After launching the C12 and C15 with similar processors and related options final yr, Realme has determined to broaden the variations between the successors to those two fashions in 2021. The C25 (successor to the C15) will get a big processor improve within the kind of the MediaTek Helio G70 (as an alternative the older Helio G35) however on the similar time, drops the digital camera rely from 4 to 3.
However, regardless of having extra energy, the Realme C25 already has a very notable competitor which comes from the producer’s personal steady, the Realme Narzo 30A (Review). Launched earlier this yr, the Narzo 30A will get you an excellent higher Helio G85 processor and has a decrease beginning worth, but additionally has solely two rear cameras. This would possibly depart the Realme C25 in a tricky spot, because it must lean closely on its third digital camera, a 2-megapixel macro digital camera, to face out. Can that function make the Realme C25 value its Rs 9,999 beginning worth? Or does the Narzo 30A make it irrelevant?
Realme C25 worth in India
The Realme C25 is priced at Rs. 9,999 for the bottom 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, whereas the upper finish variant with 128GB of storage is priced at Rs. 10,999. Both variants can be found in new Watery Blue and Watery Grey finishes.
Realme C25 design
Just just like the C15, Realme has gone with a plastic unibody with the C25. Its dimensions stay similar to these of the Realme C15 (Review) and so does the general design with a brand new textured end and a daring, embossed Realme brand on the again.
The Realme C25 (proper) and Realme C21 (left) have completely different textures on the again however each look related general
The digital camera structure appears to be like related too, however with the C15’s quad-camera setup changed by three cameras, the LED flash makes its means contained in the module. Also, on the again is a fingerprint reader, which is fast to unlock the cellphone.
The triple-card SIM tray sits on the left of the cellphone, whereas the amount rocker and the ability/unlock buttons are on the fitting. The quantity rocker sits properly above the ability button and is difficult to succeed in with out adjusting your grip.
The plastic again of the Realme C25 might be scratched fairly simply (seen right here within the backside proper nook)
Despite being made out of plastic, the cellphone felt fairly cumbersome at 209g and that is primarily because of the 6,000mAh battery inside. The plastic again is sort of liable to scratches, however due to the matte end, doesn’t decide up fingerprints. The wonderful grooves of the textured again and the rounded edges supply a stable grip.
Realme C25 specs and software program
The Realme C25, in contrast to previous fashions, has a comparatively highly effective processor that helps it distance itself from the C21 and the C20. There’s a 12nm MediaTek Helio G70 SoC with built-in Mali-G52 graphics, which is a noticeable improve over the Helio G35 within the C15. This SoC is paired with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM. We obtained the 64GB storage variant of the Realme C25. There can also be a 128GB storage choice and each variants enable for expandable storage with a devoted microSD card slot within the SIM tray.
Realme UI 2.0, based mostly on Android 11, makes it to the C25. The consumer interface feels fairly easy in day-to-day use, however I did really feel an occasional hiccup infrequently. Realme UI 2.0 has a number of customisations (for icon types, notification drawer icons, and many others.) and theming choices, in comparison with the earlier model. Also out there are some Android 11 staples such because the revamped energy button menu, grouped notifications, and extra.
The Realme C25 does include some bloatware
The bloatware is minimal and primarily comes within the kind of some Realme apps reminiscent of HeyFun (for entry to fast informal video games), Community (boards), Finshell Pay (which refused to launch) and Realme Link (to attach with Realme’s IoT merchandise).
Realme C25 efficiency and battery life
The 6.5-inch HD+ (720 x 1600 pixels) LCD panel is brilliant and vibrant not simply indoors however outside as properly. Text was legible, photos had been seen, and the digital camera viewfinder was simple to see even on sunny afternoons. Hampering visibility outside is the show glass, which I discovered to be comparatively simple to smudge, and it picks up fingerprints inside minutes of use.
The HD+ decision works in favour of battery life. Also, most video streaming apps together with Netflix will solely help SD streaming on the Realme C25 as a result of it’s only Widevine L3 licensed. Streamed content material didn’t look sharp when stretched over that 6.5-inch show.
The Realme C25 gives a punchy show that is leagues higher than the one on the C21
Given the MediaTek Helio G70 SoC paired with 4GB RAM, I didn’t anticipate a lot in phrases of efficiency, however the C25 chugged alongside simply wonderful in our benchmark exams and gaming classes. The cellphone scored 214,116 in AnTuTu, in addition to 386 and 1,278 in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core exams. The GFXBench T-rex take a look at gave us 52fps, which is just about the baseline efficiency wanted to make a easy 3D sport look easy.
While informal video games labored simply wonderful, I additionally tried taking part in Call of Duty: Mobile. With the graphics set to Low and body charge set to Medium (the default settings) this fast-paced FPS title was nearly playable. Still, I did discover that there have been cases when the textures and the scene took an additional second to load up whereas taking part in the sport. Asphalt 9: Legends had a number of hiccups on the Default graphics setting however ran smoother with the standard set to Low. Given that this cellphone ran video games at such low graphics settings, it is no shock that it barely bought heat throughout gameplay.
The Realme C25 has a Type-C USB port on the backside and comes with an 18W charger within the field
Playing video games and streaming motion pictures at these low settings did not have a lot of an impression on battery life. Ten minutes of Frontline tournaments in Call of Duty: Mobile barely ate up 3 % of the 6,000mAh battery capability. The Realme C25 can simply final a day and half per cost with some gaming and a very good two days with out. Our HD video loop take a look at lasted a powerful 27 hours and 2 minutes on a single cost. Charging up the cellphone utilizing the included 18W adapter noticed it attain 19 % in half-hour and 37 % in an hour. It took 3 hours and 7 minutes to succeed in 100%, which is sort of a very long time.
Realme C25 cameras
Compared to the Realme C15, the brand new C25 loses the 8-megapixel ultra-wide rear digital camera and devoted low-resolution filter cameras. Instead, you get three cameras in complete: a 13-megapixel f/2.2 main wide-angle digital camera, a 2-megapixel macro digital camera, and a 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor. That means the C25 has a triple digital camera setup as an alternative of the quad-camera one which the C15 had. The selfie digital camera stays at 8 megapixels with an f/2.0 aperture. The digital camera interface isn’t any completely different from what we’ve seen on different Realme smartphones prior to now and is pretty simple to make use of, with most of the filters and toggles out there at hand with the second layer of settings only a faucet away.
Realme C25 daytime digital camera pattern (faucet to see full measurement)
Coming to picture high quality, daylight photographs got here out fairly vibrant and vibrant, and additionally showcased a very good quantity of element in darker areas. The HDR system kicks in ceaselessly, that means that dynamic vary is commonly in verify, and I not often ended up with an overexposed {photograph}.
Realme C25 rear daytime digital camera pattern (faucet to see full measurement)
However, capturing topics utilizing the first rear digital camera resulted in some abnormally bumped up saturation ranges, that clearly didn’t signify the precise scene. I attempted turning off AI scene recognition within the digital camera settings, nevertheless it didn’t appear to assist in any means. The Portrait mode was a bit off too, typically overexposing each the topic and the background, though edge detection was nonetheless first rate.
For a smartphone that prices lower than Rs. 10,000, I used to be impressed with the digital 2X zoom that additionally delivers a powerful degree of element. Switch to 5X although and the outcomes are principally unusable.
Realme C25 selfie digital camera samples (prime: daytime portrait; backside: low-light portrait) (faucet to see full measurement)
Selfies shot in daylight got here out fairly sharp with impartial colors and first rate dynamic vary, with every little thing from the topic to the clouds behind them uncovered correctly. Portrait mode delivered equally good ends in phrases of sharpness and color with good edge detection.
Realme C25 macro digital camera samples (prime: auto mode; backside: extremely macro mode) (faucet to see full measurement)
The macro digital camera (out there when utilizing the Ultra Macro digital camera mode) permits customers to take photographs with bumped-up distinction and sharpness. These had been principally usable however seemed a bit too dramatic and lacked element. I most well-liked cropping photographs taken with the 13-megapixel main digital camera, which showcased higher colors and had the correct quantity of sharpness.
Realme C25 low-light digital camera samples (prime: auto mode; backside: evening mode) (faucet to see full measurement)
Once the solar units, the standard of photographs you may take deteriorates, with tons of noise changing into evident and textures seeming poorly outlined. One would possibly anticipate Night mode to do higher, however this was not the case with the Realme C25. Photos taken utilizing Night mode had been brighter than these shot within the auto mode however had overdramatic distinction and blown-out highlights. These photographs additionally lacked sharpness and had been fairly low on element due to aggressive noise suppression. In quick, I used to be higher off capturing low-light photographs utilizing the auto mode.
The rear digital camera is succesful of capturing video at as much as 1080p 30fps. Videos taken in brilliant daylight got here out a bit overexposed and lacked stabilisation, however seemed first rate general. The similar goes for the selfie digital camera, which additionally data at 1080p 30fps. The ends in low mild had been a bit too noisy with decreased particulars in darker areas and shadows.
Verdict
Priced at Rs. 9,999 for the bottom 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant, the Realme C25 mainly gives what we’ve come to anticipate within the funds section. While the C15 was launched at the next worth (Rs. 10,999 for the 4GB + 64GB variant) final yr, Realme has managed to supply a greater processor with this mannequin. The Realme C25 can also be one of only some smartphones with a 128GB storage variant that is priced under Rs. 11,000.
The efficiency positive factors that the MediaTek Helio G70 brings are fairly noticeable and are sufficient to maintain issues operating easily for informal customers. Performance was considerably of an issue with the C15, however however you do not get an ultra-wide digital camera, so there’s a bit of give and take.
What’s extra, there’s the Narzo 30A (Review) from Realme’s personal steady, which is a severe competitor to the C25. It has a greater MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and is priced beginning at Rs 8,999 with 3GB of RAM + 64GB storage and Rs. 9,999 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage choice. The relaxation of its {hardware} is analogous.
Buyers who desire a extra inventory model of Android can select the Moto G10 Power (Review), however must compromise a bit on the efficiency entrance. For those that desire a bit of futureproofing, Poco’s M3 (Review) can also be a stable contender that provides good design plus the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC and 6GB of RAM at a barely increased beginning worth of Rs. 10,999. Given the worth fluctuations that Realme smartphones undergo in the course of the producer’s gross sales, final yr’s Narzo 20 (Review) can also be a very good various. It options the identical Helio G85 processor as on the Narzo 30A however provides a 48-megapixel main digital camera. Its worth typically drops to Rs. 9999 (from the mounted Rs. 10,499) for the bottom 4GB RAM and 64GB storage choice, so it is undoubtedly value trying into. I might additionally advocate trying out our Best Phones underneath Rs. 10,000 information to get a broader thought about the most effective telephones you should purchase on this section.
