This is one of the most beautiful phones I’ve seen in 2024

Realme returns in a big way with the announcement of the Realme 13 Pro+, whose colors and design are inspired by a true master of art.

I had the phone in my hand for a few hours—just long enough to take a few photos and get a feel for the device. I can already confirm that it’s one of the best-looking phones I’ve seen this year.

What you need to know about Realme 13 Pro+

Before we get into how the phone feels to hold and use, here are the key facts about the device. The 6.7-inch OLED screen has a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 1,200 nits, but averages 600 nits of brightness. I had no issues viewing it in sunlight. The software is Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0 on top, which shares many design and functionality features with Oppo’s ColorOS and OnePlus’ OxygenOS, as they both hail from the same stable.

In terms of the camera, Realme is the first to use a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-701 primary sensor that comes with optical image stabilization (OIS). It is joined by a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. The last camera on the back is an 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor. The camera has various AI tools, including AI enhancements to improve blurry photos, an object removal tool, and AI fixes for skin tone, group photos, and portrait effect.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor has up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The 5200mAh battery has 80W wired fast charging, a 32MP selfie camera, and an IP65 dust and water resistance rating. The international version has 5G, NFC, and dual speakers.

Design inspired by Monet

The Monet Gold and Monet Purple color schemes were inspired by the paintings of Impressionist master Claude Monet, and were created in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston. I got my hands on the Monet Gold version, and you really need to be told where the inspiration for the Realme 13 Pro+ comes from, because there are no other clues.

The surprise was that not even a wallpaper depicting the masterpiece in question – “Monet’s Painting” – was found. Grain stack (sunset) in this build — on the phone. I’ve added my own (taken from MFA’s own website, no less) to complete the look. The frosted, glossy glass on the back has an unusual, shimmering effect that’s subtle rather than garish, and adds real depth to a design that’s beautiful to look at, while the gold bezel around the camera module is chamfered for a classier look. The casing matches the gold of the camera module.

It’s lightweight at 190 grams, but it’s noticeably tapered on the sides, and because the back panel isn’t quite flush with the body, it’s quite sharp. It would be unfair to call it awkward to hold, but the edge of the phone is definitely noticeable. Some might find the phone to feel a bit cheaper than its appearance suggests. It also doesn’t feel very balanced in my hand, so the ergonomics don’t quite match the design.

The strength of the Realme 13 Pro+ lies in its design and colors, and the Monet Gold version is something special. I love the way the design on the glass moves and changes in the light, but is never distracting or over the top. It also has a wonderful texture that provides warmth and grip. Without a doubt, the Realme 13 Pro+ in Monet Gold is one of the most beautiful smartphones of the year, and I can only imagine that the Monet Purple is just as gorgeous.

Does it take good photos?

I only took a few photos of the Realme 13 Pro+ and I’m using the phone before its official announcement, which could mean that software updates will affect performance in the future. I’ll also add that in the past, manufacturers have taken some time to perfect the photos taken by Sony’s new camera sensors, and all of this could be a factor in why the Realme 13 Pro+’s photos aren’t quite what I expected.

The main camera doesn’t always bring out colours in the way I think it should, resulting in washed-out images that lack life – which is immediately obvious when you compare them to the wide-angle shots. It’s a pretty sad state of affairs when the 8MP wide-angle camera takes more attractive photos than the main camera on your phone, but if you’re simply focusing on colours, contrast and dynamic range, that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Realme 13 Pro+.

Likewise, the 3x optical zoom sometimes robs otherwise decent shots of their sharpness. The main camera and optical zoom don’t always take disappointing photos, and both have their merits. The 3x zoom has good detail levels, while the main camera can balance tricky lighting and colours well – but only sometimes. There’s a worrying inconsistency here that needs to be fixed.

Don’t forget about Realme 13 Pro

I tested the Realme 13 Pro+, but there’s also the Realme 13 Pro if you want a device that’s a bit cheaper. The same color options are available; it’s still powered by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and has a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The battery capacity is the same, but charging drops to a maximum of 45W.

The biggest difference can be found in the camera, with the main camera being a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600, joined by an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, but there’s no third telephoto lens. As a result, the phone is slightly lighter, weighing in at 183 grams.

Realme will first launch the Realme 13 Pro+, alongside the Realme 13 Pro, in India on July 30, where it will start at a local price of $320, but that will be for the entry-level 8GB/128GB Realme 13 Pro. The Realme 13 Pro+ price has not been revealed at the time of writing, and it’s unclear if either phone will see a wider global release later on.

A new beginning for Realme?

Realme’s return to selling phones outside of China is very welcome. It has always taken design seriously, and the Realme 13 Pro+ is no exception. If you’re looking for inspiration, a master like Monet is a good place to start, and he’s also an extraordinary one in technology. While I think the design of the 13 Pro+ is appropriate, I’m less convinced by the ergonomics, and the camera didn’t impress me either.

This is a familiar situation, as it was the case with Realme in the past before the company retreated to China for a few years. Whether the company has learned anything during its absence will depend on whether camera updates arrive soon, as it currently faces such stiff competition that it can’t sit back and expect the incredibly pretty gold and purple colors to do all the work.