realme 2 leaks: Do we need a successor already? (Update: It now has a launch date)

Update, August 21, 2018 (06:53 AM): OPPO’s realme sub-brand is gearing up to launch the realme 2 after all. The brand has sent invites out to journalists (including us) for an August 28 event, and it reveals a few pertinent details.

The invite specifically lists the realme 2 name along with the tagline of “a notch above.” So if you had your doubts about it being a realme 1 successor, well, the name says it all, doesn’t it? Additionally, the invite shows a phone with a notched display, marking a departure from the notch-less realme 1.

News of the successor comes a few days after the sub-brand prematurely published an image of a new realme phone on its website. The image, supposedly showing the realme 2, also revealed a fingerprint scanner and dual-camera setup on the back.

The realme 1 lacked any sort of fingerprint scanner and had a single rear camera. So the new phone will be an immediate upgrade, at least in terms of biometric authentication.

Original article, August 16, 2018: The realme 1 made waves upon its launch in May, coming as the first phone from OPPO’s budget-focused sub-brand. Now, just four months later, it looks like the brand could be ready to reveal the realme 2.

According to GSMArena and MySmartPrice, an image of the new phone (seen at the top of this article) briefly popped up on the official realme website, before being taken down and it seems to feature the same diamond pattern rear cover as the original device.

Lending credence to this being the realme 2 is an older tweet (embedded below) from the realme account, confirming that the new phone is coming. The tweet was in response to queries about a fingerprint scanner.

The lack of a fingerprint scanner was a glaring omission on the realme 1, but the leaked image shows that the new phone indeed has a rear fingerprint scanner. This would be a welcome improvement because, unlike the realme 1’s bog-standard facial recognition, fingerprint authentication actually works for payments, banking apps, and other cases.

Another noteworthy feature spotted on the new phone is a dual-camera setup, marking an upgrade on paper from the realme 1’s single-camera shooter. It’s unclear what form this secondary camera will take, but many budget phones opt for a lower-resolution secondary shooter to enable depth-of-field effects.

The new phone has a notch too but, unlike OPPO’s newest phones, it doesn’t seem to have a waterdrop notch design.

We don’t know much else about the realme 2, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it retains the capable yet mid-range Helio P60 chipset or adopts a newer Snapdragon chipset. Either way, we’re expecting the new phone to have a budget price tag like its predecessor.

What do you make of this quick turnaround time for the new realme phone? Is four months too soon for a product refresh like this? Let us know in the comments!

Up next: Lenovo Smart Display review — More than a Google Home with a screen