realme 13 5G Unboxing and Gaming Review

Following the successful launch of the all-new realme 13 Pro 5G and realme 13 Pro+ 5G last August, realme Philippines has announced the introduction of the newest addition to the realme 13 Series 5G - the realme 13 5G and the realme 13+ 5G. The launch is scheduled to take place next week, on October 24th.

In this article, we will be focusing on the realme 13 5G. This latest model targets gaming enthusiasts who are into social competitive play or those who just need a reliable smartphone. The device features gaming-focused features such as GT Mode, a Vapor Chamber Cooling System, 120Hz FHD+ display, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, 5G connectivity, fast charging, and a stylish design, which is well-known for this series.

I'm excited to share my unboxing experience and initial impressions of the device. So, let's get started with the unboxing!

Unboxing the realme 13 5G

The realme 13 5G comes in the brand's signature yellow-colored box. The front of the box shows the branding, while the back contains important details such as the model number, IMEI number, serial number, color, and four key features of the realme 13 5G.

Inside the Box and Accessories

When you open the box, you will find realme's "Make it real" slogan. Additionally, there is a pack containing a SIM card ejector tool, a protective silicone case, a quick start guide, and important product information, including the Warranty Card.

Underneath the pack, you will find the realme 13 5G smartphone wrapped in white matte plastic. Below that, I found the 45W SUPERVOOC charging adapter and a USB type-C to USB-A charging cable. Please note that the realme 13 5G smartphone does not come with headphones, so you will have to use your own.

Now that I have unboxed everything, I will take a closer look at the physical features of the device and share my first impression with you.

Design and Walk Around

The realme 13 5G incorporates design elements from the realme 13 Pro Series 5G. The design, named Victory Speed, draws inspiration from the word "Victory" in games like Honor of Kings and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. This design finish is less prone to fingerprint smudges and scratches, which I find appealing.

Additionally, the device features ArmorShell, realme’s own technology which was first featured in realme Note 60. This technology is created to enhance the durability of the brand’s devices to endure accidental scenarios that may damage them.

The realme 13 5G smartphone is available in two colors - Speed Green and Dark Purple. I have the Dark Purple variant. In addition to its design, the device is thin at 7.79mm and weighs only 190 grams, making it easy to hold for long periods.

The realme 13 5G boasts a 6.72-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) IPS display on its front, featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. The display has a centered hole-punch 16MP camera on the top and a thin, discreetly etched earpiece above it.

On the back, there's a large protruding camera module that houses the dual-camera setup along with a single LED flash. The two cameras are the 50MP main + 2MP mono lens.

The right side features the standard volume rocker and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor that is embedded in the power button, while the top has the secondary noise-canceling microphone, a speaker grille, and a hybrid SIM tray which allows the option of using either two SIM cards, or one SIM card plus one microSD card.

At the bottom, you'll find the USB Type-C charging port, downward-firing speaker, primary microphone, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Since I have completed the physical features of the device, here is my gaming and performance review. The camera and other features will be discussed in the in-depth review next week.

Gaming and Performance

The realme 13 5G is a gaming-focused smartphone powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, which is built on a 6nm production process. It is equipped with two Cortex-A76 cores, six Cortex-A55 cores, and a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.

In addition, the realme 13 5G features Dynamic RAM Expansion technology, allowing users to virtually expand their phone's RAM up to 14GB using the internal storage to enhance overall performance and multitasking. Users can allocate 4GB, 8GB, or 14GB of storage to act as RAM. The device's 4GB of physical RAM can also serve as "Dedicated Gaming Memory" for quick game launch or startup. The realme 13 5G variant available in the Philippines comes with 256GB of storage.

In my testing, despite the device having Dimensity 6300 instead of the Dimensity 7300 Energy found in its realme 13+ 5G sibling, the device still delivered impressive performance. It smoothly handled resource-intensive applications and provided a seamless gaming experience. It effortlessly supported medium to high graphics settings for popular games such as Asphalt 9: Legends and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Some benchmark scores for the device are provided below, and more benchmark results can be found in the detailed review next week.

Additionally, the realme 13 5G offers several notable gaming features:

• GT Mode: Allocates resources to prioritize high frame rates, high image quality, and low temperature, ensuring stable 60fps gaming for extended sessions.

• Vapor Chamber Cooling System: Utilizes graphite sheets and other materials in a 9-Layer Cooling System to reduce temperatures of heat sources by up to 12°C overall, maintaining the device's temperature at around 39°C to 41°C during intense use sessions.
• AI Boost 2.0: Allows users to choose between Smooth Boost or Game Boost to prioritize overall productivity or gaming performance.
• 6-Axis Hypersensitive Gyroscope: Enables more precise aim control when gyro is activated in FPS games.
• Mobile Antenna Array Matrix System: Surrounds the device with several antennas to ensure no signal loss during gaming and enables the use of 360° NFC for wireless transactions.

realme 13 5G Specifications

6.72-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) IPS display, 391ppi
120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate
MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor (6nm)
Mali-G57 MC2 GPU
12GB RAM with Dynamic RAM Expansion
256GB of internal storage
Up to 2TB Expandability via microSD Card
Dual-rear cameras (50MP F1.8 OIS main + 2MP F2.4 B&W camera)
16MP F2.4 front camera
Dual-SIM / 5G Connectivity
WiFi 5 / Bluetooth 5.3
GPS, A-GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS
USB Type-C / Dual stereo speakers / 3.5mm audio jack
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
IP64 Dust & Water Resistance
realme UI 5.0 (Android 14)
5,000mAh Battery with 45W SUPERVOOC Charge
Dimensions: 165.6 x 76.1 x 7.79mm
Weight: 190g
Colors: Speed Green and Dark Purple

Price and Availability

Make sure not to miss the opportunity to witness the launch of the latest addition to the realme 13 Series 5G lineup. The launch event will be streamed live on realme's official Facebook and YouTube pages on October 24, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

In addition, you can pre-order the new realme 13 Series 5G starting today until October 24 at any realme Official Store or partner dealers near you. As a bonus, you will receive a free 6-month Screen Protection Plan and realme Buds T110, valued at a total of Php2,000+.