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Realme has been on a roll recently with some superb launches. The new Narzo 70 Pro has turned the sub-INR 20k segment on its head, and the realme 12X is poised to do the same for the sub-INR 15K segment.
All while providing among the best cameras in its segment with the realme 12 Pro+, which brings a proper 3x periscope zoom lens to the sub-INR 30K segment.
But it seems that the next big thing from realme is around the corner, which has the potential to shake up things even further: the company is planning to launch a new realme P series, focusing on “Power”, which will be exclusive to India and sold online on Flipkart.
Aims to solve the biggest problem with budget phones
We all know that budget sub-INR 15k phones are getting good, but there is a major flaw: the chipset and raw performance metrics have plateaued over the past few years,
Take this for an example: 2024’s POCO X6 Neo seems to be a well-rounded phone, with a 6.7-inch 1080p 120 Hz OLED display, thin bezels, a 108 MP camera, a good balanced 5000 mAh + 33W combination and a generally good design. However, the problem arises when you go deeper, since the Dimensity 6080 used on the phone is essentially the same chipset as the Dimensity 810 used back in 2021.
Not to mention, this segment is still reeling from the chronic spamming of the Snapdragon 695 over the past two years, with phones like the Moto g34 5G still carrying this chip.
I believe that the biggest factor for any budget phone should be the chipset over anything else, because what’s the use of all those specs when your phone is a completely laggy unusable mess barely a year down the line, and indeed it seems that realme is thinking the same way.Zq Hence, we have the realme P1.
Dissecting the realme P1 series
Realme P1: the sub-INR 15k segment breaker
The realme P1 is expected to bring the Dimensity 7050 chipset to the sub-INR 15K price segment, which will make it among the most powerful phones in the segment.
In fact, it is expected to be a tweaked version of the already existing realme 12+ 5G, detailed as follows:
- Display: 6.67-inch OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, 8-bit color depth, 240 Hz touch sampling rate, a maximum brightness of 2000 nits and the rainwater smart touch feature. The HDR10+ certification and TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification is also expected.
- Design: Same camera island design as the realme 12+ 5G, but with different colors: Phoenix Red and Peacock Green, under a matte plastic panel.
- Build: Expect it to be completely plastic, including the frame and the rear panel. No Gorilla Glass protection.
- Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 7050 with 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and either 128 GB or 256 GB of (possibly) UFS 3.1 storage.
- Battery and charging: 5000 mAh battery with 45W wired SUPERVOOC charging.
- Audio: 3.5 mm headphone jack and dual stereo speakers.
- Software: Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. Expect the phone to see two major OS updates and 3 years of security patches
- Camera: It is expected to be the Sony LYT-600 (or IMX882), a 1/1.95″ sensor with f/1.9 aperture. A 16 MP selfie camera. However, don’t expect OIS and it is likely to miss out on an ultrawide lens.
- Miscellaneous: NO microSD slot, NO NFC, IP54 certification, in-display fingerprint scanner, basic spring haptics, 4356.62 mm 7-layer VC cooling system.
As it can be seen, this phone, despite offering the Dimensity 7050 chipset for an expected price of under-INR 15K, the phone does not compromise on any major aspects, save for the lack of NFC and OIS.
Major competitors are expected to be the aforementioned POCO X6 Neo, and two upcoming phones: the Infinix Note 40 Pro 5G (which is almost as well-rounded except for a slightly slower chipset), and the Vivo T3x (which has a better Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset and a 6000 mAh battery but LCD display).
Realme P1 Pro: the stylish budget phone!
This phone is expected to bring the premium curved display to under the sub-INR 20K segment with well-rounded specs for the price.
The P1 Pro is widely expected to be a tweaked version of the realme 12 Pro without the latter’s telephoto zoom lens. The expected specs are as follows:
- Display: 6.7-inch curved 1080p OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color depth, 240 Hz touch sampling rate, a typical brightness of 950 nits and the rainwater smart touch feature. The HDR10+ certification and TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification are also expected to be present.
- Design: Same camera island design as the realme 12 Pro 5G, but with different colors: Phoenix Red and Parrot Blue, under a matte plastic panel.
- Build: Expect it to be completely plastic, including the frame and the rear panel. No idea about Gorilla Glass protection.
- Chipset: Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 with 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and either 128 GB or 256 GB of (possibly) UFS 2.2 storage.
- Battery and charging: 5000 mAh battery with 45W wired SUPERVOOC charging.
- Audio: Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos are present but no 3.5 mm heaphone jack.
- Software: Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. Expect the phone to see two major OS updates and 3 years of security patches.
- Camera: It is expected to be the Sony IMX882, a 1/1.95″ sensor with f/1.8 aperture. A 16 MP selfie camera. Expect to see OIS and possibly an 8 MP ultrawide lens.
- Miscellaneous: NO microSD slot, NO NFC, (maybe) IP65 certification, in-display fingerprint scanner, tactile haptic motor, 3D VC Cooling system.
Hence, the P1 Pro is looking more like a balanced all-rounder for under INR 20K and not as a performance-centric phone. In fact, realme is advertising the phone as having the “Best Snapdragon Processor under INR 20K”, but the 6 Gen 1 is drastically behind the Dimensity 7200 of the Vivo T3/iQOO Z9 in terms of performance and we could see a Dimensity 8200 at that price soon.
Hence, the main selling point of the P1 Pro is actually the curved display on a budget, which is something its main rival, the Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G, will also bring to the segment. Other competitors include the Vivo T3/iQOO Z9 and…realme’s own Narzo 70 Pro!
In fact, speaking of the company’s current product portfolio management….
…..Realme’s budget lineup is pure confusion!
In order to understand where I am going with this, just have a look at this image I’ve created.
Counting the new realme P1 series, there are no less than EIGHT realme phones sharing the same design language. Now, this is something even Samsung does, but realme is on a different level altogether.
SIX of those eight phones sit under INR 20K (offers included). The way I see this new segmentation by the brand, I can judge the following:
- Realme Number series (realme 12X, 12, 12+, 12 Pro, 12 Pro+): Camera and design-focused, sells more in the offline market.
- The new Narzo 70 Pro: Camera and design-focused, sells more in the online aggressively-priced segment via Amazon.
- Realme P series (P1, P1 Pro): Design and performance-focused, sells exclusively on Flipkart.
All seems good, right? Until you open up realme India’s website and their own online store.
An average user will see all these phones at a glance, and get confused as to what to buy. They all share the same design, many of them share largely the same specs with minor tweaks.
Realme India has become the textbook definition of too much. This is best demonstrated by the realme 12+ VS Narzo 70 Pro.
The realme 12+ is essentially an inferior version of the Narzo 70 Pro, and the former put on sale barely 13 days before Narzo’s launch. Many people bought the 12+ thinking Narzo won’t be as good or as affordable, but the Narzo later turned out to be a better phone with a more aggressive price, cleaner software and better main camera (IMX890 VS LYT-600 of the 12+).
Now, with the P series (P1 and P1 Pro), realme is doing the same to buyers of realme 12 5G and 12X 5G.
In fact, I was doing a recommendation for a friend last week and I suggested him to go with the realme 12X since he wanted a phone under INR 15K. AND GUESS WHAT? Realme P1 was announced the day he bought the phone. People are getting ripped off their money and are utterly confused by these tactics.
Heck, even I find it difficult to remember the specifics of all these phones: the P1 series just adds to my confusion.
I hope realme stops this. P1 could’ve easily been just the realme 12X 5G, P1 Pro could’ve easily been just the realme 12 5G, Narzo 70 Pro could’ve been the realme 12+, instead of what the situation is as of now.
Just five great phones, to cater to all types of users, but alas…
My final thoughts
Keeping aside the entire confusion situation with realme’s portfolio, the realme P series being an India-exclusive and Flipkart-exclusive series is turning out to be a segment breaker.
P1 has the performance chops, while P1 Pro has that curved display which is a huge sell for the brand, and that technology has never been this affordable for realme.
Now, we wait for the final pricing. Expect the realme P1 to land under INR 15K, and the P1 Pro under 20K. However, we do not know as of now if these prices include any launch offers.
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Also read: Realme GT Series is Coming Back to India in 2024: Launch Date and Expected Price
