realme C25 review
The Realme C25 is a solid contender in the smartphone space, offering a huge 6,000mAh battery, decent screen, and an affordable price tag. The device has a similar design to its older brother, Luminarso 38, with a square camera cutout and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The back panel features a rigid texture that resembles brushed metal, making it resistant to fingerprint smudges. The Realme C25 packs a triple camera setup, including a 48MP primary lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. While the camera quality is decent in well-lit conditions, it struggles in low-light situations and produces over-sharpened images with excessive saturation. Under the hood, the device runs on Android 11 with RealmeUI 2.0, powered by a Mediatek Helio G70 CPU, Mali-G52 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. While it handles basic tasks like web browsing without issues, gaming performance is marred by slight hiccups when playing graphically intensive games. The 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels offers decent visuals, but the screen's brightness could be improved. The device also supports 18W fast charging and reverse wireless charging. Priced at PHP 7,490, the Realme C25 is an attractive option for those seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a long-lasting battery and decent performance. However, its camera capabilities are a letdown, and gaming enthusiasts might find it wanting in certain areas.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme C25's design is an amalgamation of style and functionality, reminiscent of its elder sibling, the Realme 38. The phone's back panel boasts a rugged texture that gives it a brushed metal appearance, making it less prone to fingerprint smudges. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor adds a touch of sophistication. Upon closer inspection, the Realme C25's build quality is solid, with a slight heft due to its massive 6,000mAh battery capacity. Weighing in at 209 grams, this device feels substantial without being overly bulky. The phone's 6.5-inch IPS LCD display is quite immersive, making media consumption a pleasure. The design of the Realme C25 has a distinct look, with a dewdrop notch housing the front-facing camera and earpiece. While some might find the notch bothersome, it didn't bother us in our testing. The phone's build quality feels premium, even though it is in the budget category. One aspect that caught our attention was the textured back panel. It adds an element of visual interest to the device without compromising on functionality. The placement of the volume rockers and sleep/wake button on the left side is convenient, while the USB Type-C port, microphone, and speaker grills are positioned at the bottom. The Water Blue colorway of our review unit is striking, but we also appreciate that it's available in other colors like Water Grey. Overall, Realme has done an excellent job with the design and build quality of the C25, creating a device that feels robust without being excessively heavy. While some might quibble about the design choices, it's undeniable that this phone looks great and feels substantial in hand.
Battery Life
The Realme C25 boasts an impressive 6,000 milliamp hour battery, which is undoubtedly its standout feature. During our testing, the device demonstrated exceptional battery life, lasting for an impressive 27 hours and 43 minutes in our video loop test. This rigorous test involved running the phone at 50% brightness, zero percent volume, and airplane mode enabled. In another benchmarking test using PC Mark, the Realme C25 yielded a respectable score of 23 hours and 19 minutes. These results indicate that the device's battery life is truly remarkable, making it an excellent choice for users who want to enjoy their smartphone without worrying about running out of juice. The inclusion of 18-watt fast charging support adds further convenience, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. Additionally, the ability to reverse-charge other devices wirelessly using the Realme C25's battery is a welcome feature. Overall, the Realme C25's impressive battery life makes it an attractive option for users who want a smartphone that can keep up with their daily needs without requiring frequent recharging. While other aspects of the device are certainly commendable, the battery life stands out as a true highlight of this budget-friendly smartphone.
Display
The Realme C25 boasts a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels and a pixel density of 270 PPI. In my experience, the screen is good, producing accurate colors and sharp images. The massive display size makes watching media content on this device an immersive experience. The display has a waterdrop notch that houses the front-facing camera, which wasn't particularly bothersome for me, but you can opt to hide it in settings if it bothers you. You'll sacrifice some screen real estate, however. One notable aspect of the Realme C25's display is its brightness. With 480 nits, using the device in broad daylight is decent, although it could be brighter at times. The display's responsiveness was also satisfactory, making navigating through menus and apps smooth. In terms of audio quality, while the speaker can fill up a room with maximum volume, the sound quality can sometimes be tinny and distorted. I would recommend using headphones for better sound quality, especially when watching content on YouTube or Netflix. The Realme C25's display is a mixed bag, but ultimately, it serves its purpose well enough in the budget smartphone segment. While not particularly exceptional, it gets the job done without any major complaints. If you're looking for an affordable device with a decent screen, the Realme C25 might be worth considering. * 6.5-inch IPS LCD display * Resolution: 1600x720 pixels * Pixel density: 270 PPI * Brightness: 480 nits
Camera
The camera setup on the Realme C25 is a triple-camera arrangement consisting of a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and another 2-megapixel macro lens. The device offers two modes to utilize the primary camera's capabilities: the default mode that produces 13-megapixel images, and a dedicated "48MP" mode. In our testing, there wasn't a significant difference between the two modes. While the camera quality is decent, especially in well-lit conditions, it has some limitations. Photos tend to be over-sharpened and over-saturated, which can detract from their overall quality. Selfies taken with the front-facing camera are also slightly soft and pale, with a noticeable contrast. When capturing video, the Realme C25 is capable of recording 1080p at 30 frames per second. Quality-wise, it's decent but lacks stabilization, making it prone to shaky footage. The triple-camera setup offers a macro lens for extreme close-up shots, which can be useful in specific situations. However, its effectiveness is limited by the quality of the images produced. Overall, while the camera on the Realme C25 has some redeeming qualities, it's not particularly strong. The lack of low-light performance and stabilization issues hold it back from being a top contender in this regard. Nonetheless, for casual photography enthusiasts or those who only occasionally take photos, the Realme C25 might suffice. For more serious photographers, however, there are better options available.
Price and Value
In the world of budget smartphones, the Realme C25 is a device that stands out from the crowd. Priced at 7490 pesos, this phone offers an impressive set of features that make it a compelling choice for those on a tight budget. One of the standout aspects of the Realme C25 is its massive 6,000 milliamp hour battery. This provides all-day battery life and makes it ideal for heavy users who need a phone that can keep up with their demands. The phone also supports 18 watt fast charging, which is a welcome feature in today's fast-paced world. Another notable aspect of the Realme C25 is its display. The 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel offers crisp and clear visuals, making it perfect for watching videos or browsing the web. While it may not be the most vibrant display on the market, it gets the job done and provides an enjoyable viewing experience. In terms of value, the Realme C25 is an absolute steal. For its price, you get a phone that's packed with features, including a 48 megapixel camera, a dedicated macro lens, and a decent set of speakers. While the camera may not be the strongest suit of this device, it still manages to deliver decent quality images in well-lit conditions. Overall, the Realme C25 is a solid contender in the budget smartphone space. Its affordable price tag, massive battery life, and decent display make it an attractive option for those who want a reliable phone without breaking the bank. If you're on a tight budget, this device is definitely worth considering.
Performance
The Realme C25 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch with its impressive specs sheet. As we dive into the performance aspect, we're eager to see if this device can deliver seamless experiences. Under the hood, the Realme C25 is powered by the Mediatek Helio G70 CPU, paired with Mali-G52 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. While it's not a powerhouse, the device handles basic tasks such as web browsing with ease. We tested various apps, including social media, email clients, and messaging services, and the phone performed admirably without any hiccups. However, when we fired up graphically intensive games like Asphalt 9, PUBG Mobile, and Genshin Impact, the performance was slightly more variable. While it managed to run these games in low or medium settings without major issues, there were occasional stutters and frame rate dips. This is somewhat expected given the device's specs, but it's still worth noting. We ran our usual benchmark apps to give you a better idea of how the Realme C25 stacks up against other devices. The results weren't spectacular, but they're not terrible either. PC Mark scores ranged from 2,500 to 3,000, depending on the test, which is roughly average for a device in this category. One thing we did notice was that the phone can get warm over time when gaming or running demanding apps. While it's not uncomfortable to hold, it's still something worth mentioning. Overall, while the Realme C25's performance is nothing to write home about, it's still solid considering its price point. If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone that can handle everyday tasks without breaking a sweat, this device is definitely worth considering. However, if you're a serious gamer or power user, you may want to look elsewhere.