The Realme Note 50, released in January 2024, enters the budget smartphone market with a focus on affordability and practicality. With prices ranging from Php 4,000 to Php 5,500 in the Philippines (and often lower when using vouchers), this device offers a solid set of features for everyday use. If there is a promo online, you can buy this phone at Php 3599.00. If you have a voucher you can get this phone for Php 2599.
Whether you’re a student, young professional, or just looking for a reliable secondary phone, the Realme Note 50 provides excellent value for money. Let’s dive deeper into the device’s key features, performance, and overall experience.
Key features of the Realme Note 50:
- 6.74-Inch IPS LCD Display with 90Hz Refresh Rate
- Unisoc Tiger T612 Processor
- 3GB/4GB RAM Options and up to 128GB Storage
- 13MP Rear Camera with PDAF
- 5MP Front Camera with HDR
- 5000mAh Battery with 10W Charging
- Android 13 with Realme UI T
- Expandable Storage with Dedicated MicroSD Slot
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner
- Dual SIM Support and Dual-Band Wi-Fi
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack and USB Type-C 2.0
- IP54 Dust and Splash Resistance
- Available in Sky Blue and Midnight Black Colors
Design and Build: Practical and Durable
The Realme Note 50 has a simple yet functional design. Its dimensions are 167.2 x 76.7 x 8 mm, making it slim and easy to hold, with a manageable weight of 186 grams. The device is built with a glass front, a plastic frame, and a plastic back, providing durability without feeling too cheap.
It’s also rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance, giving users peace of mind when using it in light rain or around water splashes. Available in Sky Blue and Midnight Black, the phone has a clean and modern look that appeals to a wide audience.
Realme Note 50 Display: 6.74-Inch Screen with 90Hz Refresh Rate
The 6.74-inch IPS LCD display is a major selling point for the Realme Note 50. The large screen size makes it ideal for media consumption, browsing, and casual gaming. It also features a 90Hz refresh rate, which is rare in this price range, ensuring smoother scrolling and a better user experience overall. The display brightness peaks at 560 nits, making it reasonably usable outdoors, though direct sunlight may still cause some visibility issues.
However, the 720 x 1600 resolution and 260 PPI density might be a downside for users who expect sharper visuals. Despite this, the screen performs well for basic tasks and streaming at 720p, which is still acceptable for the price.
Performance: Unisoc Tiger T612 Delivers Basic Power
Under the hood, the Realme Note 50 is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, built on a 12nm process. While Unisoc chipsets are not as widely known as Snapdragon or MediaTek, they offer decent performance for budget devices. The Octa-core CPU consists of two 1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 cores for handling more intensive tasks and six Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency in day-to-day operations.
The Realme Note 50 comes in three RAM and storage configurations: 64GB with 3GB RAM, 64GB with 4GB RAM, and 128GB with 4GB RAM. All versions feature eMMC 5.1 storage, which, while not as fast as UFS, is standard for budget devices. For those who need more space, the phone includes a dedicated microSDXC slot, making it easy to expand storage.
For basic tasks like social media, light gaming, and video streaming, the Realme Note 50 performs adequately. However, it may struggle with more resource-intensive games or multitasking due to the entry-level hardware.
Realme Note 50 Camera: 13MP Main Camera and 5MP Selfie Camera
The Realme Note 50 features a simple 13MP main camera with an f/2.2 aperture. It uses PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) to improve focus speed, which helps with quick photo-taking in good lighting conditions. However, the camera can struggle in low-light environments, as is common in this price range. The secondary lens is a 0.08 MP auxiliary lens, which doesn’t add much to the camera’s functionality but is included for marketing purposes.
For selfies, the 5MP front camera provides decent results in good lighting but lacks the clarity seen in higher-end models. Both the rear and front cameras can record video at 1080p@30fps and 720p@30fps, respectively, making them suitable for casual use, though not ideal for vlogging or high-quality video creation.
Battery and Charging: Long-Lasting, but Slow to Recharge
One of the strongest features of the Realme Note 50 is its 5000mAh battery, which is large enough to last through a full day of moderate use, including social media browsing, watching videos, and light gaming. Unfortunately, the device only supports 10W wired charging, which means it will take a while to fully recharge the phone. This may not be a major issue for users who don’t mind overnight charging or aren’t constantly on the go.
Software: Realme UI T on Android 13
The Realme Note 50 runs Android 13 with Realme UI T, a streamlined version of Realme’s custom skin. The UI is simple and easy to navigate, offering basic customization options and essential features like a smart sidebar, gesture navigation, and dark mode. While it doesn’t come with the full range of features found on Realme’s higher-end phones, it remains user-friendly and efficient for the price.
Connectivity and Other Features
Despite being a budget device, the Realme Note 50 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, allowing for a stronger and more reliable connection in various environments. It also features Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO, ensuring reliable navigation and location tracking.
Unfortunately, the phone lacks NFC, so it won’t support contactless payments, which may be a drawback for some users. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is responsive and quick, offering added convenience and security.
In terms of audio, the phone includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a plus for users who prefer wired earphones or headphones. The loudspeaker delivers acceptable sound quality for videos and calls, though it may lack depth for music enthusiasts.
Price and Availability
The Realme Note 50 is available in the Philippines with a price range between Php 3,599 for the 64GB variant and Php 4,999 for the 128GB version as of October 2024. Pricing can fluctuate further during online sales, with promotions and vouchers offering discounts of up to Php 1,000, making it even more affordable.
In other markets:
- United States: Approximately $172
- Europe: Around €99.99
- United Kingdom: Priced at £76.04
This competitive pricing makes the Realme Note 50 a strong contender in the budget smartphone category, especially when factoring in potential discounts through online platforms.
Pros:
- Large 6.74-Inch Display with 90Hz Refresh Rate. The large screen size is ideal for watching videos, browsing, and gaming, while the 90Hz refresh rate ensures smoother visuals and fluid scrolling, uncommon in this price range.
- 5000mAh Long-Lasting Battery. With its large battery, the Realme Note 50 can easily last through a full day of heavy use, making it ideal for users who are frequently on the go or prefer not to charge multiple times a day.
- Affordable Price with Great Value. With a price range of Php 4,000 to Php 5,500 (with potential discounts), the Realme Note 50 offers excellent value, delivering solid performance and features at a very budget-friendly cost.
- Expandable Storage via Dedicated MicroSD Slot. The Realme Note 50 allows users to expand storage up to 1TB with a dedicated microSD card slot, providing ample space for photos, videos, and apps without sacrificing dual SIM functionality.
- Dual-Band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. Supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), offering better connectivity options and Bluetooth 5.0 for more stable connections with wireless devices like headphones and speakers.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor offers fast, secure unlocking, conveniently placed for easy access when holding the phone.
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack. The inclusion of a headphone jack is a big plus for users who prefer wired audio devices, especially in this age where many budget phones are removing this feature.
Cons:
- 720p Display Resolution. While the screen size and refresh rate are impressive, the 720 x 1600 pixel resolution is relatively low for a phone this size, resulting in less sharp visuals and text compared to Full HD displays.
- Unisoc Tiger T612 Processor. The processor is adequate for basic tasks but struggles with more demanding apps and multitasking. Users looking for smoother gaming or performance-heavy apps may find the chipset limiting.
- 10W Slow Charging. Despite the large 5000mAh battery, the 10W charging speed is quite slow, meaning it takes significantly longer to charge the device compared to others with fast-charging capabilities.
- Basic Camera Setup. The 13MP rear camera is decent for daytime shots but performs poorly in low-light conditions. The additional 0.08MP auxiliary lens adds little value, and the 5MP selfie camera delivers average quality.
- No NFC for Contactless Payments. The lack of NFC limits the phone’s usability for contactless payments, which is becoming more common and could be a drawback for users in regions where mobile payments are widely used.
Verdict
Overall, the Realme Note 50 is a solid option for anyone looking for an affordable smartphone that can handle everyday tasks. Its large display, decent performance for the price, and long-lasting battery make it a great choice for casual users, students, or those seeking a secondary phone.
While it may lack the high-end features of more expensive phones—such as a higher-resolution display, NFC, or faster charging—the Note 50 still provides excellent value for its price.
