The Realme U1 packs the same 6.3" IPS LCD notched screen we saw on the Realme 2 Pro. It has a trendy dewdrop-like cutout for the selfie camera and a 1080p (1,080 x 2,340) resolution resulting into decently sharp 409ppi density.
The Realme 2 Pro used the Oppo F9 screen - they are both BBK owned after all, so sharing assets is expected. And the U1 also comes with the same panel, which is great news.
The 6.3" display offers very deep blacks and high brightness at 520 nits, resulting in the excellent contrast ratio of 1800:1 - similar to Oppo F9's and Realme 2 Pro's.
The minimum brightness level of 3.3 nits is quite nice to have too, meaning you can comfortably use it in complete darkness.
Display test
100% brightness
Black, cd/m2
White, cd/m2
Contrast ratio
Realme U1
0.283
518
1830
Oppo F9
0.29
526
1814
Realme 2 Pro
0.306
537
1755
Realme 1
0.35
423
1209
Realme 2
0.286
411
1437
Sony Xperia XA2
0.401
532
1327
Xiaomi Mi A2
0.277
420
1516
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
0.385
488
1268
Xiaomi Mi A1
0.351
551
1570
Oppo F7
0.228
446
1956
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
0.314
481
1532
Honor 8X
0.346
427
1234
The Realme U1 did average in our sunlight legibility test, which in real-world terms means the handset remains usable outdoors at the expense of contrast and washed out colors..
Sunlight contrast ratio
Apple iPhone XS 5.171
Apple iPhone X 5.013
Huawei Mate 20 Pro 4.965
OnePlus 5T 4.789
Samsung Galaxy S8 4.768
Samsung Galaxy S8+ 4.658
Samsung Galaxy S9 4.63
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ 4.615
Samsung Galaxy S9+ 4.537
Samsung Galaxy Note9 4.531
Apple iPhone XS Max 4.516
Sony Xperia XZ3 4.502
Motorola Moto Z2 Play 4.459
Oppo R11 4.454
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge 4.439
OnePlus 3 4.424
Samsung Galaxy S7 4.376
Google Pixel 3 4.35
OnePlus 6 4.321
HTC One A9 4.274
LG V40 ThinQ 4.256
Oppo R15 Pro 4.251
Samsung Galaxy Note7 4.247
Samsung Galaxy A3 4.241
Nokia 8 4.239
Google Pixel 2 XL (pre-update) 4.234
OnePlus 3T 4.232
Google Pixel XL 4.164
ZTE Axon 7 4.154
Samsung Galaxy Note8 4.148
Meizu Pro 7 Plus 4.147
OnePlus 6T 4.138
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge 4.124
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) 4.124
vivo V11 4.113
Huawei Mate 10 Pro (normal) 4.096
Samsung Galaxy Note5 4.09
Huawei P20 Pro 4.087
Xiaomi Mi 8 4.086
Meizu 15 4.082
Nokia 6 (2018) 4.052
Google Pixel 2 (pre-update) 4.023
LG V30 4.022
Huawei Nexus 6P 4.019
vivo NEX S 4.012
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro 3.998
OnePlus X 3.983
Vivo Xplay5 Elite 3.983
LG G7 ThinQ (outdoor) 3.978
Oppo R7s 3.964
Apple iPhone 7 3.964
Apple iPhone 8 (True Tone) 3.957
Huawei P9 Plus 3.956
Oppo Find X 3.954
Meizu Pro 6 Plus 3.935
Lenovo Moto Z 3.931
Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) 3.918
OnePlus 5 3.914
Samsung Galaxy C5 3.911
Xiaomi Mi 8 SE 3.901
Samsung Galaxy C7 3.896
Samsung Galaxy A5 3.895
Samsung Galaxy J7 outdoor 3.879
Samsung Galaxy J2 outdoor 3.873
Motorola Moto G6 Plus 3.865
Samsung Galaxy A8 3.859
Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018) 3.842
Apple iPhone 6 3.838
Microsoft Lumia 950XL 3.837
Samsung Galaxy A6+ (2018) 3.834
Sony Xperia XZs 3.818
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) 3.817
Motorola Moto X (2014) 3.816
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017) 3.812
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) 3.804
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) outdoor mode 3.802
Xiaomi Redmi Pro 3.798
LG V20 Max auto 3.798
Sony Xperia XZ 3.795
Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) 3.789
Apple iPhone 6s 3.783
Meizu Pro 5 3.781
Microsoft Lumia 650 3.772
Xiaomi Mi 6 3.767
Sony Xperia XZ1 3.765
Samsung Galaxy J7 (2016) 3.756
Nokia 8 Sirocco 3.745
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact 3.729
Apple iPhone 8 Plus (True Tone) 3.725
Oppo F1 Plus 3.709
Vivo X5Pro 3.706
Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017) 3.688
Huawei P20 3.683
Apple iPhone SE 3.681
Huawei Mate 9 3.68
Samsung Galaxy A7 3.679
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact 3.675
Meizu PRO 6 3.659
BlackBerry Priv 3.645
Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra 3.597
Apple iPhone 7 Plus 3.588
Sony Xperia XZ2 3.58
LG G6 3.556
Apple iPhone 6s Plus 3.53
Motorola Moto Z Play 3.526
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) 3.523
Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) outdoor mode 3.523
Acer Jade Primo 3.521
Microsoft Lumia 950 3.512
Oppo R7 Plus 3.499
Nokia 7 plus 3.479
nubia Z11 3.466
Huawei P10 Plus 3.456
HTC U Ultra 3.453
Motorola Moto G6 3.448
Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra 3.445
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus 3.445
Samsung Galaxy J7 3.422
Motorola Moto G6 Play 3.419
Meizu MX5 3.416
LG V20 3.402
Samsung Galaxy A6 (2018) 3.397
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 AI Dual Camera 3.393
LG G7 ThinQ 3.39
Huawei P10 3.379
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016) 3.378
Oppo R9s 3.352
Honor Play 3.349
Honor 8 Pro 3.341
Oppo F7 3.333
Oppo R7 3.32
Lenovo P2 3.316
Archos Diamond Omega 3.305
Honor 9 3.289
Xiaomi Mi 5s 3.276
Nokia 5 3.261
Nokia 6 (Chinese version) 3.244
Xiaomi Mi 5 3.24
Nokia 6 (Global version) 3.238
Samsung Galaxy J2 3.235
Realme 2 Pro 3.235
Sony Xperia X Performance 3.234
Xiaomi Mi Note 2 3.228
Motorola Moto X Play 3.222
Oppo F3 Plus 3.218
BlackBerry KEY2 3.212
Huawei Mate 9 Pro 3.206
Huawei P9 3.195
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 3.19
ZTE Nubia Z17 3.159
Oppo R11s 3.153
Lenovo Vibe Shot 3.113
Honor 8X 3.113
HTC U11 Life 3.108
Motorola Moto X Force 3.105
LG Nexus 5X 3.092
HTC U11 3.089
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite 3.087
HTC U12+ 3.085
Xiaomi Redmi S2 (Y2) 3.077
Huawei Mate S 3.073
Oppo F9 3.069
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL 3.065
Xiaomi Mi Max 3 3.061
Xiaomi Pocophone F1 3.059
Huawei Mate 20 3.052
Huawei Mate 20 Lite 3.051
Motorola One (P30 Play) 3.026
Apple iPhone 6 Plus 3.023
Asus Zenfone 4 ZE554KL 3.019
Sony Xperia XA1 3.012
Motorola Moto X4 3.012
Realme 2 3.006
Sony Xperia L1 2.994
Sony Xperia X 2.989
LG Q6 2.987
Huawei P10 Lite 2.974
Samsung Galaxy Note 2.97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro 2.966
Huawei P20 Lite 2.952
Xiaomi Redmi 5 2.951
Sony Xperia Z1 2.95
Huawei Mate 8 2.949
Sony Xperia XA2 2.938
Realme 1 2.932
Razer Phone 2 2.932
Xiaomi Redmi 4 2.92
Xiaomi Redmi 3S 2.913
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 2.913
Sony Xperia XA Ultra 2.906
LG G5 2.905
Huawei Honor View 10 2.896
Xiaomi Redmi 3s Prime 2.893
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus 2.884
Sony Xperia XZ Premium (sRGB) 2.877
Sony Xperia XZ Premium 2.877
Sony Xperia Z5 2.876
Nokia 3 2.871
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium 2.867
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 2.862
Microsoft Lumia 550 2.851
Nokia 3.1 2.837
Realme U1 2.815
Lenovo Moto M 2.813
Nokia 7.1 2.804
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro 2.803
Sony Xperia Z5 compact 2.784
Honor 10 (Vivid) 2.757
Nokia 2 2.752
Meizu MX6 2.751
LG V10 2.744
Huawei Mate 10 (normal) 2.742
Motorola Moto G5S Plus 2.737
Xiaomi Redmi 3 2.735
Huawei Honor 7X 2.734
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625) 2.714
Meizu M5 2.71
Xiaomi Mi A2 2.696
Sony Xperia M5 2.69
Xiaomi Mi A1 2.689
Huawei P9 Lite 2.679
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime 2.679
vivo V7+ 2.671
Motorola Moto G4 Plus 2.582
Motorola Moto G4 Plus (max auto) 2.582
Meizu M5s 2.58
Xiaomi Mi 4c 2.574
LeEco Le Max 2 2.567
Microsoft Lumia 640 2.563
Asus Zenfone 3 ZE552KL 2.563
Huawei P Smart 2.563
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 2.561
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium 2.525
Huawei Honor 7 Lite / Honor 5c 2.506
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 2.503
BlackBerry Motion 2.494
Oppo F1s 2.481
Motorola Moto G 2.477
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus 2.473
Huawei G8 2.471
Huawei nova 2.467
Sony Xperia Z 2.462
Lenovo Vibe K5 2.459
Meizu m3 max 2.447
Xiaomi Mi 4 2.424
Xiaomi Mi 5X (Auto) 2.417
Huawei nova plus 2.329
Razer Phone 2.328
HTC One E9+ 2.305
Alcatel One Touch Hero 2.272
Apple iPhone 4S 2.269
Sony Xperia L2 2.266
Lenovo Vibe K4 Note 2.254
Sony Xperia C5 Ultra 2.253
HTC U11+ (EU) 2.253
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 2.166
OnePlus Two 2.165
HTC One X 2.158
LG Aka 2.145
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (X20) 2.145
Archos 50 Diamond 2.134
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2.119
Xiaomi Mi 4S 2.095
The color rendering is average at best - the screen offers a reasonably accurate color reproduction and we measured an average DeltaE of 6.9 in the sRGB color space. The representation of the whites and the grays is way colder than it should be (around DeltaE of 12).
If you opt for the Warm screen color temperature from Settings, the blue tinge is suppressed and the average DeltaE drops to 4.5 - an excellent result for the class.
Battery life
The Realme U1 is powered by a 3,500 mAh battery - the same capacity as the one within the Realme 2 Pro. It supports regular 5V/2A charging, which restores about 30% of a depleted battery in 30 minutes. Not exactly fast, but as fast as you can expect in this price segment.
The Realme U1 scored an excellent result in our battery test with a 93-hour Endurance rating. It did a great job in all tested scenarios - video playback, calls, web browsing and even stand-by performance.
Our battery tests were automated thanks to SmartViser, using its viSer App.
The endurance rating above denotes how long a single battery charge will last you if you use the Realme U1 for an hour each of telephony, web browsing, and video playback daily. We've established this usage pattern so that our battery results are comparable across devices in the most common day-to-day tasks.
The battery testing procedure is described in detail in case you're interested in the nitty-gritty.
You can check out our complete battery test table, where you can see how all of the smartphones we've tested will compare under your own typical use.
Speaker
The Realme U1 has a single bottom-firing speaker at its disposal, just like all other Realme phones. And it can put on a good show, even in the budget segment. The speaker is tuned to focus on the mid-tones, but no matter the music genre you are playing, it sounds good and is nicely loud at that.
Speakerphone test
Voice, dB
Pink noise/ Music, dB
Ringing phone, dB
Overall score
Realme U1
68.6
73.4
72.4
Good
Sony Xperia XA2
68.7
72.7
78.3
Very Good
Honor 8X
67.1
72.9
81.6
Very Good
Realme 1
64.8
70.5
89.9
Very Good
Realme 2
66.4
71.6
87.2
Very Good
Realme 2 Pro
69.1
74.8
81.4
Very Good
Oppo F7
68.0
73.8
84.8
Very Good
Oppo F9
71.7
74.4
81.6
Very Good
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
70.1
73.1
85.4
Excellent
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
70.6
74.0
86.1
Excellent
Xiaomi Mi A2
89.5
72.2
89.8
Excellent
Audio quality
The Realme U1 has great loudness when connected to an active external amplifier and it stayed just above average when we hooked up our standard testing headset. Both great achievements for a smartphone at that price point.
The clarity of its output was great in the first testing case, but sadly the headphnones caused quite a lot of damage. An above average hike in stereo crosstalk, some intermodulation distortion, and a somewhat shakier frequency response add up to decidedly mediocre showing as far as accuracy is concerned.
Test
Frequency response
Noise level
Dynamic range
THD
IMD + Noise
Stereo crosstalk
Realme U1
+0.06, -0.06
-92.8
92.8
0.0011
0.0074
-93.3
Realme U1 (headphones)
+0.35, -0.33
-91.4
91.8
0.0097
0.587
-51.3
Realme 2 Pro
+0.05, -0.03
-93.3
93.1
0.0019
0.0073
-92.7
Realme 2 Pro (headphones)
+0.33, -0.33
-92.9
92.5
0.010
0.370
-51.7
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
+0.04, -0.04
-92.7
93.8
0.0014
0.0073
-93.6
Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro (headphones)
+0.22, -0.19
-92.4
93.5
0.0076
0.313
-55.6
Oppo F9
+0.05, -0.07
-92.8
92.8
0.0016
0.0073
-92.1
Oppo F9 (headphones)
+0.19, -0.50
-92.0
91.8
0.0090
0.380
-51.9
Realme U1 frequency response
You can learn more about the tested parameters and the whole testing process here.
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