realme 2 Pro, realme C1 announced: realme 2 gets sandwiched by two new phones

The realme sub-brand has enjoyed impressive growth in its first year on the market, bringing two phones with plenty of features and a budget price tag. If you thought the new realme 2 was a step back compared to the original model, then the realme 2 Pro is for you.

The Oppo sub-brand’s latest device is a substantial improvement over the vanilla realme 2, starting with a slim waterdrop notch instead of an iPhone-style cutout. The actual screen itself has also been upgraded, offering a 6.3-inch full HD+ display instead of the 6.2-inch 720p screen on the older device.

Moving to the horsepower arena, the standard model’s Snapdragon 450 has been swapped out for a more powerful Snapdragon 660. In the RAM/storage department, you’re looking at 4GB+64GB as the starting model, going all the way to an 8GB+128GB variant.

The camera experience should also deliver the goods, thanks to a 16MP+2MP (f/1.7) rear camera pairing and a 16MP f/2.0 selfie shooter. The camera app is capable of AI-powered scene recognition (recognizing up to 16 scenes), the ever-popular portrait mode, and multi-frame noise reduction for cleaner shots. realme says the phone is also capable of beautifying up to four people in one group shot.

What’s missing from the Pro model?

As for software, the phone is packing ColorOS 5.2 atop Android 8.1. Some of the more prominent ColorOS features include long screenshots, app cloning for dual accounts, background video playback for local files, and camera-based face unlock.

There is one downgrade compared to the standard model however, as the realme 2 Pro offers a 3,500mAh battery compared to the original’s 4,230mAh pack. So if endurance is a high priority, the standard model seems like the better pick on paper.

The new phone doesn’t have NFC or USB Type-C connectivity either, though these omissions aren’t exactly surprising, given the device’s budget trappings.

The realme 2 Pro will be available via Flipkart from October 11 in Black Sea (black), Blue Ocean (deep blue), and Ice Lake (light blue) color options. The 4GB+64GB model is priced at 13,990 rupees (~$193), while the 6GB+64GB variant has a 15,990 rupee (~$220) price tag, and the top-end 8GB+128GB model will retail for 17,990 rupees (~$248).

realme C1 joins Pro device

Realme’s Pro model will undoubtedly face stiff competition from other budget devices released in India recently, such as the Xiaomi Mi A2. But if the phone sees a similar level of uptake as the realme 1, I think the sub-brand will call it a success.

It wasn’t the only phone announced at the event, however, as the company also revealed the realme C1. This entry-level device comes at a special 6,999 rupees (~$96) price for the Diwali season, according to the company. The phone will launch alongside the realme 2 Pro on October 11.

For your cash, you’ll get a Snapdragon 450 chipset, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 6.2-inch notched display (no word on resolution), and a 4,230mAh battery.

The realme C1 is also equipped with a 13MP+2MP rear camera combination, a 5MP selfie snapper, and facial recognition. Much like the low-end Redmi 6A and realme 1, the C1 doesn’t appear to have a fingerprint scanner.

What do you think of the realme 2 Pro and realme C1? Let us know in the comments below!

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