Full review: realme C75

We are currently approaching only the second month of the year, but it seems like durability is taking the spotlight for smartphones this early 2025. Maybe brands are recognizing that toughness is greatly valued by your everyday consumers. 

realme’s durability bet to kick off the year is the realme C75 – a water-proof companion to keep you, the user, worry-proof. Let’s find out what’s so special about this smartphone. 

Design

The realme C75 comes in two available colors – Lightning Gold and Storm Black. Props to the team that named these colors as they seem fitting for a device that can weather any storm. 

I got a chance to test the Storm Black option. It is topped off with that classic matte finish for that sleek and subtle look. Although when looking at it from some angles, it does tend to shine and shimmer a bit. Either way, Storm Black might be the ideal choice for most users. 

Build

In terms of its weight, the realme C75 weighs 196g. It does have a little bit of heft to it, probably due to its larger battery. Despite this, the smartphone still manages a slim profile clocking in at 7.99 mm. 

Waterproofing is a highlight of this device. It boasts IP69, IP68 and IP66 ratings which means the realme C75 will be just fine, should it decide to take an unexpected swim. SonicWave Water Ejection allows for the speakers to vibrate at a certain frequency which helps eject up to 50% of excess water. 

Furthermore, the realme C75 is well-protected against drops as well. It features 360-degree Ultra Shock Resistance. The ArmorShell Protection protects the phone up to 2-meter drops. ArmorShell Glass on the other hand is meant to protect the screen for all-around durability. 

Another feat for this device is its TUV Rheinland Rugged Smartphone Certification, which is the first in the industry. All-in-all, your peace-of-mind against everyday uncertainties is almost, if not definitely, guaranteed. 

With all these waterproofing and durability efforts, the realme C75 might just be ideal for our riders who are always on-the-go rain or shine. They need not worry about trying to make an honest living. 

This smartphone might also be an ideal first phone for young students who might tend to be a bit clumsy at times. All this waterproofing might also be a lifesaver for our Tomasians who brave floods every rain season. 

Display and speakers

For multimedia consumption, the realme C75 features a 6.72-inch FHD+ display. The visuals were clear and crisp, which provided for an enjoyable viewing experience. The 90Hz refresh rate allowed for smooth navigation on the device. 

Always-On Display makes an appearance in this smartphone as well. Although personally, I usually turn this off to save power. 

No earphones, no problem. The realme C75 is equipped with a 400% UltraBoom Speaker for that added boost. Sound quality does take a hit, so maybe best not to wake the neighbors.

Camera

For the rear camera, the realme C75 features a 50MP main shooter. Photos taken under ideal lighting conditions were actually pretty decent – they were clear and the colors truly popped. Although at times, it did feel a tad bit oversaturated. 

The AI Clear Face feature allows you to enhance the clarity of faces in photos, especially if they are blurred. There is the danger of faces coming out a little too smoothened for my liking. 

Under low light, the photos captured were nothing special. The clarity of the details were decent, but the colors were a little lacking. But overall, they were more than usable. 

The selfie camera features an 8MP shooter. The photos were nothing to write home about. But for posting on your socials, they will do. 

When it comes to capturing videos, both cameras support up to 1080p@30fps. 

Performance and OS

Now it’s time to check under the hood. The realme C75 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G92 Max. It is coupled with 8GB of RAM (which is expandable to 16GB with Dynamic RAM Expansion) and up to 256GB of storage. 

In terms of multitasking, the smartphone will get the job done. Several apps can be kept running in the background as well thanks to the RAM. When it comes to watching videos, the processor does seem to have trouble when loading videos in 4K, which is an option on YouTube. 

In terms of gaming, I was able to seamlessly run Call of Duty Mobile on the game’s base settings. There is no option however, to run it on the highest graphical settings. When playing Genshin Impact, you may need to run it on the lowest graphics settings. 

AI Boost does allow for smarter resource allocation however. This ensures a smoother experience for heavy multitasking and gaming as well. 

Real Essentials makes another cameo as well on the realme C75. I talked about this in depth in my realme C65 review. But basically, these features do improve the quality of life of the user.

Among all these Real Essentials features, one of the most notable might be the Mini Capsule 3.0. You can now find a real-time Grab status notification bar (for GrabCar only) which I find quite useful. 

The realme C75 runs on realme UI 5.0 which is based on Android 14. 

Battery and charging

A 6000mAh battery powers the realme C75. realme claims that it can provide up to 24 days of standby time, 12.6 hours of video playback, and 5.5 hours of gaming. In real world scenarios, this phone will surely last you more than a day. 

For charging, you get 45W SUPERVOOC charging. Achieving 100% on a fully drained battery will take you more or less up to 90 minutes. 

Verdict

With durability being the name of the game so far this 2025, the realme C75 might be an excellent entry-level option for your long-lasting needs. The device has excellent drop and water resistance so you are prepared for whatever challenges are thrown at you everyday. 

The 128GB variant is priced at Php 8,999, while the 256GB variant is at Php 10,999. For budget and entry-level options, consumers will tend to gravitate towards a phone that is long-lasting both inside and out – and the realme C75 is just that.

Photos by CJ Lavares