Realme Narzo 70 Turbo Review: Best Budget Gaming Smartphone?

With the rapid evolution of smartphone technology, the budget segment has become increasingly competitive, and the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo is a testament to how far we’ve come. This device is designed to provide an exceptional experience for users without the high price tag associated with premium devices. Offering robust performance, an impressive display, and an array of features, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo stands out in its category. But is it truly the best choice for budget-conscious consumers and mobile gamers? Let’s dive deep into this comprehensive review to uncover all aspects of the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo.

Unboxing: First Impressions Matter

When unboxing the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo, you get a sense of a well-thought-out package. Realme has included several essentials that make the device ready to use right out of the box. Here’s what you get:

• Phone Unit: The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo itself, wrapped in a protective film.
• 45W SuperVOOC Charger: This is a standout inclusion as it offers super-fast charging capability right out of the box.
• USB Type-C Charging Cable: A standard but essential accessory.
• Sim Ejector Tool: Handy for users who frequently switch SIM cards or use dual SIM functionality.
• Clear Protective Case: A basic case to offer initial protection; not the most premium, but better than nothing.
• Quick Start Guide and Warranty Card: Standard documentation.

The inclusion of a 45W SuperVOOC charger is a significant advantage, especially in an era where many manufacturers are opting to sell chargers separately. Realme’s decision to bundle a fast charger speaks volumes about their commitment to delivering value.

Design and Build Quality: Bold and Modern

The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo is designed to turn heads with its bold, motorsport-inspired aesthetic. It’s clear that Realme aimed to create a design that resonates with the younger generation, especially those interested in gaming and speed. The phone’s design is functional yet stylish, providing both visual appeal and comfortable ergonomics.

Key Design Features:

• In-Hand Feel and Weight: At 181 grams, the Narzo 70 Turbo feels light yet substantial. The weight distribution is well-balanced, making it comfortable for extended use without causing hand fatigue.
• Material Quality: The back panel is crafted from high-quality polycarbonate, which provides durability without the fragility of glass. The matte finish helps resist fingerprints and smudges, keeping the device looking clean.
• Colors and Finishes: Available in Purple, Green, and Yellow, the colors are vibrant and youthful, aligning with the target audience’s preferences.
• Frame and Protection: The device comes with DT Star 2 protection, enhancing its resilience against everyday drops and bumps.

Ergonomics and Usability:

A smartphone’s design must balance aesthetics with practical usability. The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo achieves this by strategically placing buttons and ports:

The placement of the 3.5mm headphone jack at the top is a design choice that will please traditionalists who prefer wired audio solutions. The in-display fingerprint sensor adds a touch of modernity, enhancing the overall premium feel.

Display: A Visual Treat with 120Hz AMOLED

The display is often the first thing users notice when they power on a new device. The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo impresses with its 6.67-inch AMOLED display, which is an excellent choice for both casual users and gaming enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of its display prowess:

• Screen Type: AMOLED panels are known for their deep blacks and vibrant colors, making content consumption and gaming a delightful experience.
• Refresh Rate: The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and animations. This feature, typically reserved for more expensive devices, sets the Narzo 70 Turbo apart in its price bracket.
• Brightness: With a peak brightness of 1200 nits, the display remains legible even under direct sunlight, which is perfect for outdoor use.
• Resolution and Aspect Ratio: The device boasts an FHD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) with a 20:9 aspect ratio, providing crisp and sharp visuals for streaming and gaming.
• Screen-to-Body Ratio: An impressive 93% screen-to-body ratio offers an immersive viewing experience with minimal bezels and a small center-aligned punch-hole for the front camera.

Why the Display Matters for Gamers:

The 120Hz refresh rate combined with 240Hz touch sampling rate ensures a highly responsive experience. This is particularly important for gamers, where reaction times are crucial. Popular games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 benefit significantly from these features, providing smoother gameplay and enhanced control responsiveness.

Performance: Dimensity 7300 – A Beast in Its Class

Under the hood, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, built on a 4nm process. This chipset is designed to deliver a balance of power efficiency and raw performance, making it a compelling choice for budget gamers and multitaskers alike.

Detailed Performance Specifications:

• CPU Configuration: The Dimensity 7300 houses an octa-core CPU setup with 2x Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6GHz and 6x Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 2.0GHz. This combination ensures efficient handling of both heavy tasks and everyday activities.
• GPU: The integrated Mali-G77 MC9 GPU provides enhanced graphics rendering capabilities, which is crucial for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks.
• RAM and Storage Options: The device comes in three RAM variants—6GB, 8GB, and 12GB LPDDR4X, paired with UFS 3.0 storage options of 128GB and 256GB. This provides fast read/write speeds and better multitasking capabilities.
• Cooling Mechanism: Featuring a 6050mm² vapor cooling chamber, the Narzo 70 Turbo keeps thermals in check, preventing thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions.

Benchmark Performance:

The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo scores an impressive 750,000 on AnTuTu, which is remarkable for a device in this price range. For comparison:

• Geekbench 5 Scores: Single-Core: 752, Multi-Core: 2618
• 3DMark Wild Life: 4042 (Performance Score)

These scores put the Narzo 70 Turbo in direct competition with mid-range devices, providing users with excellent value for their money.

Gaming Experience: Built for Gamers

Realme has made it clear that the Narzo 70 Turbo is geared towards mobile gamers. With the combination of the Dimensity 7300 chipset, 120Hz AMOLED display, and 90fps gaming support, the device provides an exceptional gaming experience in its category.

Gaming Features and Optimization:

• GT Mode: The Narzo 70 Turbo comes with a GT Mode that boosts CPU and GPU performance while optimizing RAM usage. This mode is specifically designed to enhance the gaming experience, minimizing latency and maximizing frame rates.
• 90fps Gaming Support: Games like PUBG New State, Call of Duty: Mobile, and BGMI can run smoothly at 90fps, offering an edge over competitors in fast-paced scenarios.
• Haptic Feedback: Enhanced haptic feedback provides a more immersive gaming experience, allowing players to feel every explosion and impact.

Extended Gaming Sessions and Cooling:

With the inclusion of a 6050mm² vapor cooling chamber, the Narzo 70 Turbo ensures the device stays cool, even during extended gaming sessions. This prevents thermal throttling, maintaining consistent performance throughout.

Camera System: Dual Camera Setup for Versatility

The camera department is another area where the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo punches above its weight. It features a dual-camera setup at the back and a capable front camera, catering to the needs of social media enthusiasts and casual photographers.

Rear Camera Specifications:

• Primary Camera: 50MP AI Camera with f/1.8 aperture, featuring a wide lens that captures more details and light. This camera is capable of producing sharp images with excellent dynamic range and accurate colors.
• Secondary Camera: 2MP Depth Sensor for portrait mode, offering decent background blur effects and edge detection.

Front Camera Specifications:

• Selfie Camera: 16MP AI Selfie Camera with f/2.0 aperture, delivering vibrant selfies with natural skin tones and a wide dynamic range. Ideal for video calls and vlogging.

Camera Features and Modes:

• Night Mode: Provides enhanced low-light photography by stacking multiple exposures, reducing noise, and increasing clarity.
• Pro Mode: Allows users to manually adjust settings like ISO, shutter speed, and white balance, perfect for photography enthusiasts.
• 4K Video Recording: Supports 4K recording at 30fps with electronic image stabilization (EIS) to minimize shake and enhance video quality.
• Dual-View Video: Record from both the front and rear cameras simultaneously, a unique feature for content creators.

Image Quality:

The 50MP primary camera shines in daylight conditions, capturing detailed and vivid images. Low-light performance is also commendable, with minimal noise and good color retention. Portrait mode works well, providing accurate edge detection and pleasing background blur.

Battery Life: Power for Days

One of the critical aspects of any smartphone is its battery life, and the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo doesn’t disappoint in this regard. With a robust 5000mAh battery, the device easily lasts a full day of heavy usage, including gaming, streaming, and multitasking.

Battery and Charging Details:

• Battery Capacity: 5000mAh, providing ample power for long gaming sessions and multimedia use.
• Charging Speed: 45W SuperVOOC Fast Charging enables rapid top-ups, going from 0 to 50% in about 25 minutes and 0 to 100% in just under an hour.
• Battery Optimization: Realme UI includes several battery-saving modes and optimizations that help extend battery life when needed.

Software Experience: Realme UI 4.0 on Android 13

The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo runs on Realme UI 4.0, which is based on Android 13. The UI is designed to be clean and user-friendly, with several customization options and smart features.

Software and Features:

• Bloatware: While there is some pre-installed bloatware, most of it can be removed, allowing users to free up space and resources.
• Updates and Support: Realme promises 2 years of major Android updates and 3 years of security updates, ensuring the device remains secure and up-to-date.
• Features: The UI includes features like Always-On Display, Smart Sidebar, Dual Mode Music Share, and enhanced privacy controls.

Unique Selling Points (USPs): What Sets It Apart?

Here’s a quick summary of the standout features that make the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo a strong contender in its category:

1. 90fps Gaming Capability: A rare feature in the sub-₹15,000 range, providing an edge to gamers.
2. 120Hz AMOLED Display: Smooth visuals and vibrant colors at an affordable price point.
3. In-Display Fingerprint Sensor: Typically reserved for more premium devices, adds a modern touch.
4. Dimensity 7300 Processor: Delivers powerful performance and efficiency for all types of users.
5. 6050mm² Vapor Cooling Chamber: Keeps the device cool under heavy load, ideal for gamers.
6. 45W Fast Charging Included: In-box charger reduces additional costs and provides convenience.
7. High-Quality Camera Setup: Versatile dual-camera system with advanced photography modes and 4K video recording.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo?

The Realme Narzo 70 Turbo is more than just another budget smartphone. It is a well-rounded device that caters to a variety of users, whether you’re a gamer, a social media enthusiast, or someone who just wants a reliable phone for everyday use.

Pros:

• Excellent value for money
• High refresh rate AMOLED display for a smoother experience
• Strong gaming performance with 90fps support
• Long-lasting battery with fast charging capability
• Premium features like in-display fingerprint and high-quality camera

Cons:

• Plastic back may not appeal to everyone
• Pre-installed bloatware could be an issue for some

Overall Verdict: Priced around ₹14,999, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo stands out as a top pick in the budget segment. It is an excellent choice for those looking to get the most out of their money without compromising on features, performance, or quality. If you are in the market for a smartphone that offers great gaming capabilities, a vibrant display, and solid overall performance, the Narzo 70 Turbo should definitely be on your shortlist.

7 Days with the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G: Hands-on Impressions

After using the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G for an entire week, it’s clear that this phone delivers a well-rounded experience, especially for users looking for an affordable, 5G-capable device. Here’s how it performed in various key aspects after seven days:

• Performance: The phone’s MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor handles daily tasks, multitasking, and even light gaming without any noticeable lag. Apps load quickly, and switching between them is smooth. For gaming, the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU provides decent graphics, but heavier games may require lower settings for optimal performance.
• Battery Life: With a 5000mAh battery, the phone easily lasts a full day with moderate usage, including video streaming, social media, and messaging. After seven days, the battery health seems stable, and the 33W fast charging ensures it gets back to full power swiftly.
• Camera: The 50MP AI dual camera system continues to impress in good lighting conditions, capturing sharp and vibrant photos. However, after several days of testing, the low-light performance remains just average, with some grain and noise visible in darker environments.
• Display: The 6.6-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate is one of the highlights of the Narzo 70 Turbo. After a week, watching videos, browsing, and playing games has been smooth and immersive, with vibrant colors and fluid transitions.
• Build & Design: The sleek design holds up well after consistent use, with no visible wear or tear. The phone feels solid in hand, and the matte finish does a good job of resisting fingerprints and smudges.
• Connectivity: The 5G connectivity has been flawless so far, providing fast and reliable internet speeds even in areas with weaker network coverage. Call quality has also been clear throughout the week.

Verdict After 7 Days

After a week of daily use, the Realme Narzo 70 Turbo 5G stands out as a reliable budget smartphone. Its strong performance, smooth display, and enduring battery life make it a solid choice in its price range. While the camera’s low-light performance could be better, it still delivers excellent value for money, especially for users seeking a capable 5G device.