realme 8 Pro Unboxing and First Impressions: 108MP Without the Flagship Price?

Just like clockwork, the refresh for realme’s mainline numbered series will be arriving in the Philippines within this month. The arrival of the 8 series will be led the by the realme 8 Pro, which packs a familiar set of specifications but is highlighted by its main camera: a 108MP main lens.

Unboxing

Several generations have already passed for realme’s numbered series and the most consistent thing about them is the unboxing experience. The 8 Pro is encased in the traditional yellow packaging with its name embossed on the box.

Inside are the usual accessories that accompany a realme smartphone, which includes documentation, a silicone case, SIM pin ejector, USB Type-C cable, and a 50W SuperDart charge-compatible wall adapter.

Onwards to a 108MP Camera

The realme 8 Pro comes with a 108MP main camera, which is the most pixel count found on a realme device yet. Instead of using a Quad-Bayer sensor, the 8 Pro now comes with

The most attention-grabbing number on the realme 8 Pro is its 108MP main camera, which the most pixel count found on a realme device yet. Instead of using a Quad-Bayer sensor, the 8 Pro’s main lens is powered by Samsung’s ISOCELL HM2 sensor. Aside from having the capability of producing a larger image, the 8 Pro can achieve up to 3x lossless zoom and 4K30fps videos (although the sensor itself can do 4K120fps).

We’ve only had a short time with the realme 8 Pro but the photos taken by its main lens are well-detailed and their colors are punchy and naturally saturated. HDR performance also brings good contrast to photos, which is especially apparent in photos with harsh shadows.

Flanking the realme 8 Pro’s main camera are three more lenses: an 8MP f/2.25, a 2MP f/2.4 macro leens, and a 2MP f/2.4 mono lens. All three are fairly standard affair for a midrange smartphone but will take a look at their respective performances on our full review.

What Else is There?

The realme 8 Pro comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. While we are not allowed to post benchmarks yet, the realme 7 Pro shares the same chip which means that both smartphones should be in the same performance ballpark.

It seems that the fans prefer SuperAMOLED display since it makes a comeback to the 8 Pro instead of the faster 90Hz IPS display on the 6 Pro. Though we miss the smooth animations and gaming experience on a 90Hz display, the 8 Pro’s 6.4-inchc 2400 x 1080 SuperAMOLED display does deliver a better viewing experience with good saturation and contrast, and deep blacks.

The realme 8 Pro’s aesthetic receives a redesign compared to the series’ previous entry. The camera footprint is slightly larger and while the rear is made out of plastic, large portion of it has a sandblasted texture that lends to a more premium feel. The realme logo and its slogan “Dare To Leap” are embossed with a shiny finish. We can accept the realme logo but adding their slogan may be a bit too much text on the back.

Powering the device is a 5,000mAh battery that is compatible with realme’s 50W SuperDart charge. It is a bit of a rollback compared to last year’s 65W charging capabilities but topping up the smartphone still remains fast.

It is also one of the few smartphones in the brand’s lineup to come immediately with realme UI 2.0, which means it comes with a few software enhancements like less resource requirements, Private Space, and Dual-View Video.

First Impressions

From what have experienced so far, the realme 8 Pro is a natural progression of the brand’s numbered series. It does share some of its specifications with its predecessor but largely improves on the camera department thanks to its 108MP main lens, new software options, and new look.

Of course, pricing for the device is still up for debate. The brand will be officially launching the realme 8 Pro in the Phlippines on May 11, 2021 at 6:00pm via a livestream on their official Facebook and YouTube pages.