Realme P3 Ultra First Impressions: This Glow-in-the-Dark Phone Means Business

Realme has finally launched both the vanilla P3 and the top-end P3 Ultra, and after spending some time with the latter, I can confidently say that the under Rs 25K smartphone market has a serious new contender. With a sleek design, powerful hardware, and feature-packed software, this phone brings a lot to the table.

This is my initial impressions review, covering all my early thoughts. Stay tuned for the full in-depth review.

Design & Build

The P3 Ultra is impressively lightweight at just 183g and 7.4mm thick, making it comfortable despite the massive 6.8-inch display. If you love big phones, this one feels premium in the hand. If you don't, well... It might take some getting used to.

The Glowing Lunar White variant looks stunning with its moon-inspired pattern that shifts under light, plus those orange accents on the power button and camera module give it a unique touch. If white isn't your thing, there's Neptune Blue and Orion Red, which come with a vegan leather back for a more classic feel.

One of the weirdest yet coolest features is the glow-in-the-dark effect on the Lunar White model. Realme even included a UV flashlight in the reviewer's box so you can charge up the glow effect. Is it useful? Not at all. But it's a fun little party trick that makes the phone stand out.

Durability is solid too, with an IP68/IP69 rating for dust and water resistance up to 2.5 meters for 30 minutes. I haven't tested it yet, but it's a nice reassurance if you're clumsy or live in a rainy area.

Display

The 6.8-inch AMOLED display is easily one of the best things about this phone. With a 1220 x 2712 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, everything looks crisp and fluid. Scrolling, gaming, and animations feel incredibly smooth, and the curved edges add to the immersive experience.

Now, here's the catch-there's no HDR certification. This means Netflix, YouTube, and other HDR-supported content won't look as vibrant as on some other devices. Realme tries to make up for it with Deluxe Experience mode, which enhances colors and contrast artificially. It helps a little, but it's not the same as real HDR.

Outdoor visibility is decent but not the brightest in its class. You can comfortably use it in sunlight, but if you're coming from a flagship phone, you might notice the difference.

Performance & Gaming

Powering the P3 Ultra is the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 processor, paired with UFS 3.1 storage. The variant I tested has 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, but there are also 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB options. Performance is snappy, with apps opening quickly and multitasking feeling seamless. The 2500Hz touch sampling rate also makes interactions incredibly responsive.

Realme is pushing this phone as a gaming device, and I put it through its paces. BGMI at 90 FPS with GT Mode enabled was rock solid, with only minor dips to 89 FPS in the most intense moments. Even after an hour of play, the phone stayed at a comfortable 36°C, which is impressive.

Honkai Star Rail averaged 55 FPS on high settings, peaking at 59 FPS, with only a few minor stutters in action-heavy sequences.

Genshin Impact at max settings managed an average of 47 FPS. It did heat up a little, but nothing too concerning. If you drop the settings to high or medium, it runs even smoother.

Gaming extras like Bypass Charging, which lets the phone draw power directly from the charger instead of the battery to reduce heat, are a great touch. 4D Vibration Feedback adds some extra immersion in supported games, and GT Mode boosts performance for better frame rates, though at the cost of battery life.

Realme claims an AnTuTu score of over 1.45 million, but in my tests, the best I got was 1.37 million. I'll conduct more in-depth benchmarking in my full review to see if the results change.

Cameras

The 50MP main camera is the real highlight here. It captures sharp, detailed shots with great dynamic range, and the shutter speed is quick, making it reliable in most conditions. In well-lit environments, the photos look great with vibrant colors and strong contrast.

The 8MP ultrawide is just average. In daylight, it's okay but lacks sharpness compared to the main sensor. At night, it struggles with noise and weak color accuracy, which isn't surprising for an 8MP ultrawide sensor.

The 16MP front camera works well for selfies and social media but isn't particularly impressive. Skin tones tend to be on the softer side, and if I had to nitpick, the images can sometimes be slightly overexposed.

One of the coolest AI features is AI Eraser, which removes unwanted objects or people from photos. In my testing, it worked well about 95 percent of the time, making it one of the most practical AI additions on the phone.

Battery & Charging

The 6000mAh battery, combined with 80W SuperVOOC charging, is a strong selling point. I charged the phone from 18 percent to full in just 45 minutes, which is ridiculously fast.

Bypass charging is a game-changer for gaming, as it keeps the battery cooler by directly powering the phone from the charger. Wired reverse charging is supported, but there's no wireless charging, which would have been nice.

Battery life is solid, easily lasting a full day with moderate to heavy usage. I still need more time to test standby drain, but so far, it holds up well.

Software & AI Features

Realme UI 6.0, running on Android 15, is packed with features, though it does come with some bloatware. Some pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, but the UI still feels a bit cluttered compared to stock Android.

AI Reply is a cool feature that suggests WhatsApp responses in different tones, like formal, polite, or even humorous. AI Summary condenses long articles into bite-sized versions, which I've found useful when skimming through news. Live Capsule, Realme's take on Apple's Dynamic Island, provides glanceable notifications and media controls. Voice Translate offers real-time language translation, which could be handy in certain situations.

Not everything is great, though. The music player on the lockscreen doesn't have a seekbar, which means skipping to a specific part of a song requires opening Quick Settings, which feels like an unnecessary hassle. Air Gestures, which let you control the phone with hand movements, barely worked in my testing. Even when they did, they weren't accurate, making them feel more like a gimmick than a useful feature.

Price & Availability

The Realme P3 Ultra is available in three variants, with a limited-time ₹4000 discount on all models:

• 8GB + 128GB - ₹22,999 (original price ₹26,999)
• 8GB + 256GB - ₹23,999 (original price ₹27,999)
• 12GB + 256GB - ₹25,999 (original price ₹29,999)

The first sale starts on March 25 at 12 PM, and the phone will be available for purchase on realme.com, the Realme Store app, Flipkart, and retail stores.

Initial Thoughts

The Realme P3 Ultra packs a lot of features, and for under Rs 25K, it's easily one of the most interesting mid-range phones out there. That said, it's not perfect, and a few compromises keep it from being the ultimate all-rounder.

What I liked:

Premium design and lightweight build
Beautiful quad-curved AMOLED display
Smooth and snappy performance
Fast 80W charging
AI features like AI Eraser and AI Reply
Impressive 50MP main camera

What could have been better:

• No HDR support for streaming
• Ultrawide camera is average
• No NFC
• No expandable storage
• Haptics could be improved

Realme has packed a lot into this phone for the price. Whether it's the best under Rs 25K depends on what you prioritize. I'll continue testing it, so stay tuned for more insights.