Realme 2 vs Realme 1: Rivals from the same root

The Realme 2 was unveiled today as the first device from Realme after it separated from its parent company Oppo. The device adds a few features that were missing on the Realme 1 like the trendy notch at the top, a dual camera and fingerprint sensor, all that for an affordable starting price of Rs 8,990.

But despite what the model number implies, the Realme 2 isn’t necessarily the successor to the Realme 1. While there are a few additions that were missing on the Realme 1, the Realme 2 brings in all those adjustments with another bunch of missing features and we’re here to discuss them in detail.

Build & Design:

The Realme 2 is as much plastic as Oppo’s Realme 1. Yes, it’s a little more durable than glass but not scratch resistant, unlike the Poco F1 which has a matte-like finish at the back. The frame is equally plastic and it’s interesting to see how Realme has worked toward giving it a curved design. The biggest difference that you’ll notice up front is the abundance of diamond-like geometric patterns which only adored the Diamond Black version of the Realme 1. In contrast to that, the Realme 2 is available in Diamond Red, Diamond Blue and Diamond Black and each of them is a head turner for sure. Another addition to the design element is the fingerprint sensor at the back which blends well with the different colour schemes running along with a diamond-like pattern.

Winner: None.

Display:

The Realme 2 comes with the so talked-about notched screen on the front which is a 6.2-inch IPS LCD display with an elongated aspect ratio of 19:9. The screen is bigger with fewer bezels on all sides and a tiny chin at the bottom which results in a larger 81.2 percent screen-to-body ratio. But there’s a catch. While the Realme 1 featured a Full HD+ display, the Realme 2’s screen comes with a lower resolution of 720 x 1,520 pixels. That’s a steep downgrade to a mere 271 ppi from a respectable 402 ppi Pixel density.

Winner: Realme 1

Hardware:

The strongest point of Realme 1 was its performance and it was due to the fact that it was powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P60 processor, which lines up decently against Snapdragon’s 600-series chipsets The device comes in several configurations with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. In our review of the phone(https://www.themobileindian.com/reviews/realme-1-review-the-son-of-oppo-at-an-attractive-price-1637), the device managed to survive moderate gaming sessions with no lag whatsoever since there is enough free memory to be utilised.

However, the same cannot be said about the Realme 2. Instead of a mid-range Chipset from MediaTek, Realme has employed the entry-level Snapdragon 450 SoC from Qualcomm, clocked at 1.8GHz. The device comes in 3GB and 4GB RAM variants with up to 64GB storage and though it works well as a daily driver, it’s no match to the Realme 1 which runs on a much more powerful chip, increase memory and a larger internal storage. Gaming performance is laggy at lower settings of PUBG which is the only seeing the game can render on the phone.

Winner: Realme 1

Camera:

While the Realme 1 employs a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, the Realme 2 makes use of a 13MP+2MP dual rear camera setup at the back. Of the two lenses, the 13MP (f/2.2 aperture) sensor can be used on its own or with the 2MP depth sensing module which features Phase detection autofocus. Both devices get an 8-megapixel shooter with f/2.2 aperture. Unlike the samples that were taken from the Realme 1 which looked washed out on most cases, colour rendition and details are much better on the newer Realme device. While pictures clicked on the device still screams of lack of detailing, the Realme2 does HDR and low light imaging slightly better than the Realme 1.

Winner: Realme 2

Software:

While both Realme phones run on the same Android 8.1 Oreo, it’s the newer Realme 2 which is blessed with Oppo’s newer ColorOS 5.1, which is surprising to see since Realme is now an independent brand. The interface employs enhanced AI engine to offer a ton of features including fast dace unlock, real-time transitions, split screen mode, better gallery and new gesture navigation which hasn’t yet been seeded to Realme 1 users. Face recognition is still as fast as the Realme 1. While these aren’t downright the best advances in the software department, the Realme 2 still scores brownie points for offering a more refined UI than the one on its older sibling.

Winner: Realme 2

Battery:

When the Realme 1 came into being, its 3,410mAh battery lasted us almost a day with moderate usage. The Realme 2 is fuelled by a larger 4,230mAh power unit, that’s 25 percent more juice than its older counterpart. With such a battery boost, the Realme 2 with its power-efficient Qualcomm chip is expected to last over a day even under duress.

Winner: Realme 2

Verdict:

The Realme 2 is one trendy phone to get your hands on if you’re looking for a budget device to feature a dual camera setup, a notched screen, stylish looks and large battery. But there’s a problem, the phone which it faces a major challenge from is its older sibling, the Realme 1. While the Realme 2 still packs in a Snapdragon Processor and decent specifications, it is just a light version of its predessor.

So if you’re really someone who got swept off by the trend of notches on smartphones and also flashy finishes, the Realme 2 is one good option at a really affordable price. If not, the older Realme 1 is still what attracts a sensible crowd who want more productivity from their smartphones.