Realme Narzo 30A Review: A Budget Powerhouse With Surprising Strengths

The Realme Narzo 30A is one of those budget smartphones that makes you pause and reconsider what’s possible at this price point. While it doesn’t pretend to compete with flagship devices, it carves out its own niche with a combination of long battery life, decent performance, and a design that doesn’t scream "cheap." Let’s dive into what makes this phone stand out—and where it falls short.

Design and Build: Rugged and Functional

At first glance, the Narzo 30A doesn’t look like a budget device. The textured back panel provides a solid grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips. The geometric camera module adds a touch of modernity, though the plastic body is a reminder of its price segment. Weighing in at 207 grams, it’s on the heavier side, but that’s partly due to its massive battery—a trade-off many will gladly accept.

The 6.5-inch display dominates the front, with a waterdrop notch housing the selfie camera. The bezels are noticeable but not distractingly thick, and the chin is about what you’d expect at this price. What’s missing here is a fingerprint sensor—Realme has opted for face unlock instead, which works fine in good lighting but struggles in dim conditions.

Display: Basic but Serviceable

The Narzo 30A features a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. It’s not the sharpest panel out there, and colors lack the vibrancy of an AMOLED screen, but for everyday tasks like browsing, watching videos, or scrolling through social media, it gets the job done. Brightness is adequate indoors but can be a challenge under direct sunlight.

Where this display shines is in its size—it’s great for media consumption, and the lack of a high refresh rate isn’t a dealbreaker given the phone’s target audience. If you’re coming from a higher-resolution screen, the pixelation might bother you at first, but most budget buyers won’t mind.

Performance: Entry-Level but Efficient

Powering the Narzo 30A is the MediaTek Helio G85, a chipset designed for budget gaming. Paired with up to 4GB of RAM, it handles casual gaming surprisingly well. Titles like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile run at low to medium settings without major hiccups, though don’t expect buttery smoothness at higher graphics settings.

Day-to-day performance is smooth for basic tasks, but multitasking can feel sluggish if you push it too hard. The 64GB storage option is expandable via microSD, which is a plus for those who need extra space for apps and media. Realme UI on top of Android 10 keeps things simple, though the lack of Android 11 out of the box is disappointing.

Battery Life: The Star of the Show

If there’s one area where the Narzo 30A absolutely excels, it’s battery life. The 6000mAh cell is a monster, easily lasting two full days of moderate use. Even heavy users will struggle to drain this in a single day. Streaming videos, gaming, and browsing barely make a dent, making this phone ideal for travelers or those who hate frequent charging.

The 18W fast charging support is decent, though charging such a large battery from 0% to 100% still takes a while. A faster charger would have been nice, but at this price, it’s hard to complain.

Cameras: Hit or Miss

The dual-camera setup (13MP primary + 2MP B&W) is where the Narzo 30A shows its budget constraints. In good lighting, the primary sensor captures decent shots with acceptable detail and color accuracy. However, dynamic range is limited, and low-light performance is mediocre at best—photos get noisy quickly, and the lack of a dedicated night mode hurts.

The 8MP front camera is serviceable for video calls and occasional selfies, but don’t expect flagship-level sharpness or detail. Video recording maxes out at 1080p 30fps, and the lack of stabilization means footage can be shaky.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy It?

The Realme Narzo 30A isn’t for everyone, but it’s a fantastic option for budget-conscious buyers who prioritize battery life and casual gaming performance. If you can live with average cameras and a basic display, this phone delivers where it counts. It’s especially appealing as a secondary device or for those who need a reliable backup phone with exceptional endurance.

Realme Narzo 30A Full Specifications:

General:

- Dimensions: 164.5 x 75.9 x 9.8 mm

- Weight: 207 grams

- Build: Plastic back, plastic frame

- Colors: Laser Black, Laser Blue

Display:

- Type: IPS LCD, 60Hz refresh rate

- Size: 6.5 inches

- Resolution: HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)

- Aspect Ratio: 20:9

Platform:

- OS: Android 10, Realme UI

- Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm)

- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)

- GPU: Mali-G52 MC2

Memory:

- RAM: 3GB / 4GB

- Storage: 32GB / 64GB (expandable via microSD up to 256GB)

Main Camera:

- Dual: 13MP, f/2.2 (wide) + 2MP B&W, f/2.4

- Features: LED flash, HDR, panorama

- Video: 1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera:

- Single: 8MP, f/2.0

- Features: HDR

- Video: 1080p@30fps

Battery:

- Capacity: 6000mAh

- Charging: 18W wired

Connectivity:

- Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n

- Bluetooth: 5.0

- USB: MicroUSB 2.0

- 3.5mm jack: Yes

Other Features:

- Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, compass

- Face Unlock: Yes

- Fingerprint sensor: No