Realme 5i Specs, Unboxing, Green Version Actual Photos, Initial Impressions

On January 29, 2020, hotshot smartphone brand Realme will be releasing a new midrange Android in the Philippines, which comes hot on the heels of the incredible success of Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro in 2019.

The all-new Realme 5i is a welcome addition to the Chinese company's popular midrange Android smartphone series as it comes with strong selling points for a 2020 handset in its category along with a yet-to-be disclosed attractive price tag.

Realme 5i

Before I show you more images of the Green version of this model, allow me to first share my unboxing photos of my review package.

Realme 5i

Realme 5i comes in this simple orange box with the name of the smartphone as well as the brand printed on top and on the sides.


At the bottom of the box, you will find the four key features of this device, which are its massive 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery pack, the Ultra-Wide Rear Quad Camera set-up, the 6.5-inch IPS display with Mini-Drop notch, and the energy-efficient yet capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 AIE processor.


Lifting the cover, you will be greeted by the message "Hey, welcome to realme Family" printed on a paper sleeve which helps protect the smartphone during shipment.


My review unit didn't come with printed manuals or even a protective case for the Realme 5i. I think the official retail package will come with the quick user guide and warranty certificate but I'm not sure if a free case will be included. I will confirm that on January 29, 2020 and let you know.


Opening the paper I saw another message "Let's embrace a new journey" as well as the metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray.


My review package came with the Realme 5i unit itself, the Travel Charger, and the microUSB to USB charging and data transfer cable.


One cool detail about Realme charging cables is that they always have orange "tongues" or internal panels on both ends.


The Realme 5i travel charger supports up to 2A output.


Now, let's a closer look at the Realme 5i Green Version unit itself.

Realme 5i

As you can see above, this model has a rather unique look compared to its siblings, the Realme 5 and 5 Pro, as it doesn't have a glass-like polycarbonate back plate. Instead you get a plastic panel with this attractive pearl finish that gleams when light hits it as it has micro-lines forming concentric patterns. I think this is the first time for me to see such a finish. You have to see it in the flesh and to touch it to fully appreciate.


Realme 5i features a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display, which is large enough to deliver an enjoyable viewing experience when watching videos, viewing photos, or playing games. Although it's not FullHD+, the screen's brilliant colors and ultra-thin bezels - I think - make up for its lower resolution.

I know. Like many of you, I'm wishing that the display has a higher resolution but we all have to keep in mind that putting an HD+ panel on this model is one way that Realme was able to lower its price point. Besides, if you really need that feature, then you can always go with the more expensive Realme 5 Pro or Realme XT.


Unlike Realme 5 and Realme 5 Pro, Realme 5i doesn't have microphone pinhole on the top panel.


The smartphone's power button is found on the right side and the volume up and down buttons are on the left. This is the same placement as what you'll find on other models in its series.


At the back, we see one of the highlights of this much-anticipated mid-level release: The Ultra-Wide Rear Camera Module.


This set-up is made up of the following cameras:

1. 12 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF

This is the most powerful of the bunch in terms of resolution, sensor size, and wideness of aperture, which means that it delivers the sharpest and more brilliant images in various lighting conditions, even in low light.

The main camera is also capable of capturing up to 4K 30fps videos that can be instantly uploaded to Facebook or Youtube.

2. 8 MegaPixels, f/2.3, 13mm Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm

Ultra-wide angle cameras are great for capturing scale such as in architectural or landscape photography. This is also handy when snapping group photos.

3. 2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro, 1/5.0", 1.75µm

If you're fond of taking photos of insects or even intricate details on jewelry and the like, you will appreciate the benefits of this close-up camera. I suggest that you use it with lots of ambient or artificial lighting though.

4. 2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, 1/5.0", 1.75µm, Depth Sensor

Finally, the fourth one enables Portrait Mode wherein the background of the subject is slightly blurred to deliver a more appealing image.

Realme 5i

In front, Realme 5i has a Mini-Drop notch above the display which houses an 8 MegaPixel f/2.0 camera that's powered by Realme's own beautification software. This snapper is also capable of recording videos up to FullHD 30fps, which is good for aspiring vloggers.

Realme 5i

Like Realme 5, Realme 5i comes with a microUSB 2.0 port that supports up to 10W charging and USB On The Go for quickly transferring files or for connecting to other devices via cable.

In comparison, the more expensive Realme 5 Pro and Realme XT already come with USB Type C port that supports faster charging and data transfer. If you need that port, then go for those more pricey models.

Realme 5i

Inside, Realme 5i runs its Color OS 6 customized Android 9.0 Pie operating system with an 11nm Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 AIE processor that comes with an Adreno 610 GPU that can relied on for smooth gaming experience. The chipset is complemented by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage that you can easily beef up using the dedicated microSD card slow, no need to sacrifice the phone's Dual SIM capability.

Realme 5i

For me, one of the strongest and most attractive selling points of the Realme 5i is its huge 5,000 mAh mAh battery that can easily deliver a whole day of uptime even for power users or gamers. The high-capacity pack also makes this model a reliable secondary or back-up handset for users who already own an ultra-premium smartphone with short battery life.

Realme 5i

For privacy and security, Realme 5i has facial recognition software embedded into the front-facing camera as well as a fingerprint scanner mounted at the rear. These add a veritable layer of protection against those who want to check your handset and its content without your knowledge or permission.

Alright! That's it for now, TP Friends and Realme Fans! Stay tuned my updates about this exciting new smartphone from Realme in the coming days. If you have questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below or to message me on social media. Let's talk.

Update as of January 29, 2020: The official suggested retail price of Realme 5i in the Philippines is PHP 6,990 for the unit with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Realme Shopee Vouchers are also up for grabs for a limited time starting on January 30, 2020. Buyers just need to use the code REALME12OFF to get 12 percent discount. This promo is valid only via the Official Realme Shopee store and only applies to orders that will be delivered by Shopee’s integrated couriers.

Update as of January 31, 2020: For those who are interested, watch my video review of the Realme 5i on Youtube. In this clip, I shared the five things I like about this new smartphone model as well as photos and videos that I took using its cameras.


Realme 5i Specs
164.4 x 75 x 9.3 mm
195 grams
6.52 inches HD+ 720 x 1600 pixels, 269 ppi, 20:9 Ratio, IPS LCD
83.2% Screen-to-Body Ratio
Mini-Drop Notch:
Quad Rear Camera Module
12 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
8 MegaPixels, f/2.3, 13mm Ultra-Wide Lens, 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, Macro, 1/5.0", 1.75µm
2 MegaPixels, f/2.4, 1/5.0", 1.75µm, Depth Sensor
Front Facing Camera:
8 MegaPixels, f/2.0
Video Recorder
Back - 4K 30fps, FullHD 1080p 30fps
Front - FullHD 1080p 30fps
Color OS 6
Android 9.0 Pie
11nm Octa Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 AIE Processor
Adreno 610 GPU
4GB RAM
Philippine Version: 3GB RAM
64GB ROM
Dedicated microSD Card Slot
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0
4G LTE-A
FM Radio
Dual nanoSIM, Dual Standby
Rear Mounted Fingerprint Scanner
microUSB 2.0
USB On The Go
10W Charging
Non-Removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack
Polycarbonate Shell with Textured Finish
Blue, Green

Realme 5i Official Release Date in the Philippines
January 29, 2020

Realme 5i Official Price in the Philippines
PHP 6,990

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