Let's be honest - finding the right smartphone in 2025 is a total headache. With so many options flooding the market, I've been testing two intriguing mid-rangers that won't break the bank: the Realme Neo 7 and its more wallet-friendly sibling, the Realme Neo 7 SE. After a few weeks with both phones, I'm ready to help you figure out which one deserves your hard-earned cash.
So what are we looking at here? The Neo 7 comes packing MediaTek's beastly Dimensity 9300 Plus chipset, a solid dual-camera setup, and a monster 7000 mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Neo 7 SE keeps the same gorgeous design but tones things down with a Dimensity 8400 Max processor - all while slashing the price tag significantly. I've been putting both through their paces with benchmarks, camera tests, and real-world usage to see which one delivers the goods.
TL;DR for the impatient: If you're a hardcore gamer or power user, grab the Neo 7. For literally everyone else, the Neo 7 SE offers ridiculous value that's hard to ignore. Seriously, you'll save enough for a decent pair of earbuds or a nice dinner date!
The Mid-Range Battle You Should Care About
Design & Build Quality: Pretty Much Twins
Honestly, you'd be hard-pressed to tell these phones apart in a lineup. Both have that nice premium feel despite rocking plastic frames (though let's face it, who can tell anymore?). There are some tiny differences worth noting:
| Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.55 × 76.39 × 8.56 mm | 162.53 × 76.27 × 8.56 mm |
| Weight | 213 grams | 212 grams |
| Color options | Black, Silver, Blue, Purple | White, Black, Blue |
| Water/dust protection | IP69 | IP69 |
| Cooling system | Vapor chamber | Vapor chamber |
| Frame material | Plastic | Plastic |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 89.4% | 89.5% |
| Fingerprint scanner | In-display | In-display |
Both phones feel substantial - maybe even a bit hefty for some folks - but I actually prefer that. The weight gives them a premium feel that belies their mid-range pricing. I particularly love that both have vapor chamber cooling, which has been a godsend during my marathon PUBG sessions. That said, I did notice the Neo 7 gets noticeably toastier when gaming for over an hour.
The color options are where personal preference comes in. I'm totally partial to that Purple on the Neo 7 (it catches the light beautifully), but the SE's exclusive White option has this clean, minimalist vibe that looks stunning. Oh, and that IP69 rating? I accidentally dropped the SE in my sink while brushing my teeth, and it survived without a hiccup. Phew!
Display: Identical Twins with Gorgeous Screens
If you're hoping I'll tell you one screen is clearly better, sorry to disappoint! These displays are practically carbon copies of each other, and they're both fantastic:
| Display Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Panel type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Size | 6.78 inches | 6.78 inches |
| Resolution | 1264 × 2780 pixels | 1264 × 2780 pixels |
| Pixel density | 450 ppi | 450 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz (adaptive 1-120 Hz) | 120 Hz (adaptive 1-120 Hz) |
| Typical brightness | 1600 nits | 1600 nits |
| Peak HDR brightness | 6000 nits | 6000 nits |
| HDR support | HDR10+ | HDR10+ |
| Screen protection | Crystal Armor | Crystal Armor |
| Display features | DCI-P3, Always-On, DC Dimming | DCI-P3, Always-On, DC Dimming |
| NanoReview score | 93 | 94 |
Look, I'm a display snob, and even I'm impressed by these screens. The SE somehow scored slightly better in display tests (94 vs 93), but you'd need superhuman vision to spot any difference. I've been watching "The Mandalorian" on both, and those 6000 nits of peak brightness make HDR content pop like crazy. Even outdoors in bright Florida sunshine, I can still see what I'm doing.
That adaptive refresh rate is clutch for battery life too. It ramps up to buttery-smooth 120Hz when you're scrolling Instagram, then drops to 1Hz when you're just staring at a static screen. Smart stuff!
Performance: Now We're Talking Differences
Here's where these siblings start to show their true colors. The Neo 7 is clearly the jock of the family:
| Performance Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | MediaTek Dimensity 9300 Plus | MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Max |
| CPU configuration | 1×3.4GHz Cortex-X4 + 3×2.85GHz Cortex-X4 + 4×2.0GHz Cortex-A720 | 1×3.25GHz Cortex-A725 + 3×3.0GHz Cortex-A725 + 4×2.1GHz Cortex-A725 |
| Process technology | 4nm TSMC | 4nm TSMC |
| L3 cache | 18 MB | 6 MB |
| GPU | Mali-G720 Immortalis MP12 (1536 units) | Mali-G720 MP7 (896 units) |
| GPU FLOPS | ~3993.6 GFLOPS | ~2329.6 GFLOPS |
| RAM options | 12GB, 16GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB, 12GB, 16GB (LPDDR5X) |
| Storage options | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (UFS 4.0) | 256GB, 512GB (UFS 4.0) |
| Neural processor | MediaTek APU 790 | MediaTek NPU 880 |
| Geekbench 6 Single-Core | 2330 | 1540 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi-Core | 7541 | 6054 |
| AnTuTu 10 score | 2,186,641 | 1,817,902 |
| AnTuTu 10 ranking | 30th place | 76th place |
| Gaming score | 91 | 81 |
| Performance score | 94 | 78 |
Let me cut through the spec sheet jargon: the Neo 7 is a beast. It's around 20-50% faster depending on what you're doing, and you'll definitely feel that difference in demanding apps. When I fired up Genshin Impact with max settings, the Neo 7 maintained a steady 60fps while the SE dipped into the 40s during intense combat scenes.
But here's the thing - for day-to-day stuff like social media, messaging, and even casual games, the SE feels just as snappy. I've been using the SE as my daily driver for a week, and not once did I think "man, I wish this phone was faster." Only when I started editing 4K videos did I really miss the Neo 7's extra muscle.
The RAM and storage options are worth mentioning too. That 1TB option on the Neo 7 is tempting if you're a digital hoarder like me who never deletes photos or videos. But honestly, 512GB (the max on the SE) is plenty for most normal humans.
Camera: Surprisingly Similar Shooters
I was expecting bigger differences here, but these phones are photo twins with almost identical hardware:
| Camera Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | ||
| Sensor | Sony IMX882 (50MP) | Sony IMX882 (50MP) |
| Aperture | f/1.9 | f/1.8 |
| Sensor size | 1/1.953" | 1/1.953" |
| Pixel size | 0.7 micron | 0.7 micron |
| Stabilization | Optical (OIS) | Optical (OIS) |
| Ultra-wide Camera | ||
| Sensor | Sony IMX355 (8MP) | Sony IMX355 (8MP) |
| Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.2 |
| Field of view | 112° | 112° |
| Sensor size | 1/4.0" | 1/4.0" |
| Pixel size | 1.12 micron | 1.12 micron |
| Selfie Camera | ||
| Resolution | 16MP | 16MP (Omnivision OV20B) |
| Aperture | f/2.4 | f/2.4 |
| Sensor size | Not specified | 1/3.09" |
| Pixel size | Not specified | 1 micron |
| Video Capabilities | ||
| 4K recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (1080p) |
| Camera Features | ||
| Modes | Bokeh, Pro mode | Bokeh, Pro mode |
| NanoReview score | 70* | 68* |
After countless test shots in various lighting conditions, I've concluded that the Neo 7 does take slightly better photos – but you really have to pixel-peep to notice. The main difference shows up in low light, where the Neo 7's more powerful chipset helps with computational photography magic. I took both phones to a dimly lit restaurant, and the Neo 7's shots of my admittedly overpriced pasta had better noise reduction and color accuracy.
For daytime shots and selfies, though? You'd be hard-pressed to tell which phone took which photo. The 8MP ultrawide is merely adequate on both – fine for landscapes but nothing to write home about. If camera quality is your top priority, neither of these phones will blow you away, but they're perfectly respectable for social media and casual photography.
Battery Life: Absolute Units
These phones are battery champions, plain and simple:
| Battery Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 7000 mAh | 7000 mAh |
| Battery technology | Silicon-Carbon (Si/C) | Silicon-Carbon (Si/C) |
| Wired charging | 80W fast charging | 80W fast charging |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Charging speed | Not specified | 50% in 23 min |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Battery score | 96* | 100* |
| Bundled charger | Yes, 80W | Yes, 80W |
Can we just take a moment to appreciate these 7000 mAh monsters? In my testing, both phones easily made it through a full day of heavy use. The SE actually outlasted the Neo 7, scoring a perfect 100 in battery tests compared to the Neo 7's still-impressive 96. On a weekend camping trip, I used the SE moderately and still had 40% battery left after TWO FULL DAYS. That's insane!
The 80W charging is a lifesaver too. I've gotten into the habit of just plugging in while I shower, and that's enough to add 30-40% battery. No more overnight charging needed! Props to Realme for including the fast charger in the box too – looking at you, Apple and Samsung.
Extra Bells & Whistles
| Connectivity Feature | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) |
| Bluetooth version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, NAVIC | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, NAVIC |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| SIM card slots | Dual Nano SIM | Dual Nano SIM |
| eSIM support | No | No |
| 5G support | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone jack | No | No |
| Operating system | Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0 | Android 15 with Realme UI 6.0 |
| Sensors | Proximity, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light, Compass, Fingerprint | Proximity, Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Ambient light, Compass, Fingerprint |
| Connectivity score | 80 | 80 |
It's trade-offs galore in the connectivity department! The Neo 7 has Wi-Fi 7, which is super future-proof but pretty useless for most of us right now (who even has a Wi-Fi 7 router yet?). Meanwhile, the SE rocks Bluetooth 6.0, which has given me noticeably better connection stability with my earbuds and smartwatch compared to the Neo 7's Bluetooth 5.4.
I absolutely love that both phones have an IR blaster. I've been controlling my ancient TV and AC unit with these phones, feeling like a tech wizard every time. Both also have excellent stereo speakers that get surprisingly loud without distortion – I've been using them for kitchen podcasts while cooking, and they easily fill the room.
Price: The Million Dollar Question (Well, More Like $160 Question)
This is where the rubber meets the road:
| Pricing & Availability | Realme Neo 7 | Realme Neo 7 SE |
|---|---|---|
| Launch date | December 2024 | February 2025 |
| Starting price | $400 | $240 |
| Price difference | Base price | $160 less (40% savings) |
| Available configurations | 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 16/256GB, 16/512GB, 16/1024GB | 8/256GB, 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 16/512GB |
| Color availability | Black, Silver, Blue, Purple | White, Black, Blue |
| Overall NanoReview score | 86* | 82* |
| Best suited for | Performance users, gamers, power users | Budget-conscious users, casual users |
Let's be real - $160 is a big difference. That's a pair of decent wireless earbuds, a smartwatch, or about 32 large coffees from your favorite overpriced café. For that price gap, you're getting roughly 15-20% better performance with the Neo 7. Is that worth it? For most people, I'd argue absolutely not.
The Neo 7 SE delivers about 85% of the flagship experience at 60% of the cost. In my three weeks using both phones, the SE never once felt like a compromise in daily use. Only when pushing the phones to their limits did the performance gap become apparent.
I've spotted both models readily available at Best Buy, Amazon, and directly from Realme's website. The Black version of the SE seems particularly popular and has been going in and out of stock – I had to wait an extra week for mine to ship.
The Verdict: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
Get the Realme Neo 7 if:
- You're a serious mobile gamer who needs every frame you can get
- You constantly juggle between dozens of apps
- You're a digital hoarder who needs that sweet 1TB storage
- You take tons of low-light photos
- You already have a Wi-Fi 7 router (you fancy technophile, you)
Get the Realme Neo 7 SE if:
- You want to save a significant chunk of change
- Battery life is more important to you than raw speed
- You use multiple Bluetooth devices (those Bluetooth 6.0 improvements are real)
- You're a normal human who uses their phone for social media, messaging, videos, and casual gaming
- You prefer the White color option (which looks stellar, by the way)
My personal pick: After weeks with both phones, I've kept the SE as my daily driver. The performance is more than adequate for my needs, and I'm loving the extra battery life. That $160 I saved? It went straight toward a pair of earbuds that I use way more than I would have used the extra performance headroom.
The power user's choice: If you're the type who pushes your phone to its limits daily, the Neo 7 is worth the premium. Just know what you're paying for – you're essentially buying computational headroom that most users will rarely tap into.
FAQ: What People Keep Asking Me
Which phone takes better pictures?
The Neo 7 has a slight edge in low-light photography thanks to better processing power, but in good lighting, they're nearly identical. Unless you're regularly shooting in dim restaurants or at night, the camera difference isn't worth the price premium.
Is the Neo 7 really worth $160 more?
For most people? Honestly, no. That premium gets you better gaming performance and slightly better low-light photos, but the day-to-day experience is remarkably similar. I'd rather put that money toward accessories or just keep it in my pocket.
How does the SE handle games?
Surprisingly well! Less demanding titles like Call of Duty Mobile run flawlessly at high settings. Even Genshin Impact is playable, though you'll want to drop to medium settings for smooth gameplay. For context, I'm coming from a Galaxy S22, and the SE actually feels smoother in most games.
What's the best value phone right now?
The Realme Neo 7 SE is genuinely hard to beat at $240. I've tested phones costing twice as much that don't feel significantly better in daily use. If you're not a spec-chasing enthusiast, this might be the value king of early 2025.