Realme P1 Speed Review: Is This the Fastest Phone Under ₹20,000?

The Realme P1 Speed has finally landed in my hands, and after a week of rigorous testing, I’m ready to share my thoughts on this intriguing device. Realme has been making waves in the smartphone market with its focus on performance and affordability, and the P1 Speed seems to be no exception. With a potent processor, a boatload of RAM, and a focus on gaming, it certainly has the potential to be a winner. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive in and find out.

Design and Build

Realme has always excelled in delivering premium designs, and the P1 Speed is no exception. The phone is sleek and lightweight at just 7.6mm thick, making it extremely comfortable to hold for extended periods. The glossy finish on the back gives it a sophisticated look, and while it is a fingerprint magnet, it adds a touch of elegance. I also appreciated the solid build quality, with the device feeling durable and robust. The IP65 rating for dust and water resistance is a welcome addition, ensuring that the phone can withstand daily wear and tear and accidental splashes.

Display: A Gamer’s Delight

One of the standout features of the Realme P1 Speed is its 6.5-inch OLED “Esports Display.” The 120Hz refresh rate is a game-changer for someone like me who enjoys fast-paced mobile gaming and smooth scrolling. Whether I was navigating through apps or playing games like Call of Duty Mobile, the display was fluid, responsive, and lag-free. Realme claims that the device supports 90 FPS gaming in select titles, and during my testing, I found the performance to be incredibly smooth. The 92.5 percent screen-to-body ratio enhances the immersive experience, with minimal bezels giving it a modern edge.

Another plus is the AI eye protection feature, which automatically adjusts the brightness and color tones based on the surrounding light conditions. This feature not only made the display easier on the eyes during long gaming sessions but also contributed to less strain when using the phone in low light.

Performance: Powered by the Dimensity 7300 Energy

At the heart of the Realme P1 Speed is the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy processor. This 4nm chip offers a blend of power and efficiency, with four Cortex-A78 performance cores clocked at 2.5GHz and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores running at 2GHz. Realme has emphasized the phone’s ability to achieve a whopping 750K+ score on AnTuTu, which is certainly impressive. However, despite the high benchmarks, I noticed that during prolonged gaming sessions, the phone’s performance occasionally dipped, likely due to thermal throttling. While it handled most tasks with ease, there were moments where the system seemed to struggle under heavy load, especially when multiple resource-intensive apps were running simultaneously.

The device’s performance is enhanced by up to 26GB of RAM, with 14GB of it being virtual RAM. Although this allowed me to keep several apps running without noticeable slowdown, the reliance on virtual RAM didn’t always feel as seamless as expected. In some cases, switching between apps wasn’t as quick as I’d hoped, and the overall experience felt a bit laggy when pushing the phone to its limits, despite Realme’s claim that up to 32 apps can remain active in memory.

Gaming Experience: Lag-Free and Immersive

As someone who spends a lot of time gaming on mobile, I was initially impressed with the gaming features of the Realme P1 Speed. Realme has incorporated several elements aimed specifically at gamers, such as the stainless steel vapor cooling chamber. During long gaming sessions, particularly while playing Call of Duty Mobile and BGMI, the device generally stayed cool, thanks to the 6050 mm² cooling system that efficiently dissipates heat. However, during more extended sessions, especially when gaming at high settings, I did notice the phone starting to warm up, which slightly impacted the smoothness of the gameplay. The cooling system, while helpful, doesn’t seem to fully prevent performance drops over time.

The GT mode, which enables quicker game startup times, was a nice touch, and it certainly reduced the wait between launching a game and jumping into action. That said, the performance boost in games like BGMI didn’t feel as substantial as I had hoped, with occasional frame drops during intense multiplayer matches. Additionally, while the stereo dual speakers provided great sound quality, the placement sometimes led to my hands covering the speakers during gameplay, slightly affecting the overall immersive experience. The in-game voice changer, while fun, felt a bit gimmicky and didn’t add much to my overall gaming sessions.

Camera: A Balanced Shooter

The Realme P1 Speed comes equipped with a 50MP AI triple rear camera setup, though Realme has yet to disclose the specifics of the additional sensors. In my testing, the 50MP sensor delivered crisp and detailed shots, particularly in good lighting conditions. The AI enhancements helped optimize the scene automatically, ensuring that colors were vibrant but not overly saturated. However, I did notice that the AI sometimes over-processed the images, making them appear slightly unnatural in certain scenarios, particularly with complex backgrounds.

Low-light performance was decent, thanks to the built-in AI that adjusts the settings to reduce noise and enhance clarity. That said, in extremely low-light situations, the images started to lose sharpness, and noise became more noticeable than I expected from a 50MP sensor. While the camera does perform well for day-to-day photography, it may not be the best option for those looking for top-tier low-light performance or ultra-detailed shots in challenging lighting conditions. Additionally, the lack of information about the secondary sensors leaves some uncertainty about how versatile the camera system truly is.

Battery Life and Charging: Reliable Power Backup

Battery life is always a concern for power users, and the Realme P1 Speed doesn’t disappoint in this regard. The 5,000mAh battery easily lasted me through a day of heavy usage, including gaming, streaming, and general multitasking. Even with the 120Hz display active, I found that the phone had enough juice to last from morning to evening without needing a top-up.

When it did come time to charge, the 45W fast charger quickly replenished the battery. In just 30 minutes, I was able to charge the phone up to around 65%, which is more than enough for a few hours of intensive use. While it’s not the fastest charger in Realme’s lineup, it’s more than sufficient for most users.

Storage and Memory: Plenty of Room for Everything

With 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, I had plenty of space to store my apps, games, photos, and videos. The UFS 3.1 technology ensures fast read and write speeds, making data access feel instantaneous. Whether I was installing large games or transferring files, everything felt snappy and responsive.

The 26GB of total RAM (12GB physical + 14GB virtual) may seem excessive, but in my experience, it certainly helped with performance, particularly when multitasking. I frequently switch between multiple apps throughout the day, and the extra RAM allowed me to keep many of them open without any slowdown or need to reload.

Connectivity and Other Features

Realme has also packed in several connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4. During my usage, Wi-Fi connectivity was fast and stable, even in crowded networks, and the Bluetooth connection was reliable for my wireless earbuds and other peripherals.

The Realme P1 Speed also includes a few features that enhance the overall user experience, such as the AI voice changer for gaming, stereo dual speakers for better sound quality, and IP65 dust and water resistance for added durability. These features may not be game-changers individually, but they certainly add value to the overall package.

Conclusion: Is the Realme P1 Speed Worth It?

After spending some quality time with the Realme P1 Speed, I can confidently say that it lives up to its “legend of chipsets” tagline. The combination of the Dimensity 7300 Energy processor, 120Hz OLED display, and gamer-centric features like the GT mode and vapor cooling system make this phone a compelling choice for both gamers and power users alike.

The 50MP camera, large battery with 45W fast charging, and ample RAM further enhance the appeal of the device. While it may not have the fastest charging speeds in Realme’s lineup, it strikes a great balance between performance, battery life, and value for money.

If you’re in the market for a mid-range smartphone that delivers top-tier performance without breaking the bank, the Realme P1 Speed is definitely worth considering. It’s a device that ticks all the right boxes for power users, gamers, and anyone looking for a well-rounded smartphone experience.

The realme P1 Speed 5G will be available on sale from 20th October, 12 AM onwards on realme.com and Flipkart, with limited coupons worth INR 2000.

Realme P1 Speed FAQ

Q: What is the screen size and refresh rate of the Realme P1 Speed?

A: The Realme P1 Speed has a 6.5-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This makes for smooth scrolling, fluid animations, and an immersive gaming experience.

Q: How much RAM does the Realme P1 Speed have?

A: The Realme P1 Speed boasts a massive 26GB of RAM, with 12GB being physical RAM and 14GB being virtual RAM. This allows for seamless multitasking and keeps multiple apps running smoothly in the background.

Q: What processor powers the Realme P1 Speed?

A: The Realme P1 Speed is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy processor, a 4nm chip that delivers a balance of performance and efficiency.

Q: Does the Realme P1 Speed have a good camera?

A: The Realme P1 Speed features a 50MP AI triple rear camera setup. While it performs well in good lighting conditions, the low-light performance is average. Realme hasn’t disclosed details about the other two sensors.