realme review
Updated September 30, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026
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Our verdict
realme suits Android shoppers who want a new handset with a long warranty and would rather handle returns quickly than chase a longer window. Its 24 months warranty is the standout, while the 14 days return window is the trade-off to accept.
Key facts
- Best for
- A new Android phone with one of the longer warranties in the category.
- Warranty
- 24 months (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Return window
- 14 days (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Markets
- BG, BY, CZ, ES, FR, GB, IT, PL, RU, TR, UA (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Founded
- 2018 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Chat, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
- Products
- New phones
- Operating systems
- Android
- Official website
- realme.com
Apps and profiles
- Elsewhere
- WikidataWikipediaXyoutube.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Warranty of 24 months outranks most brands on the site and puts realme near the top of the warranty table
- New phones sold direct, with no refurbished or foldable lines to sort through
- Support on email, chat and help centre covers help centre, chat, email and community forums
- A brand founded in 2018 with sales across BG, BY and CZ
Cons
- Returns of 14 days are short next to Nothing, which lists 30 days
- Range is new phones, so there is no foldable or refurbished option as Mozillion offers
- Every handset runs Android, so buyers tied to another system have nothing to pick from here
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put cover length ahead of a long returns window
- Android buyers who want a new handset rather than a refurbished one
- People buying in Bulgaria, BY and CZ who want help in their own market
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a longer returns window, since Nothing lists 30 days against 14 days
- Buyers after foldables, which Mozillion lists under new phones, refurbished phones and foldables
- Rugged phone shoppers, since Oukitel sells new phones and rugged phones
How it compares on our data
On warranty length realme sits near the top. Its 24 months places it second among the 33 brands ranked on that measure, and ahead of the 18 upper mark that most brands on our smartphones ranking reach. Returns tell the other side of the story: the 14 days window sits at position 31 of the 42 brands ranked on returns, below Nothing's 30 days. So the two numbers pull in opposite directions, and the choice comes down to whether cover length or return flexibility matters more to the buyer.
Core features
The cover is the headline feature. realme lists a warranty of 24 months, double the 12 median across our smartphones ranking, and well clear of the refurbished set where the same measure sits at 12. Returns are set at 14 days, which is workable but modest next to Nothing at 30 days. Against that, the catalogue is new phones only, so there is no foldable or refurbishment option here the way Mozillion lists new phones, refurbished phones and foldables. Coverage also depends on where you are: sales run across BG, BY and CZ, so check that your country is on that list before buying.
The company behind it
realme was founded in 2018, so it is a recent name on the phone market rather than a decades-old handset maker. It operates across BG, BY and CZ, a spread of European and nearby markets that includes the UK, France, Germany-adjacent markets such as Poland and the Czech Republic, and Russia and Turkey. Its operating systems cover Android, so the range is Android only. Help runs on email, chat and help centre, which pairs a self-service help centre with live chat, email and a community forum for questions that do not need a phone call.
How realme compares
- 9.0 vs 9.1
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9.0 vs 8.8- 9.0 vs 8.6
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9.0 vs 8.8
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9.0 vs 9.3- 9.0 vs 9.5
9.0 vs 9.5
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- 9.0 vs 8.9
9.0 vs 8.8
9.0 vs 8.6
9.0 vs 8.6
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Where realme is available
- Available
- Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How long is the realme warranty?+
realme lists a warranty of 24 months on its new phones, which is the strongest feature in the range. That sits well above the 12 median across our smartphones ranking. Among the brands ranked on warranty length it places second out of 33.
How many days do I have to return a realme phone?+
The return window is 14 days from the point of purchase, so decisions need to be made quickly. That ranks at position 31 of the 42 brands tracked on returns. Nothing, by contrast, lists 30 days.
Does realme sell refurbished or foldable phones?+
No. The realme range is listed as new phones, so every handset is new and there is no foldable line. Mozillion covers new phones, refurbished phones and foldables in one place if a refurbished or folding device is the aim. Oukitel also lists new phones and rugged phones for buyers who want something tougher.
Which operating systems do realme phones run?+
realme phones run Android, so the range is Android only. Buyers tied to another system would need to look elsewhere, and our smartphones ranking shows 14.6% of the ranked brands covering iPadOS. Nothing and Mozillion are also listed as phone sellers on this page's alternatives.
Where can I buy realme phones?+
Sales cover BG, BY and CZ, spanning the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Belarus, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. That list is worth checking against your own country, since it is where the brand operates. Support is available on email, chat and help centre in those markets.
How do I get help from realme?+
Support runs on email, chat and help centre: a help centre, live chat, email and a community forum. The help centre covers most model questions on its own, and the community forum is useful for common handset issues across the BG, BY and CZ list. Warranty cover runs for 24 months on purchases.
Who is realme as a company?+
realme was founded in 2018, making it a young brand on the phone market rather than an established handset maker. Its devices run Android and are sold as new phones. Buyers who prefer a long track record may want to weigh that alongside the 24 months cover.
Which realme phone should I pick?+
The range is new phones across BG, BY and CZ, so availability depends on your country. Every handset there carries the same 24 months warranty and the same 14 days return window, so the choice comes down to specification rather than cover. Help is available on email, chat and help centre for model questions.
Sources
- realme.com/eu checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Markets, Products, Support channels
“Choose your market Products may have different prices and availability based on market”
- realme.com/eu/brand checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Upon the establishment of realme in 2018, we have never stopped outdoing ourselves”
- realme.com/eu/legal/terms-sales checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Return window, Warranty
“14-Days Easy Return”
- realme.com/eu/realme-c100-5g checked September 30, 2026
Backs: Operating systems
“BASED ON ANDROID 16”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.
What changed
- September 30, 2026: axisScores trust was 8.2, now 8.3