Realme C21: A Deep Dive into Budget-Friendly Performance
The Realme C21, released in early 2021, aimed to capture the budget smartphone market with its focus on a large battery, decent display, and a triple camera setup. While it wasn’t designed to compete with flagship devices, it offered a compelling package for users seeking a reliable and affordable daily driver. This comprehensive article will delve into the various aspects of the Realme C21, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and overall value proposition.
Design and Build Quality
The Realme C21 sports a plastic build, which is expected in its price range. However, Realme attempted to elevate the design with a “Geometric Art Design” on the back, featuring a textured pattern that provides a better grip and reduces fingerprint smudges. The square camera module houses the triple-lens setup and the LED flash, contributing to a modern aesthetic.
The device feels reasonably sturdy in hand, although the plastic construction doesn’t offer the premium feel of metal or glass. The buttons are tactile and responsive, and the overall ergonomics are comfortable for extended use. The phone’s dimensions are relatively standard for a budget device, making it easy to handle.
Display
The Realme C21 features a 6.5-inch HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels) IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch for the front-facing camera. While the resolution isn’t the sharpest, it’s adequate for everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback. The colors are generally accurate, though not as vibrant as those found on higher-end AMOLED displays.
The brightness levels are sufficient for indoor use, but visibility under direct sunlight can be challenging. The viewing angles are decent, and the display is protected by a layer of unspecified scratch-resistant glass.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Realme C21 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 processor, an octa-core chipset designed for budget gaming and everyday tasks. It’s paired with either 2GB, 3GB, or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSD card slot.
The Helio G35 provides adequate performance for basic tasks, but it can struggle with demanding applications and multitasking. Gaming performance is limited, and users shouldn’t expect to play graphics-intensive games at high settings. However, less demanding games run smoothly.
The Realme C21 runs on Realme UI based on Android 10, which offers a clean and customizable user interface. Realme UI includes features like system-wide dark mode, app cloning, and gesture navigation. However, the device has since become eligible for Android 11 updates with Realme UI 2.0.
Camera System
The Realme C21 boasts a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP monochrome lens. The 13MP primary sensor captures decent images in good lighting conditions, with acceptable detail and color accuracy. However, low-light performance is limited, and images tend to exhibit noise and softness.
The 2MP macro lens allows for close-up shots, but the image quality is generally poor. The 2MP monochrome lens is used for portrait mode, providing depth information for background blur.
The front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor, which captures adequate selfies for social media. The image quality is acceptable in good lighting, but it struggles in low light.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Realme C21 is its massive 5000mAh battery. This large battery provides excellent battery life, easily lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use. Users can expect up to two days of battery life with light usage.
The device supports 10W charging, which is relatively slow. It takes several hours to fully charge the battery.
Connectivity and Features
The Realme C21 offers standard connectivity options, including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS. It also features a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The device includes a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication, which is relatively fast and accurate. It also supports face unlock, which is convenient but less secure.
Audio
The Realme C21 features a single bottom-firing speaker, which produces decent audio output for its price range. The sound quality is acceptable for casual listening, but it lacks bass and can sound tinny at high volumes.
The 3.5mm headphone jack allows for wired audio connectivity, which provides better audio quality.
Variants and Pricing
The Realme C21 is available in various configurations, depending on the region. The common variants include:
2GB RAM + 32GB storage
The pricing of the Realme C21 varies depending on the region and retailer, but it generally falls within the budget smartphone segment.
Strengths
Long battery life
Weaknesses
Plastic build
Target Audience
The Realme C21 is targeted at budget-conscious consumers who prioritize battery life and basic smartphone functionality. It’s suitable for users who primarily use their phones for browsing, social media, messaging, and casual gaming.
Conclusion
The Realme C21 offers a compelling package for its price, with a focus on battery life and essential features. While it doesn’t excel in performance or camera quality, it provides a reliable and affordable smartphone experience. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly device with a long-lasting battery, the Realme C21 is worth considering. However, if performance and camera quality are your top priorities, you may want to explore other options.