When we think of Rolex, we immediately imagine luxury, shiny watches and prestige. On the other side, we have Realme, the affordable smartphone brand. And, yet, the two brands have joined forces to create an Android smartphone.
“If you don’t have a Rolex at 50, you’ve failed in your life”, said Jacques Séguéla. But what about a smartphone from Rolex? Realme has revealed a teaser, along with a video below, revealing a collaboration with Rolex to create a special version of the Realme 12 Pro. This smartphone was designed with the help of Ollivier Saveo, a renowned designer in the world of luxury watches.
Mid-range and a nod to luxury
The design of the phone is a real nod to luxury, with a rounded back adorned with a dark blue leather surface and accented with gold accents. Its camera module, reminiscent of a watch face Rolex Oyster Perpetual, includes three lenses arranged in a dark blue gradient. Although the release date remains a mystery, there is a clue hiding on the watch: an announcement could be planned for January 28.
This smartphone is also distinguished by its periscope telephoto lens, as suggested by its rectangular lens. The camera module promises a staggering 120x zoom, although this will likely be assisted by digital zoom. The rumored specifications of the Realme 12 Pro+ include a 6.7-inch Amoled display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Under the hood, the Realme 12 Pro+ would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. It is therefore positioned as a mid-range rather than a premium product. However, Realme doesn’t skimp on options, offering up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of flash storage.
It’s quite surprising to see Rolex, the big luxury watch brand, teaming up with Realme, which is rather known for its affordable smartphones. Realme is the kind of brand that aims more to offer smartphones with good value for money, not really luxury.
This clearly changes from the image we have of Rolex, a luxury brand, known for its exclusivity and quality products. We would have rather imagined Rolex with a more high-end smartphone brand, like Huawei and Oppoe in China, but lo and behold, they chose Realme. An approach that contrasts sharply with Rolex’s reputation and usual clientele.