Realme 1 Review
The MobGadgets Verdict
The Realme 1 offers a compelling package for budget smartphone buyers. With its attractive design, decent performance, and AI features, it stands out in the crowded market. While it may have some drawbacks like the plastic build and average low-light...
Overview
The Realme 1 is a budget smartphone from Oppo's sub-brand, offering impressive features at a low price point. With its attractive design, decent performance, and AI capabilities, it aims to compete with popular devices in the budget segment. Let's dive into the details and see how it performs in different aspects.
Design & Build Quality
The Realme 1 sports a plastic build with a glossy diamond-cut effect on the back, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance. The polygonal pattern adds personality, although it may come across as ostentatious to some. The fibreglass body feels sturdy and durable, and the compact size makes it easy to handle. However, the material is prone to fingerprints. The device features a 6.0-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD+ resolution and an 18:9 aspect ratio. While the screen is vibrant and bright, it can feel a little cheap and reflective at times. The absence of a notch is a plus, as it keeps the design sleek and modern.
Display
The 6.0-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display on the Realme 1 offers a good viewing experience with vibrant colors and decent brightness levels. However, the screen can be reflective, and the viewing angles are not the best. The 18:9 aspect ratio provides ample screen real estate for multimedia consumption and multitasking.
Performance
Under the hood, the Realme 1 is powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset, an octa-core processor clocked at 2.0GHz. This processor competes with devices like the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro, offering smooth performance for day-to-day tasks. The device comes in three variants: 3GB RAM with 32GB storage, 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. The ample RAM ensures multitasking is smooth, and the storage can be expanded up to 256GB using a dedicated microSD slot.
Software & UI
The Realme 1 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with Oppo's ColorOS 5.0 on top. While ColorOS offers a clean and intuitive interface, some users may find it overwhelming compared to stock Android. The software also includes AI features, which enhance the camera performance and provide intelligent optimizations for a better user experience.
Camera Quality
The Realme 1 features a 13MP rear camera with an f/2.2 lens. While the camera performs well in daylight conditions, the low-light performance is average. The camera app includes various shooting modes and AI enhancements, which improve the overall image quality. The device also boasts an 8MP front camera with an f/2.2 aperture, ideal for capturing selfies and video calls. Overall, the camera performance is decent for a budget device.
Battery Life
The Realme 1 is equipped with a non-removable 3410mAh battery, which provides good battery life for a day of moderate usage. The device doesn't support fast charging, so it takes some time to fully charge the battery. However, the battery optimization features in ColorOS help to extend the battery life.
Connectivity & Networking
In terms of connectivity, the Realme 1 supports dual SIM functionality with dedicated slots for two Nano-SIMs and a microSD card. It also includes 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS, and a microUSB 2.0 port for charging and data transfer. The absence of NFC may be a drawback for some users.
Additional Features
Comparison with Alternatives
When compared to other budget devices in the market, the Realme 1 stands out with its attractive design and AI capabilities. It competes with devices like the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro, offering similar performance and features at a lower price point. However, the camera performance may not be as impressive as some competitors in low-light conditions. The lack of a fingerprint sensor is also worth considering, as the device relies solely on facial recognition for security.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Attractive design with unique diamond-cut effect | Plastic build can feel cheap |
| Decent performance for day-to-day tasks | Average low-light camera performance |
| Good battery life | No fingerprint sensor |
| AI features enhance camera performance | Reflective display |
| Affordable price |
Final Conclusion
The Realme 1 offers a compelling package for budget smartphone buyers. With its attractive design, decent performance, and AI features, it stands out in the crowded market. While it may have some drawbacks like the plastic build and average low-light camera performance, these can be overlooked considering its affordable price. If you're looking for a budget device that offers good value for money, the Realme 1 is definitely worth considering.
