The Realme C31 offers an excellent long-lasting battery in a stylish design, making it a great option for those on a budget. Priced at just £129, this Chinese phone is a steal, being roughly one-third the price of an entry-level iPhone. One of its standout features is its massive 4890mAh battery, which promises up to 45 days of standby power. The camera unit is also impressive, featuring a multi-lens setup that delivers detailed wide shots and close-ups. Design-wise, the Realme C31 is slim and compact, making it easy to slip into pockets or bags. However, the display resolution of 1600 x 720 is relatively low by today's standards, but not unusually so for a budget phone like this one. The LCD display is still bright enough to read messages in most situations indoors and outdoors. Performance-wise, the Realme C31 can handle basic tasks such as browsing the web, checking social media, sending WhatsApp messages, and streaming music. However, it's not a high performer, so don't expect too much from it. The phone also has a single-band Wi-Fi device, which means you're limited to accessing older, slower networks. In terms of gaming, the Realme C31 can handle low-poly games like Polytopia but struggles with more resource-intensive titles like Civilization Revolution 2 and even more so with high-poly games like Civilization 6. The cameras are also not very impressive, only producing decent results in well-lit areas. Overall, the Realme C31 is a great option for those who just need a phone to do the basics or want a budget-friendly device for everyday use.
The Realme C31 is an attractive budget phone that boasts a stylish design, making it stand out from its competitors in the same price bracket. The device has a slim profile of 8.4mm in depth and weighs just 197 grams, making it easy to hold and operate with one hand. One of the standout features of the Realme C31's design is its use of colored plastic on the sides and rear, paired with simple black plastic on the front. The lenticular style finish gives the phone a premium look and feel, despite its budget price tag. The smooth sides do make the phone prone to slipping out of your grasp if not careful, but overall, the build quality is solid. The Realme C31 also features a teardrop-shaped recess on the top edge where the front camera unit is housed. The 6.5-inch display is bordered by a thin bezel, making it easy to read messages and browse the web without distractions. In terms of design, the Realme C31 is a big departure from the traditional bulky budget phones that are often associated with this price range. Its compact size and stylish looks make it an attractive option for those looking for a phone that can handle everyday tasks without breaking the bank. Overall, I was impressed by the Realme C31's build quality and design. It may not be a powerhouse in terms of performance or camera capabilities, but as a budget phone, it delivers on its promises of style and functionality at an affordable price point.
One of the standout features of the Realme C31 is its impressive battery life. With a massive 4890mAh battery, this phone is built to last. According to Realme, the C31 can provide up to 45 days of standby power, which is nothing short of astonishing. In our testing, we found that the battery performed admirably. We were able to easily get through a standard working day with around 40-50% of power left, even with moderate usage such as taking calls, streaming music on Spotify, and using social media. The PC Mark battery drain test also yielded an impressive result of 10 hours and 19 minutes, which was consistent with our real-world experience. While it's true that the C31 doesn't support fast charging, its 10W charger is still a decent effort. It takes around 2 hours and 43 minutes to fully charge the phone from empty, which may seem slow to some, but is perfectly acceptable for casual users. What really sets the Realme C31 apart in terms of battery life is its ability to provide a day's worth of power with minimal usage. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want a phone that can get them through a day without needing to be constantly recharged. Overall, the Realme C31's battery life is one of its strongest features, and a major selling point for anyone looking for a budget-friendly option with all-day power.
The display on the Realme C31 is a mixed bag. With a resolution of 1600 x 720, it's clear that budget constraints have taken their toll. The pixel density isn't great, and you'll notice the pixels if you look closely. However, in everyday use, the display is perfectly serviceable. The LCD screen has adequate brightness, making it suitable for indoor use and most outdoor situations. I was able to read messages on my phone on a relatively sunny day without too much difficulty. The lack of a high-gloss finish also means that fingerprints and smudges are less of an issue than on some other budget phones. One thing to note is the display's responsiveness. It's fine for general use - browsing, social media, messaging, streaming music - but it doesn't feel as snappy as more expensive devices. Gaming was another story altogether; while I could play low-poly games like Polytopia without issue, the Realme C31 struggled with more demanding titles like Civilization Revolution 2. In terms of color accuracy, the display is decent, but not exceptional. It's fine for watching videos or browsing photos, but it won't win any awards for its color gamut. Overall, while the display on the Realme C31 isn't terrible, it's certainly not a highlight of the phone. If you're looking for a budget phone with a great display, this might not be the best choice. However, if you just want a phone that can handle the basics without breaking the bank, the Realme C31's display will suffice.
The camera on the Realme C31 is one of its most disappointing features. Despite being a budget phone, I expected more from the image quality and features. Unfortunately, the cameras fail to impress in most aspects. Firstly, the primary camera sensor is not capable of producing high-quality images, especially in low-light conditions. The results are often grainy and noisy, with a lack of detail that's noticeable even on larger screens. In well-lit areas, the photos are somewhat acceptable, but they're still not up to par with what I've seen from similarly priced phones. The camera app itself is simple and easy to use, but it lacks some essential features that I've come to expect from a modern smartphone. For instance, there's no optical zoom, and the portrait mode only works decently well on human subjects. Animals and other objects often get poorly segmented, resulting in an unnatural and sometimes comical look. The front camera is similarly unimpressive, with a narrow field of view that makes it difficult to capture group shots or selfies with multiple people. In terms of image quality, the results are somewhat similar to the primary camera – acceptable in well-lit conditions but subpar in low-light scenarios. One of the few redeeming qualities of the Realme C31's camera is its ability to take decent close-up shots. The multi-lens camera unit does a surprisingly good job at capturing fine details, even if the overall image quality suffers from other issues. In conclusion, while the Realme C31's camera might be sufficient for casual users who only need to take the occasional photo, it falls short in many areas. If you're looking for a budget phone with decent cameras, I'd recommend exploring other options before settling on this one.
The Realme C31 is an attractive option for those looking for a budget phone without breaking the bank. Priced at a mere £129, it's roughly one-third of the price of an entry-level iPhone. This price tag will likely be music to the ears of those who just want a phone to do the basics or anyone who wants a burner phone for festivals and holidays. At this price point, you might expect some compromises on performance, but the Realme C31 manages to deliver more than its fair share of value. The 4890mAh battery promises 45 days of standby power, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can last all day. The multi-lens camera unit also produces detailed photos and close-ups, although it's not the best in its class. In terms of design, the Realme C31 is slim and compact, making it easy to hold and operate with one hand. It features a 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 1600 x 720, which might be considered low by today's standards but matches similarly cheap phones like the Nokia G21. While not a high performer, the Realme C31 is capable of doing the basics: browsing the web, checking social media, sending messages on WhatsApp, and streaming music. If these are your primary needs from a phone, then the Realme C31 will suffice. The Realme C31's price is its biggest selling point. For £129, you get a lot more than what most other budget phones offer. Yes, there are some compromises on performance, but they're not deal-breakers for most users. If you're in the market for a cheap phone that looks as good and delivers great battery life, then the Realme C31 is worth considering.
The Realme C31's performance is a mixed bag, but ultimately decent for its price point. The phone's single-band Wi-Fi connectivity means you'll be limited to the slower 2.4GHz frequency, which might be a drawback for those who rely heavily on online streaming or gaming. In terms of gaming, the Realme C31 can handle low-polygon games like Polytopia with ease, but more demanding titles like Civilization Revolution 2 struggle to run smoothly. I was able to play the game without too much issue until the graphics became increasingly busy and detailed. The phone's performance is also capable of handling idle clickers and puzzle games, as well as the daily Wordle challenge. The cameras on the Realme C31 are not its strongest suit. While they can produce decent results in well-lit areas with a steady hand, they struggle to deliver good photos in low-light conditions or when zooming in. The camera app is also quite basic and lacks some of the more advanced features found on other devices. On the plus side, the Realme C31's battery performance is impressive for its price point. In my testing, I was able to get a full day's worth of power out of it, even with moderate usage, including streaming music and taking calls. The phone's battery also fared well in the PC Mark battery drain test, lasting 10 hours and 19 minutes. Charging the Realme C31 is relatively slow, taking around 2 hours and 43 minutes to reach a full charge using the included 10W charger. This might not be ideal for those who need to quickly top up their phone's battery throughout the day.