The narzo 50i Prime is one of narzo’s top-selling devices, holding back-to-back sold-out records on both Lazada and Shopee when it launched in the Philippines. And it’s not without good reason as the entry-level phone offers decent performance for its asking price.
For Php 4,999, the narzo 50i Prime features a Unisoc T612 chip, a large 6.5-inch display, and a 5000mAh battery. But is this the budget phone for you? Let’s find out.
narzo 50i Prime specs
| Display | 6.5-inch HD+ IPS Display, 1600 x 720 |
| Processor | Unisoc T612, 1.82GHz Octa-core |
| RAM/Storage | 3GB+32GB |
| Rear Camera | 8MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP |
| Network | 4G LTE, Dual SIM, Triple Slot |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| Others | Micro USB, Headphone Jack |
| OS | realme UI R Edition, Android 11 |
| Colors | Mint Green, Dark Blue |
| Battery | 5000mAh Battery |
Design & Display
The narzo 50i Prime has an aesthetically pleasing look that easily sets it apart from other budget phones. It has a plastic back with a linear pattern design that shift as you move the device.
The rear camera is tastefully placed on a rectangular area with a matte surface, along with the LED flash and the narzo logo. The large “lens” also gives the phone a more balanced look.
The budget phone has a plastic construction with a good solid build. The sides are flat which gives the phone a bar-like style that give it a better grip. It also has curved corners that add to ergonomics.
At the front, there’s a large 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 1600 x 720 resolution and a water drop selfie camera. The screen looks sharp, despite the HD resolution. It also has punchy colors and good viewing angles. The bottom bezel is thick, which isn’t a surprise, given that this is a budget phone.
On the right side, you have the volume rocker and power button. While on the left side, there’s the triple-slot SIM tray. There’s nothing at the top, but at the bottom sits the headphone jack, the microphone, a micro USB port, and the mono speaker.
Cameras
The narzo 50i Prime is equipped with a single 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front shooter for selfies. Don’t be discouraged by the lack of secondary rear cameras (either for depth or macro). In my opinion, this is a better setup, rather than having additional secondary cameras that don’t add any value.
For the most part, the primary camera is sufficient for the occasional shot in good lighting, which is more than enough for social media. Photos are decent with neutral colors. Sharpness is low and there is some noise, but it does do a good job when it comes to lighting up darker areas. You can’t expect any more than this, given the price.
For low-light shots, performance is on par with most budget phones, even with night mode. There’s a lot of noise with low sharpness and details, but the colors look good.
See also realme C33 review: 50MP camera phone on a budget
As for selfies, images taken by the front camera are pleasant. The selfies are soft, but the colors look good.
Check out the sample images below.
Performance
The narzo 50i Prime is powered by a Unisoc T612, a 12nm chip with two fast ARM Cortex A75 cores and six power-efficient ARM Cortex A55 cores, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.
On the software side, the phone runs on realme UI R Edition, a close-to-stock, trimmed-down version of realme’s UI based on Android 12.
As a daily driver, the narzo 50i Prime is snappy and responsive. The Unisoc T612, together with the lite UI, does a good job of keeping the handset humming for most tasks.
Commonly used apps run without issue. There are some minor stutters which show up from time to time, but nothing deal-breaking. Meanwhile, low graphic settings will get you through most games.
The mono speaker is okay. It has good volume, but, as expected, it is somewhat tinny. Overall, it’s not that bad for a budget phone, and it will suffice for the occasional YouTube video or video call.
See also Infinix Note 12 Pro 5G review
As for the battery life, the narzo 50i Prime’s 5000mAh capacity can easily last one whole day of usage, two if you’re a light user. The phone doesn’t come with a charger in the box (no doubt to keep the costs low), but it can take up to a 10W charger, which usually takes around 3 hours to reach 100 percent.
Final Thoughts
Smartphones in the budget segment are usually about compromises, often exchanging one aspect for another to keep its price at a certain point. For the narzo 50i Prime, they traded accessories for looks and performance to keep it within Php 4,999. You read that right, there’s no charger or case in the box.
As a budget phone, the narzo 50i Prime will not disappoint. You are getting solid performance with a decent set of cameras and a large battery. And as an added bonus, the phone’s design certainly keeps it one step ahead of the competition within the same price range.
It doesn’t come with a charger and a case, so keep that in mind when you’re computing for overall costs. And if you are getting a charger, be sure to get a 10W one to maximize charging speed.
Price and Availability
The narzo 50i Prime is priced at Php 4,999 in the Philippines. The smartphone is available on narzo’s online and offline platforms nationwide.
