Realme X3 hands-on review

Software

The Realme X3 runs Android 10 with an in-house layer of Realme UI on top. We've had plenty of experience with it on the X3 SuperZoom and multiple units from the 6-series and we're liking its more relaxed approach to customization and more stock-ish look than previous iterations.

The UI defaults to a nav bar for navigation but you can opt for gestures in settings. Folders open full screen, but the icons remain within easy reach. An app drawer is also present with a row of suggested apps up top. The pre-installed apps are mostly the same as on other recent Realmes, but the App Market, for example, is missing.

Lockscreen • Folder view • Tools • App drawer • Quick settings • Task switcher

The 120-hertz display is one of the Realme X3's key selling points. In the Settings menu, you get to select between an auto mode that'll pick the best refresh rate for the task at hand, or forced 60Hz or 120Hz setting. Much like the SuperZoom, the X3 wouldn't always respect these settings - all in the name of power-saving, of course - and it will adjust the refresh rate as it sees fit in both Auto and 120Hz mode.

About screen • Settings menu • Display settings • Refresh rate options

One observation we had was that the X3 has the Google default apps for Dialer and Messages, as opposed to the in-house customized solutions we've seen previously. Realme tells us that will be the case going forward.

Benchmarks

The Realme X3 is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset - the beefed up version of Qualcomm's 2019 flagship-grade silicon. That's shared with the X3 SuperZoom from this year, but also the slightly older X2 Pro. Meanwhile, the X2 from 2019 uses the midrange 730G, while this year's 6 Pro opts for a 720G. We ran a bunch of benchmarks on the Realme X3 and here are the results.

GeekBench 4.4 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  11151
• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  10493
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  10115
• Huawei P40 Lite
  7846
• LG Velvet
  7660
• Realme 6 Pro
  7027
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  7008
• Realme X2
  6926
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  6639

GeekBench 4.4 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  3683
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  3553
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  3524
• Huawei P40 Lite
  2844
• LG Velvet
  2708
• Realme 6 Pro
  2643
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  2558
• Realme X2
  2508
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  2429

GeekBench 5.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  2732
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  2579
• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  2572
• LG Velvet
  1905
• Motorola Edge
  1862
• Huawei P40 Lite
  1862
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  1785
• Realme X2
  1750
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  1694
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  1692
• Realme 6 Pro
  1666

GeekBench 5.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  790
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  756
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  738
• Huawei P40 Lite
  591
• Motorola Edge
  586
• LG Velvet
  586
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  571
• Realme 6 Pro
  565
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  548
• Realme X2
  545
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  521

AnTuTu 8

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  487203
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  477905
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  459497
• Huawei P40 Lite
  325777
• Motorola Edge
  305989
• LG Velvet
  297372
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  279625
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  272229
• Realme 6 Pro
  268785
• Realme X2
  257443
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  253271

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  74
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  69
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  65
• Motorola Edge
  34
• Huawei P40 Lite
  34
• LG Velvet
  33
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  31
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  30
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  30
• Realme 6 Pro
  30
• Realme X2
  29

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  56
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  56
• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  45
• Motorola Edge
  32
• Huawei P40 Lite
  30
• LG Velvet
  29
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  27
• Realme 6 Pro
  27
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  26
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  26
• Realme X2
  24

GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  47
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  43
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  41
• Huawei P40 Lite
  21
• Motorola Edge
  19
• LG Velvet
  19
• Realme 6 Pro
  18
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  18
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  17
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  17
• Realme X2
  16

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

• Realme X3 (hands-on)
  42
• Realme X3 SuperZoom
  35
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite
  34
• Motorola Edge
  18
• Huawei P40 Lite
  18
• LG Velvet
  16
• Realme 6 Pro
  16
• Xiaomi Redmi K30
  15
• Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
  15
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
  15
• Realme X2
  13