3 reasons to buy Realme 16x and 2 reasons to skip

• By Ashish Kumar
Published On: 15 August 2026 | 09:00 IST

Priced at Rs 25,999, the Realme 16x is an affordable offering from the OEM. Its key specifications include the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, a 144Hz display, a 7,000mAh battery, and a 50MP primary camera, specifications that have become fairly common in the segment amid the ongoing memory shortage crisis. Our Realme 16x review found it to be a decent option for the price. Here’s a quick look at what works and what doesn’t on the smartphone.

Reasons to buy

Excellent battery life

The 7,000mAh battery is easily the Realme 16x’s biggest strength. With a mix of streaming, browsing, scrolling and occasional gaming, the phone can comfortably last up to two days on a single charge. Even with heavier usage, getting through a full day shouldn’t be a concern. The 45W charging is fairly standard for the segment, but bypass charging is a useful addition for users who frequently game or use the phone while it is plugged in.

Smooth 144Hz display

The Realme 16x features a large 6.8-inch HD+ LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. While it doesn’t offer the punchiness of an AMOLED display, the high refresh rate makes scrolling and animations feel smooth and responsive. The large screen also works well for watching videos and playing games, while outdoor visibility is decent enough for reading text.

Reliable everyday performance

The Realme 16x is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, which isn’t particularly impressive in terms of raw benchmark performance, but it delivers a smooth experience for everyday tasks. Messaging, browsing social media, streaming videos and switching between apps remain responsive. Casual gaming is also handled well, with titles such as COD: Mobile and BGMI running without major issues. Thermal management is another positive, with the large cooling system helping keep temperatures under control during longer gaming sessions.

Reasons not to buy

Basic cameras

The camera setup is one of the weaker aspects of the Realme 16x. It gets a 50MP primary camera accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor, while selfies are handled by an 8MP front camera. The primary camera can produce reasonably detailed images in good lighting, making it adequate for social media and everyday photography. However, image quality drops noticeably in low light, where the results are below average. The setup also lacks the versatility that some competing phones offer.

Cluttered software

Realme UI 7 offers plenty of customisation options and a polished interface, but the software experience is let down by the sheer number of pre-installed apps. The Realme 16x comes with 67 pre-installed apps and recommendations, making the out-of-box experience noticeably cluttered. While many of these apps can be removed or disabled, users who prefer a cleaner software experience may find this intrusive.

To conclude…

The Realme 16x isn’t the most well-rounded smartphone out there. It even lacks the battery capacity of the Moto G77 Power (review) and Redmi Note 17 (review), which even offer an ultrawide lens and an AMOLED display, respectively. However, the Realme smartphone still manages to get the basics right, delivering excellent backup with its 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery.

While it may fall short when it comes to camera performance and a relatively clean software experience, the handset also remains a capable option for regular usage, with its 144Hz refresh rate display adding to the experience. As part of the launch offer, the Realme 16x is available with a flat discount of Rs 2,000, effectively bringing its price down to Rs 23,999.