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realme 2 launched: Dual cameras, fingerprint scanner for $130?
- The realme 2 has been announced in India by the OPPO sub-brand.
- The new phone improves on the old one by including a bigger battery, fingerprint scanner, and dual-camera setup.
- Realme’s new phone sees a drop in horsepower on paper compared to the realme 1.
The realme 1 offered a ton of value for money, but it also missed a few features you might take for granted. Now, less than six months after the first phone was launched, we’ve got a successor in the realme 2.
One of the biggest omissions on the first phone was the fingerprint scanner, as the brand opted to use basic facial recognition instead. Unfortunately, camera-based face unlock isn’t secure enough for transactions, banking app logins, and other tasks. So we’re glad to see the realme 2 offer a rear fingerprint scanner.
The second major addition is a dual-camera setup on the back (13MP+2MP) with phase-detection autofocus, as opposed to the first phone’s single 13MP shooter. We’ve also got an 8MP selfie camera, mirroring the original phone’s resolution.
Otherwise, the Oppo sub-brand has also delivered battery improvements, going from the realme 1’s 3,410mAh pack to a 4,230mAh battery in the new phone.
A less powerful successor?
Disappointingly, the horsepower seems like a step down compared to the realme 1, as the new phone uses a lower end Snapdragon 450 chipset instead of the MediaTek Helio P60 processor. The phone will be available in 3GB RAM/32GB storage and 4GB/64GB variants. There isn’t a 6GB/128GB model like the realme 1 just yet, although the company used the event to tease what could be a Pro model.
A 6.2-inch 19:9 display is also present, slightly larger than the original model’s 6-inch screen. Unfortunately (or fortunately for some?), the new phone also packs that divisive notch — you can’t win ’em all, right? The display also sees a drop in resolution, from the first phone’s full HD+ panel to a 1,520 x 720 screen.
As for a price, the 3GB/32GB model will be available for 8,990 rupees (~$128), while the 4GB/64GB model is priced at 10,990 rupees (~$157). The phone goes on sale from September 4.
The company also confirmed that the realme 2 will be available outside India, landing in unspecified markets in the Middle East and South East Asia.
What do you think of the realme 2? Let us know in the comments!