Realme C25s Review

Realme is known for its durable smartphones, which always have good performance and better cameras and features. Nowadays, Realme is focusing more on the budget-level smartphone.

In June 2021, Realme launched its new smartphone Realme C25s, a budget-friendly smartphone. The MediaTek Helio G85 processor powers it and has a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone also has a triple-camera system on the back, consisting of a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor.

So, if you are considering buying a new entry-level smartphone but are confused, we have provided you with a clear shot of the smartphone in this review article.

Specifications

• Display: Brighter 6.5-inch IPS LCD HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G85 octa-core processor
• Supported Networks: 4G VOLTE, 4G, 3G, 2G
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64 GB and 128GB variants (both expandable up to 256 GB using a memory card)
• Rear camera: 13MP main sensor, 2MP macro sensor, 2MP depth sensor
• Front camera: 8MP
• Battery: 6,000mAh with 18W fast charging
• Software: Android 11 with Realme UI 2.0

Design and Display

All of the specifications of the Realme C25s reflect the fact that it is an entry-level smartphone. The phone sports a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display that works in auto mode for brightness, supporting a maximum of 570 nits of brightness in sunlight. The display is large and offers an aspect ratio of 20:9 and a resolution of 720x1600 pixels. While the resolution may not be the highest, the display provides decent colors and sharpness. It provides sensitive, precise, and fast 10-point multitouch. It doesn't consist of any delays or misinterpreted taps or motions.

As you may have anticipated, other devices in this price bracket feature displays with FHD+ resolution, but this one is limited to HD+. Additionally, the panel has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, which is also not good.

The bezels located at the top and side around the display are also thin, so it looks decent. The phone has a waterdrop notch where the selfie camera is also located. The Realme C25s features a simple yet functional design with a plastic body and a textured back panel that offers a comfortable grip. The fingerprint sensor is also located on the rear panel for easy access.

Performance

Regarding performance, the Realme C25s has a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC under the hood, manufactured on a 12nm node. The chipset has a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, which handles the graphics processing, and a maximum 2.0GHz clock. The Realme C25s performs well in most everyday tasks. The Helio G85 processor is powerful enough to handle tasks such as browsing the web, checking social media, and playing light games. The phone also has a large and bright display that makes it enjoyable for extended periods.

It is commendable that Realme chose a Helio G85 SoC over weak processors that were used in earlier low-range Realme phones. Even though the G85 isn't the best CPU, it's still among the finest for the money, and you can play some high-end games without facing hanging problems here.

Software

The Realme C25s is powered by the most recent version of Realme UI, i.e., 2.0, based on Android 11. One of the best user interfaces on the market, Realme UI 2.0 has many features like dark mode, customizations, improved night charging, a redesigned notifications panel, and more. Although no official statement is provided, it should receive Android 12 since it was delivered with Android 11 out of the box.

However, it's worth noting that Realme UI can feel slightly heavy and may come with some bloatware. The overall performance of Realme UI is satisfactory.

Storage

Like other Realme devices, Realme C25s also comes with multiple storage options. The device comes with 64 GB and 128 GB of internal storage options. The storage capacity is suitable for downloading various applications and games. Fortunately, the storage is further expandable through microSD cards. Users may increase the storage capacity up to 256 GB.

Camera

The Realme C25s has a triple-camera system on the back. The primary sensor is a 13MP sensor that takes good photos in daylight. The macro sensor (2 MP) is also decent, but the depth sensor (2 MP) could be more helpful. The front-facing camera is an 8MP sensor that takes good selfies in daylight.

The camera app for the realme C25s supports 1x, 2x, and 5x zoom. But because they are digital crops of the 1x, the image quality is not satisfactory, and only the cropped portion is shown.

The primary camera's sensors in the daytime provide reasonably clear, detailed images with vivid colors and respectable contrast. Given the cost, this is decent. Like most smartphones in this price range, the image quality degrades when viewed in full size on a larger monitor.

The realme C25s produces slightly sharp selfies with decently lovely contrast. Although not the most excellent selfies in the budget category, the pictures are still acceptable.

The rear cameras can record in 1080p at 60 frames per second without stabilization. At the same time, a selfie camera may record in 1080p at 30 frames per second. The lack of stabilization can cause the film to appear appreciably jittery and shake, although it remains stable when shot balanced or via a camera stand.

Tips for Taking Better Photos with the Realme C25s

• Use the 13MP mode for the best possible image quality.
• Use the Night mode for low-light photos.
• Use the Ultra Macro mode to take close-up photos of objects.
• Use the AI Scene Recognition feature to let the camera automatically adjust your settings.

Sound

The bottom-firing speaker has a respectable maximum level, but the music is distorted and tingly at that volume. Reducing the volume to about 70 and 80 percent is advisable as the sound quality is at its finest. The separation and clarity of the audio are both acceptable, considering the price of the phone. While the built-in sound output can fill a small space, it may require help connecting speakers in larger spaces or open settings.

Other Details

The rear-mounted scanner immediately recognizes and scans the fingerprint, which is simple to set up as well. The phone can be unlocked quickly and accurately. However, when our finger is dirty, it has a lot of difficulty reading the fingerprints, and hence error occurs. But, users may still unlock their phones using their passwords or face recognition.

As long as you are staring at the camera, Face Unlock using the selfie camera is just as simple and quick to set up as the fingerprint scanner. It instantly unlocks the phone after detecting our faces in both well-lit and dimly-lit settings. In darker environments, the screen gets brighter so that the face is visible to the camera, and the phone is unlocked when needed.

Battery

The Realme C25s has a 6,000mAh battery, one of the giant batteries in a budget-friendly smartphone. The phone also supports 18W fast charging, which can charge the battery from empty to full in about two hours.

Although the battery backup is quite decent, the phone also has power-saving features. The "Super Power Saving Mode" can extend the battery life by limiting the phone to the bare essentials, such as making calls and sending text messages.

Verdict

The Realme C25s is an excellent budget-friendly smartphone with a good balance of performance, battery life, and cameras. It is a good option for those looking for a reliable and affordable phone within budget.

Why should one choose Realme C25s?

• Affordable price and decent performance
• A massive battery with a long battery life
• Triple Camera Setup

Why should one not choose Realme C25s?

• Low Images in Low-lighting Conditions
• No 5G Support
• No AMOLED Display

Overall the phone justifies its pricing. Realme C25s has several features that make it an excellent budget-friendly smartphone. A large and bright display with a 90Hz refresh rate is really a great deal at this price. With the help of a brighter display, you can easily watch videos in good and decent quality. In addition, its powerful G85 processor can handle most everyday tasks, and you can also play some high-end games without facing lag issues.