Looking for a budget-friendly companion, that will last a day with you? Realme just dropped a brand new phone, the Narzo N53 4G and it’s a stunner!
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Realme is famous for introducing premium high-cost smartphones for the past few years. Yet, early in 2023, it decided to launch the Narzo N series, to feature its budget-friendly series. To comfort Realme Fans, it launched Realme Narzo N53 on 18 May 2023. Though I am a bit late in reviewing this budget-friendly loveable smartphone, it was probably due to detailed testing based on several months. So, stay tuned with this article, if you need my personal experience of using this beast. So, let’s start with;
What’s under the hood?
- Unisoc Tiger T612 processor: This might not be a known name for you, but trust me, it’s got enough muscle to handle your everyday tasks and even some light gaming.
- 5000mAh battery: This beast will keep you juiced up all day long, no matter how much you scroll, snap, or game.
- 50MP main camera: Capture Insta-worthy pics with stunning detail, even in low light.
- 6.74-inch 90Hz display: Super smooth scrolling and viewing experience for all your movies, games, and more.
- 33W fast charging: Power up in a flash, so you’re never far from a full battery. ⚡️
- Super slim design: It’s the thinnest Realme phone yet, making it incredibly comfortable to hold.
Design and Display
I just got my hands on the Narzo N53, and let me tell you, it’s a mixed bag. Surely, it’s not a premium phone, you can definitely tell it’s budget-friendly when you check the materials. But hold on, just have a look at its sleek, fascinating body;
This Feather Gold version I have? This one is quite satisfying, sparkles like a rainbow shimmer. Besides, it is super light you can easily juggle it with one hand! Barely thicker than a slice of bread at just 7.4mm.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Two killer cameras + one helpful flashlight.
- Headphone jack, charging port, and speaker.
- The fingerprint reader wakes your phone up with a tap.
- Volume up and down button
Talking about the design; it comes with two rear cameras, and one flash that won’t leave you in the dark. This phone’s camera setup mimics the iPhone 14 Pro, but guess what? Only two lenses actually snap pics, the third one’s just a trusty flashlight. Speaking of standard stuff, the headphone jack, charging port, and speaker chill down below like they always do on phones in this price range. On the right side, you’ll find the fingerprint reader doubling as the power button, with its trusty volume button next door.
Before you scroll down expecting eye-popping colors and mind-blowing resolution, let’s be real: the Realme Narzo N53 costs less than ten thousand. For that price, you won’t be getting an OLED display for ultimate fun.
But this budget beauty still packs a lot for you. The screen’s got a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and gaming super smooth than most phones in this range. Sure, the colors might not be award-winning, but at least Realme kept the bezels nice and thin, giving you more screen to enjoy.
Plus, there’s that classic waterdrop notch at the top for your selfies. And while the brightness might not too good in the midday sun, it’s just fine for casual outdoor use. And for streaming your favorite shows, the device supports WideVine L3, so you’re good to go on that front.
Snapping Sensational Shots with the Realme Narzo N53
Let’s dive straight into the Realme Narzo N53’s camera game. I have never experienced such outstanding photography at this cost.
The 50MP main sensor on the back stuns you with its crystal-clear details, making every ray of light shimmer. Outdoors during the day, it snaps nice pics. The photos are super clear with lots of details. Even indoors, when there’s good light, the pictures still look great, just a tiny bit less awesome. To take a cool close-up of your latest masterpiece, the 2MP secondary lens lets you get up close and personal without losing any sharpness.
But wait, there’s more! Flip the phone and you’ve got an 8MP selfie camera ready to turn you into a social media superstar. And the best part? Using this camera is quite easy and anyone can master it. Here’s what you will get in Rs. 12K only;
- Night mode for moonlit strolls.
- Video mode for capturing moments.
- Portrait mode for blurring out the background.
- Time-lapses for condensing epic journeys into seconds.
- Pro mode for taking full control.
- Panoramas for squeezing the whole world into one frame.
- Slow motion for adding a touch of drama.
Besides, I also tried taking photos from a moving car, and the shutter speed worked well, no blurry pictures! However, in low light or at night, the photos lose some detail and there’s a bit of distortion around the edges. They’re still okay, but if you’re picky about getting perfect shots in low light, you might be disappointed.
Performance and Software
Think of this phone as the perfect companion for everyday tasks. Powered by Unisoc’s T612, this smartphone is insane at this cost especially. Scrolling through Instagram? Checking emails? Snapping pics? Streaming tunes? YouTube binges? You will never experience any glitch. But still, it’s not outstanding. Heavy games like Call of Duty? It might lag. But for playing Angry Birds, you can enjoy a full day with no glitches.
Coming to the storage. The base version rocks 64GB and 4GB of RAM, but mine was a beefy 128GB/6GB combo. Besides, I also enjoyed a microSD card for up to 2TB of extra space, and even virtually boosted the RAM to 6GB.
Now, let’s talk connectivity. It’s strictly 4G, no 5G bells and whistles. But hold on, I used it on Jio’s Noida network, and things ran very smoothly. So, while it might not be cutting-edge tech, it gets the job done.
This phone runs on Realme UI T-edition, like a lighter Android 13 for less costly phones. You won’t have a million ways to customize the look, but everything works smoothly and keeps things ticking.
One nitpick: I wish it had less pre-installed stuff (bloatware) like unwanted apps. Hopefully, future Realme phones will come leaner!
Realme added a cool feature called ‘Mini Capsule’ to the Narzo N53, and it’s pretty neat. It’s kind of like Apple’s Dynamic Island but for Realme. This feature adjusts to the display and hangs around the punch-hole selfie camera (sneak peek at the picture below).
What it does is show you the battery level, how much data you’ve used, and the number of steps you’ve taken in a day. You’ll see the battery status by default, but you need to turn on the other two metrics. The Mini Capsule not only looks good but also gives a bit of an Apple vibe. However, there’s potential for more improvements.
Battery and charging
Let’s talk battery life, because let’s be honest, who wants a phone that quits before you do? The Narzo N53 rocks a 5000mAh battery, quite awesome. This won’t disappoint you before a day.
For light to moderate users, this battery is quite good. Scrolling social media, browsing the web, or even catching up on your favorite shows – you’ll easily get fun the whole day, without charging it. But, if you’re a powerhouse user, blasting through games, editing videos like a pro, or streaming non-stop, then you might need to plug it in before bedtime.
For powerhouse users, I must recommend trying these features, to save maximum battery;
Ultra Saving Mode:
When things get desperate, this mode stretches every drop of juice, keeping your phone alive for basic tasks even when the battery’s on life support.
Screen Battery Optimization:
This nifty feature dims the screen brightness slightly, saving precious battery without sacrificing too much viewing pleasure.
Screen Battery Optimization:
While you’re sleeping, the phone goes into a deep sleep too, minimizing battery drain so you wake up to a phone that’s still ready to serve.
App Quick Freeze:
This one is best for saving battery life. It freezes apps you’re not using, stopping them from silently draining the power in the background.
But the best part? It doesn’t take ages to recharge. The 33W SuperVOOC charging is like a magic potion for your phone. Plug it in for just 30 minutes, and here you go! You’re already halfway back to 100%. And in a little over an hour, it’s fully topped up, ready for another adventure.
The charger comes right in the box, no need to go for extra accessories. Plus, reverse charging is there too, so your phone can be a power bank for your friend’s dying device.
Realme hasn’t compromised on safety either. They’ve got all sorts of tactics to keep your battery happy and healthy, like overcharge protection and extreme case protection.
In short, the Narzo N53’s battery and charging situation is pure joy. It’s reliable, fast, and takes care of itself.
| Reasons to Buy Narzo 53 | Reasons to Avoid Narzo 53 |
| – Sleek and fascinating design. – Large 5000mAh battery. – Rear camera takes quality pictures. – Comes with minimum cost. | – Owns a useless 2MP camera lens. – The gaming experience of it is just OK. – Unisoc’s T612 isn’t as good as Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. – Refreshing rate and brightness are not satisfying for many users. |