Realme 8 smartphone review - Without fast internet the better phone?
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Rating Version | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.7 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | Realme 8 Helio G95, Mali-G76 MP4 | 177 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.40" | 2400x1080 | |
| 80.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | Realme 8 5G Dimensity 700, Mali-G57 MP2 | 185 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
| 77.2 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 01 / 2021 | OnePlus Nord N100 SD 460, Adreno 610 | 188 g | 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.52" | 1600x720 | |
| 77.6 % v7 (old) | v7 (old) | 04 / 2021 | Motorola Moto G30 SD 662, Adreno 610 | 197 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 |
Case, features and operation - realme 8 4G without NFC
Compared with the 5G model, the realme 8 features some differences: The model for 199 Euros (~$199) only has 64 GB of mass storage, but the realme 8 4G has a higher-quality AMOLED display. It has a frame rate of 60 Hz. A fourth camera, namely a wide-angle lens, is found on the back.
The realme 8 is available in black or silver. The back of both colors is glossy, divided into two parts, and features a large slogan of the manufacturer. The back partially refracts the light and thus shows iridescent rainbow colors, which looks chic. However, the plastic is susceptible to fingerprints and dust. The smartphone is cleanly manufactured and does not show any gaps or noticeable edges.
At 177 grams, the realme 8 is a bit lighter than other smartphones and also a bit handier, but probably still too big for small hands.
WiFi 5 is on board, so the smartphone achieves class-standard speeds and is quite fast on the Internet.
realme relies on its own UI, which is based on Android 11. The security patches are from April 2021 and are thus still fairly up-to-date. Apart from the Facebook app, which can easily be uninstalled, the software comes without third-party apps.
| Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT) | |
| SDCard Sequential Write 0.5 GB | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Average of class Smartphone (11.4 - 49.7, n=76, last 2 years) | |
| Realme 8 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
| SDCard Sequential Read 0.5 GB | |
| Average of class Smartphone (36.9 - 1269, n=76, last 2 years) | |
| Realme 8 5G (Angelbird V60) | |
| Realme 8 | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| Realme 8 | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| Realme 8 | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
Cameras - With wide-angle lens
The main camera has 64 megapixels and thus has a higher resolution than the 5G model. As usual, the resolution is quartered by default to achieve a higher light yield. However, users can also take 64-megapixel pictures. The camera takes decent pictures for the price range, but cannot compete with really good smartphone cameras like in the iPhone 12 Pro Max can keep up.
In low light, the brightening is OK, but the detail sharpness could be higher here as well. Videos can be recorded in 4K with 30 fps at most.
Wide-angle cameras are currently no quality wonders in smartphones, but the realme 8 at least has an 8-megapixel lens that is sufficient for snapshots. However, you should not enlarge the pictures too much.
The macro camera with just 2 megapixels can be used in a special mode. You cannot zoom between the wide-angle and main camera in several steps, but only switch directly.
The front-facing camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels. The selfie quality is quite decent, and details are also displayed passably.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Hauptkamera BlumeHauptkamera UmgebungHauptkamera Low LightWeitwinkelkamera
Display - AMOLED for little money
The AMOLED screen is the real highlight of the realme 8, which is hardly offered by any other phone for 200 Euros. The screen is also quite bright and evenly illuminated. The colors are also fairly accurate and you can select different color modes in the settings depending on your preferences.
You always have to live with PWM flickering in an AMOLED. It is a pity that realme has only equipped the smartphone with a 60 Hz screen; the comparison devices are already more advanced here.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 590 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.64 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 2.4 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
90.7% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.265
| Realme 8 Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Realme 8 5G IPS, 2400x1080, 6.5" | OnePlus Nord N100 IPS, 1600x720, 6.5" | Motorola Moto G30 LCD IPS, 1600x720, 6.5" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | -232% | -338% | -419% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 8 ? | 33 ? -313% | 46 ? -475% | 76 ? -850% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 8 ? | 20 ? -150% | 24 ? -200% | 38 ? -375% |
| PWM Frequency | 255.1 | 176.7 ? -31% | ||
| Screen | -31% | -1% | -26% | |
| Brightness middle | 590 | 576 -2% | 474 -20% | 284 -52% |
| Brightness | 607 | 550 -9% | 456 -25% | 263 -57% |
| Brightness Distribution | 92 | 91 -1% | 86 -7% | 83 -10% |
| Black Level * | 0.7 | 0.35 | 0.34 | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 2.64 | 3.58 -36% | 2.7 -2% | 2.92 -11% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.85 | 6.95 -1% | 4.89 29% | 5.06 26% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.4 | 5.7 -138% | 1.9 21% | 3.6 -50% |
| Gamma | 2.265 97% | 2.141 103% | 2.31 95% | 2.307 95% |
| CCT | 6913 94% | 7922 82% | 6430 101% | 6780 96% |
| Contrast | 823 | 1354 | 835 | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -132% /
-81% | -170% /
-85% | -223% /
-157% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 5 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 18 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 5 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 17 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 255.1 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 255.1 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 255.1 Hz is relatively high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. However, there are reports that some users are still sensitive to PWM at 500 Hz and above, so be aware. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance, emissions, and battery life - Fast SoC, good runtimes
The MediaTek Helio G95 is a mid-range SoC that is already almost two years old. It still delivers very good performance rates for the price range, but the 12 nm design is no longer showy. This is evident in both the temperature increase and the battery runtimes: The smartphone gets quite warm under load: We measured up to 48.6 °C. This is already noticeable at room temperature, and it can also become unpleasant in hot weather.
The runtimes are still good in our Wi-Fi test with 17:19 hours, but the realme 8 5G with a more modern SoC manages one hour more. Thanks to the 30-watt fast charging, the large battery is full again in just under an hour and you have enough power for a few hours of use after a few minutes.
The speaker sounds quite powerful, but is also very treble-driven and thus rather suitable for occasional use. Really good sound is available via connected headphones or speakers. A 3.5 mm port or Bluetooth are available as connections, both of which deliver clean sound.
| PCMark for Android - Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G95 (9797 - 10153, n=3) | |
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G95 (16 - 19, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.6 - 247, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G95 (19 - 22, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2.3 - 263, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G95 (10 - 12, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 144, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme 8 | |
| Realme 8 5G | |
| OnePlus Nord N100 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G95 (6.8 - 7.8, n=6) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 112, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| Realme 8 | Realme 8 5G | OnePlus Nord N100 | Motorola Moto G30 | Average 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 39% | -6% | -19% | 27% | 287% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 526 | 969 84% | 504 -4% | 214.5 -59% | 760 ? 44% | 1859 ? 253% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 187.8 | 201 7% | 219 17% | 190.2 1% | 297 ? 58% | 1445 ? 669% |
| Random Read 4KB | 144 | 192 33% | 106.1 -26% | 247.4 72% | 152.9 ? 6% | 278 ? 93% |
| Random Write 4KB | 133 | 175 32% | 120.8 -9% | 12.2 -91% | 131.6 ? -1% | 310 ? 133% |
Temperature
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 48.6 °C / 119 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 46.1 °C / 115 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.7 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Loudspeaker
Realme 8 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.3% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 55% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 72% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 22% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Realme 8 5G audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 33% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.7% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 54% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 38% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 71% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 23% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Realme 8 5000 mAh | Realme 8 5G 5000 mAh | OnePlus Nord N100 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G30 5000 mAh | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | |||||
| WiFi Websurfing | 1039 | 1104 6% | 1149 11% | 1069 3% | 985 ? -5% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - The AMOLED alternative
The decision to release a 4G model in addition to the 5G model of the realme 8 and then not even make it cheaper seems a bit strange at first.
Sure, the Relame 8 4G offers a high-quality AMOLED screen, which is rarely seen in this price range. In return, the realme 8 5G has a 90 Hz display and no PWM. The additional wide-angle camera in the 4G model is nice, but you have to live with a slightly older SoC and less mass storage.
The realme 8 4G is an alternative to its 5G brother. An AMOLED screen in this price range is rare and makes it worth a look.
On the other hand, this way there is a model for every taste: If you like AMOLED and do not need a 5G phone, the realme 8 is a good choice. The price-performance ratio fits, you get long runtimes, a decent camera and fast Wi-Fi. The software is fairly up-to-date and the smartphone is comparatively handy. The performance is still very good for the class despite the older SoC.
The high temperature rise and the lack of a 90 Hz display are annoying, which has become standard in this price range.
Price and availability
The realme 8 is available from the manufacturer at the time of review. Also at amazon.de you can already order the device, either as low-priced model with 4GB RAM and 64 GB mass storage or the more expensive variant with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB mass storage.
Realme 8
- 08/31/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Price comparison
