realme C21 review
The Realme C21 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs some impressive features, including a massive 5000mAh battery, a 6.5-inch mini-drop full screen, an instant fingerprint scanner, and a 13-megapixel triple rear camera setup. The phone's design is sleek with a geometric pattern at the back, providing a good grip and resistance to fingerprint smudges. The volume rockers and power button are located on the left side, while the sim tray and micro SD card slot are also accessible from there. Under the hood, the Realme C21 is powered by a Mediatek Helio G35 chipset, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. While not the most powerful processor, it manages to deliver decent performance for gaming and everyday tasks. The phone runs on Realme's User Interface 1.0 based on Android 10, which is simple and efficient, consuming less resources while performing well. The display is a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with DUV rain land certification, offering good viewing angles and a surprisingly smooth experience. In terms of performance, the phone can handle games like PUBG and Call of Duty at medium frame rates, but may not be the best choice for serious gamers, as other options in the same price bracket offer better processors. The battery life is impressive, lasting two days even under heavy usage, but charging speeds are relatively slow. The camera setup is decent for its price segment, offering a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter at the front. Indoor performance can be noisy and grainy, but outdoor shots are better quality. Overall, the Realme C21 offers a solid package of features and performance for its price, making it a good option for those on a budget.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme C21 boasts an impressive build quality that is hard to ignore. The phone's body is made of plastic material, providing a matte finish at the back with a geometric pattern. This design choice not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the grip of the phone, making it resistant to fingerprint smudges. The back panel's texture is noticeable, and it feels good in hand. The placement of buttons on the left side of the phone is well-organized, with volume rockers and a power button placed conveniently. The dedicated micro SD card slot ensures that users won't have to compromise on storage space. The top-left corner features a triple rear camera setup, which follows a traditional design in 2021. A fingerprint scanner is situated right beside it. One notable design feature of the Realme C21 is its unique placement of speaker grilles at the bottom of the back panel and a headphone jack at the bottom of the phone alongside microphones and a micro USB connector. The overall design and build quality of the phone are satisfactory, making it an appealing option for those looking for a budget-friendly device. In terms of build quality, the Realme C21 feels sturdy and solid in hand, with no flex or give when pressed. While not exceptionally premium, it's clear that Realme has put thought into designing a phone that looks and feels good without breaking the bank. The Realme C21 is definitely worth considering for those looking for an affordable smartphone with respectable build quality.
Battery Life
The Realme C21 boasts an impressive 5000mAh battery, making it a formidable contender in the budget smartphone market. In my experience, this massive battery provides an incredible two-day backup even under heavy usage. The medium power consumption of the Mediatek Helio G35 chipset is the primary reason for this extended battery life. What I like most about the Realme C21's battery life is its consistency. Whether you're a casual user or someone who uses their phone extensively, this phone has got you covered. Even under heavy usage, such as gaming and video streaming, the battery seems to hold up remarkably well. The charging speed, on the other hand, might be a concern for some users. The 10W standard Realme adapter takes its time to fully charge the massive 5000mAh battery. However, this is a minor trade-off considering the excellent battery life you get in return. Overall, the Realme C21's battery life is one of its standout features. If you're looking for a budget smartphone with an impressive backup and don't mind waiting a bit longer to charge it up, then the Realme C21 might be the perfect choice for you.
Display
The Realme C21 boasts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with DUV Rain Land certification. One of the standout features of this display is its surprisingly good performance, considering the price point. The viewing angles are also commendable, with no noticeable distortion or color shift. The screen itself is not particularly impressive in terms of resolution or pixel density, but it gets the job done for a budget-friendly device like the Realme C21. The display's brightness and contrast ratio are satisfactory, making it easy to use the phone outdoors or indoors without straining your eyes. One notable omission from the display specs sheet is any mention of HDR support or higher refresh rates. While this might be a disappointment for some users who crave more immersive visual experiences, the Reality C21's LCD panel does its job well enough for everyday use cases like browsing social media, watching videos, and playing casual games. The user interface on the Realme C21 is relatively simple and clean, with mostly stock Android apps like Dialer, Messages, or File Manager. These apps are efficient and consume minimal resources while performing better than some custom implementations found in other budget devices. In conclusion, the display on the Realme C21 is a decent offering for its price point. While it may not be the most impressive screen you've ever seen, it's good enough to get the job done without breaking the bank.
Camera
The Realme C21 boasts a triple rear camera setup with a 13-megapixel primary sensor, accompanied by two additional sensors, making it an intriguing proposition in the budget smartphone market. While the phone's overall performance is satisfactory, its camera capabilities leave much to be desired. In indoor conditions, the Realme C21's camera struggles to deliver crisp and clear images. Photos are often marred by noise and graininess, making them appear somewhat dull and uninspiring. This is particularly noticeable in low-light situations, where the phone's camera fails to capture sufficient detail. On the other hand, the Realme C21's camera performs relatively better in outdoor conditions. Images taken during the day are decent, with a good balance of brightness and saturation. However, this improvement is largely due to the increased light available, rather than any significant boost in image quality. The camera samples provided by Realme C21 show a mixed bag of results. While some images are acceptable, others suffer from noticeable noise and graininess. This inconsistency makes it difficult to rely on the phone's camera for capturing high-quality photographs. In comparison to its competitors in the same price segment, the Realme C21's camera performance is average at best. Phones like the Realme Narzo 30A boast more impressive cameras, making them a better option for those seeking superior image quality. While the Realme C21 offers an impressive battery life and decent overall performance, its camera capabilities fall short of expectations. For those prioritizing photography, there are better options available in the same price bracket. However, for users who value longevity and affordability, the Realme C21 remains a viable option, albeit with some compromises on camera quality.
Price and Value
The Realme C21 is an affordable smartphone that offers impressive specs at a budget-friendly price point. Priced around $130, this phone delivers a lot of value for its cost. One of the standout features of the Realme C21 is its massive 5000mAh battery, which is more than sufficient to last two days even with heavy usage. This makes it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable smartphone without breaking the bank. In terms of performance, the phone's MediaTek Helio G35 chipset provides decent performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. While it may not be the most powerful processor available in this price range, it gets the job done. The Realme C21 also boasts an impressive 6.5-inch mini-drop full-screen display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. The viewing angles are decent, making it easy to watch videos and browse the web without compromising on visuals. While the phone's camera setup may not be the most impressive, with a 13-megapixel triple rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, it still delivers decent results for its price point. In conclusion, the Realme C21 offers incredible value for its price. With its massive battery life, decent performance, and affordable price tag of around $130, this phone is an excellent choice for users on a budget who need a reliable smartphone. While it may not be the most powerful or feature-rich device available in the market, it gets the job done without breaking the bank. 4/5 stars
Performance
The Realme C21 is equipped with a Mediatek Helio G35 chipset, which may not be the most powerful processor in the market, but it's decent for its price segment. The phone can handle games like PUBG and Call of Duty on balanced settings at medium frame rates. However, there are some options available in the same price bracket that have a better processor, such as the Realme Narzo 30A. In terms of gaming experience, the Realme C21 provides an average performance. The phone can handle casual games and everyday tasks without any issues, but it may struggle with more demanding games or multitasking. The user interface is simple and clean, with mostly stock Android apps like dialer, messages, and file manager. The Mediatek Helio G35 chipset's performance is further aided by the 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage combination. While it's not a powerhouse, it gets the job done for most users' needs. However, those who engage in heavy gaming or multitasking may find themselves waiting for apps to launch or experiencing some lag. Battery life is another aspect where the Realme C21 shines. The 5000mAh battery is huge and can last up to two days even under heavy usage. This is due to the chipset's moderate power consumption, which doesn't drain the battery quickly. However, charging speed may be a concern for some users, as the included 10W power brick takes some time to charge the phone. Overall, the performance of the Realme C21 is decent but not outstanding. It can handle everyday tasks and casual gaming without any issues, but it may struggle with more demanding applications or multitasking.
Pros
1. The phone has a huge 5000mAh battery that can last two days even under heavy usage.
2. The design is good with enhanced grip and resistant to fingerprint smudges due to the geometric pattern at the back.
3. The display is surprisingly good, working well and not disturbing the viewing angles.
4. The speakers are loud enough but not stereo speakers, however they can be heard clearly in a whole room.
5. The Realme UI 1.0 is simple and efficient with mostly stock Android apps that consume less resources.
Cons
1. The Mediatek Helio G35 chipset, although decent for this price segment, may not provide the best gaming experience.
2. The phone has an average camera setup with noisy and grainy indoor photos, but performs better in outdoor situations.
3. The charging speed is a concern due to the 10W power brick that takes time to charge the 5000mAh battery.