realme 13 Pro+ 5G

The realme 13 Pro+ 5G is the top model of the realme 13 Pro series, introduced in India at the end of July 2024. Its headline feature is unusual for a phone in this segment: a periscope telephoto camera with a Sony sensor, paired with a Sony main camera, a curved 120Hz OLED display and an 80W charger. This overview is based on the published specifications and the manufacturer's own product pages, so statements marked as claims come from realme rather than from independent measurement.

Where it fits in the realme lineup

realme's numbered series is the brand's mainstream camera and design line, sitting below the GT range that focuses on performance. Within the 13 Pro family the Pro+ is the one that adds the telephoto lens and the faster charger, while its sibling, the realme 13 Pro 5G, keeps a simpler camera system and a 45W charger. A step further down, the realme 13+ 5G is the more modest option. Looking forward, the realme 14 Pro continues the line, and the realme GT 7 shows where the brand goes when raw speed is the priority.

This article does not quote a price, because the manufacturer pages it draws on state none and regional pricing differs. What matters is the positioning: realme aims the Pro+ at buyers who want zoom photography and a premium-looking body without paying flagship money.

The Monet-inspired design

realme developed the design in collaboration with an art museum, the MFA, which it says holds the largest collection of Claude Monet's work outside France, and the colour names reflect it: Monet Gold, Monet Purple and Emerald Green. The two Monet colours use a frosted glass back with a shimmering particle finish that is meant to evoke brushstrokes; the green version has a vegan-leather back, which realme describes as smooth and durable.

The phone measures 161.3 x 73.9 mm and is about 8.4 mm thick in the leather versions, weighing 185.5 g, while the glass versions are 8.2 mm thick and 190 g according to realme's lab data. The round camera module, labelled HyperImage+, is the visual signature. The body is rated IP65, which covers dust and jets of water, but is not meant for submersion or beach use, as realme notes in its own fine print. The front glass is Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, and realme says the phone earned a Swiss SGS five-star drop-resistance rating, although the footnote states that only the Emerald Green version has the Premium Performance certification.

Display

The screen is a curved 6.7-inch OLED at 2412 x 1080 pixels, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. realme lists a screen-to-body ratio of 93 percent, 1.07 billion colours, full coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut and a contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1. Brightness is given as 600 nits typical, 1,200 nits global maximum and 2,000 nits for local peaks. Touch sampling is 240Hz, with instantaneous sampling of up to 2,000Hz, and PWM dimming at 2,160Hz is switched on at low brightness to reduce flicker. An optical fingerprint sensor sits under the glass.

Curved edges look elegant but can cause accidental touches and reflections, so people who dislike them may prefer a flat panel. Stereo speakers with Hi-Res Audio certification complete the media side.

Performance and software

The processor is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, a 4nm octa-core chip with a top clock of 2.4GHz and an Adreno 710 GPU. This is a capable upper-mid-range part rather than a flagship one; realme itself quotes an AnTuTu score of more than 680,000 from its lab, a claim that should be seen as indicative only. Memory comes as 8GB or 12GB, with storage of 128GB, 256GB or 512GB, and a dynamic RAM feature that borrows up to 12GB of storage to extend memory (hence the "24GB" headline on the product page). That extra figure is virtual, and the physical memory tops out at 12GB.

A 4,500 mm2 3D vapor chamber and a large graphite sheet handle heat. The phone ran Android 14 with realme UI 5.0 at launch. realme highlights AI features such as Smart Loop, air gestures and Smart Removal for photos. Dual SIM and 5G are supported, along with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and on the India specification page NFC is listed as not included, which is a practical limitation for contactless payments in that market.

Cameras

This is where the Pro+ differs from most phones at its level. The rear system consists of a 50MP Sony LYT-701 main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor, f/1.88, optical stabilisation), a 50MP Sony LYT-600 periscope telephoto (1/1.95-inch sensor, f/2.65, optical stabilisation, about 73mm equivalent focal length, 3x optical zoom) and an 8MP ultrawide camera with a 112-degree field of view. realme claims up to 120x SuperZoom, which depends heavily on software processing and is unlikely to be usable in practice. The 32MP Sony front camera handles selfies.

The realme page says the camera module is the first to be certified by TUV Rheinland for high resolution, and it markets "AI Ultra Clarity" to sharpen blurry images, plus portrait tuning developed with an Oscar-winning visual-effects artist. These are marketing statements, and the ultrawide at 8MP is the weak point of the system. Video recording tops out at 4K at 30fps on both the rear and front cameras, with no 60fps option at 4K listed.

Battery and charging

A 5,200 mAh typical battery (5,050 mAh minimum) is paired with 80W SUPERVOOC charging, with the charger included in the box. realme claims a charge from 1 to 50 percent in 19 minutes and offers a four-year battery health guarantee, meaning at least 80 percent capacity retention under its simulated daily use. Its lab figures are 17.2 days of standby, about 18.6 hours of YouTube, 73.5 hours of music and 8.9 hours of gaming. Wireless charging is not mentioned.

Everyday use and extras

Beyond the headline hardware, the phone carries a few conveniences worth knowing about. Dual nano-SIM slots, a USB-C port and a set of sensors including a gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor are standard, and satellite navigation covers Beidou, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS. The box contains the 80W adapter, a protective case, a pre-applied screen film and a USB-C cable, which saves a first-day accessory purchase. realme also lists a Tactile Engine for gaming haptics and a rainwater touch mode that keeps the screen responsive when wet. Software extras such as File Dock and Microsoft Phone Link are aimed at people who move content between phone and PC. None of these changes the buying decision on its own, but together they round out a well-equipped package for the segment.

Who it suits and what to weigh

The Pro+ makes sense for people who want real optical zoom and a distinctive design without paying for a flagship. It is less convincing for heavy gamers, who may want the GT line, or for users who rely on NFC. Compare it with the newer generation in the realme 13 Pro+ vs realme 14 Pro comparison, and see where it stands in the rankings.

• Strengths: periscope telephoto, large battery, fast charging, bright curved OLED, IP65.
• Compromises: mid-range chipset, 8MP ultrawide, no NFC on the India variant, curved edges, no wireless charging.