Launching a sub-Rs. 10,000 smartphone is a tough affair for any firm in India. Pricing is hyper-sensitive on this phase, and getting it incorrect even by just a few hundred Rupees may have an effect on gross sales. Realme isn’t any stranger to this market, because it has lengthy had it is C-series of smartphones catering to price-conscious consumers. The previous couple of fashions, specifically the Realme C12 and Realme C15, weren’t very memorable in my view, however now Realme hopes to alter that with a brand new household.

Realme has just launched the Realme C25, Realme C21, and the Realme C20 — all priced beginning underneath Rs. 10,000. I’ve had the possibility to get my fingers on the C25 and C21, and immediately, I’ll be supplying you with my first impressions of those smartphones. We’ll additionally speak concerning the C20, which on paper, is a toned-down model of the C21.

We start with essentially the most fascinating cellphone of the trio, the Realme C25. Pitched because the successor to the Realme C15, which was solely actually identified for its stellar battery life and not a lot else, the C25 has some much-needed upgrades. It has the identical 6,000mAh battery capability and 18W quick charging as its predecessor, however Realme has upgraded to a USB Type-C port. The second huge change is the MediaTek Helio G70 SoC, which ought to present a much-needed increase to system and gaming efficiency.

The total design of Realme C25, and for that matter the opposite new fashions, hasn’t modified a lot. There’s a brand new variation of the geometric sample on the again, and some new color names, however total it is similar to the earlier lineup. The C25 feels sturdy within the hand regardless of the all-plastic physique, and it’s noticeably heavier (209g) and thicker (9.6mm) than the C21. You get a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a triple-slot SIM tray, and three rear cameras.

Interestingly, the Realme C25 is the one one of many three new fashions to run Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) out of the field, whereas the C21 and C20 are nonetheless operating Android 10. Eagle-eyed viewers would possibly have already seen a lacking fourth rear digital camera on the C25, in comparison with the C15. Realme has dropped the ultra-wide angle digital camera, which could look like a nasty determination by way of interesting to consumers, however given how poorly that digital camera carried out on the C15, it is in all probability not going to be missed. You nonetheless get a 13-megapixel important digital camera, a 2-megapixel macro digital camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome digital camera. There’s an 8-megapixel digital camera up entrance for selfies.

The Realme C21 (left) and Realme C25 (proper) have the identical dimension shows with HD+ resolutions

The show on the Realme C25 is a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD panel, and this time, Realme has partnered with TÜV Rheinland to get it licensed for low blue gentle emission. In phrases of RAM and storage, the Realme C25 might be accessible in two variants: 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage priced at Rs. 9,999, and 4GB of RAM with 128GB of storage priced at Rs. 10,999.

The Realme C25’s greatest energy appears to be the upgraded SoC, which ought to assist repair the poor efficiency of the C15. The different options are kind of the identical as what we noticed within the earlier mannequin, with some slight enhancements.

We now come to the Realme C21, which is not a direct successor to any particular cellphone however is supposed to enhance the lineup, filling a number of the current worth gaps. It’s primarily a Realme C12 with a smaller battery (5,000mAh vs 6,000mAh) and a barely completely different sample on the again. Some of the highlights right here embrace the TÜV Rheinland show certification, a triple-card SIM tray, a rear fingerprint sensor, and three rear cameras just like the C25.

The Realme C21 doesn’t assist quick charging and has a Micro-USB port. It’s powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 SoC, identical to the earlier C-series fashions. This would not encourage an excessive amount of confidence however we’ll have to attend and see if the expertise is best once we put this cellphone by means of a full assessment. There are two variants on provide: 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage priced at 7,999, and 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage priced at Rs. 8,999. The Realme C21 is a bit lighter and slimmer than the C25, making it simpler to deal with.

The Realme C21 has a triple rear digital camera setup, just like the Realme C25

The Realme C20, which I haven’t got with me, is actually an identical to the C21 besides that there is no show certification, no fingerprint sensor, and solely a single 8-megapixel rear digital camera. It’s solely accessible with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and is priced at Rs. 6,999. Think of it as a refreshed Realme C11.

Realme’s new C-series choices aren’t precisely game-changers for this phase, however extra like complementary additions to its current price range portfolio. The Realme C25 is probably essentially the most fascinating of the lot, whereas the others are price-gap fillers greater than the rest. In any case, we might be testing the Realme C25 and Realme C21, so test for the complete evaluations of those new telephones, developing quickly.

What is the very best cellphone underneath Rs. 15,000 in India proper now? We mentioned this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Later (beginning at 27:54), we converse to OK Computer creators Neil Pagedar and Pooja Shetty. Orbital is accessible on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.