Realme Narzo 60x : The increasingly competitive budget smartphone segment has evolved dramatically in recent years, with features once reserved for premium devices steadily filtering down to more accessible price points.

The Realme Narzo 60x represents a particularly interesting case study in this evolution, offering 5G connectivity and surprisingly capable specifications at the ₹12,999 ($155) price point.

Having used this device as my secondary phone for the past two weeks, I’ve developed a nuanced understanding of where it exceeds expectations and where inevitable compromises become apparent.

Realme Narzo 60x : Market Context: Understanding the Narzo Position

To properly evaluate the Narzo 60x, one must first understand its positioning within both Realme’s increasingly complex portfolio and the broader smartphone ecosystem.

As a sub-brand initially created to target online-focused, spec-conscious younger buyers, Narzo occupies an interesting middle ground between Realme’s mainstream numbered series and more specialized offerings.

The Narzo 60x specifically targets first-time 5G adopters seeking future-proof connectivity without stretching their budget to mid-range price points.

This positions it in direct competition with offerings from Xiaomi’s Redmi, Motorola’s G-series, and various other value-focused brands – a fiercely contested battleground where specification differences often determine purchasing decisions.

Design Philosophy: Practical Flair

The Narzo 60x makes a positive first impression through design elements that elevate it beyond typical budget aesthetics.

The “Stellar Green” variant I tested features a two-tone rear panel with a subtle metallic sheen that shifts under different lighting conditions.

This finish effectively resists fingerprints – a practical consideration often overlooked in glossy-backed competitors.

At 7.89mm thick and weighing 186 grams, the device strikes a reasonable balance between substantiality and comfort during extended use.

The frame, while plastic, incorporates a flattened design that provides secure grip without the sharp edges sometimes found in similar implementations. The side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as the power button, offering quick and reliable authentication.

The front design embraces contemporary aesthetics with a punch-hole camera and relatively slim bezels, though the slightly more pronounced chin serves as a reminder of the budget positioning.

The flat display with rounded corners enhances usability, particularly when typing near screen edges – an ergonomic consideration sometimes overlooked in curved implementations.

Display Experience: Balanced Priorities

The 6.72-inch LCD panel represents one of the device’s more obvious compromises compared to AMOLED-equipped competitors, yet implementation quality matters more than technology alone.

Realme has selected a capable LCD that delivers good color reproduction, acceptable viewing angles, and better black levels than many competing IPS implementations.

The 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and interface navigation than standard 60Hz displays, enhancing the perception of system responsiveness.

Maximum brightness reaches approximately 625 nits in high brightness mode, sufficient for outdoor visibility except in direct sunlight.

The 2400 × 1080 resolution (FHD+) provides appropriate sharpness for this price segment, with text and images appearing crisp during normal use.

Color accuracy in “Gentle” mode exceeds expectations for this category, while the “Vivid” setting boosts saturation to partially compensate for LCD’s inherent limitations compared to OLED technology.

The inclusion of Widevine L1 certification enables HD streaming across supported services – a small but meaningful detail sometimes missing from budget devices.

Performance Dynamics: Everyday Reliability

Powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 6100+ processor, the Narzo 60x utilizes a chipset specifically designed for affordable 5G devices.

This 6nm SoC delivers efficient performance for mainstream tasks while providing the essential connectivity that forms part of the device’s core proposition.

The 6GB/128GB configuration in my review unit provided comfortable multitasking headroom for typical usage patterns.

In practical terms, the device handles messaging, social media, video consumption, and light productivity without hesitation.

Apps launch with acceptable speed, system navigation maintains fluidity thanks to the 120Hz display, and switching between recent applications occurs without significant reloading when staying within reasonable multitasking boundaries.

Gaming capabilities reflect the device’s budget positioning but exceed what some might expect. Titles like “Mobile Legends” and “Call of Duty Mobile” run smoothly at medium settings, though more demanding games require further graphical compromises to maintain playable frame rates.

Heat management impresses during extended sessions, with only moderate warming even during sustained workloads – suggesting effective thermal design despite cost constraints.

The inclusion of 5G connectivity provides future-proofing without significantly impacting the device’s price positioning.

During testing in areas with 5G coverage, network performance proved stable with expected speed improvements over LTE, though the real-world advantage remains moderate in most current usage scenarios.

Camera Capabilities: Focused Approach

The camera system combines a 50MP primary sensor with a 2MP depth sensor, foregoing the ultrawide and macro lenses often included in competitors primarily for marketing purposes.

This focused approach proves wiser than implementing lower-quality supplementary cameras, allowing development resources to concentrate on optimizing the main shooting experience.

In favorable lighting, the primary camera captures detailed images with natural color reproduction that avoids the excessive processing found in some competitors.

Dynamic range proves adequate for most scenes, though challenging lighting can occasionally produce blown highlights or crushed shadows.

The inclusion of AI scene recognition generally improves results, particularly for landscapes and food photography.

Low-light performance reveals expected limitations, with noticeable noise and detail loss in challenging conditions.

The night mode improves matters considerably, producing usable images through computational photography that balances noise reduction with detail preservation – though results fall predictably short of devices costing several times more.

The 8MP front-facing camera delivers detailed selfies in good lighting, with portrait mode creating convincing background blur despite relying primarily on software algorithms rather than dedicated depth sensors.

Video capabilities include stable 1080p recording at 30fps, with electronic image stabilization that produces acceptable results during moderate movement.

Battery Experience: Enduring Power

The 5000mAh battery represents one of the device’s clearest strengths, consistently delivering full-day endurance even under heavy usage patterns.

More conservative users could potentially extend this to two days, providing flexibility during travel or other situations where charging opportunities may be limited.

The included 33W SuperVOOC charger represents another area where the Narzo 60x exceeds typical budget expectations. A full charge requires approximately 70 minutes, while even a 30-minute connection provides significant capacity for extended use.

This charging capability enhances the overall experience by reducing the time investment required for battery maintenance.

Realme Narzo 60x : Calculated Compromise

The Realme Narzo 60x ultimately succeeds through clear understanding of its target audience and judicious feature prioritization.

Rather than attempting to excel across all specifications or match higher-priced alternatives, it delivers a balanced experience that emphasizes connectivity, display fluidity, battery life, and charging speed – elements that impact satisfaction throughout the ownership cycle.

For consumers seeking 5G connectivity without stretching their budget, the Narzo 60x offers a compelling proposition that focuses on practical advantages while incorporating thoughtful touches that enhance perceived value.

In eschewing gimmicky features of questionable utility in favor of everyday usability, Realme has created a device that satisfies essential smartphone needs while providing the future-proofing of next-generation network compatibility.