Realme continues to amaze the local consumers with almost all, if not all, of their smartphone releases in the Philippines. And, they actually did once again with their latest entry-level offering, the realme C11.
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| Realme C11 Review; The Not So Ordinary Entry-Level Smartphone |
The realme C11 is touted as one of the best gadget students can get to help with them in the current homeschooling scenarios. Moreover, the young mobile brand dubbed it as the "entry-level-up," which means realme's leveling up the entry-level segment as we know it, especially the sub-Php5k category.
So, what makes the realme C11 the not so ordinary entry-level smartphone? Let's all find out in this review!
PHYSICAL:
The realme C11 shares some hardware with realme C3, realme 5i, and even with the realme 6i, which is quite expected knowing that realme already did some upcycling with their devices before. Because by doing so, the production cost is lower, which translates to a more affordable handset.
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| 6.5-inch Mini-Drop Fullscreen HD+ Display |
All the devices mentioned above have a 6.5-inch display with HD+ resolution, albeit the C11 does not come with any Gorilla Glass protection. Thankfully, it has a pre-installed plastic film to protect the screen from the usual scratches. That said, by just looking in their facades, it won't be easily recognizable which model is which.
Speaking of the display, the C11 screen offers good viewing angles and has great visibility indoors. It is also equipped with a light sensor that automatically adjusts the screen brightness. Moreover, it comes with Eye Comfort mode that reduces blue light from the screen and helps reduce eye strain. When outdoors, it still offers good legibility, although it tends to be reflective some times.
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| Geometric Art Design |
Flipping the phone over, aside from the lack of fingerprint sensor, the unique Geometric Art Design of the back cover, is the main differentiator of the C11 to other similarly looking realme handsets. The one we have for review is called Pepper Grey, and the other color option available is called Mint Green.
Going through the side, the top has nothing on it; the right side has volume keys and power button; the bottom has loudspeaker grille, MicroUSB port, microphone, and 3.5mm audio jack; and lastly, the left holds the card tray. The card tray has triple slots that can accommodate two Nano-SIM cards and one MicroSD card for storage expansion.
In terms of build quality, the realme C11 feels solid to hold, there is no squeaking sound of any kind, and buttons are tactile. In fact, it looks more expensive than its actual asking price. As for the retail package, it just has the basics - the unit itself, MicroUSB cable, pre-applied screen protection, SIM card tool, and documents. As usual, there are no earphones in the package, and this time around, there is also no case included.
Realme C11 Unboxing, Hands-on, and Initial Impressions
To learn more about its physical appearance and the packing list, please watch our hands-on and unboxing video above.
See Also: realme X3 SuperZoom Review; realme's Real Flagship
SOFTWARE:
The C11 runs on realme UI version 1.0 based on Android 10, which was announced earlier this year and was first introduced to realme C3. The interface looks clean and easy to navigate, especially if you have used an Android phone in the past. We have discussed this several times in our past reviews, so we won't take up your precious time discussing it again here.
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| Realme UI 1.0 |
If you need to know more about realme UI, you can visit https://www.realme.com/in/realme-ui.
PERFORMANCE:
The realme C11 is one of the world's first, if not the first smartphone to be powered by MediaTek Helio G35 Gaming Chipset.
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| CPU-Z Info |
Technically speaking, there is literally nothing to be hyped about the Helio G35, except for the HyperEngine Technolgy, which, according to MediaTek, helps optimize the overall performance. Other than that, it is basically the same as the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset with an already aging octa-core ARM Cortex-A53 architecture with a maximum CPU frequency of 2.3GHz, paired with Imagination PowerVT GE8320 graphics with a max frequency of 680MHz.
Below are the scores registered on our favorite benchmarking applications:
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| Benchmark Scores |
| Benchmark | realme C11 | realme 5 | OPPO A9 2020 |
| Antutu | 108,856 | 167,623 | 133,922 |
| Geekbench 5 (Single-Core) | 169 | 314 | 314 |
| Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core) | 990 | 1,365 | 1,287 |
| Geekbench 5 (RenderScript) | - | 377 | 373 |
| PC Mark | 5,991 | 7,789 | 6,809 |
| 3D Mark Sling Shot | 841 | 1,760 | 1,748 |
| 3D Mark Sling Shot (Vulcan) | 612 | 1,050 | 1,040 |
| 3D Mark Sling Shot (OpenGL) | 459 | 1,150 | 1,109 |
As you can see from the above table, the scores are way below the realme 5 and OPPO A9 2020, which are both powered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset. Moreover, if you compare it to realme C3 with Helio G70 chipset, the scores are much lower.
In real-life performance, it is generally smooth when browsing the web, checking social media accounts, watching videos on YouTube, and switching between them. There is minimal to no slowdown when there are only a few apps running in the background, which users may need to be aware of from time to time.
Meanwhile, we played Mobile Legends, Asphalt 9, PUBG, and Call of Duty, and we are happy to tell you that all are playable. Yes, graphics are low, but gameplays are generally smooth with very minimal lags.
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| Call of Duty Mobile |
We also utilized it for online meetings using ZOOM and Google Meet, and we did not encounter any issue at all. Moreover, we also used it with Google Classroom, and we are glad to say that it works just fine.
Please take note though that our review unit has 3GB of RAM, so expect a minor difference in multitasking capability with the local retail unit of C11. Nonetheless, even with 2GB of RAM, we still believe it will give a decent performance, just do not push it too hard.
Related: Realme 6 Review; Punching Above Its Weight
CAMERA:
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| 13MP Dual-Rear Camera |
The photography department of the realme C11 is one of its features that realme is very proud of. It packs dual-real shooters composed of a 13MP f/2.2 phase-detection autofocus primary module with 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor
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| 5MP Front Camera |
Meanwhile, the front offers a 5MP f/2.4 snapper for selfies and video calls.
Camera Samples:
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| Playground, Normal |
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| Playground, HDR On |
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| Playground, HDR and Chroma Boost On |
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| Condominiums, Normal |
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| Condominiums, HDR On |
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| Condominiums, HDR and Chroma Boost On |
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| Pedestrian Crossing, Low Light, Normal |
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| Pedestrian Crossing, Low Light, HDR On |
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| Pedestrian Crossing, Low Light, HDR and Chroma Boost On |
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| Pedestrian Crossing, Low Light, Night Mode |
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| Snail, Close-up |
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| Flowers, Close-up |
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| Selfie with Mask |
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| Selfie |
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| Selfie, Portrait |
We snap the few shots above and we are quite surprised with the very decent camera performance, and what's even more surprising is that it comes with a dedicated Night Modem, which the realme C3 lacks. The HDR really helps improving highlights and dynamic range, and when combined with Chroma Boost, output images become much better.
Also Read: Realme 6 Pro Review; Professional Performer
CONNECTIVITY:
As a smart device intended for students, it is equipped with necessary connectivity options. It is a true dual-SIM handset with 4G LTE for mobile network on the go, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n for connecting at home network, and Bluetooth v5.0 for wireless transferring of files or pairing with TWS earphones like realme Buds Air Neo. It still has 3.5mm audio jack if you prefer using a wired headset, while the MicroUSB 2.0 port offers On-The-Go functionality.
Google Maps and other location-based apps work just fine with realme C11 as it has GPS with A-GPS along with GLONASS and BDS.
BATTERY:
Another highlight of the realme C11 and which is why it is a great option for students is the huge 5,000mAh hour battery. It usually lasts for almost two days with moderate usage before the low battery warning pops up.
It supports 10W fast charging and the charger included in the package does that. Based on our test, it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach 50% from 0 (phone is drained and turned off) and almost 3 hours to be fully charged.
FINAL WORDS:
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| realme C11 Philippines |
The realme C11 indeed leveled up the entry-level segment by providing several great features that normally found on higher priced devices. It offers a big display, longer battery life, decent cameras, and well-built body with cool design, which makes it a great budget-friendly device for homeschooling and beyond.
How much is the realme C11 price in the Philippines?
- The realme C11 price in the Philippines is only Php4,990.
- Get yours now at - https://bit.ly/realmec11ph.
When will be the realme C11 available in the Philippines?
- Ther realme C11 is now available in the Philippines.
Realme C11 Specs Philippines:
- Dual SIM, dual standby, supports 4G LTE connectivity
- 6.5-inch Mini-drop Fullscreen HD+ (1560 x 720) capacitive touchscreen display
- Dimensions: 164.4mm x 75.9mm x 9.1mm
- Weight: 196 grams
- Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10
- 2.3GHz 64-bit octa-core CPU, PowerVR GE8320 GPU, MediaTek Helio P35 chipset
- 2GB RAM
- 32GB internal storage, expandable up to 256GB via MicroSD card, uses dedicated slot
- 13MP f/2.2 + 2MP f/2.4 dual rear cameras with LED flash
- 5MP f/2.4 front camera
- Multimedia Player
- FM Radio
- 3.5mm audio jack
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth v5.0
- GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
- MicroUSB 2.0 with OTG function
- Sensors: accelerometer, light, proximity
- Battery: 5,000mAh, non-removable, 10W fast charging
- Colors: Mint Green, Pepper Grey
- Price: Php4,990
