The Realme 2 Pro vs. HUAWEI nova 3i Comparison!

The new Realme 2 Pro smartphone directly targets the HUAWEI nova 3i smartphone with its combination of good looks and great features at an incredible price point. Let’s compare them both, and see which is the better deal!

 

Realme 2 Pro vs. HUAWEI nova 3i

The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) and the HUAWEI nova 3i (Malaysia | Indonesia) are both mid-range smartphones with large 6.3-inch displays, and a dual-lens main camera. They are similar in many ways, but very different beasts in other aspects. Let’s take a closer look and show you what we mean!

Display : Realme 2 Pro

Both Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) and HUAWEI nova 3i (MY | ID) boast very large 6.3-inch IPS displays, with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, and a high pixel density of 409 pixels per inch.

However, the Realme 2 Pro’s display has two additional advantages

  • it has a tiny dewdrop notch, which is much more challenging to design and build. But it means you get more pixels for the same display size, with more space for notifications
  • it is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which is tougher than the aluminosilicate glass used in the nova 3i.

Performance : Realme 2 Pro

The HUAWEI nova 3i’s Kirin 710 is a strong mid-range processor, but the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 used by Realme 2 Pro is still superior. It has a slight advantage in CPU speed, but where it really shines is its GPU performance.

Ultimately, you may not notice performance difference between the two models in work applications, but the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) will offer noticeably better gaming performance.

Memory : Realme 2 Pro

When we compare both models at the same price point, the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) offers 8 GB of faster LPDDR4x memory, while the HUAWEI nova 3i (MY | ID) only comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory.

Storage : Realme 2 Pro

Both Realme 2 Pro and HUAWEI nova 3i come with 128 GB of storage at the same price point. However, what most people don’t know is that the nova 3i uses the older, slower eMMC 5.1 flash storage.

The Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) uses the much faster UFS 2.1 flash storage, which is also more power-efficient.

Front Camera : HUAWEI nova 3i

The HUAWEI nova 3i boasts a very high-resolution 24 MP front camera, coupled with a 2 MP depth sensor. This allows it to apply very accurate bokeh effects for great selfies.

While the nova 3i definitely has a superior front camera, the Realme 2 Pro, which has a high-resolution 16 MP front camera, has an ace up its sleeve – a very bright f/1.7 lens. This allows it to outperform the nova 3i in low-light conditions.

Main Camera : Realme 2 Pro

Both smartphones have dual-lens cameras that pairs a high-resolution imaging camera, with a depth sensor. But the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) has undoubtedly the far superior main camera.

It is built around the excellent Sony IMX398, a Dual Pixel image sensor that delivers faster and more accurate autofocus. Paired with a very bright f/1.7 lens, it handily outperforms the nova 3i in low-light conditions.

Wireless Connectivity : Realme 2 Pro

Both smartphones have similar LTE performance, but the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) has the clear-cut advantage in other connectivity options :

  • it supports the newer 802.11ac WiFi standard, offering much higher transfer rates.
  • it supports dual-band connectivity, switching between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to avoid interference, and deliver better range and faster transfer rates.
  • it supports Bluetooth 5.0, which offers higher speeds and longer range, while using less power than Bluetooth 4.2.

Battery : Realme 2 Pro

The HUAWEI nova 3i (MY | ID) has a 3,340 mAh battery, while the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) has a slightly larger 3,500 mAh battery.

Price : Realme 2 Pro

With its superior set of features, you would expect the Realme 2 Pro to be more expensive. Surprisingly, it is CHEAPER than the HUAWEI nova 3i!

The HUAWEI nova 3i (MY | ID) has an official retail price of RM 1,299 / ~US$ 311, while the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) only costs RM 1,099 / ~US$ 263!

 

Realme 2 Pro vs. HUAWEI nova 3i Summarised

SpecificationsRealme 2 ProHUAWEI nova 3i
Display6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
Operating SystemAndroid 8.1Android 8.1
PlatformQualcomm Snapdragon 660HUAWEI Kirin 710
Processor4 x Kryo 260 Gold (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 260 Silver (1.84 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A73 (2.2 GHz)
4 x Cortex-A53 (1.7 GHz)
Graphics ProcessorQualcomm Adreno 512ARM Mali-G51 MP4
Memory8 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM4 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Storage128 GB UFS 2.1 flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
128 GB eMMC 5.1 flash memory
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera16 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens24 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera16 MP Sony IMX398 Dual Pixel sensor with f/1.7 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 lens

Single LED flash
16 MP image sensor with f/2.2 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.2 lens

Single LED flash
ConnectivityLTE : 150 MBps UL, 600 Mbps DL
WiFi : 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band)
Bluetooth : v5.0

USB : micro USB 2.0
LTE : 150 MBps UL, 600 Mbps DL
WiFi : 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
Bluetooth : v4.2

USB : micro USB 2.0
Fingerprint SensorYes, Rear-mountedYes, Rear-mounted
Battery3,500 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with 10 watt charger
3,340 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with 10 watt charger
Dimensions74.0 mm wide
156.7 mm tall
8.5 mm thick
75.2 mm wide
157.5 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight174 g169 g

 

Our Verdict : Realme 2 Pro Is The Obvious Choice

The HUAWEI nova 3i (MY | ID) was a great mid-range smartphone, offering a ton of features and great performance at an affordable price point. Until the Realme 2 Pro (MY | ID) came along and spoilt the party.

With the exception of the front camera, the Realme 2 Pro handily beat the nova 3i in all other aspects… while offering a lower price tag! Unbelievable, but that’s precisely why we gave the Realme 2 Pro our Editor’s Choice Award.

For more on the Realme 2 Pro, make sure you read our Realme 2 Pro In-Depth Review!

 

Realme 2 Pro Price + Deals

The Realme 2 Pro is now available in both Indonesia and Malaysia.

Indonesia

Here are the Realme 2 Pro price list in Indonesia, with sales beginning on 23 October 2018 :

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : Rp 2,899,000 (~US$ 191 / ~£144 / ~RM 792)
  • 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : Rp 3,299,000 (~US$ 217 / ~£164 / ~RM 902)
  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage : Rp 3,699,000 (~US$ 244 / ~£184 / ~RM 1,011)

Malaysia

Here are the Realme 2 Pro price list in Malaysia, with sales beginning on 7 November 2018 :

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  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 849 (~US$ 204 / ~£155)
  • 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 949 (~US$ 228 / ~£174)
  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage : RM 1,099 (~US$ 264 / ~£201)

However, Shopee will offer the Realme 2 Pro at these special prices at 9 AM on 11 and 15 November 2018 :

  • 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 799 (~US$ 192 / ~£146)
  • 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage : RM 899 (~US$ 216 / ~£164)
  • 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage : RM 999 (~US$ 240 / ~£183)

If you are interested to purchase the Realme 2 Pro at the awesome 11/11 and 15/11 deals, stake out this page!

Go Back To > Mobile Devices | Home

 

Disclosure

This comparison was sponsored by Realme.

 

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