& upgrade
The sub-₹15,000 segment in India is a hyper-competitive battleground, but Realme has always sought to dominate it with the Narzo series, blending gaming performance with budget-conscious pricing. The Realme Narzo 80 x 5G, released in April 2025, doesn’t just meet expectations; it shatters them by introducing flagship-level durability features to the budget class.
This device is designed not just for casual use, but for the rigors of a student’s backpack or a field worker’s pocket. The key highlight—an industry-first IP69 and MIL−STD−810 H rating in this price range—makes it virtually indestructible against dust, high-pressure water jets, and shock. Coupled with the efficient MediaTek Dimensity 6400 processor, a massive 6000 mAh battery, and a 120 Hz display, the Narzo 80 x positions itself as the undisputed durability and performance champion in the budget 5G arena.
In this comprehensive 1500-word review, we dissect every aspect: the design choices, the Dimensity 6400’s true gaming performance, the 50 MP camera’s output, and the long-term value it offers as a complete upgrade package.
Price in India and Configuration Options
TheRealme Narzo 80x 5Gmaintains Realme’s aggressive pricing strategy, providing excellent value for money, especially considering the advanced durability ratings and large battery.
A. Pricing Structure
| Variant | RAM + Storage | Official Price in India | Launch Offer Price (Approx.) |
| Base Model | 6 GB+128 GB | ₹13,999 | ₹11,499 |
| Mid-Range | 8 GB+128 GB | ₹14,999 | ₹12,999 |
Export to Sheets
The available colors—Deep Ocean and Sunlit Gold—feature the distinctive SpeedWave Pattern on the rear, a tactile design choice that offers better grip and masks minor scratches.
B. Full Specifications At A Glance
| Component | Specification |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 6400 5G(6 nm) |
| CPU Clock | Octa−core (2×2.5 GHz Cortex−A76+6×2.0 GHz Cortex−A55) |
| GPU | Mali−G57 MC2 |
| RAM / Storage | 6 GB/8 GB LPDDR4 x RAM, 128 GB UFS2.2 ROM |
| Display | 6.72-inch IPS LCD, FHD+(1080×2400 px),120 Hz,950 nits Peak |
| Rear Camera | 50 MP(Wide, f/1.8)+2 MP(Portrait/Depth) |
| Front Camera | 16 MP(Wide, f/2.1) |
| Battery / Charging | 6000 mAh,45 W SuperVOOC Fast Charging |
| Durability | IP69 (Top−Tier Waterproof) and MIL−STD−810 H Certified |
| OS | Android 15 with realme UI6.0 |
Export to Sheets
Design and Features: Industrial Strength Meets Modern Style
The design philosophy of the Narzo 80 x is one of “unapologetic durability.” At 7.9 mm and 197 grams, it’s remarkably slim and light for a phone housing a 6000 mAh battery.
A. The IP69 and MIL−STD Revolution
This is the phone’s standout feature.
- IP69 Rating: This provides resistance against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, making it immune to kitchen spills, heavy rain, or even being thoroughly washed under a faucet.
- MIL−STD−810 H Certification: This military-grade standard confirms its resistance to shock, drops, vibrations, and extreme temperatures, ensuring the phone is ready for the most rigorous environments.
Realme has achieved this using a reinforced aluminum structure, tough corner protection, and ArmorShell glass over the display. This level of ruggedness in a phone starting under ₹15,000 is unprecedented and a huge upgrade for the Narzo line.
B. Display and Audio Experience
The 6.72-inch IPS LCD display with 120 Hz refresh rate is a strong performer for the price. While it’s not AMOLED, the 950 nits peak brightness is excellent for outdoor visibility, making it highly usable under direct sunlight—a crucial factor for a rugged device. The 240 Hz touch sampling rate ensures fast, responsive input, which is essential for gaming.
Audio is handled by a Super Linear Speaker with Hi−Res Audio Certification, providing a loud and clear sound profile. Crucially for this segment, the Narzo 80 x maintains the 3.5 mm headphone jack (unlike some competitors), a feature users in this price bracket highly value.
Performance & Gaming: Dimensity 6400 Under the Hood
The MediaTek Dimensity 6400 chipset, built on a 6 nm process, powers the Narzo 80 x. This processor is designed for a sweet spot of performance and power efficiency, making it ideal for the demanding Indian market.
A. Benchmarks and Real-World Speed
The Dimensity 6400 is a highly optimized successor to the popular Dimensity 920/ 930 series. Its architecture ensures strong single-core performance for daily tasks and good multi-core capability for multitasking.
| Metric | Estimated Score (Dimensity 6400) | Performance Tier |
| AnTuTu v10 | 4,10,000 to4,50,000 | Excellent Budget−Mid Range |
| Geekbench 6 Single−Core | 850 points | Fluid Daily Use |
| Geekbench 6 Multi−Core | 2,300 points | Solid Multitasking |
Export to Sheets
Daily performance is snappy, aided by the 120 Hz display and the swift UFS2.2 storage. The 8 GB RAM variant, when combined with Dynamic RAM Expansion (up to 18 GB total), handles heavy app switching without noticeable slowdown.
B. Gaming Performance Analysis
For competitive mobile gaming, the Narzo 80 x delivers a solid experience at medium-to-high settings.
- BGMI / PUBG Mobile: The game runs smoothly on HD Graphics and High Frame Rate (∼40 FPS to 45 FPS). Dropping to Smooth Graphics and Ultra Frame Rate unlocks a stable 60 FPS experience, making it highly competitive for the price.
- Call of Duty Mobile: Easily runs on High Graphics and Max Frame Rate with minimal stuttering.
- Thermal Management: Thanks to Realme’s optimized heat dissipation layers and the power efficiency of the 6 nm Dimensity 6400, the phone maintains performance for long sessions. We observed only a slight warmth after 45 minutes of sustained BGMI play, avoiding the severe thermal throttling seen in some rivals.
Camera Test: The 50 MP AI Clear Camera
The camera system is functional and well-optimized for social media, though it is the area where Realme made the most necessary compromises to achieve the aggressive price point.
A. Rear Camera Results
The rear features a dual-camera setup: a 50 MP Primary sensor (likely the OMNIVISION OV50 D) and a 2 MP Portrait/Depth sensor.
- Daylight Photography: The 50 MP sensor, which defaults to 12.5 MP Pixel Binned shots, captures bright, vivid images with Realme’s characteristic saturated color science. Detail is plentiful in bright conditions, and the dynamic range, while not flagship-level, is handled well by the AI algorithms.
- Low-Light Photography: Night Mode is competent, lifting shadows and controlling highlights without introducing excessive noise. However, the lack of OIS and the small sensor size mean images are prone to softness if the user doesn’t maintain a steady hand.
- Portrait Mode: The 2 MP depth sensor performs its job adequately, providing decent edge detection and a natural-looking bokeh effect, though it struggles with complex backgrounds.
B. Video and Selfie Capabilities
- Video Recording: Limited to 1080 p at 60 fps. The footage is stable under ideal conditions, but the lack of advanced EIS or 4 K recording is a definite compromise for video creators.
- Front Camera: The 16 MP front camera is a strong performer, delivering sharp, detailed selfies in good light. It’s a noticeable improvement over the 8 MP sensors often found in this segment and provides excellent clarity for vlogging and video call
Read more : OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
Battery Life, Charging, and Software Experience
A. Two-Day Battery Champion
The single biggest selling point, alongside durability, is the huge 6000 mAh battery. This capacity comfortably provides two full days of light to moderate use and a solid 1.5 days for heavy users, including several hours of gaming.
- Screen-On-Time (SOT): We routinely achieved between 8 to10 hours of SOT, which is exceptional for a 5G phone.
B. 45 W SuperVOOC Charging
The inclusion of 45 W SuperVOOC Fast Charging (with the 45 W adapter included in the box) is a massive relief. It takes the 6000 mAh cell from 0% to 100% in roughly 75 minutes, effectively eliminating battery anxiety.
C. Realme UI6.0 on Android 15
The phone ships with Android 15 with realme UI6.0. The UI is highly customizable and fast, focusing on smooth performance and features like AI Smart Loop for context-aware actions. While it still contains some pre-installed bloatware, these can mostly be uninstalled. The promise of at least two major Android updates (16 and 17) and three years of security patches is a good sign for long-term ownership.
The Final Verdict and The Upgrade Factor
A. The Narzo 80 x 5G as an Upgrade
The Realme Narzo 80 x 5G represents a compelling upgrade for two primary user groups:
- Users of Older Budget 4G Phones: The jump to the 6 nm Dimensity 6400 with 5G, the 120 Hz FHD+ display, and 45 W charging is massive.
- Users Prioritizing Durability: The IP69/MIL−STD rating is a unique and decisive reason to choose the 80 x over any other phone in the sub-₹15,000 segment. For those who frequently use their phone outdoors or in dusty/wet environments, this is the definitive choice.
B. Conclusion
The Realme Narzo 80 x 5G is not just a budget phone; it’s a statement piece built on the philosophy of enduring performance. While the camera hardware has room for improvement (lacking an Ultrawide or 4 K video), its core strengths—the best−in−class durability, two−day battery life, and stable Dimensity 6400 performance—easily outweigh its few compromises.
For the young, demanding user who needs a phone that can withstand life’s rigors without breaking the bank, the Realme Narzo 80 x 5G is the 2025 budget 5G champion.
Would you like to see a comparison of the Realme Narzo 80 x 5G against its closest competitor, the Redmi Note 15 5G, in a head-to-head battle?