Realme recently unveiled its cheapest 5G smartphone in India, the C65. Despite being a budget offering, Realme has tried to fit as many goodies as possible. However, the company had to cut some corners to keep prices in check, which is expected from a budget smartphone. We have been using the Realme C65 5G for a few days now, so let’s delve deeper and see if the C65 5G is the budget champion you seek.
Realme C65 5G
Rs 10,499
What Is Good?
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Dependable performance
- Long battery life
- Affordable price
- Good daylight camera performance
What Is Bad?
- Low-light camera struggles
- Slow 15W charging
- Bloatware
Realme C65 5G Review: Price and Availability in India
| Smartphone | Configuration | Price |
|
Realme C65 5G
|
4GB + 64GB | Rs 10,499 |
| 4GB + 128GB | Rs 11,499 | |
| 6GB + 128GB | Rs 12,499 |
The C65 5G is available in Feather Green and Glowing Black on Flipkart and the company’s official website.
Realme C65 5G Review: Design and Build
Our first impression of the C65 was one of deja vu. It’s the spitting image of the Realme P1, complete with the eye-catching feathered back finish. There is almost no design distinction between the C65 5G and the P1 except for the button placement, which is not necessarily bad, as it looks attractive and doesn’t give a budget smartphone vibe.
However, the device’s edgy frames can dig into your palms during extended use, and one-handed operation is a stretch for those with smaller hands. Thankfully, a 3.5mm headphone jack graces the bottom for wired audio fans, while the SIM tray sits snugly at the top.
| Dimensions |
165.6 × 76.1 × 7.89mm
|
| Weight | 190g |
| Colour Options |
Feather Green and Glowing Black
|
On the bright side, the phone boasts an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, which is not common in a smartphone in this price band, offering some peace of mind.
Realme C65 5G Review: Display and Audio
The C65 boasts a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This translates to a buttery smooth Instagram or Twitter scrolling. The peak brightness of 650 nits is adequate for indoor use but can slightly struggle under direct sunlight.
| Size | 6.67 inches |
| Type |
IPS LCD, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 625 nits (HBM)
|
| Resolution |
720 x 1604 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~264 ppi density)
|
The single bottom-firing speaker gets loud, though the audio quality can shrill after crossing the 80 per cent mark. Content consumption is a mixed bag. While Netflix is limited to SD resolution due to Widevine L3 certification, YouTube offers a decent 1440p playback experience.
However, a minor gripe is the lack of app animations during closure. It feels like a missed opportunity to elevate the overall user experience.
Realme C65 5G Review: Performance and Software
The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC powers the C65. Benchmark scores like AnTuTu v10 at 428059 seem decent enough. This resonates well with our real-world usage, too. Day-to-day tasks like messaging, browsing, and scrolling on social media are handled effortlessly.
But gaming enthusiasts might be left wanting. We experienced occasional stutters in popular titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and BGMI, and the phone got rather hot after extended gaming sessions. However, it’s essential to remember that this is not a gaming smartphone. Casual games like Temple Run and Subway Surfers are not an issue for the phone.
| Software |
Android 14, Realme UI 5.0
|
| Chipset |
Mediatek Dimensity 6300 (6 nm)
|
| CPU |
Octa-core 2.4 GHz
|
| GPU |
Mali-G57 MC2
|
| Geekbench | Single-Core: 636 Multi-Core: 1766 |
| CPU Throttling Test |
87 per cent of its max performance
|
| CAR Chase Test |
1515 Frames (26fps)
|
| Manhattan Test |
3071 Frames (50fps)
|
Apart from that, no other smartphone has the same chipset, so we can not compare it head-on with another device. But it scored 372 in Wild Life Extreme, 3691 OpenGL in Sling Shot, and 2705 OpenGL in Sling Shot Extreme. However, it still competes with smartphones like POCO M6 and itel P55, which come with Dimensity 6100+ and Dimensity 6080, respectively. Here’s how they stack up against each other in the AnTuTu benchmark test:
The C65 5G runs on the latest Android 14-based Realme UI 5.0, which is a definite plus. However, pre-installed apps mar the user experience, which is something expected at this price point.
Thankfully, Realme offers some UI customisation options, elevating the whole user experience. The update policy is good, with the company offering two years of OS and three years of security updates.
Realme C65 5G Review: Cameras
The camera department features a 50-megapixel primary sensor paired with a secondary 2-megapixel sensor. These optics are good and provide accurate colours in almost all situations. The daytime shots are dependable, with fairly good details and balanced exposure, creating an almost pleasant photography experience.
Well, we have used the term ‘almost‘ here because there have been instances where the optics on the C65 produced overexposed results, and noise has crept in. Besides, the low-light performance of these sensors leaves room for improvement, too.
While the zoom range might not reach the extremes of 100x or 50x, we were pleasantly surprised by its zooming capabilities. It offers ample zoom for everyday users who prioritise capturing clear photos or enjoy experimenting with composition.
| Primary Camera |
50-megapixel Samsung JN1 sensor
|
| Secondary Camera | 2-megapixel |
| Front Camera | 8-megapixel |
| Video Features | 1080p@30fps |
On the front, there’s an 8-megapixel selfie shooter, which follows the same story as its primary sibling sitting on the back. The selfies captured during the daytime or in good lighting conditions were great, with accurate skin tones and ample details. However, things get trickier in low-light situations.
Realme C65 5G Review: Battery and Charging
The C65 gets its juice from the 5000mAh battery, which has become the standard in the smartphone landscape. During the PCMark Battery Test, the device lasted about 8 hours and 22 minutes. In our usual practical usage, we could go through an entire day on a single charge without worrying about running out of battery, so that puts the C65 in a reliable slot.
Besides, the device comes with a 15W charging brick in the box, which took almost two and a half hours to go from 0 to 100 per cent. Here’s a breakdown of the charging speeds:
- 30 minutes – 0 to 24%
- 1 hour – 50%
- 1 hour 30 minutes – 77%
- 2 hours – 93%
- 2 hours 17 minutes – 100%
Verdict
The Realme C65 5G is a potent budget smartphone with good looks and dependable performance. Yes, some minor drawbacks. For one, the low-light camera performance needs improvement. Second, the charging speed can test your patience. However, that can be easily neglected if we bring its price into the argument.
If you plan to get this phone, we highly suggest going with the 6GB RAM variant, as it will last much better compared to the 4GB counterpart. If you are looking for a casual smartphone for your parents at around Rs 10,000, then the C65 should be on your list.
However, if you are comfortable spending a couple of thousands extra, we suggest you consider the Realme P1. It has the same design, AMOLED display, good performance, and can handle heavy games, too.
