Realme C65 quick review: 5G phone on a budget

Realme’s first 5G phone for under Rs 10,000 is finally here. The new C65 is essentially an entry-level phone. Still, it joins a few other phones in this price category to offer 5G connectivity, now available in India in most parts to Airtel and Reliance Jio users. But make no mistake. The C65 does not quite look like a low-cost phone. It is stylish and has a sleek profile, appealing to customers who want a good-looking phone. Launched at Rs 9,999, the Realme C65 takes on phones such as POCO M6 and Nokia G42, but should you consider it your next phone? Also Read: Realme C65 5G launched as the company's cheapest 5G phone: Check price, specs

I spent a brief time with the new Realme C65 to understand if it is worth its cost. Here is my quick review that should help you decide whether or not to buy this phone.

Realme C65 design

Realme is never shy of experimenting with phone designs, even though some of them often face criticism. The C65 has one of those designs. It is a love-it-or-hate-it finish on the phone’s back. The Feather Green colourway looks as if someone hovered a brush over it. It is a soothing design to look at and can appeal to most customers. However, I am unsure if this design goes well on a phone. It does not quite give the premium look and would barely catch anyone’s attention because of a mellow colour theme, but the chances of this phone finding its takers are not zero. The volume and power buttons and the USB-C port are at their designated places, similar to other Realme phones. The phone has slightly sharp edges that may cause discomfort to some users when they are holding the phone for a long time. But it is not heavy.

Realme C65 display

The C65 has a 6.67-inch HD+ display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. I looked at it and realised that most customers will appreciate the phone’s display for its price. Even though it is an HD display, it shows content properly. The brightness indoors is not an issue, but you may need to squint a little when using the phone outdoors. Although I could not watch many videos on the phone’s display, the few ones I watched looked good. However, you should not expect inky blacks or vibrancy in colours since this is an LCD, not an AMOLED panel. The high refresh rate makes animations and scrolling on the display look better, which customers will appreciate.

Realme C65 performance

A MediaTek Dimensity 6300 5G chipset powers the Realme C65. Although this is a 5G chipset, it is not a high performer. Despite that, the phone manages multitasking fairly. But there will be instances where the phone will take its sweet time to open and close apps. That is not a big problem, considering the phone’s price. Multitasking will be better if you go for the 6GB RAM version. This is not a gaming phone, so expecting it to offer a high-grade gaming experience does not make sense. Still, customers can play light and casual games. Games such as BGMI can run but not without issues. The C65’s 5000mAh battery can easily last a day, thanks to low-power hardware on the phone.

Realme C65 cameras

The 50MP main camera on the C65 can click good photos outdoors, but its performance in low-light areas and indoors is average at best. Photos clicked during a day have good colours, although the details suffer. Rivals such as POCO M6 5G do a slightly better job with photography. But these photos are still manageable and can go on social media. The phone offers 1080p video recording, as well. Selfies from the Realme C65’s 8MP camera are average, but with some beautification, they can go on your social media.

Realme C65 verdict

You can expect only so many things from a phone for under Rs 10,000. 5G was not among them for a long time, but the demand for 5G phones and the network’s availability prompted smartphone brands to push into the sub-Rs 10,000 category. But that requires offsetting due to the high costs of 5G gear. The Realme C65 is an example. It can offer superfast internet speeds, but performance may be suitable only for light users, while the cameras are a mixed bag. Customers strictly looking for a 5G experience on a phone that does not break the bank can consider the C65. However, if you want faster performance or better cameras, you can check out the POCO M6 and M6 Pro, both available for under Rs 10,000. You can also consider the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G for a bigger battery and slightly better cameras.