realme X3 SuperZoom Review : Features 120Hz Display & 60x Telephoto

The flagship smartphone release in 2020 seems to have an unwritten requirement to have a good camera zoom capability. Well even though only digital zoom, at least in terms of numbers, sounds pretty impressive. The latest smartphone that also follows this trend is the realme XZ SuperZoom.

Realme that claim itself as a Tech Trendsetter, make serious effort to present new advanced technology for a more affordable price segment. In the middle of 2020, they tried to do it again by launching the realme X3 SuperZoom. As the name implies, this smartphone can produce a zoom that is further than the previous flagship that was present in Indonesia late last year. No longer use telephoto lenses, but rather a more sophisticated periscope.

Although intended as a successor to the X2 Pro series, the combination of hardware that is owned is arguably rather unique. The same feeling as when I tried Realme 6 Pro, which became the successor to the XT series. Some went up, but some went down. Then how about the quality of this smartphone as a whole? Here is my review of the realme X3 SuperZoom, from the perspective of X2 Pro users.

Design

In contrast to the realme X2 Pro that appears quite bright, especially with the placement of the logo which is rather crowded because it is not public, the realme X3 SuperZoom appears more calm. At the rear, the 3D curved glass panel is given an anti-glare coating so it looks matte. The glass is also given a fingerprint-proof coating, so it’s not easy to get dirty like in Realme 6 Pro. The position of the camera moves to the top left, with the logo at the bottom left.

The unit I reviewed this time is an Arctic White, with a silver frame. There are two sides that also look different from the previous generation. On the right side, you can find a bigger power button, integrated with a fingerprint sensor.

Yes, therealme  XZ SuperZoom is not equipped with an in-display fingerprint sensor, but at least this placement is quite practical to use. Although in some cases, including reality 6, where in the long term use, the level of accuracy decreases. Hopefully the one on this phone is more durable.

The SIM card slot also moves down, occupying the position previously used for the 3.5mm audio jack. Make sure you have USB-C earphones or wireless earphones to enjoy music from this smartphone.

When held, the realme X3 SuperZoom feels quite sturdy and not slippery. This is thanks to its weight which is slightly over 200 grams. Although not shiny, the rear body is able to display attractive color gradations from a certain tilt and light capture angle. Plus the yellow accent on the periscope lens, giving a subtle appeal.

Screen

Turning to the front side, we will find a large screen with dimensions of 6.6 inches. This screen has a full HD + resolution with a body to screen ratio reaching 90.5%, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The camera design is more modern, use a model punch-hole located on the left, no longer waterdrop notch like its predecessor. The edge of the camera will give an interesting light effect when face unlock is actively detecting faces.

So what’s so special about the realme X3 SuperZoom screen? realme has succeeded in bringing high refresh rate technology, 120Hz to a much more affordable price segment. Previously, I could only feel this technology through the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. Now, you don’t need to spend too deep to enjoy the Ultra Smooth Display experience. The difference will be very pronounced if you previously used a conventional 60Hz screen, but if you previously used 90Hz, not too much difference.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Review: Mixed Feeling of the Flagship

But that’s all the “special” side of the realm’s latest flagship screen. Unfortunately, realm needs to trim other features. The screen now uses an IPS panel, no longer AMOLED like its predecessor. Thus, the bottom bezel cannot be made as thin as the realme X2 Pro.

The specifications are also simpler, do not have HDR10 certification, DCI-P3 color gamut standard or high contrast that can be offered from AMOLED screens. The SuperZoom X3 screen is far from bad, but it’s not special either. The level of brightness when used outdoors is just enough.

realme X3 SuperZoom Camera

Being a star that can capture stars, the realme X3 SuperZoom presents a quite special four camera setup. Compared to the X2 Pro realm, the successor series has the same two lenses and two different lenses. The main lens together use the Samsung GW1 sensor, 64MP resolution with f / 1.8 aperture. The sensor dimensions are 1 / 1.72 inches, use quad-bayer technology that is able to combine four individual pixels into one, resulting in a 16MP resolution photo with a large pixel of 1.6μm.

Furthermore, there is an 8MP f / 2.3 ultra wide-angle lens which has a wide viewing angle of 119 degrees. If the previous series doubles as a macro camera, this time the reality chose to provide a 2MP f / 2.4 macro lens separately, replacing the portrait lens. This also makes the ultra wide lens doesn’t have autofocus, so it can’t be used for close-up photos of objects.

Then the most special lens is placed at the top, periscope type with a resolution of 8MP f / 3.4. If you previously had a 20X hybrid zoom capability, this periscope lens has a 5x optical magnification with a total 60x zoom combination. If the lens is usually arranged vertically, the periscope lens is arranged sideways, with the catch of light deflected 90 degrees using a series of mirrors. Therefore, the shape looks bigger than other types of lenses.

Because the magnification distance is further with the opening a narrower, the realm provides OIS technology specifically for this one lens, so it is more stable when zooming to the maximum even, coupled with AI-based enhancements. It seems there is no other smartphone in the price range of less than Rp 10 million that can carry periscope lenses like the realme X3 SuperZoom.

When used in night conditions though, 5x magnification of the periscope lens is still quite reliable. Well do not expect the quality can be equivalent to the main lens, but the object is still clearly visible, even though 10x. 60x zoom is only useful when enough light or outdoor, while at night conditions, just 30x zoom already looks blurry. And just like on other smartphones, this lens cannot focus for close-range objects. At least more than 30cm, I can only focus.

Of course there are a variety of other features brought to the camera mode. Most noticeably, the Chroma Boost mode on the X2 Pro was replaced by “AI Dazzle Color” in the X3 SuperZoom. Its function is similar, increasing the saturation and brightness so that the photo looks more attractive. The difference is, the immediate effect seems to change significantly directly without the need to take photos. You can also turn off the suggested effect at one time, if indeed the increase in saturation given is not suitable.

Starry Mode

Not only that, this smartphone has a special mode that is stored in the night mode menu, which is “Starry Mode”. As the name implies, this mode allows X3 SuperZoom users to easily capture stars in the sky in one shot, without the need to use third-party applications with image stacking. In this mode, the smartphone will capture photos with a total time of 4.5 minutes, so it takes a tripod and also the condition of the sky is clean, not exposed to light pollution from tall buildings or clouds.

Many times trying this mode, I concluded that it is rather difficult to use it in urban conditions that have many tall buildings. Maybe it’s possible to note that the sky is clear without pollution or cloudy conditions.

Next I will attach two photos with Starry Mode, the first photo taken in the area around Rasuna Said, Jakarta. While the second photo was taken from a large field in Surabaya, by my friend Alvien who also reviewed this smartphone for Community realm. From these two photos, I conclude that this mode is not a trick mode that uses AI or post-processing excess which adds the effect of star or sky.

While the results of the photo from the main lens still looks equivalent to the X2 Pro. Overall, it is still not exactly the same as other flagship, including when compared to the Mi Note 10 which is in the price range not much different (although the processor is different, yes). Without OIS, photos at night sometimes look a bit blurry, and smooth as watercolors. Ultra nightscape mode can provide significant brightness, but not the details of the photo.

For video recording, X3 SuperZoom supports up to 4K 60fps resolution. There are special video modes such as Ultra Steady, HDR and video bokeh. When doing video recording, we can move from ultra-wide lenses to periscope smoothly and smoothly. This does not apply to the front camera. Yes, this smartphone has two front camera setups, with a Sony IMX616 32MP f / 2.5 main lens, and an ultra-wide 8MP f / 2.2 lens.

For the full photo you can access it on this following album.

Realme X3 SuperZoom Features

This smartphone runs UI 1.0 based on Android 10. If you are familiar with the latest ColorOS, you will definitely feel the same as the interface that is in the realme XZ SuperZoom. There are tons of features you can find in it, including shortcuts to access Google Assistant by holding the power button for less than a second. Quite practical when using full screen navigation mode, so you don’t need to call by voice.

You can also record the screen directly without the need to use third-party applications, complete with features such as turning on the front camera while recording the screen. Taking screenshots (screenshots) can also be done easily with a three-finger gesture down. And different from other UI, UI realme has the ability to turn any application into dark with dark mode, just call it Gojek and Grab. But this feature is still in beta, so it’s still not completely optimal.

For multimedia, unfortunately this smartphone is not equipped with stereo speaker setup like X2 Pro. Mono speakers that are put down are loud enough, indeed. But it’s still not as immersive as the sound output from two speakers. Even so, the Dolby Atmos feature is still available, including for wireless audio devices. And of course, NFC sensors to fill balances directly to e-money cards.

Performance

the realme X3 SuperZoom still uses the same chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus which was generally used by the flagship last year. Even so, the performance is still very speeding, really. With an octa-core CPU up to 2.96GHz and an Adreno 640 GPU, you can run games with high graphics without problems. But keep in mind, not all games support high refresh rates. So don’t blame the smartphone if framerate still runs at 60Hz.

The chipset is paired with 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage. This is able to increase the speed of reading or copying data, very helpful when you have just moved WhatsApp local data, for example. No need to wait a long time even though there are tens of thousands of photo files that must be moved. The cooling system has also been improved, using a combination of many layers of coated graphite, silicon and a vapor cooling tube with a diameter of 8mm. This system can distribute heat in full, and is claimed to reduce temperatures by up to 12.5%.

Battery

Its capacity is slightly increased from the previous series. Realme X3 SuperZoom equipped with a capacity of 4200 mAh battery, which is very sufficient for everyday use. I noted usage with a screen-on time of around 5-6 hours, with Bluetooth always active and screen mode at 120Hz. Naturally, if not much different, because although the refresh rate is higher, the screen does not have an always-on display function. Realm also provides features such as Screen Battery Optimization, which is claimed to increase life time by up to 10%.

Another thing that is trimmed is the speed of its charge content. If X2 Pro only needs to charge 30 minutes via 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge, users of the realme X3 SuperZoom should be a little more patient. 30W Dart Charge can charge about 1 hour via the USB-C port. No longer the fastest, even though 1 hour is very fast or at least on par with other flagships, even the more expensive ones.

Conclusion

For a price of less than Rp. 8 million, reality is once again able to bring technology that was originally only found on smartphones whose prices reached twice as high, namely the display technology with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a periscope lens with a very far zoom capability through the realme X3 SuperZoom. The camera feature is also very complete, suitable for you who want a flagship to support astrophotography activities. Overall, this smartphone is able to provide good value.

Well, for those of you who have used the X2 Pro realm and are confused about whether to upgrade or not, the answer can be yes and no. If you really want a camera that is more flexible with a periscope lens and two front cameras, and a screen with smoother movements, you can upgrade to the X3 SuperZoom. If deemed unnecessary, the X2 Pro is still superior to AMOLED panels, stereo speakers and much faster charging. Customize your needs, yes.