In the dynamic landscape of smartphones, the Realme C53 emerges as a budget-focused contender that raises eyebrows with its innovative features. Standing as a pioneer in its segment, the Realme C53 boasts the distinction of being the first to house a staggering 108MP camera. Not stopping at this groundbreaking feat, it also flaunts a silky-smooth 90Hz refresh rate display, a robust 5,000mAh battery, and the convenience of a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Combined with storage options that stretch up to an ample 128GB, the Realme C53 indeed shines brightly on the spec sheet. In this in-depth review, we venture beyond the numbers to uncover the smartphone’s real-world performance, exploring whether it has the mettle to outshine its rivals, including the POCO C55 and Moto G13. Read on for a detailed exploration.
Verdict: A Balanced Equation
The Realme C53 strikes an equilibrium between performance and price, catering to the budget-conscious consumers. Positioned at a price point below Rs 10,000, the device delivers reliable performance for everyday activities and even outperforms its competitors in benchmark scores. It boasts a commendable battery life and a satisfactory display. However, it’s the camera capabilities that could leave enthusiasts desiring more.
Design and Display: Familiarity and Finesse
The design of the Realme C53 might evoke a sense of déjà vu for those who have been keeping an eye on the brand’s smartphone releases. The device is fashioned out of plastic and showcases a dual-tone aesthetic on the back. This design choice features a glossy upper portion that juxtaposes with a matte lower section. The reviewer received the Realme C53 unit in the Champion Gold variant, which may come across as overly glittery for some tastes. A preference might lean towards the more understated Champion Black color variant.
However, the device presents itself as fingerprint and smudge-resistant, barring the glossy top segment that also houses the prominent camera rings for the 108MP+B&W sensors and an LED flash. These camera rings protrude quite prominently, causing the device to experience a slight wobble when placed on a flat surface.
Notably, the phone’s ergonomic design allows for comfortable handling due to its flat edges and lightweight composition, tipping the scales at a mere 189 grams. The device sports a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a speaker grille at its bottom edge. The fingerprint scanner, embedded within the power button on the right spine, might not be the fastest, but it certainly is accurate.
The Realme C53’s viewing experience unfolds across a 6.74-inch LCD panel with HD+ resolution, coupled with a fluid 90Hz refresh rate. While not entirely bezel-less, the device achieves an impressive 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, particularly remarkable within the budget segment. The display delivers a satisfactory visual quality for indoor multimedia consumption.
Sunlight legibility of the phone’s display is notable, though it excels particularly in reading text. Viewing angles remain decent, with icons and colors exhibiting punchiness within the default settings. The 90Hz refresh rate offers smoothness across the user interface and supported applications. However, the device lacks the Widevine L1 certification, a limiting factor when it comes to streaming HD content from various platforms.
Cameras: A Glimpse at the 108MP Wonder
Transitioning to the heart of the matter—the Realme C53’s 108MP primary camera—it stands as the device’s flagship feature. This camera yields default 12MP images, although users also have the option to capture high-resolution 108MP shots. Noteworthy is the camera’s swift focus and shutter speeds, particularly under well-lit conditions. However, the resultant shots might leave one yearning for more. While the camera excels in capturing intricate details in bright sunny settings, it struggles to maintain a proper contrast ratio, resulting in oversaturated colors. This struggle extends to maintaining dynamic range even with HDR mode activated.
Indoor and low-light shots from the Realme C53’s camera manifest as average in terms of quality. Details tend to be compromised due to the noise introduced in the frame, even the dedicated night mode struggles to effectively curb this issue. Shifting focus to the 8MP front-facing camera, it delivers a functional performance, although facial detail and natural skin tones might leave selfie enthusiasts somewhat unsatisfied. While portraits shine in daylight, improved edge detection would have elevated the device’s performance.
Performance and Software: A Tale of Multifaceted Performance
In terms of performance, the Realme C53 banks on an entry-level Unisoc T612 SoC, coupled with a choice between 4GB or 6GB RAM. Intriguingly, the 6GB RAM variant offers 64GB storage, whereas the 4GB RAM version accommodates 128GB storage. Notably, both storage options can be expanded via a microSD card, benefiting from a dedicated slot.
Basic tasks such as communication, social media engagement, and streaming fare well on the device. While multitasking and light gaming are manageable, more intensive tasks reveal the device’s limitations. Playing games with high graphics settings, such as BGMI, exposes noticeable lag and stutter issues.
Benchmark scores corroborate these findings, with the Realme C53 securing 250,983 points on AnTuTu and a Geekbench multi-core score of 1,490 points. The handset exhibits reasonable performance on the CPU Throttle test, with peak performance dropping by 81 percent during
a half-hour duration with 50 threads. Connectivity options on the Realme C53 encompass dual SIM capabilities, dual-band Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GPS, and Bluetooth v5.0.
The software realm of the Realme C53 reveals the presence of the Realme UI T edition, which runs atop Android 13 out of the box. While bearing a resemblance to the regular Realme UI version, subtle changes abound, including redesigned app icons, quick settings panel, and settings menu—each reflecting a more stock Android aesthetic. Notably, the dynamic mini-capsule feature introduced with the Realme C55 is present, although its utility is currently restricted to charging or battery information.
In a bid to enhance user experience, Realme has made strides in reducing the number of proprietary pre-installed apps. This doesn’t entirely eliminate bloatware, but it does offer users the opportunity to customize their app selection.
Additionally, when purchasing the Realme C53 through GoWarranty, users can avail an extended warranty, providing added peace of mind and protection for their investment.
Battery Life and Charging: Dependable
The Realme C53 houses a robust 5,000mAh battery, offering more than a day’s worth of usage on light tasks. In PCMark 3.0 battery tests, the device scored an impressive 18 hours and 30 minutes. Charging the phone from empty to full takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes with the 18W charger provided in the box.
Final Verdict: A Balanced Consideration
The Realme C53 stands as a budget-focused smartphone in a competitive segment. While it showcases the largest sensor among its rivals, the camera performance leaves room for improvement. Notwithstanding its impressive battery life and display, the device’s performance might falter when dealing with tasks beyond the basics.
It’s worth considering that while the 6GB RAM variant of the Realme C53 faces challenges, especially with its price tag of Rs 10,999 in India, there are more enticing options available within the same budget. Notably, Realme’s own C55 smartphone, priced similarly, presents users with twice the storage, a superior chipset, and the advantage of a 33W fast charging solution as opposed to the 18W offering of the C53.
However, for dedicated Realme enthusiasts navigating budget constraints, the Realme C55’s 4GB RAM variant presents itself as a viable choice. Priced at Rs 9,999 in India, this variant offers reasonable performance and features, striking a balance within its price range.
