Oppo Realme 1 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?

Main Image
  • Like
  • Comment
  • Share

Oppo and Vivo have been prioritizing offline markets for years and the strategy did pay off well. Meanwhile, the online behemoth Xiaomi grew unchallenged and has now further consolidated its position with multi-channel retail and has started intruding in Vivo and Oppo’s offline territories.

The only rational thing to do for offline brands is to challenge Xiaomi in its own turf. That’s where the Realme 1 comes in. The first offering from Oppo’s online exclusive deliver’s Oppo’s expertise at competitive prices. So, let’s see how the Realme 1 compares against Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 Pro (review).

Realme 1 Vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Specs (Side-by-Side)

Model Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Realme 1
Display 5.99-Inch, Full HD+ IPS, 18:9 6-Inch, 18:9 FHD+ display LPTS
Processor Snapdragon 636 octa-core MediaTek Helio P60
RAM 4GB/6GB 3GB/4GB/6GB
Internal Storage 64GB/128GB expandable (hybrid slot) 32GB/64GB 128GB; expandable up to 256GB (dedicated slot)
Software MIUI 9.5- Android Nougat color OS 5.0 – Android Oreo
Primary Camera 12 MP + 5MP rear cameras 13MP
Secondary Camera 8MP selfie camera 8MP selfie camera
Dimensions & weight 158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm; 181 g 156.5 x 75.2 x 7.8 mm; 155g
Battery 4000mAh battery 3400 mAh
Others 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm, micro USB, fingerprint sensor, face unlock, 3.5mm jack 4G Volte, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, face unlock, micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack
Price Rs 14,999 / 16,999 Rs. 8,990 / 10,990 / 13,990

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1: Design and Build

The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a quite a few things working in its favour, but the design isn’t one. The phone still flaunts a triple-layer back that has been overdone over the last few years and feels dated. The overall feel is quite clunky, which is why it doesn’t take much for Reame 1 to gain an edge.

The mirror pattern on the back adds to its appeal and the handset feels a tad more present day. Apart from Dimond Black, the RealMe 1 also comes in Solar Red color that too looks exquisite. Xiaomi continues to use metal-plastic on its Redmi Note series, the challenger – RealMe 1 gets an all fibre-glass back which looks trendy and truly stands out in its price band.

Also Read: Nokia 7 Plus vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Specs Comparison

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1: Display

There is not much of a difference in displays of these two phones. Both get to flaunt a 6-inch tall screen which has 18:9 aspect ratio and 1080p+ resolution. However, the RealMe 1 has a comparatively better screen-to-body ratio.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, comes with some sort of Gorilla Glass which is missing in the RealMe 1 case. Both phone displays deliver excellent viewing angles and colours reproduction capabilities.

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1: Hardware and Software

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro rocks a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset which is a proven performer. The RealMe 1, on the other hand, employs a MediaTek Helio P60 chipset which scores slightly better on benchmarks. As far as real life performance is concerned there is hardly any difference in CPU and GPU performance of these two devices.

The RealMe 1 comes in three RAM and ROM combinations: 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB/128GB storage. The Redmi Note 5 Pro, on the other hand, is only available in 4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB options.

The RealMe 1 also scores over the Redmi Note 5 Pro connectivity and storage expansion capabilities. It supports dual SIM with active 4G VoLTE support and a microSD card slot for storage expansion up to 256GB. In comparison, the Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with a hybrid SIM tray that only supports one 4G SIM at a time.

Also, you can use two SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD card at any given time. At present, the Note 5 Pro also lacks dual VoLTE feature but Xiaomi can enable it in the future update as the chipset and modem are capable of supporting dual VoLTE networks.

On the Software front, both these phones come with a heavily customized version of Android. While Xiaomi is shipping the Redmi Note 5 Pro with an Android 7.1 Nougat based MIUI 9, the RealMe 1 comes running on Color OS 5.0 which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo. All in all, the RealMe 1 seems to have a slight advantage over the Redmi Note 5 Pro in this segment.

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1: Camera and Battery

The Redmi Note 5 Pro seems to have an upper hand here ever so slightly (on paper). The Redmi Note 5 Pro features a dual-camera setup of 12MP+ 5MP at the rear end and an 8MP selfie camera on the front.

The RealMe 1 on the other hand, only gets a 13-megapixel rear shooter and an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the front. What’s interesting to note here that, both phones are able enough to capture images with bokeh effect.

On battery front too the Redmi Note 5 Pro pins down the RealMe 1 with sheer its battery size. The Note 5 Pro packs a 4000mAh battery whereas the challenger only comes with a 3410mAh.

Also Read: 9 Best Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 phones you can buy

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1 Price Comparison

Variant Redmi Note 5 Pro Price (INR) Realme 1 Price (INR)
3GB RAM+32GB ROM 8,990
4GB RAM+64GB ROM 14,999 10,990
6GB RAM+128GB ROM 16,999 13,990

Redmi Note 5 Pro vs Realme 1 Comparison Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and Oppo Realme 1 are way too close and its hard to call either one a clear winner here. While the Redmi Note 5 Pro has a proven record, the Realme 1 has made a promising start.

Both of these phones are excellent value for money phones and your decision should be based on what you value more and what software you’d be more comfortable with. The Realme 1 does score a few more brownies points with a dedicated microSD card slot, dual 4G dual VoLTE support, a more appealing design and latest Android version.

Reasons to Buy Redmi Note 5 Pro

  • Better Camera hardware
  • Bigger battery
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • MIUI has better community support

 

Reasons to Buy Realme 1

  • Looks better
  • Latest Android version
  • Significantly cheaper
  • Dual 4G VoLTE support
  • Dedicated MicroSD card support
Deepak RajawatDeepak Rajawat
Experienced technology journalist with over 7-years of experience. Before embracing online journalism, he has worked with several legacy publications including print editions at Hindustan Times and The Statesman. He also has a keen interest in Sports, which he used to cover with equal enthusiasm in his early career.

Related Articles

ImageDon’t Know Your Android Phone’s Processor? Here’s How to Find Out

The processor, also known as the System on Chip (SoC), is a crucial component of your smartphone. It is responsible for powering all the parts of your device, including the display, cameras, and speakers. This integral role underscores the importance of having a capable processor that can easily manage the smartphone’s power needs.  If you …

ImageAirtel 5G Plus FAQs: Airtel 5G services plans, List of 5G phones in India that work with AirTel 5G Plus

After 5G was officially launched in India on October 1st, Airtel has rolled out its Airtel 5G Plus in the country. The service has been made available in 8 cities in the country as of now. The Airtel 5G Plus services claim to be the fastest and most reliable ones, but there’s still loads of …

ImageJio5G FAQs: Everything you need to know about the new Jio True 5G network in India

Jio 5G services have started rolling out in India. The service has been introduced in some regions of India as of now but the telecom giant claims to bring the 5G services to every nook and corner of the country by the end of 2023. Jio 5G is claimed to give the highest internet speeds. …

ImageRedmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G Vs Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus 5G: How have things changed

Yesterday, Xiaomi announced the Redmi Note 13 Series in India. The Redmi Note 13 Series includes 3 smartphones- Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 13 Pro, and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus 5G. The Redmi Note 13 Series aims to offer a balance between specs and affordability. Xiaomi claims that the top-end Redmi Note 13 Pro …

ImageXiaomi 14 Vs Vivo X100 Vs OnePlus 12: Which One Should You Buy?

Xiaomi recently launched its latest flagship devices, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphones in India. The Xiaomi 14 competes directly with two other flagship devices from Vivo and OnePlus: the Vivo X100 and the OnePlus 12, respectively, in terms of pricing and features.If you are confused between the three smartphones, don’t worry; …

Discuss

Be the first to leave a comment.