Realme has been a prominent name in the Indian smartphone market, offering budget-friendly devices with decent specs. However, not every phone in their lineup over the past few years has been a standout. The Realme P3 series, launched in March 2025, feels like a turning point for the brand. With the P3 and P3 Ultra, Realme seems to be stepping up its game, focusing on performance, design, and value for money. In this detailed review, we’ll dive into what makes the Realme P3 series special, focusing on the P3 Ultra, and answer key questions like, “Is it worth buying?” and “Should you go for it?” This article is written to help users, especially students and young professionals, make an informed decision.
Design and Build: Premium Looks on a Budget
The Realme P3 series brings a fresh design language that feels modern and premium, even in the budget and mid-range segments. The P3 Ultra, in particular, stands out with its glow-in-the-dark lunar design. The back panel has a moon-like texture that subtly glows under low light, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance. Weighing just 185 grams despite packing a massive 6000mAh battery, the P3 Ultra feels surprisingly lightweight and slim at 7.38mm. The vegan leather finish on variants like Orion Red adds a premium touch, while the Glowing Lunar White variant is perfect for those who want something distinctive.
The Realme P3, on the other hand, has a more industrial and mechanical look with a Space Silver or Nebula Pink finish . It’s slightly heavier at 193.6 grams and thicker at 8mm, but it still feels comfortable to hold. The plastic frame on the P3 is a bit of a downside, as it doesn’t feel as premium as the P3 Ultra’s glass-metal build. However, both phones come with an orange-accented power button, adding a pop of color.
Both devices are IP66, IP68, and IP69 rated, which is rare in their price range. This means they can withstand dust, water, and even high-pressure jets, making them ideal for adventurous users. The P3 Ultra also supports underwater photography, which is a cool feature for creative users. During testing, both phones survived a drop test with Gorilla Glass 7i protection, showing no visible damage, which speaks to their durability.
Display: Vibrant and Smooth Visuals
The display is one of the highlights of the Realme P3 series. The P3 Ultra features a 6.83-inch 1.5K quad-curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1500 nits peak brightness .The quad-curved design gives it a premium, bezel-less look, and the thin borders enhance the immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re watching YouTube videos or playing games, the display delivers vibrant colors and sharp details, with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The 3840Hz PWM dimming and eye comfort mode make it easy on the eyes during long usage.
The Realme P3 comes with a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, also with a 120Hz refresh rate but a higher peak brightness of 2000 nits . While it lacks the quad-curved design, it still offers a fluid and smooth experience, especially for scrolling and gaming. The bezels are slightly thicker compared to the P3 Ultra, but they’re not distracting. Both phones support Widevine L1, so you can stream HD content on Netflix and YouTube, though HDR is limited to YouTube only.
In real-world use, the displays on both phones feel smooth and responsive, thanks to the 240Hz touch sampling rate. The P3 Ultra’s display, in particular, stands out for its premium feel, making it a great choice for multimedia lovers on a budget.
Performance: Top-Tier Power for Gaming and More
When it comes to performance, the Realme P3 series is among the best in its price range. The P3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra chipset, a first in the industry, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. It delivers an impressive AnTuTu score of 1.4-1.45 million, which is exceptional for a phone priced under ₹30,000. During testing, the P3 Ultra handled demanding games like Genshin Impact at 59.2-59.5 FPS for 30-45 minutes without overheating, with temperatures staying between 36-38°C.
The Realme P3 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, another industry-first, paired with up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. It achieves an AnTuTu score of around 760,000, which is excellent for its sub-₹20,000 price tag. The P3 handled games like Call of Duty: Mobile at 60 FPS and BGMI at 90 FPS with ease. Both phones come with a 6050mm² vapor cooling chamber, ensuring sustained performance during long gaming sessions.
The P3 Ultra also supports ray tracing, a feature rarely seen in this price segment, making it a dream for gamers. Both phones include GT Boost mode and AI Motion Control for enhanced gaming performance. For everyday tasks like browsing, multitasking, and streaming, both devices feel snappy and lag-free. If gaming and performance are your priorities, the P3 series won’t disappoint.
Software: Realme UI 6.0 with Android 15
Both the P3 and P3 Ultra run Realme UI 6.0 based on Android 15, offering a smooth and feature-packed experience. Realme promises two years of major OS updates and three years of security updates, which is decent for the price range. The UI is fluid, with animations that feel polished and responsive, especially on the P3 Ultra.
Realme UI 6.0 comes with some pre-installed apps, but you can uninstall them during setup, which is a thoughtful touch. The software includes AI features like Circle to Search, AI Smart Loop for seamless sharing, AI Writer, AI Eraser for photo editing, and AI Best Face. There’s also a Recording Summary feature, which is great for students who want to summarize lectures easily. While the software is generally clean, some users might find the occasional notification from pre-installed apps annoying, but it’s not a dealbreaker.
Camera: Decent but Performance-Focused
The Realme P3 series prioritizes performance over camera capabilities, but the cameras are still decent for the price. The P3 Ultra features a dual-camera setup with a 50MP Sony IMX896 primary sensor (f/1.8) with OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide lens (f/2.2) . The 16MP front camera (f/2.4) handles selfies. In daylight, the primary sensor captures sharp, detailed images with vibrant colors and natural skin tones. The ultra-wide lens is useful for landscapes but struggles in low light. The P3 Ultra supports 4K 60FPS video recording, which is impressive for the price.
The Realme P3 has a 50MP primary sensor (f/1.8) and a 2MP depth sensor, along with a 16MP selfie camera . The lack of an ultra-wide lens is disappointing, as the depth sensor adds little value. Photos from the primary sensor are social media-ready in bright conditions, but low-light performance is average, even with Night Mode. The P3 supports 4K 30FPS video recording.
Both phones produce punchy images on their displays, but the actual output is more natural when viewed on other screens. For casual photography, the cameras are good enough, but if you’re a photography enthusiast, you might want to look at competitors like the Redmi Note 14 or OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite, which offer better portrait and low-light performance.
Battery and Charging: All-Day Power
Battery life is a strong suit of the Realme P3 series. Both phones pack a 6000mAh battery, which easily lasts 1-1.5 days on a single charge with moderate use (social media, gaming, and streaming). The P3 Ultra supports 80W fast charging, fully charging the device in about an hour, while the P3 supports 45W charging, which is slightly slower but still respectable.
Both phones use bypass charging to reduce heat during gaming while plugged in, which helps maintain battery health. Realme claims the battery will retain over 80% capacity after four years of daily use, which is reassuring for long-term users.
Connectivity and Other Features
The P3 series offers robust connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and support for 15 5G bands, ensuring fast and reliable network performance. Both phones feature an in-display fingerprint sensor and face unlock, both of which work quickly and accurately. There’s no NFC support, which might disappoint users who rely on contactless payments. The stereo speakers deliver decent sound, and the Aerospace VC cooling system keeps the phones cool during intensive tasks.
Pricing and Variants
The Realme P3 Ultra is priced at ₹26,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant, ₹27,999 for 8GB+256GB, and ₹29,999 for 12GB+256GB. With bank offers, the effective price can drop to ₹24,000-₹25,000. The Realme P3 starts at ₹16,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant, ₹17,999 for 8GB+128GB, and ₹19,999 for 8GB+256GB, with offers bringing it down to ₹15,000-₹17,000.
Should You Buy the Realme P3 Series?
The Realme P3 series is a strong contender in the budget and mid-range segments, especially for users who prioritize performance and battery life. The P3 Ultra is an excellent choice for gamers and power users looking for flagship-level features like ray tracing, a quad-curved AMOLED display, and 80W charging under ₹30,000. The Realme P3 is a great option for those on a tighter budget (₹15,000-₹20,000) who still want solid performance, a vibrant display, and long battery life.
However, the cameras are not the strongest aspect of these phones, and the lack of an ultra-wide lens on the P3 is a drawback. The software, while smooth, comes with some bloatware, which might annoy some users. If you’re looking for a balanced phone with better cameras, the Redmi Note 14 or OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite might be worth considering.
Is It Worth It?
- Realme P3 Ultra: If your budget is around ₹25,000 and you want a gaming beast with a premium design and display, the P3 Ultra is absolutely worth it. It offers unmatched performance and features like IP69 rating and ray tracing that are rare in this segment.
- Realme P3: For students or casual users with a budget of ₹15,000-₹20,000, the P3 delivers excellent value with its Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, 6000mAh battery, and AMOLED display. It’s a dependable all-rounder for the price.
Realme P3 Series Specifications
| Feature | Realme P3 | Realme P3 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED, 120Hz, 2000 nits | 6.83″ 1.5K Quad-Curved AMOLED, 120Hz, 1500 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 | MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Ultra |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP (f/1.8) + 2MP depth | 50MP Sony IMX896 (f/1.8, OIS) + 8MP ultra-wide |
| Front Camera | 16MP (f/2.4) | 16MP (f/2.4) |
| Battery | 6000mAh, 45W fast charging | 6000mAh, 80W fast charging |
| OS | Realme UI 6.0 (Android 15) | Realme UI 6.0 (Android 15) |
| Weight | 193.6g | 185g |
| Thickness | 8mm | 7.38mm |
| Price (Starting) | ₹16,999 (₹15,000 with offers) | ₹26,999 (₹24,000 with offers) |
Final Verdict
The Realme P3 series marks a strong comeback for Realme in the Indian market. The P3 Ultra is a performance powerhouse with a premium design, making it one of the best phones under ₹30,000. The P3 is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise on essentials like battery life and display quality. While the cameras could be better, the overall package is compelling for the price. If you’re looking for a phone that delivers top-tier performance without breaking the bank, the Realme P3 series deserves your attention.
