Realme C65 emerges as a strong contender in the budget smartphone segment for early 2025, priced around $160 (Rp2.4 million). It offers a blend of premium design and standard performance suited for daily use. This combination makes it an attractive choice for users seeking value without compromising too much on aesthetics and functionality.
The phone’s design is notably sleek and modern, featuring a slim, sturdy body under 8mm thick with a full-display front that enhances its premium feel. This is quite impressive in the entry-level category, where build quality often takes a back seat to cost-cutting.
Display Quality and User Experience
Realme C65 sports a 6.72-inch IPS LCD screen with HD+ resolution and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. The brightness can reach up to 625 nits, providing good visibility outdoors during the day. Despite the HD+ resolution, color reproduction is vibrant and sharp, rivaling some phones with Full HD+ panels. The touchscreen remains responsive, perfect for scrolling through social media or casual gaming.
Hardware and Performance Overview
Under the hood, the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset powers the device. This octa-core processor is built on a 12nm process and clocks up to 2GHz. The unit tested comes equipped with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable via microSD. Realme C65 also includes useful sensors like ambient light, magnetometer, orientation, and NFC, enhancing its overall utility.
Performance-wise, the device handles everyday tasks smoothly. Apps like social media platforms and streaming services run without noticeable lag. When gaming, titles such as Mobile Legends run well on high settings, though PUBG Mobile requires scaled-down graphics for playable frame rates. The built-in gyroscope sensor is virtual, causing slight delay during gameplay which might affect fast-paced games.
Battery Life and Fast Charging
One standout feature is its 5,000mAh battery combined with 45W SuperVOOC fast charging. From 10% battery, it can be fully charged in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Within 30 minutes, the battery charges up to 54%, which is an advantage in this price bracket. In typical usage scenarios—like streaming videos, browsing social media, and casual gaming—the device offers average endurance comparable to other phones in the $160 range.
Software and Additional Features
The smartphone runs on Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0. The interface is user-friendly and modern, with various customization options such as multiple themes, double-tap to wake/sleep, three-finger screenshot, and a dedicated game turbo mode. Notably, air gesture controls are also supported, a feature rarely found in this segment.
Camera Capabilities
Realme C65 is equipped with a 50MP main camera paired with a 2MP depth sensor and an 8MP front camera. The photo quality is good for an entry-level phone, delivering sharp details and balanced colors, whether shot indoors or outdoors. Selfie shots maintain clarity and decent sharpness. Video recording is capped at 1080p at 30fps and is average in quality, suitable for casual content capture but not for professional use.
Key Highlights in Summary:
- Premium, slim, and solid body design
- 6.72-inch IPS LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate and 625 nits brightness
- MediaTek Helio G85 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and expandable 128GB storage
- Good daily performance and casual gaming capability
- 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support
- Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0 and advanced gesture features
- 50MP primary camera with good photo quality and 8MP selfie camera
Realme C65 stands out as a budget-friendly smartphone for users prioritizing a stylish design and decent daily performance. While it is not meant for heavy gaming or advanced photography, it satisfies the needs of casual users effectively. Its competitive price of around $160 positions it well against rivals in the entry-level market for 2025.
