Realme C35 Review: The Best Budget Phone with a Premium Design Under 10000?
The Realme C35 is a budget smartphone that aims to deliver a premium design and solid battery life. Priced below Rs. 10,000, it competes in a crowded market segment where value for money is key. In this review, we will explore the design, specifications, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life of the Realme C35 to help you make an informed decision.
Realme C35 Price and Variants:
The Realme C35 comes in two variants. The base variant offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, priced at Rs. 11,999. The second variant provides 128GB of storage with the same 4GB of RAM and is available for Rs. 12,999. Both variants are offered in Glowing Black and Glowing Green finishes. For this review, we will focus on the base variant in Glowing Green.Realme C35 Design:
Compared to previous models in the C series, the Realme C35 stands out with its premium look and finish. Although still made of polycarbonate, it feels more upscale than its predecessors. The phone features a matte frame with flat sides and edges, following the current design trends. The rear panel has a glossy finish, while the chiselled look gives it a modern aesthetic.However, the sharp edges and recessed power button, which doubles as a fingerprint reader, make it less comfortable to hold and locate. The 6.6-inch full-HD+ LCD panel with a dewdrop-style notch delivers a satisfactory viewing experience, although it may seem a bit dated compared to more recent displays. The bottom of the phone houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, primary mic, USB Type-C port, and speaker.
Realme C35 Specifications and Software:
The Realme C35 is powered by a Unisoc T616 SoC with a maximum clock speed of 2GHz. While this may be surprising, considering most Unisoc SoCs are found in entry-level models, the phone manages to support 4G/LTE bands, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, and satellite navigation systems. It has two nano-SIM slots and a dedicated slot for a microSD card, allowing storage expansion up to 1TB.Running on Realme UI R Edition, a lightweight version based on Android 11, the software aims to deliver smoother performance by omitting resource-intensive features and customisation options. However, the presence of preinstalled third-party apps, although uninstallable, somewhat contradicts the goal of a leaner operating system.
Realme C35 Performance and Battery Life:
While the Realme C35 performs decently in benchmark tests, the overall usage experience reveals some performance limitations. Lag and stuttering were noticeable when scrolling through lists and launching apps, making it feel more like an entry-level smartphone than a device at its price level. Gaming performance is particularly underwhelming, with even casual titles struggling to run smoothly.On the other hand, the 5,000mAh battery provides a little over a day of regular use, but falls short of the average for a budget device. In our HD video loop test, the battery lasted 10 hours and 56 minutes, which is below par. Charging the phone with the included 18W charger took approximately two hours and seven minutes, aligning with competitors' charging speeds.
Realme C35 Cameras:
The Realme C35 features a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel black-and-white camera. For selfies, there's an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera interface is simplified compared to other Realme models, lacking quick-access icons in the viewfinder for on-the-fly settings adjustments.In daylight conditions, the primary camera captures satisfactory photos with decent dynamic range. However, details are lacking, and the HDR system can be overly aggressive, resulting in an abnormally blue sky. Macro shots appear oversharpened and overprocessed. Low-light photography is a challenge, as the camera struggles to focus and images turn out soft and blurry, even with Night mode.
Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30fps, and the quality is average in daylight, with shaky footage due to the absence of stabilization. In low light, videos tend to be noisy, and the camera faces difficulty in maintaining focus, particularly during panning.
Verdict:
The Realme C35 offers a premium design at an affordable price, but it falls short in some crucial areas. Performance issues, sub-par battery life, and mediocre camera performance are its major drawbacks. As an alternative, the Realme Narzo 50, starting at Rs. 12,999, presents superior hardware with a MediaTek SoC, 120Hz display, higher resolution selfie camera, and faster charging capabilities.In conclusion, while the Realme C35's design may appeal to some, its overall performance and camera quality leave room for improvement. Consider exploring alternatives that provide a better user experience within a similar price range.
FAQs:
Q. What are the variants and prices of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 comes in two variants: 4GB RAM + 64GB storage (Rs. 11,999) and 4GB RAM + 128GB storage (Rs. 12,999).
Q. What is the design of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 features a premium design with a matte frame, flat sides, and edges, and a glossy finish on the rear panel.
Q. What is the display size and resolution of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 has a 6.6-inch full-HD+ LCD panel with a dewdrop-style notch.
Q. What is the battery capacity of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery.
Q. Which operating system does the Realme C35 run on?
The Realme C35 runs on Realme UI R Edition, based on Android 11.
Q. What is the processor used in the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 is powered by a Unisoc T616 SoC.
Q. Does the Realme C35 support expandable storage?
Yes, the Realme C35 has a dedicated microSD card slot that supports storage expansion up to 1TB.
Q. What is the camera configuration of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 features a triple rear camera setup: 50MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP black-and-white, and an 8MP front camera.
Q. What is the charging speed of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 supports 18W charging.
Q. How long does the battery of the Realme C35 last?
The Realme C35 provides a little over a day of battery life with regular use.
Q. Does the Realme C35 have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Realme C35 has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Q. Can the preinstalled third-party apps be uninstalled on the Realme C35?
Yes, the preinstalled third-party apps on the Realme C35 can be uninstalled.
Q. Does the Realme C35 have a fingerprint sensor?
Yes, the power button on the Realme C35 doubles as a fingerprint reader.
Q. What is the RAM capacity of the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 comes with 4GB of RAM.
Q. Is the Realme C35 suitable for gaming?
The Realme C35's gaming performance is average, with limitations in running graphic-intensive games smoothly.
Q. What are the available color options for the Realme C35?
The Realme C35 is available in Glowing Black and Glowing Green finishes.
Q. Does the Realme C35 support 5G connectivity?
No, the Realme C35 supports 4G/LTE connectivity.
Q. Is the Realme C35 water-resistant?
No, the Realme C35 does not have an official water-resistant rating.
Q. What are the alternatives to the Realme C35?
The Realme Narzo 50 is a recommended alternative, offering better hardware and features at a similar price range.
Q. Does the Realme C35 have fast charging?
The Realme C35 supports 18W fast charging.