realme 13 5G REVIEW: AN UNEXPECTED GAMING EXPERIENCE

I’ll be honest—gaming isn’t exactly my thing. 

I’m more of a fashion, foodie and lifestyle gal and as Mama Lou, I’d rather spend my time chatting with my grandkids or getting lost in a good book. But as someone who also covers a lot of gaming launches, I keep hearing about “gaming phones” and all these fancy features designed just for people who play mobile games. 

It got me curious: why are smartphone brands going out of their way to cater to gamers?

So, I decided to dig a little deeper. It turns out that gaming is huge—nearly 2 billion people play games on their phones, and mobile gaming alone makes close to $100 billion a year. In places like the Philippines, more than 94% of internet users play mobile games. It’s safe to say gaming is no longer just for kids; it’s a worldwide hobby bringing in billions and captivating people of all ages.

With all that in mind, I decided to test out the realme 13 5G, a gaming-focused smartphone, to see if I could understand the appeal. Since I’m not exactly the best person to test out a gaming phone, I handed it over to my grandson, Finn. 

He’s as enthusiastic about gaming as I am about a good cup of tea, so I knew he’d give it a proper workout. A week later, he had a lot to say—and for the first time, I felt like I understood a little bit more about his world.

Here’s what we discovered about the realme 13 5G together.

Display: Bigger, Smoother, and Ready for Gaming

One of the biggest perks for gamers is the screen, and Finn’s face lit up the moment he saw the 6.72-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD displayon the realme 13 5G. For him, a large display like this makes all the difference in seeing every detail in a game, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, the screen feels ultra-responsive. This refresh rate, he explained to me, helps avoid the lag and stuttering that can be frustrating when playing action-packed games. 

When we tried it out, the screen was indeed vibrant and clear, especially indoors. It reaches 580 nits of brightness, which made it easy to read text, watch videos, or play games without squinting. The colors were bright, the text was sharp, and Finn could fully appreciate the games he plays.

The eye comfort feature was another nice touch, designed to reduce eye strain during extended sessions—a plus for people of any age!

However, Finn mentioned that it could get tricky to see under direct sunlight, which is something to consider for outdoor gaming--- but who cares! The outdoors were meant to be explored IRL right? 

Audio: Loud, Clear, and Customizable

Gaming is as much about sound as it is about visuals. The realme 13 5G comes with dual stereo speakers that offer loud and clear audio, which Finn quickly noticed while playing PUBG Mobile. It also has an Ultra Volume mode that can boost sound up to 200%. At full blast, there was a bit of distortion, but the sound quality was surprisingly robust for a mid-range phone.

For those who prefer their own headphones, realme has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack—a rarity in many newer models, according to Finn. This feature he said is important for gamers who still enjoy wired audio for clarity and zero latency, especially during gaming sessions where sound cues like footsteps or gunfire make all the difference

Performance: GT Mode, AI Boost, and Ample RAM for Seamless Gameplay

 The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor powers the realme 13 5G, and paired with 12GB of RAM, it’s more than capable of handling demanding games. Finn explained that this setup allowed him to play his favorite titles smoothly, even with high graphics settings enabled. The 6nm process of the processor ensures that the phone runs efficiently, balancing performance with battery life—a critical feature for any gaming phone.

But the star of the show is GT Mode. 

During the launch, the realme 13 ambassadors kept mentioning GT Mode. I learned that this typically was found only on realme’s premium devices. GT Mode optimizes CPU and GPU performance for maximum output, meaning higher frame rates and less lag. Finn said he noticed a difference when he switched GT Mode on, especially in games that require quick reactions, like Call of Duty MobileThe game experience felt “smoother and faster,” as he put it, with fewer hiccups and better graphics overall.

AI Boost is another feature that works behind the scenes. It uses artificial intelligence to make real-time adjustments to power usage, which Finn found useful for games that demand a lot from the processor. With 256GB of internal storage, he was able to install all his favorite games and still had room for apps and photos. The phone even offers dynamic RAM expansion—up to an additional 14GB—to keep multitasking smooth, allowing up to 19 apps to run simultaneously.

In the real world, how did the realme 13 5G perform? After a week of testing, Finn gave it high marks for smoothness, response time, and overall gameplay. He played popular games like Honor of Kings, which ran at Ultra resolution with high FPS settings without stutter or lag. Finn explained that maintaining a stable frame rate—near 60 FPS in this case—meant he could enjoy the action without interruptions.

There’s also this thing called stainless-steel vapor chamber cooling system which kept the device cool during his longer gaming sessions, even as he pushed the phone to its limits with graphically intense games like Genshin Impact. There were minimal heat issues, and Finn mentioned he barely felt any slowdown even after hours of continuous play, which he found impressive for a mid-range device.  

Camera: Ready for Social Sharing

While the realme 13 5G isn’t primarily a camera phone, it still packs a solid 50MP main camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). This feature helps take clear, sharp photos—good enough for social sharing, which is important to Finn and his friends. I had the chance to test it myself, and I was surprised by how crisp the images looked, especially in well-lit conditions. There’s also a 16MP front camerafor selfies, which Finn said worked well, though it benefits from added light in dim settings.

Design: A Refreshing, Understated Style

When I checked how other “gaming phones” looked, I did notice a big difference. Unlike the tech-heavy look of other phones, the realme 13 5G has a more refined, subtle design. With a dual-pattern finish that combines a “Speedy Curve” at the top with a “Speedy Lightning Texture” at the bottom, it feels unique without screaming “gaming phone.” Finn liked the Speed Green color of our review unit, but for those who prefer a less striking look, there’s also Dark Purple.

At 7.79mm thick and weighing 190 grams, the realme 13 5G is light and comfortable to hold, even during longer gaming sessions. Finn appreciated the flat, matte-finished sides, which helped keep fingerprints at bay and provided a better grip.

Built to last, the realme 13 5G comes with IP64 water resistance and ArmorShell Drop-Proof Protection, making it durable enough to withstand everyday use and the occasional bump. It’s nice to see a gaming phone that combines durability with style.

Battery Life and Fast Charging

The realme 13 5G’s 5,000mAh battery kept up with Finn’s gaming needs, lasting a full day with a mix of heavy gaming and regular phone use. When the battery did run low, the 45W fast charging got it back to full power in about an hour and 20 minutes—a convenient feature for quick top-ups between sessions.

CONCLUSION: More than just a Gaming Phonea

I may not be a gamer, nor will I ever fully understand the world of online battles and epic quests. But after trying out the realme 13 5G with Finn, I’ve gained a new appreciation for why brands are investing in gaming-focused phones. The realme 13 5G’s GT Mode, smooth display, solid battery life, and AI Boost all contribute to an immersive experience that kept my grandson fully engaged.

For anyone with kids or grandkids who love gaming, the realme 13 5G is definitely worth considering if you are planning to get them one this Christmas. It’s not just a good gaming phone—it’s a device that gives us something to bond over. And for its price P16,999, the realme 13 5G delivers a surprisingly good overall experience!