Hey everyone, happy mid-December! It's getting chilly out there, but the phone leak world is heating up as usual. Today I've got something that's honestly left me a bit frustrated as a longtime Realme watcher. We just got confirmation that the upcoming Realme 16 Pro is running... wait for it... the same MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset that's been in the last two generations. Yep, the 14 Pro had it, the regular Realme 15 stuck with it, and now the 16 Pro is joining the club. Three phones in a row with the exact same processor? Come on, Realme.
This popped up on Geekbench a couple days ago (model number RMX5120), showing those familiar clock speeds: four big cores at 2.5GHz, four efficiency cores at 2.0GHz, and the Mali-G615 GPU. Scores are basically identical to the older models – around 1000 single-core and 3000 multi-core. When I first saw the 2.5GHz mention, I got excited thinking maybe they'd switched to something fresher like the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, but nope. It's the good old Dimensity 7300 again.
Let me break down why this bugs me (and probably a lot of you too).
The Dimensity 7300 Isn't Bad... It Was Great in 2024
Don't get me wrong – when the Dimensity 7300 launched back in mid-2024, it was a solid pick for mid-range phones. Built on a efficient 4nm process, it handles everyday tasks smoothly, plays games like Genshin or COD Mobile at medium-high settings without too much stuttering, and doesn't drain battery like crazy. Paired with Realme's big batteries and fast charging, it made phones like the 14 Pro feel like total bargains.
But we're heading into 2026 now. That chip is almost two years old at launch for the 16 Pro. MediaTek even released the Dimensity 7400 as a small upgrade (slightly better efficiency and GPU tweaks), but Realme apparently decided the difference wasn't worth it. I get keeping costs down, especially in this super competitive ₹25k-₹35k segment in India, but reusing the same SoC three times in a row feels lazy.
How We Got Here: A Quick Timeline
- Realme 14 Pro (early 2025): First global phone with Dimensity 7300. Came with a nice curved 120Hz AMOLED, 50MP Sony camera with OIS, 6000mAh battery, and IP69 rating. Felt fresh and premium for the price.
- Realme 15 series (mid-2025): The base Realme 15 kept the D7300 (while the 15 Pro jumped to a Snapdragon for better performance). They bumped the battery to 7000mAh and threw in a crazy 200MP main camera to make it feel "new."
- Realme 16 Pro (expected early 2026): Same processor again. From leaks, we're probably getting the same 7000mAh battery, maybe a 200MP or upgraded sensor, higher base RAM (12GB?), Android 16 out of the box, and Realme UI 7.0 with more AI features. But under the hood? Identical performance to phones from last year.
It's like they're upgrading everything around the chip – screen brightness, camera megapixels, battery size – but the actual engine stays the same. And prices keep creeping up with each generation.
Side-by-Side: Spot the Difference?
Here's a quick table based on what we know/launched so far:
| Feature | Realme 14 Pro | Realme 15 | Realme 16 Pro (Leaked) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Dimensity 7300 | Dimensity 7300 | Dimensity 7300 |
| Display | 6.77" 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED | 6.78" 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED | ~6.78" 1.5K 120Hz (est.) |
| Main Camera | 50MP Sony IMX890 + OIS | 200MP main | 200MP or similar (est.) |
| Battery | 6000mAh + 80W | 7000mAh + 80W | 7000mAh + 80W (est.) |
| Selfie Camera | 16MP or 32MP | 50MP | 50MP (est.) |
| Starting Price (India) | ~₹25,000 | ~₹28,000 | ~₹30,000–₹32,000 (est.) |
| Launch Year | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 |
The pattern is clear: bigger numbers on paper (battery, megapixels, price), but the core experience – speed, gaming, multitasking – stays exactly the same.
My Honest Thoughts
I really like Realme for pushing big batteries, fast charging, and bold designs at affordable prices. They've made mid-range phones exciting when Samsung and others were playing it safe. But this chipset recycling is starting to feel like a step backward. Competitors like Poco, iQOO, and even Nothing are throwing in newer chips (Dimensity 8300, Snapdragon 7+ series) that give noticeably better gaming and future-proofing.
If you're buying a phone in 2026, you want it to feel fast in 2028 too, right? Sticking with a 2024 chip doesn't scream longevity.
That said, if Realme prices the 16 Pro aggressively and nails the software updates (hopefully 4 years of OS upgrades now), it'll still be a solid daily driver for a lot of people. That 7000mAh battery life is hard to beat, and their cameras usually overdeliver for the price.
What Do You Think?
Are you bothered by this, or am I overthinking it? Would you still buy a Realme 16 Pro for the battery and camera, or are you jumping ship to something with fresher silicon? Maybe waiting for the Poco X7 series or Moto's next mid-ranger?
Drop your thoughts below – I genuinely read every comment. I'll keep you posted if any new leaks show up (fingers crossed for a surprise chipset swap, but I'm not holding my breath).
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