As a tech reviewer, I’ve had hands-on time with heaps of smartphones over the years—it’s hard for features to always feel new. Yet Realme’s 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus have a genuinely unique new feature: they can change color in the cold.
Now, it’s clearly a gimmick, but living in a cold, wet country, it’s a gimmick I’m absolutely here for.
Realme Launches Temperature-Sensitive Color-Changing Smartphones
Realme’s new 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus smartphones can change color in cold environments, switching from white to blue when the temperature drops. The thermochromic pigments activate when the temperature hits around 61F (16C), giving you a very visual indicator that the mercury is falling.
The temperature-gauge smartphones were designed with Valeur Designers, a Danish studio, to create what Realme calls a “unique pearl design.” Furthermore, the design process means each Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus is unique; the pigments mix differently for each device.
So not only do you have a color-changing smartphone, but you also have an almost one-of-a-kind device.
The Color Changing Smartphone Isn’t Built to Last
The only downside? Realme says this color-changing pigment won’t last forever. Its color-shifting and temperature-sensing properties will last up to a year, with direct contact with the sunlight damaging the pigment’s properties.
Realme’s website says the effect will only last “during initial use,” and it’s unclear how long it will last.
The Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus Aren’t Just a Pretty Temperature Gauge
I love the idea of a color-changing smartphone, but the Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus have more to offer than that.
One of the most impressive features of these smartphones is the 1.6mm ultra-thin bezel with its quad-curved screen. It looks fantastic and isn’t something you usually see on mid-range devices. Under the hood, the 14 Pro Plus uses a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, while the 14 Pro has a slightly less powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300. The Qualcomm will deliver more power than the MediaTek chip, but both will be useful for a wide range of uses.
The 14 Pro Plus model has an interesting triple-camera array in a circular housing. It’s a tidy design, added to by the fact each camera in the array has its own flash. Realme claims this “automatically restores natural skin tones in low-light conditions,” delivering ultra-clear shots using its Hyperimage+ tech.
Finally, both devices have a powerful 6,000mAh battery and up to 80W charging, which is super useful and will keep you powered up all day.
The Realme 14 Pro and 14 Pro Plus haven’t quite made it to the US market just yet (having just launched in India). Most Realme devices become available in the US shortly after launch, so keep your eyes peeled for this one, starting at around $265.
