realme C55: First impressions

realme is set to launch its entry-level smartphone — the C55 — with a flagship feature making a surprising appearance. Its version is called the “Mini Capsule” found at the punch-hole of the selfie camera cutout. This conveniently provides users with information about battery life, charging status, data cap usage, and daily steps. 

It’s amusing to see this feature in a budget-friendly device, especially since it’s solely associated with a high-end smartphone. Although its functions might be quite limited, we’re still looking forward to witnessing the convenience it can offer users. 

Design and build

As you make your way to the rear, a striking youthful design with a matte finish will make a cheerful greeting. There are three colors available: Rainforest, Rainy Night, and Sunshower. It also embraces the trendy boxy frame with a light build (189.5g, 7.89mm). 

Inside the box

The C55 came with a protective case, 33W SUPERVOOC charging adapter, Type-C USB cable, quick guide, warranty card, and SIM ejector pin. 

Display

In comparison to its predecessor, we have a much larger screen display 6.7-inch FHD+ LCD display, with an equally large screen-to-body ratio of 91.4%. 

Camera

While we can only expect so much from an entry-level device, we’ll find out where the quality of the dual camera system (64MP main camera + 2MP depth camera) and 8MP front camera will take you. 

Performance and battery

Under the hood, we have the MediaTek Helio G88 powering the device. This is accompanied by 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Storage. 

The C55 is packed with a 5000mAh battery. It deserves some praise for maintaining a light physique while providing a hefty battery life. 

To charge the device, you can turn to its 33W charger, which realme claims can power up the device to 100% in just 63 minutes. 

Verdict

realme did a great job spicing things up in the entry-level segment by introducing its Mini Capsule. Everything else was predictable. A few upgrades here and there to level it up a bit. But now, they went with something unexpected by making flagship features more accessible. 

Looking at the bigger picture and considering all the features it comes with, the realme C55 is in a very competitive position.