Realme 11 Pro 5G: After months of “coming soon” promises and delayed rollouts, my Realme 11 Pro finally got the Realme UI 5.0 update last week. The download took forever—nearly 4GB of data that somehow bricked my phone twice before installing correctly. Was it worth the headache? Kinda. The redesigned control center feels more intuitive, though I’m still struggling to find certain settings that got moved around. Battery optimization has improved noticeably; I’m squeezing an extra 1-2 hours compared to UI 4.0. That said, some third-party apps crash randomly since the update. My banking app particularly hates the new software, requiring force-stops at least twice daily. Classic Realme—two steps forward, one frustrating step back.
Camera Performance: Computational Photography on a Budget
Let’s talk about that 100MP main shooter. In good lighting, it still delivers surprisingly detailed shots that make friends ask what phone I’m using. The software processing has improved with recent updates, particularly color accuracy in mixed lighting situations. Portrait mode edge detection remains hit-or-miss though—my girlfriend’s curly hair becomes a blurry mess around the edges, while my short cut looks artificially sharp. Night mode continues to lag behind competitors; photos look decent until you zoom in and discover the watercolor-like noise reduction. Pro tip: the 2x digital zoom actually produces better low-light shots than the main sensor in full resolution mode, weird as that sounds.
Battery Life: The Unexpected MVP
The 5,000mAh battery continues to be this phone’s secret weapon. Even after a year of heavy use, I regularly finish days with 30-40% remaining. Screen-on time hovers around 7-8 hours with mixed usage—social media, messaging, occasional gaming, and way too much YouTube. The 67W charging feels slightly slower than when the phone was new, taking about 48 minutes for a full charge instead of the advertised 42 minutes. Still plenty fast compared to flagships costing twice as much. One annoying quirk: battery percentage occasionally jumps around, dropping from 53% to 47% in seconds, then creeping back up again. Probably just a calibration issue, but jarring nonetheless.
Gaming Chops: Dimensity 7050 Shows Its Age
When it launched, the Dimensity 7050 chipset handled everything I threw at it. Now? Not so much. Call of Duty Mobile runs fine on medium settings but stutters noticeably on high, especially during intense firefights when every frame counts. Genshin Impact is playable but far from smooth, with frame drops during combat and environment transitions. Less demanding titles like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 still run beautifully, though. Heating is surprisingly well-managed—the phone gets warm during extended sessions but never uncomfortably hot like my previous Xiaomi. For casual gaming it’s totally adequate, but serious mobile gamers should look elsewhere in 2025.
Display: Curved Glass That Still Impresses
The curved 120Hz AMOLED display remains this phone’s standout feature. Colors pop without looking oversaturated, and the curved edges add a premium feel that belies the mid-range price tag. Brightness has held up well—I can still comfortably use it outdoors on sunny days, though direct sunlight remains challenging. One minor annoyance: the auto-brightness algorithm seems to have gotten worse with updates, frequently dimming too aggressively indoors. The in-display fingerprint scanner works about 85% of the time on first attempt—good enough that I haven’t disabled it, but frustrating when it fails multiple times while I’m trying to quickly check something.
Build Quality: Standing the Test of Time?
I’ve been rocking my Realme 11 Pro caseless for months (living dangerously, I know). The Astral Black finish has developed a subtle patina of micro-scratches visible only under direct light—actually looks quite distinguished, like worn leather. The metal frame has a small dent from an unfortunate bathroom tile encounter, but otherwise shows minimal wear. Buttons remain clicky and responsive, though the volume rocker has developed a slight rattle when the phone vibrates. The included silicone case yellowed horrifically within weeks, as expected from clear cases, but the phone itself has aged gracefully.
Realme 11 Pro 5G Value Proposition: Buy Used or Wait for the 12 Series?
With the Realme 12 Pro series launching next month, used 11 Pro prices have cratered. I’ve seen mint condition units going for under $180 on marketplace apps—incredible value considering the specs. For budget-conscious buyers, it represents a compelling option even in 2025. The upcoming 12 Pro supposedly packs the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset with marginally better camera hardware, but leaked pricing suggests a $70-100 premium over current 11 Pro resale values. Unless camera performance is your absolute priority, a gently used 11 Pro offers 90% of the experience at 60% of the cost. Sometimes last year’s tech is this year’s best value.