OPPO Realme 2 vs Realme 1: What’s different?

OPPO’s sub-brand, Realme, recently surfaced and begun its first journey by releasing their first contender, the Realme 1. Months later, their second iteration, the Realme 2, launched taking a different design approach by addressing the notch. Although, there’s a lingering question that needs to be answered. How do both smartphones differ from each other? Well, let’s take a look further by putting them side-by-side. Let’s go!

Here are their detailed specs:

Specification	Realme 2	Realme 1
Display	6.2-inch 19:9 HD+ display @ 1520 x 720px	6.0-inch 18:9 FHD+ display @2280 x 1080px
Glass Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 1.8GHz Octa-core	MediaTek Helio P60 2.0GHz octa-core
GPU	Adreno 506 GPU	Mali-G72 MP3
RAM	3GB/4GB	3GB/6GB RAM
Storage	32GB/64GB	32GB/128GB storage
MicroSD	expandable via microSD up to 256GB (dedicated slot)	Expandable via microSD up to 256GB (dedicated slot)
Rear Camera	13MP+2MP f/2.2 dual rear cameras with LED Flash	13MP rear camera
Front Camera	8MP f/2.2 AI 2.0 front camera	8MP front camera
SIM	Dual SIM (Nano)	Dual-SIM (nano)
LTE	4G Dual VoLTE	4G LTE
WiFi	WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2	Bluetooth 4.2
GPS	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS
Biometrics	- Fingerprint Scanner - Face Unlock (?)	-Face Unlock
Port	micro USB 2.0	micro USB 2.0
OS	ColorOS 5.1 (Android 8.1 Oreo)	Color OS 5.0 (Android 8.1 Oreo)
Battery	4,230mAh battery	3,410mAh battery

Here are the advantages of each smartphone:

Realme 2

• Larger screen size
• Secondary rear lens
• Fingerprint scanner
• Larger battery capacity

Realme 1

• Higher screen resolution
• Gorilla Glass 5
• Better performing CPU
• Better performing GPU
• Higher maximum RAM capacity
• Higher maximum internal storage capacity

We noticed that the Realme 2 is somewhat of a downgraded version of the first based on specs alone. Let’s start discussing them one by one. The Realme 2 may have a larger screen size but it has sacrificed its screen resolution, which is now down to only HD+. The Realme 1, on the other hand, has Full HD+ which supports higher resolution videos.

Not to forget that the latter also has a Gorilla Glass 5 compared to the former’s Gorilla Glass 3. To sum it up, the Realme 1 is our winner due to its better viewing capabilities (in terms of resolution).

For performance, the processor differences are what surprised me. The Realme 2 comes with a Snapdragon 450 processor which is an entry-level to lower mid-range chipset, while the more premium mid-range Helio P60 is found on the Realme 1. Not to mention the higher maximum RAM and internal storage capacity of the latter.

The camera setup of both smartphones is almost identical except for the Realme 2’s additional secondary lens which is probably for bokeh effects. We’ve yet to try their camera performances so we can’t say much for now.

The Realme 2 improved its battery capacity significantly as compared with the Realme 1. We haven’t tested its battery performance yet so we don’t know which lasts longer. Although, based on my educated deduction, the former will last longer due to its lower screen resolution and bigger capacity.

This specs comparison proves that a higher number doesn’t always mean its better, at least for me. The Realme 2 may have a large screen size, battery capacity, and an added fingerprint scanner, but I’ll still go with the Realme 1’s better performance and viewing experience.

The Realme 2 starts at  Rs8,990 (~Php6,750) (3GB RAM + 32GB Storage) while the Realme 1 starts at Rs10,990 (~Php8,252) (4GB RAM + 64GB Storage). What do you guys think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.