The Realme C53 falls in a budget phone that stands out because it has the first 108MP camera in its price range. It also has a screen that refreshes quickly, a big battery that lasts a long time, and a fingerprint scanner on the side that’s easy to use. You can get it with up to 128GB of storage, and it has other cool features too. the phone costs Rs. 17,999 in the Nepali market. In our Realme c53 full review, we test how well it works in everyday situations and see if it’s better than other similar phones.
Realme c53 Full Review And Verdict:
Design and Build
The Realme C53 smartphone may appear familiar to those who are familiar with the brand’s previous models. It is constructed using plastic materials and features two distinct textures on the rear. The top portion has a glossy finish while the bottom has a matte texture. For my review, I received the Realme C53 in Champion Gold color. I would have preferred the Champion Black variant as I find the gold color to be overly flashy. Nonetheless, the phone does a commendable job of resisting fingerprints and smudges, except for the shiny top portion which houses three large camera rings for the 108MP+B&W sensors and LED flash.
These camera rings protrude slightly, causing the phone to wobble when placed flat on a surface while typing. Nevertheless, the phone is comfortable to hold due to its flat edges and weighs approximately 189 grams.
In terms of connectivity, the Realme C53 comes with a USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and a bottom-mounted speaker. Additionally, the power button located on the right side of the device also functions as a fingerprint scanner. Although it may not be the fastest scanner, it reliably unlocks the phone with accuracy.
Display
When it comes to the display of the Realme C53, it features a 6.74-inch LCD screen. This screen is ideal for watching content and boasts an HD+ resolution. It also offers a high refresh rate of 90 times per second, resulting in smoother visuals. While the screen has some edges, most of the front space is occupied by the screen itself, accounting for about 90% of the total space. This is quite impressive considering the affordable price of the phone.
Indoors, the screen of this phone performs admirably when it comes to watching videos or viewing pictures. Even in sunlight, visibility on the screen is decent, although it is more suited for reading text rather than watching videos in such conditions. The screen maintains its appeal from different angles, and the images and icons appear vibrant right out of the box. Additionally, the screen responds swiftly when navigating through menus or using certain applications.
However, there is one notable omission in this phone: it lacks Widevine L1 certification. As a result, you are unable to enjoy high-quality video streaming from services like HD.
Performance and Storage
When it comes to the performance of the Realme C53, it operates on a basic Unisoc T612 chip and is equipped with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM. Interestingly, if you opt for the 6GB RAM version, you’ll have 64GB of storage, whereas the 4GB RAM option offers 128 GB. Additionally, you have the option to expand the storage capacity by using a micro SD card in a dedicated slot on the phone.
For everyday tasks such as communication, social media usage, and video streaming, this phone performs adequately. It is also capable of multitasking to some extent and can handle certain games, although the gaming experience may not be perfectly smooth. For instance, when playing a graphics-intensive game like BGMI at high frame rates, you may occasionally experience slight sluggishness and jerkiness.
Various tests assessing the phone’s performance indicate that it performs decently but not exceptionally fast. In the AnTuTu benchmark test, it achieved a score of approximately 250,983 points, while in the Geekbench test conducted under heavy multitasking conditions, it scored 1,490 points. There is also a performance longevity test that evaluates how well the phone maintains its performance over time. In this regard, the Realme C53 performed admirably, only exhibiting an 81% slowdown after intensive usage for half an hour.
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OS and UI
Concerning the software, the Realme C53 utilizes a technology known as Realme UI T edition on top of Android 13 upon initial setup. This determines the appearance and functionality of the phone. While it bears similarities to the standard Realme UI, there are subtle modifications that may catch your attention. These adjustments have been made in the software, and although they may not be immediately visible, they can impact the phone’s performance.
For instance, the overall look of the applications, the quick settings menu, and the main settings menu resemble the familiar Android software you may have encountered previously. Additionally, there is a unique feature called the dynamic mini-capsule, which was initially introduced on another device, the Realme C55. However, on the C53, this feature is limited to certain functionalities such as displaying battery charging status or providing battery-related information.
Realme has also taken steps towards offering a more user-friendly experience by reducing the number of pre-installed apps on the phone. Nevertheless, this does not imply that there are no additional apps already present. Indeed, there are some, but the positive aspect is that you have the freedom to remove many of them if desired. This allows you to select and retain only the apps that align with your preferences.
Cameras
Let’s dive into the Realme C53’s main camera, which has a whopping 108-megapixel capacity. By default, it captures photos at 12 megapixels, but you have the option to take super high-resolution 108-megapixel pictures too. This camera is quick to focus and take pictures, especially when there’s enough light around. However, the pictures it produces might not meet all your expectations.
In bright and sunny places, this camera is excellent at catching lots of little details in the pictures. However, it sometimes struggles to balance the colors properly, making them too bright and intense. Even if you turn on HDR mode, which is supposed to improve the colors and details, the range of colors and details might still fall short of what you’re hoping for.
When you’re indoors or in places with less light, the pictures from this camera might look okay, but they’re not amazing. There’s usually a lot of extra speckles in the picture, making it look noisy and blurry. Even the special night mode doesn’t always fix this problem well.
Now, let’s talk about the front-facing camera on the Realme C53, which has 8 megapixels. It’s decent and gets the job done for taking selfies. However, the selfies might not make you entirely happy because they lack some details in your face and don’t always show your natural skin tones well. When you take portraits in daylight, they look okay, but the phone could have done a better job at making the edges of things in the picture look clearer.
Battery and Charging
The Realme C53 is equipped with a robust battery that has a capacity of up to 5,000mAh. When the phone is used for basic functions such as making calls or sending messages, the battery can easily last for an entire day without requiring a recharge. Testing has shown that the battery can keep the phone operational for approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, which is quite impressive.
However, if you use the phone for more demanding tasks like navigation or gaming, the battery may not last throughout the entire day and could potentially run out before the day is over. When it comes time to recharge the phone, starting from a completely drained battery, it takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes to fully charge using the provided charger.
Other Features (Security, Audio, Connectivity)
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Nice screen | Cameras could’ve been improved |
| Reasonable battery duration | Unwanted pre-installed apps |
| Acceptable performance for daily tasks |
Verdict
The Realme C53 is an affordable phone that aims to cater to budget-conscious consumers, much like many other devices in its price range. However, there are certain aspects where it could use some improvement, particularly when it comes to the camera capabilities. Despite featuring a larger sensor compared to similar phones, there is still room for enhancements in this area. On the bright side, the battery life of the phone is commendable, and the screen quality is satisfactory. Nonetheless, it exhibits slight sluggishness when attempting to perform more advanced tasks.
For the same budget, there are alternative options available that might offer better value, such as Realme’s own C55 phone. The C55 boasts double the storage capacity, a superior processor, and faster charging capabilities (33W compared to 18W). Nevertheless, if you have a strict budget and have a preference for Realme phones, the 4GB version of the Realme C55 could still be a viable choice. Priced at Rs 17,999 in Nepal, it manages to deliver decent performance considering its price point.
