When Realme announced the P4 in India, it was clear that the company wanted to offer something bold in the mid-range. With a launch price of ₹18,500 and effective discounts that bring it close to ₹16,000, the phone immediately drew attention. But does it really stand out in a market filled with strong competitors like the Oppo K13, Poco X7, and Moto G96? After using the device for a week, here’s a detailed look at what it gets right, what it misses, and whether it deserves the crown of best phone under 20K.
Design and Build Quality
The design is one of the first things you notice. The P4 doesn’t just look like a minor upgrade from the P3it feels different. On the back, you’ll find three camera circles placed in a layout similar to the Realme 15 Pro. The camera island itself has hints of the iPhone 17 Pro, giving the phone a modern appeal.
There’s also a unique accent: a splash of orange on the corner and the power button, which adds a fresh visual touch. While the frame and rear are still made of plastic, the in-hand feel has improved compared to the earlier model. At just 7.58 mm thickness and 185 grams, it feels sleek and comfortable, especially considering the massive 7,000 mAh battery inside.
The device is IP65 and IP66 rated, which is a step down from the more premium protection offered by the P3, but it’s still capable of handling splashes and dust. Another small win is the inclusion of TT Star D+ protection for the display. It may not sound as fancy as Gorilla Glass branding, but in daily use, it handles drops and scratches without worry. Plus, Realme continues to provide a case and pre-applied screen protector in the box, a thoughtful addition at this price point.
Display and Multimedia Experience
On the front, the P4 greets you with a 6.77-inch flat AMOLED display. This isn’t just any panel; it supports a 144Hz refresh rate and can hit peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits. That means the screen remains readable even under harsh sunlight.
The phone also supports HDR10+, and this time, the feature works on streaming platforms like Netflix, something that was missing on its predecessor. Add stereo speakers with good channel separation, and the multimedia experience feels premium.
While the system UI usually sticks to 120Hz, apps like YouTube and Gmail operate at 90Hz. The full 144Hz refresh rate comes alive while gaming, which we’ll get to shortly. For everyday users, the display feels bright, fluid, and immersive ideal for binge-watching or social media scrolling.
Performance and Benchmarks
Under the hood, the P4 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra paired with UFS 3.1 storage. What makes it stand out is the additional HyperVision AI chip. This secondary processor is designed to enhance gaming visuals, add HDR effects, and push higher frame rates in supported titles.
In real-world performance, the phone runs smoothly. Apps open quickly, multitasking is effortless, and RAM management is reliable. Benchmarks place it slightly ahead of the P3 and Oppo’s offerings, largely due to faster storage speeds. Compared to rivals like the Poco X7 and CMF Phone 2 Pro, it shows competitive results.
On benchmark tests, the Realme P4 5G reached an AnTuTu (v10) score of around 745,000 points, placing it well above many mid-range smartphones. In Geekbench, the device achieved approximately 1,011 points in single-core and 3,078 points in multi-core performance. These results reflect a balance of strong processing power and efficiency, ensuring smooth multitasking, stable gaming sessions, and reliable day-to-day use without noticeable lag.
Gaming Experience
If you’re buying this phone for gaming, you won’t be disappointed. In titles like BGMI, the phone comfortably runs at 90 FPS and even touches 144 FPS when frame rate boosting is enabled. Call of Duty Mobile performs similarly, delivering consistent frame rates without heating beyond 40°C.
Heavier titles tell a different story. Genshin Impact averages around 37 FPS, which is playable but not great. With boost features enabled, it sometimes reaches 60–70 FPS, though stability remains a concern. Wuthering Waves runs in the 40–50 FPS range better than expected, but not flawless.
Realme adds extra features to improve the experience, such as always-on HDR for better visuals, bypass charging to prevent overheating, call blocking during sessions, and even an AI gaming coach for beginners. Overall, for casual and competitive gaming, the P4 delivers excellent value.
Day-to-Day Usage
As a daily driver, the phone feels polished. Over a week of use, it handled calls, video chats, social media, and maps without lag. Even small details like reopening apps later in the day showed good memory management.
Animations are smooth, transitions feel quick, and the large display adds to the sense of fluidity. For someone switching from an older mid-range phone, the difference will be obvious.
Software and Updates
The Realme P4 runs on Realme UI 6.0, built on Android 15. The interface feels cleaner this time, with much less bloatware compared to the P3. Any pre-installed apps can also be removed, which is a relief.
Realme promises three years of OS updates and four years of security patches. That’s a solid commitment in the mid-range market, where many phones lag behind in software support. Features like a customizable lock screen, the Realme dialer without call recording announcements, and a host of AI-powered tools round out the experience.
Battery Life and Charging
With a 7,000 mAh battery, endurance is a highlight. In regular use, the phone easily lasts a full day and often pushes into the next. Screen-on-time averages between 8 to 9 hours, with minimal overnight drain.
Charging is handled by the bundled 80W adapter, which takes the phone from 10% to full in about 68 minutes. There’s also support for 10W reverse charging, so you can top up a friend’s device in a pinch.
Camera Performance
Cameras are often where mid-range phones compromise, and the P4 is no exception. The setup includes a 50MP main shooter, an 8MP ultrawide, and a decorative third lens. On the front, you get a 16MP selfie camera.
Photos from the main sensor are vibrant but lean toward oversaturation. They look appealing for social media but aren’t the most color-accurate. Low-light shots are decent, though not extraordinary. The ultrawide is good enough for casual use but lacks fine detail.
Video recording maxes out at 4K 30fps on the rear camera. While the quality is usable, there are noticeable shifts in color and limited stabilization. Compared to competitors like the Moto G96, which opts for a more natural look, Realme’s processing feels boosted to make images more striking. Portrait shots also show inconsistency in edge detection when the background is bright.
In short, the cameras are serviceable for the price but won’t satisfy photography enthusiasts.
Connectivity and Extras
The P4 covers most essentials: support for 10 5G bands, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual SIM slots. However, there’s no microSD expansion and no NFC, which could be limiting for some users. The USB Type-C port is version 2.0, which means slower data transfer compared to newer standards.
Comparison with Previous Models
Compared to its predecessors, the Realme P4 5G brings several noticeable upgrades. The most significant jump is in performance, as it adopts the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which delivers a higher AnTuTu score than the Realme P3 series. The display has also been refined, moving to a 6.7-inch AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother visuals than the 90Hz screens seen in earlier models. Battery capacity has been increased to 5,500 mAh with 100W fast charging, a clear improvement over the slower charging speeds of the past generation. Camera quality has also been enhanced, with better low-light optimization and improved image processing. Overall, the Realme P4 5G feels like a well-rounded step forward, addressing performance, display, charging, and photography in a single package.
Should You Buy It?
The Realme P4 is not perfect, but it balances performance, display quality, and battery life better than many of its competitors. For under 20K, you’re getting:
- A bright, high-refresh AMOLED display
- Strong gaming performance with advanced features
- Long-lasting battery and fast charging
- Cleaner software with extended update support
On the downside, the cameras are just average, and missing features like NFC or higher IP rating may bother some. But when stacked against rivals such as the Oppo K13 or Moto G96, the P4 often comes out ahead, especially for gaming and multimedia.
Final Verdict
For buyers in the mid-range segment, the Realme P4 5G is a strong contender. It doesn’t try to be everything, but focuses on delivering excellent display quality, reliable performance, and all-day battery life. If those are your priorities, and you can live with average cameras, this device deserves a serious look. With bank discounts pushing the price closer to ₹16,000, it’s easily one of the most balanced phones in its class right now.
FAQs
What is the AnTuTu score of Realme P4 5G?
The Realme P4 5G scores around 745,000 points on AnTuTu (v10), putting it in the upper mid-range segment for performance.
How does the Realme P4 5G perform in Geekbench tests?
It achieves about 1,011 points on single-core and 3,078 points on multi-core, showing solid efficiency for both light and heavy tasks.
What processor powers the Realme P4 5G?
The phone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, delivering efficient performance with 5G connectivity support.
How is the battery life of the Realme P4 5G?
It comes with a 5,500 mAh battery paired with 100W fast charging, giving all-day power and very quick recharging times.
Does Realme P4 5G support 5G in all regions?
Yes, the device is designed with wide 5G band support, ensuring compatibility in most regions where 5G networks are available.
What about the display quality?
The phone features a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, offering sharp visuals and smooth scrolling.
Is the Realme P4 5G good for gaming?
With its strong benchmark scores, high refresh rate screen, and optimized cooling system, it handles popular games like PUBG, Genshin Impact, and COD Mobile smoothly.
How many years of software updates will Realme provide?
Realme usually provides two major Android updates along with three years of security patches for its mid-range series.
