The first rumors about a nebulous smartphone with Coca-Cola branding were already circulating in January. The device is now actually on the market.
It’s not uncommon for smartphone manufacturers to partner with well-known companies. Devices branded by Porsche, Batman, Iron Man and even KFC abound. The name is often intended to help boost sales. In the case of the Coca-Cola smartphone, however, collectors are more likely to be addressed.
Coca-Cola smartphone in cooperation with Realme
Although there are notable exceptions, when manufacturers partner with a brand, they usually release an existing smartphone model in a special edition. The Coca-Cola smartphone is the 10 Pro 5G from the Chinese manufacturer Realme. Like OnePlus, Oppo and Vivo, it belongs to the technology conglomerate BKK Electronics, which is the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world alongside Samsung and Apple. Realme smartphones are very popular, especially in India, where the company had at times the second largest market share to Xiaomi.
The Realme 15 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition – that’s the actual name – is a mid-range smartphone that is branded all over with the Coke brand. It starts with the box, which greets buyers from the outside with a huge Coca-Cola logo. Inside, alongside the device itself, you’ll find a sticker sheet, a coke-cap style SIM pin, and a limited edition number card. However, Realme does not reveal how many devices of the Coca-Cola Edition there are.
Smartphone with Coca-Cola branding abound
The excess of Coke content continues with the smartphone itself. The back is black and cola red in a ratio of 30 to 70. The silvery Coca-Cola lettering, which runs along the entire length of the case, is particularly striking. The matte metal finish is designed to feel like you’re holding a coke bottle. A Coca-Cola logo is also engraved on the fingerprint sensor on the right side of the case.
Even the icons of Realme’s own Android interface, Realme UI 4.0, are inspired by the colors of the Coca-Cola Company. Of course there are also special wallpapers. But Realme doesn’t stop there. The company has even adjusted certain system sounds. The camera shutter release is based on the hissing sound of opening a Coke bottle. Notifications sound like fizzy bubbles and even the ringtone is cola-inspired. Realme has also integrated an “80s Cola Filter” into the camera app. This is said to have been trained on thousands of photos from the 1980s and creates a colorful retro look.
Hardware only lower average
The rest of the smartphone, on the other hand, is absolutely mediocre with components right off the shelf. With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, the device does not win any performance awards. The camera in particular is a major disappointment. The main sensor with a resolution of 108 megapixels is okay, but the second “camera”, for which there is a second hump on the back, is just a depth sensor. Telephoto or ultra wide angle? none. There is also no optical image stabilization (OIS) and the maximum video resolution is abysmal. The sensor only supports Full HD (1080p) with 30 frames per second (FPS), not a trace of 4K and 60 FPS.
After all, the display is okay with a 6.72-inch IPS panel and 120 Hertz support. The resolution is respectable at 2400 by 1080 pixels (392 pixels per inch; DPI), but the maximum brightness isn’t optimal at 600 nits. The battery has a capacity of a generous 5000 mAh and is charged to 50 percent in just under 30 minutes thanks to Oppo’s SuperVooc technology. The Realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition comes in just one version with 128 gigabytes of internal storage and 8 GB of RAM. At least there is a MicroSD slot. The smartphone will be launched in India on February 14 for the equivalent of just under 238 euros (20,999 Indian rupees).