099 (12/512GB)
Usage Experience
Throughout using the Realme 15 Pro 5G, I found the design comfortable and suitable for daily use. The curves on the front and back along with the rounded corners make this device easy to hold in various situations such as typing, watching videos or using it on the go.
I also appreciate the Realme 15 Pro 5G's thin and lightweight design, although I prefer the boxy shape. The design remains practical and comfortable to use for long periods of time. Despite being lightweight, this device feels sturdy and doesn't look like a budget device. In my opinion, the build quality is quite good and worth the price.
I received the Flowing Snow colored unit. The color looks modern with a smooth and shiny back finish like a pearl or marble surface. The design reminds me of the Huawei P60. Despite its simple and minimalist style, it still looks elegant and attractive.
In addition, the Realme 15 Pro 5G also includes a clear silicone case in the box as basic protection. Based on my experience, such materials tend to change color when used for a long period of time. However, it is still useful to protect the device from minor scratches in daily use.
Overall, I think the finish and color of this device depends on individual taste. For me, the white color used looks neat and gives a simple elegant touch without looking excessive.
I also noticed that Realme is experimenting with the Pulse Light feature located on the back of the device, where this light will light up for several functions such as notifications, GT mode and camera. While some users may consider it an insignificant feature, I think it makes a difference compared to other devices in the same class.
In comparison, vivo also offers a feature called Pulse Light on their Y series. Based on my observations, vivo's approach to the Pulse Light feature on the Y series seems more basic in terms of lighting. On the other hand, Realme uses a more colorful approach, which in my opinion gives a little difference in terms of design.
At the same time, the presence of three camera bumps on the Realme 15 Pro 5G seems to be more purely aesthetic. This is because this device is actually only equipped with a dual-camera system. Based on my observations, the additional bumps may have been added to create symmetry on the camera module.
However, I think this design is a bit disruptive to the overall appearance of the device. If only two bumps were maintained, this design would look neater and more balanced. It also doesn't resemble the design approach used by the iPhone, as some other Android manufacturers have also tried to apply.
The button layout on the Realme 15 Pro 5G still maintains the standard approach like most of their previous devices. On the right side, there is a power button and an easy-to-reach audio adjuster. The left side does not house any buttons or components.
At the top, there is a microphone hole. Meanwhile, at the bottom, there is a USB C port, a speaker and a SIM card slot. Based on my experience, this layout is easy to understand and does not cause any confusion during daily use, especially for users who are familiar with most Android devices.
The Realme 15 Pro 5G comes with stereo speakers. The earpiece is more focused on high-pitched sounds but is a bit muffled compared to the main speaker. However, the audio balance is still good and does not affect the overall listening experience. For me, the volume level is enough for watching videos and listening to daily music.
The quality is modest, but still satisfactory for normal use. The device also supports spatial audio through Oppo's OReality technology. However, the absence of Dolby Atmos makes the sound experience less outstanding when compared to other devices that support the feature.
The Realme 15 Pro 5G is equipped with a 6.8-inch OLED screen that offers a resolution of 1,220 x 2,800 pixels. The display supports 10-bit color, a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and HDR10+. In addition, the screen is also protected by Gorilla Glass 7i for added durability.
Based on my experience, the device's display looks bright as expected from an AMOLED panel. The brightness is high so that the screen is easy to read even under sunlight. The 144Hz refresh rate also provides a smooth display when scrolling and watching content.
However, I noticed that the 144Hz rate was not fully utilized because most applications only operate at 120Hz or lower. Therefore, the figure is more of a promotional value and not an actual use. For HDR content, I can watch on YouTube and Netflix without any problems. Photos in the gallery also look clearer when the Pro XDR feature is activated.
Hardware and Internal Software
Realme 15 Pro 5G is equipped with a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. In addition, support for up to 14GB of virtual RAM allows more applications to run simultaneously without interruption. This device also uses the Android 15 operating system with the Realme UI 6.0 interface and will receive up to 3 Android version updates.
Throughout use, the Realme 15 Pro 5G works well without any problems. The interface scrolls smoothly, animations look neat and applications open and download quickly. This performance is also aided by the screen with a high refresh rate making the experience more responsive and comfortable.
Overall, I didn't face any major issues while using this device for daily activities. Tasks like browsing social media, watching videos and using apps ran smoothly. This is not surprising as most modern phones are capable of performing daily tasks well.
AnTuTu 3D
Chip Score
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 1,012,352
Dimensity 8400-Ultra 1,590,533
Dimensity 8450 1,437,541
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 788,110
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 1,524,100
Tensor G4 1,016,712
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Chip
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 1201 3540
Dimensity 8400-Ultra 1575 6121
Dimensity 8450 1615 6174
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 1146 3123
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 1137 3130
Tensor G4 1916 4644
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Chip Score
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 6368
Dimensity 8400-Ultra 3839
Dimensity 8450 3780
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 1037
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 5334
Tensor G4 2567
In terms of first-hand experience, I was able to play Honor of Kings (HOK) at up to 120FPS with stable frames. This provides a smooth and satisfying experience, especially for users who value graphics performance. In terms of temperature, the device feels warm during normal gaming sessions but gets quite hot when running benchmark tests.
The interface looks modern and neat with new icons and attractive lighting effects. In addition, the Flux theme can be changed to your liking while smooth animations and two floating windows make for more free use. Notifications and quick settings are also separated for easier control.
In addition, the system offers various smart features that make daily tasks easier. For example, Sketch to Image allows me to convert sketches into more realistic photos, while AI Recording Summary helps automatically summarize recordings of meetings or classes.
I also use AI Copywriting to generate engaging captions complete with emojis. Meanwhile, Smart Loop can identify my actions and suggest suitable apps instantly, similar to the Magic Portal feature found on Honor devices.
The camera system supports several interesting features such as Ultra Clarity to improve the sharpness of blurry images, Motion Deblur to make moving subjects appear clearer, and Eraser 2.0 to easily remove unwanted objects. In addition, the Best Face feature allows correction of closed eyes in photos, while AI Studio allows users to create various visual styles from a single image.
I also found the Touch to Share function very useful as it makes it easy to share photos and videos between Android and iOS devices with just one touch. However, the presence of bloatware is still an issue and sometimes affects the overall user experience.
Camera and Image Results
Realme 15 Pro 5G has two 50MP main cameras. The first camera is a wide-angle lens with autofocus and optical image stabilization (OIS), so the images are more stable and clear. The second camera is an ultra-wide lens that is suitable for capturing landscape photos or subjects in a group. In addition, it is equipped with features such as LED flash, HDR and panorama to help produce more interesting photos.
This device supports video recording up to 4K at 30/60FPS as well as 1080P with several frame rate options. Users can choose color profiles such as ‘Vibrant’ and ‘Textured’ according to their taste. It also offers photography features such as AI Landscape, Night, Portrait, Street and Film. In Photo mode, there are Smart Scene options such as Party, Stage, Silhouette and Fireworks for more creative recordings that suit the atmosphere.
Throughout my use of the main camera, I found the photos taken to be sharp and the colors were attractive. Saturated colors are suitable for street photography and buildings, while bright colors are more suitable for portraits and colorful subjects. Both options produce clear and detailed images. Even under bright sunlight, the details of the subject are still captured well.
In low-light conditions, I noticed that the photos from the Realme 15 Pro 5G's main camera appeared less sharp. The AI Party mode sometimes overprocessed the image, making the colors too saturated. However, the camera was still able to produce acceptable recordings depending on the conditions and subject.
Switching to portrait mode, I found that the system failed to detect edges neatly, while the blur effect (bokeh) looked less smooth and unnatural. However, the camera managed to maintain natural skin tones without using excessive beauty effects, thus producing portraits that looked more realistic.
In night mode, I found that the camera sometimes produced glare, especially when the lighting was uncontrolled. However, when the lighting was sufficient, the camera managed to capture sharp photos with low noise levels.
On the other hand, when the backlight is too bright, the image quality decreases and the sharpness decreases. At night, the autofocus system fails to maintain accuracy when the subject is actively moving, causing the focus to be less accurate.
AI Edit Genie is one of the interesting features on the Realme 15 Pro 5G. It allows images to be edited to be more realistic with the help of Google technology. Based on my experience, the editing results are usually good but sometimes slow and inaccurate. Even so, it is still fun to try. Furthermore, this feature supports instructions in Malay, making it easier to use.
Battery And Charging
The Realme 15 Pro 5G offers a large battery capacity in its class, which is up to 7000mAh, which is a figure rarely found in commercial devices today. Based on my experience, the battery life is very impressive.
In normal use, I managed to get up to 18 hours 48 minutes with 35% battery remaining after a full charge. In other situations, I achieved around 14 hours 34 minutes with 55% battery remaining. Of course, the battery life of this phone depends entirely on your usage patterns and these figures are based on my own usage.
The 80W SuperVOOC fast charging is a plus and the charging head is also included in the box. This makes the offer even more worthwhile as users don’t have to buy an additional charger. With this large battery and fast charging, the usage experience becomes easier.
Conclusion
Overall, the Realme 15 Pro 5G shows significant improvements over the previous model. It comes with a modern interface, better AI features and a more flexible camera system. The 7000mAh battery and 80W fast charging give it an edge in terms of durability. However, there are still some shortcomings such as the presence of bloatware and sometimes inconsistent AI performance. The Realme 15 Pro 5G may not be a perfect device, but it still offers good value in its class.
For Realme 13 and above users, the decision to upgrade depends on your current needs. If you want a smooth display, more powerful cameras, long-lasting battery, and comprehensive AI support, then the Realme 15 Pro 5G is a worthy option to consider. However, if your existing device still meets your daily needs, then you may not need to rush to upgrade.
Pros
Smooth and stable performance with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chip.
6.8-inch OLED display is bright and sharp.
Up to 144Hz refresh rate.
The stereo audio system is quite adequate.
50MP main camera with OIS.
AI Edit Genie supports voice commands in Malay.
Large 7000mAh battery and 120W fast charging.
Cons
144Hz refresh rate is not fully utilized.
The camera is not sharp in low light.
Portrait mode is messy.
AI Edit Genie is inconsistent.
The presence of bloatware affects the user experience.
