realme UI 2.0 revealed: Doubling down on customization (Update)

Update: September 23, 2020 (2:40 AM ET): realme has now shared its official early access timeline for the rollout of realme UI 2.0, matching an earlier roadmap which surfaced online. We’ve updated this article with the latest details.

Original article: September 21, 2020 (8:30 PM ET): realme UI shares plenty in common with stablemate OPPO’s ColorOS, with realme’s skin and OPPO’s ColorOS 7 both offering a stock-like take on Android and sharing features.

OPPO previously revealed ColorOS 11 last week, and now it’s realme’s turn to launch realme UI 2.0. So what does the new Android skin bring to the table?

Some of the more notable realme UI 2.0 features center on customization. You now have more system color customization (e.g. notification bar, shortcut buttons), more Always On Display customization (including custom AOD patterns), and more font tweaks (including the ability to adjust how thick/thin you want your font to be).

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Other notable realme UI 2.0 features include an upgraded dark mode, floating windows, improved Digital Wellbeing, Private Space to hide apps/files, and a Security Shield. The latter is a suite of privacy and security features, such as a call blocklist, app permission security, payment service security, and Android 11‘s security features. The company also touted Subtitle Stitching (letting you choose a subtitle to go with a screenshot of a video) and realme Share for local sharing.

realme used its Narzo 20 launch event to confirm that the new Android update will be available to the realme X50 Pro first, via an early access program on September 24 and then an open beta program at the end of October. A stable release will come to the phone by the end of November, according to the brand.

As for the devices set to get realme UI 2.0, an official post shared by the company suggests it will offer an early access program in three waves.

The realme X50 Pro will be the first device to receive the update, with early access for it beginning on September 24. An open beta will arrive at the end of October, while a stable release for the device is penned for November.

You can find the early access roadmap for more of the company’s devices below:

From September 2020

• realme X50 Pro
• realme X2 Pro
• realme 7 Pro
• realme 7
• realme 6 Pro
• realme Narzo 20 Pro
• realme Narzo 20

From Q1 2021

• realme X3
• realme X3 Superzoom
• realme X2
• realme 6
• realme 6i
• realme Narzo 10
• realme Narzo 10A
• realme C12
• realme C15
• realme C3

From Q2 2021

• realme X
• realme XT
• realme 5 Pro
• realme 3 Pro
• realme Narzo 20A

It’s interesting to note that last year’s realme 3 isn’t on the list. In fact, even the brand-new Narzo 20A, which was literally announced today, purportedly isn’t getting access to any form of realme UI 2.0 until Q2 2021. Hopefully these phones will be added to the list at a later date.