realme C30 review
The Realme C30 is back with its budget-friendly charm. Priced between ₹8,000-₹10,000, this phone packs quite a punch. With the Unisoc T612 chipset and a 6.5-inch display, it's an attractive option for those seeking a no-frills smartphone experience. The design is slim, battery life promises two days of use, and the camera setup is adequate for casual snappers. But how well does it perform in real-world scenarios? This review delves into the details to find out if the Realme C30 is worth your consideration.
Build Quality and Design
The Realme C30 is a budget smartphone that packs quite a punch for its price range. One aspect where it truly shines is in its build quality and design. From the moment I unboxed the phone, I was impressed by the sleek and premium look of the device. The Lake Blue color variant I had, was particularly stunning, with a subtle texture on the back that added to its visual appeal. Notably, the phone's plastic body didn't attract any fingerprints or smudges, which is often a issue with similar budget devices. The side profile of the phone measured just 8.5mm in thickness, making it incredibly slim and comfortable to hold. The flat design also helped provide a secure grip in the hand. On the top, a single 8-megapixel camera with flash was situated, while a 3.5mm headphone jack, microphone, micro USB port, and speaker were located at the bottom. One aspect that stood out, however, was the phone's complete lack of a fingerprint scanner. The only way to unlock the device was through a PIN, pattern, or face unlock. Despite this omission, I still found the phone's overall design to be quite impressive, especially considering its price point. The display itself was a 6.5-inch LCD panel with an HD Plus resolution, which was surprisingly vivid and punchy for an LCD screen of its caliber. While not a full-HD display, it felt more than sufficient for everyday use. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the Realme C30's build quality and design. It truly feels like a premium device, especially considering its price range. If you're in the market for a budget smartphone with a solid build, the Realme C30 is certainly worth considering.
Battery Life
The Realme C30's battery life is a notable aspect of its overall performance. The device comes with a 5000mAh battery, which should easily last for two days with moderate use, considering the phone's relatively low-resolution display and modest processor. In our tests, the battery life was satisfactory, providing a full day of usage with heavy usage patterns such as gaming, video streaming, and social media browsing. However, charging the device took around 3-4 hours to fully charge, which might take some time considering the phone comes with only a 10W charger. It's worth noting that the battery life would have been even better if the phone came with an 18W charger or USB-C support, as it would have provided faster charging speeds. Nevertheless, for a budget smartphone like the Realme C30, its battery life is more than adequate, making it a suitable option for those who want a device that can last for at least two days on a single charge. In summary, while not exceptional, the Realme C30's battery life is satisfactory and should meet the needs of most users.
Display
The display on the Realme C30 is one of its standout features. Despite being an LCD panel with HD+ resolution (1600 x 720 pixels), it doesn't feel like a budget display at all. The text is clear and vivid, with colors that punch above their weight class. While not a full-HD display, the 6.5-inch screen on the Realme C30 delivers excellent quality for its price bracket. All OTT apps and games can be downloaded from the Play Store without any issues, and watching movies on it is a pleasant experience. Even in well-lit conditions, the display holds up well. One notable aspect of this display is that it doesn't feel pixelated or grainy like some budget displays often do. The colors are rich and vibrant, making it perfect for casual viewing. While not ideal for extreme gaming (more on that later), the display handles everyday apps and multimedia content with ease. Overall, the Realme C30's display is a pleasant surprise at its price point. It's crisp, clear, and easy on the eyes, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a budget smartphone with a good display.
Camera
The Realme C30 is the latest budget smartphone from Realme that packs quite a lot for its price. While it may not be a powerhouse, it gets the job done for everyday use. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the camera capabilities of this device. The Realme C30 features a single 8-megapixel primary camera on the back, which is decent enough to capture good-quality photos in well-lit situations. The camera performs adequately in various lighting conditions, but it struggles in low-light scenarios. The lack of advanced features like portrait mode or night mode means you'll have to rely on manual settings and editing to get the best out of your shots. The 5-megapixel front camera is equally unimpressive, producing average selfie quality. While it's not terrible, it doesn't quite live up to the standards set by other smartphones in this price range. One thing to note about the Realme C30's camera is its performance in terms of video recording. It can capture decent 1080p videos at 30fps, which is acceptable for casual use. However, you won't be able to take advantage of more advanced features like 4K or slow-motion recording. The Realme C30's camera is a mixed bag. While it gets the job done in everyday situations, it falls short in terms of image quality and features compared to other smartphones in this price range. If you're looking for a budget phone with a decent camera, the Realme C30 might be worth considering. However, if you want more from your camera, you may need to look elsewhere. The Realme C30's camera is adequate for casual use but lacks features and image quality compared to other smartphones in this price range.
Price and Value
The return of budget-friendly smartphones is always a welcome sight, and the Realme C30 is one such device that promises to deliver a lot for its price. Priced between Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, this smartphone packs quite a punch. On paper, the C30 seems like an incredible value proposition. Powered by the Unisoc T612 chipset, it offers a super slim design, huge 6.5-inch display, dual sim support, and a massive 5000mAh battery. The phone also comes with a single 8MP camera on the back and a 5MP selfie camera. While I didn't get to use the phone extensively during my review period, the spec sheet suggests that it's an impressive device for its price segment. With an HD+ display, Android 11 operating system, and decent audio quality, the C30 appears to be a solid choice for those looking for a budget-friendly smartphone. One of the standout features of the C30 is its design. The phone's back panel has a nice line-like texture that doesn't attract fingerprints or smudges. The device itself is incredibly thin at 8.5mm, making it comfortable to hold in your hand. While I would have preferred a USB-C port over micro-USB, the former would have added to the overall cost of the phone. However, for its price, the C30 seems like an excellent value proposition. Overall, the Realme C30 is a solid budget smartphone that delivers a lot for its price. If you're in the market for a new phone and don't want to spend a fortune, this device is definitely worth considering. * Affordable price point * Good display quality * Decent audio quality * Long-lasting 5000mAh battery * Micro-USB port instead of USB-C * No fingerprint scanner * Basic camera setup
Performance
The Realme C30 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs quite a punch in its price segment. Powered by the Unisoc T612 chipset, this phone delivers smooth performance and efficient battery life. In terms of performance, the Realme C30 excels. The Unisoc T612 processor handles everyday tasks such as social media apps, messaging, and streaming services with ease. We ran the Android benchmark and scored a respectable 1.78 lakhs, making it a great value for money in this segment. The phone's UFS 2.2 storage provides good read and write speeds, further enhancing its performance capabilities. While gaming on the device was still playable, albeit not the smoothest experience, we didn't encounter any significant lag or frame drops while playing games like BGMI. The phone's battery life is also noteworthy, with a 5000mAh capacity that easily lasts for two days with moderate usage. However, charging takes around three to four hours with the included 10W charger, which feels slightly underwhelming considering the device's capabilities. One of the highlights of the Realme C30 is its display. Despite being an HD+ LCD panel (1600 x 720 pixels), it offers clear text and vivid colors that are surprisingly punchy for a budget phone. The Realme C30's performance makes it an excellent choice for those looking for a reliable, feature-packed smartphone at an affordable price. While there might be some compromises in the camera department, the overall package is well-balanced and worth considering for anyone seeking value in their purchase.
Pros
1. For its price, it packs quite a lot, including the Unisoc T612 chipset, huge 6.5-inch display, dual sim support, etc.
2. The 6.5 inch LCD display is excellent for a sub-10k phone, with clear text and vivid colors
3. The phone's performance is smooth, with no lag, even when running demanding apps like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Netflix, YouTube
4. It has a decent single-camera setup that can be used in well-lit situations
Cons
1. Lacks a fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication
2. Has a micro-USB port instead of USB-C, which might not be convenient for some users
3. The phone's camera performance is basic and may struggle in low-light conditions
4. Battery takes around 3-4 hours to fully charge with the provided 10W charger