Realme just announced a Chup Dulu pre-sale offer for the Realme C1 smartphone, and some nice mid-year sale offers for their other smartphones!
Here are the full details on the Realme Chup Dulu and Mid-Year Sale offers!
Chup Dulu + Mid-Year Realme Sale – What’s On Offer?
On 12 July 2019, there will be a one-day only Realme sale, as part of the Lazada Mid-Year Festival. Here is a quick primer on the FIVE Realme smartphones that will be on sale!
Realme C1
The Realme C1 was designed to be the “New King of Entry Level Smartphones“. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, it comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage.
Even at this price point, it boasts a dual-lens camera – a 13 MP main camera with a 2 MP depth sensor!
The Realme 3 Pro is a significantly upgraded version of the Realme 2 Pro, offering a faster and less power-hungry Snapdragon 710 processor, a new 25 MP front camera, and a real dual-lens camera!
Here are the Realme sale deals, and our quick discount analysis!
Chup Dulu Realme Pre-Sale Offer
To get the Realme C1 at the special price of RM 349, you will need to deposit RM 34.90 (10%) and checkout on 12 July. Otherwise, you can buy it at the sale price of RM 399.
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Realme just introduced a new flagship smartphone – the Realme 3 Pro! Here is everything you need to know about the latest flagship smartphone from Realme!
The Realme 3 Pro Smartphone
The Realme 3 Pro looks very similar to its excellent predecessor, the Realme 2 Pro, but has been significantly upgraded internally.
Gorilla Glass 5 Protection
Realme maintained the same 6.3-inch dewdrop display, but it is now protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
Faster 10 nm Mobile SoC
While the Snapdragon 660 that powered the Realme 2 Pro, it is power-hungry. The newer Snapdragon 710 is not only faster, it is more power-efficiency.
25 MP Front Camera
The new 25 MP front camera with f/2.0 lens is an upgrade from the Realme 2 Pro‘s 16 MP front camera.
Improved Main Camera
The Realme 3 Pro maintains the same pairing of an imaging camera with a depth sensor. However, it now features a newer Sony IMX519 image sensor, and a higher resolution 5 MP depth sensor.
Larger Battery + VOOC 3.0 Fast Charging
Surprisingly, it has a larger 4,045 mAh battery. On top of that, it supports VOOC 3.0 fast charging, and is even bundled with a 20 watt VOOC charger.
Realme 3 Pro Colour Options
The Realme 3 Pro comes in three colour options (from left to right) – Nitro Blue, Carbon Grey, Lightning Purple.
Realme 3 Pro Specifications Compared
In this table, we compare its specifications against the Realme 2 Pro.
Specifications
Realme 3 Pro
Realme 2 Pro
Display
6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19.5:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
Protection
Corning Gorilla Glass 5
NA
Operating System
Android 9.0 with ColorOS 6.0
Android 8.1 with ColorOS 5.1
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 AIE
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE
Processor
2 x Qualcomm Kryo 360 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
6 x Qualcomm Kryo 360 Silver cores (1.7 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver cores (1.84 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 616
Qualcomm Adreno 512
Memory
4 GB / 6 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM
4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM
Storage
64 GB / 128 GB eMMC 5.1 flash storage
64 GB eMMC 5.1 flash storage, OR
128 GB UFS 2.1 flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera
25 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
16 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
16 MP Sony IMX519 image sensor with f/1.7 lens
5 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 lens
Single LED flash
16 MP Sony IMX398 image sensor with f/1.7 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 lens
Single LED flash
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For the next TWO DAYS, Realme is offering special deals in the Realme Fans Festival n collaboration with Shopee Malaysia and the Lexis Hotel Group. Here are the full details!
Realme Fans Festival Deals
During the Realme Fans Festival from 6-7 March 2019, Realme will offer the Realme C1 smartphone in the 2 GB + 32 GB configuration for the first time! There will also be three different types of Realme deals :
Realme Malaysia also partnered with the Lexis Hotel Group to offer free stays at their resorts!
Realme Facebook Contest
If you purchase any Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 or Realme C1 smartphone, you will be eligible to win a 2D1N stay with breakfast for 2 pax at the Sky Pool Villa at the Grand Lexis Port Dickson, worth RM 2,332!
Step 1: Share a picture of your proof of purchase of your Realme phone on your Facebook profile page (Make sure to set your profile as public)
Step 2: Use the hashtag #RealmeFansFes
Step 3: Wait for the winner announcement and enjoy your vacation
At the end of the contest, Realme Malaysia will randomly select 8 lucky winners!
Realme Shopee Contest
TWO (2) top spenders in the Realme Fans Festival will stand a chance to win a 2D1N stay with breakfast for 2 pax at the Premium Tower Seaview at the Grand Lexis Port Dickson, worth RM 816.20!
Shopee Facebook Contest
Shopee will select four winners randomly from those who have completed these steps :
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On 27 February 2019, the Realme x Lazada Super Brand Day offered amazing Realme deals for just 24 hours! Here are the Realme deals that were offered on Lazada Super Brand Day! Find out how well they did!
Realme Deals @ Lazada Super Brand Day
On Realme x Lazada Super Brand Day, Realme will offer the Realme C1 smartphone in the 2 GB + 32 GB configuration for the first time! There will also be three different types of Realme deals :
The.Realme x Lazada Super Brand Day set a new record, with 700% sales uplift. The Realme Malaysia flagship store on Lazada won over 8,000 new followers and generated more than 16 million impressions, with over 233,000 interactions on social media.
Realme Contests
In addition to the Realme deals, you can also participate in two Realme contests to either unlock Realme earphones at special prices, or win a Realme power bank!
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Find out how to get free Realme devices and other gifts by slashing your Realme Angpau this Chinese New Year! Try the Realme Angpau For You! game, and you could win yourself a free Realme smartphone!
Slash Your Realme Angpau For Free Devices + Other Gifts!
To celebrate Chinese New Year 2019, Realme Malaysia is giving away a bunch of free devices and other gifts.
All you have to do is participate in the Realme Angpau For You! interactive game! to unlock Realme prosperity gifts, such as Realme C1, Realme 2 and Realme 2 Pro smartphones. Olike smartbands, OPPO selfie sticks and shopping vouchers for Lazada and Shopee!
“The Realme Angpau For You! campaign is our innovative spin of the century old tradition of the handing out of angpaus, which symbolizes happiness and good fortune for the New Year. We want to thank our Malaysian fans for their continuous support and provide them with attractive gifts, through a fun and interactive game, as they celebrate a prosperous and lucky new year,” said Tiffany Teh, Brand Manager, Realme Malaysia.
The Realme Angpau For You! Game
Daily Mystery Instant Prize
In the Realme Angpau For You game, you can slash your angpau every day to win a mystery instant prize! But note that every player will only get ONE CHANCE to participate in the lucky draw!
Weekly Realme Smartphone Prizes
To win the weekly Realme smartphone prizes, here is what you need to do ;
Share the post for weekly prizes posted on the Realme Malaysia Facebook page
Share the thread on your Facebook page with the #RealmeCNY and #RealmeAngpau hashtags
Only FOUR (4) winners will be selected each week, and the contest ends on 10 February 2019. So what are you waiting for? Slash your Realme angpau to unlock your free gifts today!
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Realme just announced that they now offer 360 degree after sales support. in Malaysia!
With a click of a button on the Realme website, Realme fans can now easily find an authorised service centre in Malaysia to help them with software and hardware issues that may affect their Realme devices
Furthermore, fans can also drop an email, contact a hotline, or reach out to its social media pages and e-commerce sites.
“As a young brand in the country, we take pride in delivering exceptional customer experiences and value to improve overall satisfaction for Malaysian fans. By providing 360 degree support, we hope that this will provide further trust in the brand by showcasing our strength in the after sales service, as well as ensuring that current customers are taken care off too. Additionally, as Realme authorized OPPO to offer the after-sales service, we are also thankful for the strong support from OPPO,” said Tiffany Teh,Brand Manager, Realme Malaysia
Realme Malaysia Support Channels
From now onwards, fans can reach out to receive support for their Realme devices in various ways :
Call the hotline number: 1800 818018. The hotline is available from 9AM to 6PM every day except Sunday and public holidays
Visit any of the 21 authorized service centers offer various kinds of services including help desk, device inspection and software updates. The Realme website also enables fans to search all locations of its after-sales service centers
Fans can also reach out to Realme Malaysia via its Facebook and Instagram pages and e-commerce sites for after-sales service support
“In India, Realme’s official website has been updated to list all Realme independent authorized service centers, along with a convenient ‘Callme service’ which includes free pick-up and return in India. We hope to bring the same service to Malaysia, as we aim to provide consumers with good experience not only on products but also service.” added Teh
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The Realme 2 Pro is a new mid-range smartphone that promises Max Power, Max Style. It’s a shot across the bow of other smartphone brands, with its combination of performance, features, looks and incredible price point.
In our in-depth review, we will take a close look at the Realme 2 Pro, and show you why this mid-range smartphone is taking the industry by storm!
The Realme 2 Pro Tech Briefing!
Here is the official Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) tech briefing in Jakarta. Unfortunately, it’s in Indonesian, but the slides are still informative.
Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 and Realme C1 Comparison
Realme launched three smartphones in Jakarta – the Realme 2 Pro, the Realme 2, and the Realme C1. Here is a comparison of the three models, which look quite similar :
If you are interested to purchase the Realme 2 Pro at the awesome 12/12 deal,stake out this page!
Unboxing The Realme 2 Pro
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) is not available for sale yet, but we were one of the few to receive the first retail units. Let’s unbox it and see what we find inside!
Once you fully unbox the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia), you will find the following items :
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The Realme 2 Pro Up Close!
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a very large 6.3-inch Full HD+ display, that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. It has a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, and a dewdrop notch, giving it a 90.8% screen-to-body ratio.
It also boasts a great-looking 15-laminate glass back that sounds and looks exactly like honor’s Aurora Glass. The only downside with all glass backs – it’s highly susceptible to smudges.
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, which has eight Qualcomm Kryo 260 cores that run at up to 2.2 GHz. Graphics processing is handled by the Qualcomm Adreno 512 GPU, and it comes equipped with the Qualcomm All-Ways Aware sensor hub and the Qualcomm AI Engine.
Realme did not skimp on memory, equipping the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) with the 4 GB, 6 GB or 8 GB of the latest LPDDR4x memory. They were also generous with its storage – offering either 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 flash storage, or 128 GB of UFS 2.1 flash storage.
All that is powered by a 3,500 mAh battery, packed in a chassis that is only 8.5 mm thick, and weighs just under 175 grams. It is recharged by a 10 watt fast charger. Here are Realme’s lab test results on its battery :
Standby
16.5 hours
Music Playing (WiFi)
12 hours
Video Playback (WiFi)
10 hours
Surfing the Internet (WiFi)
12.5 hours
Although the smartphone industry is moving towards USB Type C ports, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) uses the good old micro USB 2.0 port. While not bidirectional, it is compatible with existing USB cables and accessories – a key consideration for the market it’s targeted at.
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Realme 2 Pro Specifications
Specifications
Realme 2 Pro
Display
6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
Operating System
Android 8.1 with ColorOS 5.1
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Processor
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver cores (1.84 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 512
Memory
4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM
Storage
64 GB eMMC 5.1 flash storage, OR
128 GB UFS 2.1 flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera
16 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
16 MP Sony IMX398 image sensor with f/1.7 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 lens
Single LED flash
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Dewdrop Notch
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a bezel-less display, with a dewdrop notch (also known as a teardrop notch). It requires a good deal of engineering prowess to squeeze in a front camera, a light sensor, a proximity sensor, and a speaker into the tiny notch.
The dewdrop notch allows for a larger display area, specifically space for more notifications. Barring the complete removal of the notch, this is about as good as it gets!
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Launched in May 2017, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 is a powerful mid-range mobile SoC. It combines eight Qualcomm Kryo 260 processor cores, with an Adreno 512 GPU, a Snapdragon X12 modem, a Spectra 160 camera ISP and a Hexagon 680 DSP.
There are two processor clusters – a high-performance cluster of four Kryo 260 Gold cores running at 2.2 GHz, and a low-power cluster of four Kryo 260 Silver cores running at 1.84 GHz. The Kryo 260 Gold is a semi-custom version of the Cortex-A73, while the Kryo 260 Silver is a semi-custom version of the Cortex A53.
Performance-wise, the Snapdragon 660 is up to 20% faster in processor performance than the previous year’s Snapdragon 653, and up to 30% faster in graphics performance.
The Realme 2 Pro Cameras
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a very high-resolution 16 MP front camera, with a bright and wide f/2.0 aperture. It takes photos with a resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels. Realme did not reveal the sensor model, but it’s quite likely the Sony IMX398.
Note : You can see the row of tiny speaker ports right above the front camera.
In the back, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a dual-lens camera, supported by a single LED flash. It is made up of an image camera with a 16 MP Sony IMX398 sensor and a very wide f/1.7 aperture, paired with a 2 MP depth sensor and a f/2.4 aperture.
This dual-lens camera does not have optical image stabilisation, but supports electronic image stabilisation (EIS). The depth sensor does not actually take any pictures. Instead, it lets the camera to more accurately differentiate the subject from its background, allowing for more realistic software bokeh effects.
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Fast Fingerprint Sensor
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) comes with a fast FPC 102x fingerprint sensor located at the back. In our tests, it is very fast and accurate, supporting 360-degree recognition.
In addition to the fingerprint sensor, the Realme 2 Pro also supports face recognition, and of course, the good old 6-digit passcode.
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Triple Card Tray
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has Dual SIM, Dual Standby capabilities, with support for 4G on both SIMs. It also supports the addition of a microSD card, for additional storage of up to 512 GB.
It comes with a triple card tray, so you can insert a microSD card while still using two nano SIM cards. In other words, you get to have your cake and eat it too!
The Ergonomics
Despite its notch, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) feels like the Samsung Galaxy S9+. In fact, they both have the same width and thickness. Even with its slightly larger 6.3-inch display, the Realme 2 Pro is actually a wee bit shorter than the Galaxy S9+.
Thanks to its bezel-less display and elongated design, it feels smaller than the 5.5″ Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, and even 5.2″ smartphones like HTC 10. This is why it fits even smaller hands well, and fits better in smaller pockets.
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a nice 6.3-inch IPS display with a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. That gives it an ultra-wide / ultra-tall 19:9 aspect ratio, which will result in some pillar boxing – a black bar will be present on the left and right sides of the video clip.
Setting Up The Realme 2 Pro
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) comes with Android 8.1.0 Oreo installed. The setup process is pretty easy, as we demonstrate in this video. You can also see how easy it is to train the fingerprint sensor.
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Available Memory & Storage
Realme offers the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) with memory options of 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB of LPDDR4x memory. Our review sample came with the full 8 GB. Its ColorOS 5.2 does not allow us to check the amount of free memory, but we used AIDA64 to confirm that it has 5 GB of free memory.
With ColorOS and background apps taking up 3 GB of RAM, that is a lot of bloat… eerily similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9+. But with 5 GB of free memory, you really have nothing to worry about. Even the Galaxy S9+, a premium flagship smartphone, only has 3 GB of free memory!
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) also comes with either 64 GB of eMMC 5.1 flash storage, or 128 GB of the faster UFS 2.1 flash storage. Our model came with 128 GB, of which 103 GB is free to use.
This is enough space to store about 24,000 photos, or 11 hours of 1080p videos, or 5.5 hours of 4K videos. If that’s not enough, you can top it up with a microSD card (up to 256 GB).
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Realme 2 Pro Camera Performance – Photos
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a very capable dual-lens camera with the excellent 16 MP Sony IMX398 sensor and a very wide and fast f/1.7 aperture. You can think of it as a lower-resolution cousin of the new Samsung Galaxy A7 2018‘s triple-lens camera, sans the wide-angle camera.
The maximum 16 MP resolution is attained with the 4:3 aspect ratio, with 4608 x 3456 pixels, and a file size of between 4 MB and 6 MB.
Here are eight high-resolution unedited samples for you to check out. Click on them to load the full-sized photos, which you can also download to examine.
The resolution and detail of the photos are incredible. You can really see the detail of flower carpel and petals, the individual buds of the broccoli florets, and the texture of the grains. The colour reproduction was also excellent – not just vivid, but also accurate.
The f/1.7 aperture naturally creates a very narrow depth of field, with a nicer bokeh effect. But you have to be more careful in framing the shot, because the subject may end up out-of-focus. Notice how quickly the rest of the picture is out-of-focus in the broccoli and star anise pictures.
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Realme 2 Pro Camera Performance – Video Recording
Surprisingly, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) supports 4K, as well as 1080p, video recording. Even more expensive models like the Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 do not offer 4K video recording.
Video Recording Test #1 : Piano Performance (1080p)
In this video, you can see the amount of detail the sensor captures, even at just 1080p. Its cameras do not support OIS (optical image stabilisation), but it fortunately supports electronic image stabilisation capability.
Noise cancellation was decent, but the audio was too bright and lack bass and range. That said, this is very good performance for a mid-range smartphone.
Video Recording Test #2 : Piano Performance (4K)
First thing you will notice is that electronic image stabilisation (EIS) seems to be disabled or less effective in 4K. You will also notice the greater amount of detail recorded in each frame. Note too how its was able to control the bright highlights.
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (1080p)
As you can see, the Realme 2 Pro has good electronic image stabilisation, thanks to its high resolution sensor and fast processor.
Video Recording Test #3 : Street Market (4K)
But when we switched to 4K, it no longer had electronic image stabilisation, so the video was noticeably jerky.
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Work Performance – PCMark
We tested the Realme 2 Pro’s performance using PCMark, which simulates work applications like web browsing, playing video, writing text and editing photos.
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) had pretty good gaming performance. It was only about 20% slower than the Honor Play and Honor 10, which boast a 12-core GPU; and a whopping 62% faster than the Galaxy A7 2018‘s dual-core GPU.
Battery Life – PCMark
We then tested the Realme 2 Pro’s battery performance using PCMark. It basically ran the PCMark work tests until its battery capacity dropped to 20%.
Despite its rather larger 3,500 mAh battery, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) had a battery life just shy of 7 hours. Note that this is not just screen-on time. It’s running the Work 2.0 benchmark over, and over again, for 7 hours!
The new Samsung Galaxy A7 2018, in comparison, has a 50% longer battery life even though it only has a smaller 3,300 mAh battery.
A major reason is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It is a powerful mid-range chip, but built on the older 14 nm process technology. That means it consumes more power than newer chips built on 10 nm or even 7 nm process technologies.
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Battery Recharging Performance
The Realme 2 Pro comes with a 10 watt fast charger. Let’s take a look at how fast it recharges the 3,500 mAh battery.
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) took just over 2 hours (122 minutes) to recharge its battery from 20% to 100%. This is an average performance, considering it’s using a 10 watt charger.
Its battery life : recharging ratio of 3.9 : 1 is also average. A rule of thumb – for one hour of battery life, charge it for 15.5 minutes.
The fastest recharging happened up to the 85% level. This took just 68 minutes. Then the recharging speed slowed down, and it took an astounding 54 minutes to top up the remaining 15%.
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Our Verdict + Award
When the Realme 2 Pro debuted in Jakarta, it received a thunderous response. And why not? It offered a ton of great features in a very classy bezel-less metal + glass design, at incredibly low price points.
The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) comes with a very large 6.3-inch bezel-less display with a very small dewdrop notch. This is what you would expect in a smartphone that costs at least twice as much.
It also comes with generous amounts of fast RAM and storage. You can opt for 4 GB or 6 GB or even 8 GB of the latest LPDDR4x memory. It comes with a minimum of 64 GB of storage, with a 128 GB option. All without breaking the bank!
Realme did not skimp in the photographic department either. The Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) comes with a high-resolution 16 MP front camera with a fast and bright f/2.0 lens.
In the back, it has a dual-lens camera that boasts an impressive 16 MP Sony IMX398 image sensor with a very bright f/1.7 lens. It is supported by a 2 MP depth sensor, allowing it to deliver more realistic software bokeh effects. The result – incredibly good photos worthy of smartphones that cost 2-3X as much!
If that’s not impressive enough, we should point out that it even supports 4K video recording! Albeit, without electronic image stabilisation. Still, this is a feature you wouldn’t expect in this price range!
Of course, it has some limitations. For one thing – it has rather poor battery life – lasting just under 7 hours in our stress test. It also has rather slow recharging performance. To be more accurate, recharging up to 85% is fast, but topping up to 100% takes a long time.
But if you can live with its limited battery life, and don’t mind taking a longer time to recharge, the Realme 2 Pro (Malaysia | Indonesia) is an incredibly great deal. So many flagship-class features in such a slim and beautiful metal and glass body, and offered at such incredible price points. What is there not to like?
That’s why we have no qualms awarding it our Editor’s Choice Award! Congratulations, Realme!
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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
Specifications
Realme 2 Pro
HUAWEI nova 3i
Display
6.3-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 System
Android 8.1
Android 8.1
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
HUAWEI Kirin 710
Processor
4 x Kryo 260 Gold (2.2 GHz)
4 x Kryo 260 Silver (1.84 GHz)
24 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
16 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
Connectivity
LTE : 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 Sensor
Yes, Rear-mounted
Yes, Rear-mounted
Battery
3,500 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with 10 watt charger
3,340 mAh lithium-ion battery
- with 10 watt charger
Dimensions
74.0 mm wide
156.7 mm tall
8.5 mm thick
75.2 mm wide
157.5 mm tall
7.6 mm thick
Weight
174 g
169 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.
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The Realme 2 PRO smartphone has now been unveiled in Jakarta and Malaysia to thunderous applause. Here are the Realme 2 PRO price and offers, as well as its official tech briefing and full specifications!
Created by OPPO as a sub-brand, Realme recently became an independent brand. Realme Southeast Asia Marketing Director, Josef Wang, gave a quick overview of Realme as a new smartphone brand, and how well they did in their first market – India.
Realme Interview Session
We also had the opportunity to grill Realme’s Josef Wang and Felix Christian about their ties with OPPO and the three new Realme smartphones that they just revealed!
The Official Realme 2 PRO Tech Briefing
The Realme 2 PRO (Malaysia | Indonesia) is a mid-range smartphone offering many of the latest smartphone features at an affordable price point. It comes in three colour options – Black Sea, Blue Ocean and Ice Lake.
Realme 2 PRO Specifications
Specifications
Realme 2 Pro
Display
6.3-inch display
- 1080 x 2340 pixels
- 19:9 aspect ratio, 409 ppi
Operating System
Android 8.1 with ColorOS 5.1
Platform
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Processor
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Gold cores (2.2 GHz)
4 x Qualcomm Kryo 260 Silver cores (1.84 GHz)
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno 512
Memory
4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB LPDDR4x SDRAM
Storage
64 GB eMMC 5.1 flash storage, OR
128 GB UFS 2.1 flash storage
microSD card (up to 256 GB)
Front Camera
16 MP image sensor with f/2.0 lens
Rear Camera
16 MP Sony IMX398 image sensor with f/1.7 lens
2 MP depth sensor with f/2.4 lens
Single LED flash
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Realme 2 PRO Key Features
Here is a summary of its key features :
Dewdrop Full HD+ Display
The Realme 2 PRO (Malaysia | Indonesia) features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with a dewdrop notch. This gives it a 90.8% screen-to-body ratio. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
Crystal-like Dewdrop Back Cover
The back cover uses a 15-layer laminate technology to deliver a glossy effect with a dewdrop curved design.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 has eight Qualcomm Kyro 260 cores that run at up to 1.95 GHz. It includes the fast Qualcomm Adreno 512 GPU, the Qualcomm All-Ways Aware sensor hub and Qualcomm AI Engine.
High-Speed RAM + Storage
The Realme 2 PRO (Malaysia | Indonesia) offers the latest LPDDR4x memory technology, as well as UFS2.1 flash storage of 128 GB. Its storage can be further expanded with a microSD card (up to 400 GB).
Note : The 64 GB storage option uses the slower eMMC5.1 standard.
Long-lasting 3,500 mAh Battery
The Realme 2 PRO (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a large 3,500 mAh battery that is managed by their AI Power Master software to provide all-day endurance, by intelligently suspending inactive apps and processes to minimise power consumption. Here are the results of Realme’s lab tests :
Standby
16.5 hours
Music Playing (WiFi)
12 hours
Video Playback (WiFi)
10 hours
Surfing the Internet (WiFi)
12.5 hours
Studio-Quality Portraits
The Realme 2 PRO (Malaysia | Indonesia) has a main camera built around the 16 MP Sony IMX398 sensor and f/1.7 lens. It supports fast Dual Pixel auto-focus, and electronic image stabilisation (EIS) for video recordings. It also offers 16 AI scenes.
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At the recent launch of the Realme 2 Pro, Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones in Jakarta, Realme revealed that they intend to expand to many Southeast Asian countries. Today, we can confirm that Realme is going to come to Malaysia in November 2018! Here are the full details!
Who Is Realme?
Created by OPPO as a sub-brand, Realme recently became an independent brand. Realme Southeast Asia Marketing Director, Josef Wang, gave a quick overview of Realme as a new smartphone brand, and how well they did in their first market – India.
Realme’s success in India was massive, with the Realme 1 Series sold out in only 2 minutes after being officially launched.
This followed with the Realme 2 Pro and Realme 2 smartphones, when a total of 200,000 units were sold in under 5 minutes. Their Indonesian launch sold more than 15,000 units in only 10 minutes!
Realme Interview Session
In Jakarta, we had the opportunity to grill Realme’s Josef Wang and Felix Christian about their ties with OPPO, the three new Realme smartphones, and their expansion plans for Southeast Asia.
Realme Comes To Malaysia In November 2018!
Confirming the speculation, Josef Wang, Marketing Director of Realme Southeast Asia said,
“Realme aims to be top of mind for the younger generation of Malaysians who are looking for smartphones that are fast, stylish, and affordable. With exceptional success in India and Indonesia, it was only natural that we moved to Malaysia next, a country with a smartphone penetration of 131.8%. With such impressive figures, we’re confident that Malaysia will continue Realme’s success in the region.”
While Realme did not reveal what smartphones they will be bringing to Malaysia, we have the videos and details of the three latest Realme smartphones that they recently launched in Jakarta :
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