Realme launches one of Australia’s cheapest 5G smartphones

Despite having launched in Australia less than two years ago, Realme has made quite the impression on the Aussie tech market with their high-spec, low-cost smartphones and wearables, and launching today is the brand's first foray into 5G - the Realme 7 5G.

The new device boasts high-end features like a 120Hz screen refresh rate, 48MP wide-angle quad camera, 16MP selfie cam, a 5,000mAh all-day battery and 30W fast charging, which promises a full charge in just over an hour. It runs on a mid-range Mediatek Dimensity 800U 5G processor and comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage (expandable up to 256GB).

While the phone itself sounds pretty solid spec-wise, it's the price that really sets the Realme 7 5G apart with an RRP of just $499. To put that in context, that puts it neck-and-neck with the cheapest 5G phone currently available in Australia, the Motorola G 5G. Beyond that, you'll be paying anywhere between $599 and $2,999 (no, we're not kidding) for a 5G handset.

You can pre-order the Realme 7 5G right now in either Mist Blue (which appears to be a darker version of the design found on the Realme 7 Pro) or Flash Silver from the Realme e-store and JB Hi-Fi, or grab it from February 11 at Officeworks, Bing Lee, mobileciti, Amazon, Kogan, The Good Guys, Catch and more. The first 4,000 orders will also score a free pair of Realme Buds Q true wireless headphones (valued at $79).

Here's hoping this new release signals a broader trend among tech companies towards more accessible 5G smartphones. Keep an eye out for our review of the Realme 7 5G in the coming weeks.