realme has brought back the “Plus” to its number series. Here we have the realme 16 Pro Plus, which suggests realme is trying to capture multiple price segments within a single lineup.
It joins the realme 16 and 16 Pro. As the most expensive of the three, the realme 16 Pro Plus sits in the sub-flagship category with a price of Php43,999.
But beyond the price, does it really have what it takes to belong in this category? We find out in our realme 16 Pro Plus review.
realme 16 Pro Plus Specs
- Android 16, realme UI 7.0
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- 6.8-inch 2.8K AMOLED display, 2800 x 1280 pixel resolution, ~453ppi
- 144Hz refresh rate, 6,500-nit peak brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
- 2.8Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 octa-core processor
- Adreno 722 GPU
- 12GB RAM
- 512GB UFS 3.1 internal storage, non-expandable
- 50-megapixel front camera
- 200-megapixel (f/1.9, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS) + 50-megapixel (3.5x periscope telephoto, PDAF, OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) rear camera, LED flash
- IP66/68/69/69K dust and water resistant
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, Face unlock
- Stereo speakers
- HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.4
- GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
- NFC, IR blaster, USB-C
- Dimensions: 162.5 x 76.3 x 8.1/8.5mm
- Weight: 198g/203g
- Colors: Camellia Pink, Gray, Gold
- 7,000mAh non-removable battery, 80W wired, Reverse wired, Bypass charging
Design and Build Quality
The realme 16 Pro Plus is a stunner, no question about it. It was apparently co-designed by Naoto Fukasawa, a renowned product and furniture designer and one of realme’s long-time collaborators.
It looks sleek and eco-friendly, as the rear panel uses an “industry-first bio-based organic silicone material.” It feels smooth, soft, and clean, while remaining very grippy with a faux leather finish.
There’s also a distinct camera island with a shiny metallic surface. It looks premium, but is prone to fingerprint marks and smudges.
We’re big fans of the design, especially its supposed resistance to aging and wear. However, we do wish there were more color options, as only the Master Gold variant is available in the Philippines.
For durability, the front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i. It also has IP68/IP69K dust and water resistance. Overall, the phone feels solid, and the rear material seems built to last. Still, we’d recommend using the included clear case for added protection.
Up front, there’s a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole cutout for the 50-megapixel selfie camera.
The top houses the IR blaster, speaker, and microphone.
The left side is clean, while the right side has the volume controls and power/lock button. The buttons are tactile, but feel a bit cheap.
At the bottom, you’ll find the SIM tray for two nano SIMs, a USB-C port, the primary loudspeaker, and a microphone.
At the back, there’s a 200-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 50-megapixel periscope lens. A dual LED flash is also present.
Display and Audio
The realme 16 Pro Plus features a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a 2800 x 1280 resolution, ~453ppi, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 6,500 nits. It also supports 4608Hz PWM dimming, a 2500Hz instant touch response, and Netflix HDR certification with HDR10/HDR10+.
We’re very impressed with the display. The large screen makes gaming and streaming immersive, brightness is excellent for HDR content and outdoor use, and colors are vibrant with strong contrast.
The stereo speakers are also very good. While it lacks a dedicated top driver and instead shares it with the earpiece, it still gets loud with punchy sound, crisp treble, and decent bass.
Hardware and Performance
The realme 16 Pro Plus is powered by a 4nm 2.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor with an Adreno 722 GPU — a disappointing choice at this price point. On the bright side, it comes with 12GB of RAM and fast 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
realme 16 Pro Plus Benchmark Scores
Day-to-day performance is fast and responsive, although it could have been better with a more fitting chipset.
For gaming, Genshin Impact ran smoothly at Medium settings with 60 FPS and no overheating.
PUBG Mobile performed well at HD graphics with Extreme frame rates, while Call of Duty Mobile ran smoothly at Very High graphics with Max frames. Farlight84 was playable at HD graphics with High frame rates.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Asphalt Legends Unite both ran smoothly at their highest settings.
While the chipset may not match the price, the device still delivered a solid gaming experience. However, at this level, triple-A titles should ideally run at higher settings.
| Game | Graphics Settings |
| Genshin Impact | • Render Resolution: Medium • Visual Effects: High • SFX Quality: Medium • Frame Rate: 60 |
| PUBG Mobile | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: Extreme |
| Call of Duty: Mobile | • Graphics Quality: Very High • Frame Rate: Max |
| Farlight84 | • Graphics Quality: HD • Frame Rate: High |
| Mobile Legends: Bang Bang | • Resolution: HD • Map Quality: Ultra • Frame Rate: Ultra |
| Asphalt Legends Unite | • Visual Quality: High Quality • Frame Rate: 90 |
Software and User Interface
The realme 16 Pro Plus runs on Android 16-based realme UI 7.0. It is promised 3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches, which is a good amount of software support, but not the longest we’ve seen compared to other brands.
It features the Light Glass Design, clearly inspired by Apple’s Liquid Glass UI. It looks good, especially in the control center and “breathing dock,” though these features must be enabled manually.
realme’s Flux Engine ensures smooth and seamless animations, albeit there’s nothing really special about it.
AI features are abundant. These include AI Writer, AI Translate, AI Camera (AI Framing Master, AI Landscape Mode), AI Gaming Coach, AI Recording Transcription, and AI Smart Loop. Google Gemini is also included.
The gallery app is packed with tools such as AI Recompose, AI Eraser, AI Portrait Glow, AI Ultra Clarity, AI Perfect Shot, Unblur, AI Remove Reflections, and AI Glare Remover.
Additional features like AI LightMe allow background and lighting changes, while AI StyleMe can place your face in different scenarios or apply cartoon effects. AI Inspiration can analyze photos and enhance them automatically.
For security, the optical under-display fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate, even with wet fingers. Face unlock also works reliably.
Overall, the software is intuitive, feature-rich, and backed by decent update support.
Cameras
Like its predecessors, the realme 16 Pro Plus heavily focuses on cameras. It features a 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP5 1/1.56-inch main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, multi-directional PDAF, and OIS.
It also has a 50-megapixel ISOCELL JN5 telephoto camera with an 80mm equivalent focal length, f/2.8 aperture, and OIS, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and a 50-megapixel front camera.
The main, telephoto, and front cameras support up to 4K at 60fps, while the ultra-wide is limited to 1080p at 30fps.
Daylight photos are excellent and flagship-like. Images are sharp, colors are vibrant yet realistic, and dynamic range is well handled, even in bright outdoor conditions. White balance is also accurate.
Low-light shots from the main camera are equally impressive, with sharp details, minimal oversharpening, and good exposure. Colors remain natural, and dynamic range is well preserved.
The 50-megapixel telephoto camera also delivers sharp images with strong dynamic range and vibrant yet realistic colors even in low light. Night shots remain clean and detailed.
The ultra-wide camera is the weakest of the bunch. While it has autofocus for macro shots, image quality is average, with softer details and slightly washed-out colors.
The 50-megapixel front camera performs well, producing sharp selfies with good dynamic range and natural skin tones. Low-light performance is also commendable.
The realme 16 Pro Plus offers excellent cameras and its arguably its strongest selling point.
Battery and Charging
One of the biggest strengths of the realme 16 Pro Plus is its battery. It packs a massive 7,000mAh capacity and even supports reverse wired charging, allowing it to function as a power bank.
It supports 80W wired charging and bypass charging, though wireless charging is absent.
Battery life is outstanding. It lasted 24 hours and 54 minutes in PCMark’s battery test and 22 hours and 42 minutes in the 1080p YouTube battery loop test.
Charging speeds are also impressive. A 15-minute charge gets the battery from 0 to 29%, while a full charge takes about an hour.
- 15mins: 0-29%
- 30mins: 56%
- 45mins: 81%
- 1hr: 97%
- 1hr 3mins: FULL
Verdict
The realme 16 Pro Plus is a device with clear strengths and equally clear compromises. It excels in design, durability, charging speed, and especially cameras, delivering a near-flagship imaging experience that’s hard to beat in its segment.
Its massive 7,000mAh battery is also a impressive, easily making it one of the longest-lasting phones in its class.
However, its positioning becomes questionable when you factor in the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset. At this price point, expectations lean toward a more powerful processor, especially for sustained performance and high-end gaming. While everyday use remains smooth, it doesn’t fully match the “sub-flagship” label it aims for.
Overall, the realme 16 Pro Plus is best suited for users who prioritize cameras, battery life, and design over raw performance. If those are your priorities, it’s an easy recommendation. But if more performance is what you’re after, you probably need to look elsewhere.
realme 16 Pro Plus pricing and availability in the Philippines
The realme 16 Pro Plus 12GB/512GB, the only variant available in the Philippines, has a price of Php43,999. You can get it at physical stores nationwide and online via Shopee.
Pros
- Unique, sustainable, durable design
- Predominantly excellent cameras
- Long-lasting battery with 80W fast charging
- Smooth day-to-day performance
- Feature-rich software with useful AI tools
Cons
- Chipset is disappointing for the price
- Underwhelming ultra-wide camera
- No wireless charging