Realme C25, C21, and C20: A New Budget Trio from Realme
Realme has just unveiled its new budget-friendly trio, the Realme C25, Realme C21, and Realme C20 — all priced starting under Rs. 10,000. The company hopes to stir up the stagnant waters in the sub-Rs. 10,000 smartphone market with these new additions, aiming to woo budget-conscious buyers who are looking for value-for-money devices. This article takes a detailed look at the key features and specifications of these new Realme C-series smartphones, focusing on the Realme C25 and Realme C21, giving you a glimpse into what they have to offer.
## Realme C25: An upgrade for the C-series?
Positioned as the successor to the Realme C15, the Realme C25 carries the legacy of its predecessor’s stellar battery life but comes with some crucial upgrades. Key among these is the MediaTek Helio G70 SoC — a significant upgrade — which promises a much-needed boost in system performance and gaming capabilities. It retains the impressive 6,000mAh battery capacity and 18W fast charging, but now includes a USB Type-C port, a welcome change from the Micro-USB port on the C15.
The design of the Realme C25 closely resembles its predecessors, featuring a new variation of the geometric pattern on the back, but otherwise, remains largely unchanged. Despite the all-plastic body, it feels sturdy in hand and has a noticeably heavier (209g) and thicker (9.6mm) build compared to the Realme C21. Notable features include a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, a triple-slot SIM tray, and a triple rear camera setup.
While the Realme C15 featured an ultra-wide angle camera, Realme has opted to drop it in the Realme C25, a decision that might seem perplexing at first. However, given the lackluster performance of the ultra-wide camera on the C15, its absence is likely to go unnoticed. The Realme C25 retains a 13-megapixel main camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel monochrome camera. An 8-megapixel front camera handles selfies.
The Realme C25 boasts a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD panel, certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light emission. It comes 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 promises to be a true upgrade over the C15, particularly thanks to the upgraded SoC. The remaining features remain largely in line with its predecessor, with only minor refinements.
## Realme C21: Filling the Price Gap
The Realme C21, unlike the Realme C25, does not have a direct predecessor and aims to complement the lineup, filling the existing price gaps in the C-Series. It can be viewed as an evolution of the Realme C12 with a slightly smaller battery (5,000mAh vs 6,000mAh) and a revised pattern on the back.
The Realme C21 features the TÜV Rheinland display certification, a triple-card SIM tray, a rear fingerprint sensor, and similar triple rear camera setup as the Realme C25, although it comes without the fast charging support and features a Micro-USB port. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 SoC, similar to the preceding C-series models, which doesn’t immediately inspire confidence. However, only a full review will reveal how the device performs in real-world usage.
The Realme C21 is available in two variants: 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage priced at Rs. 7,999, and 4GB of RAM with 64GB of storage priced at Rs. 8,999. It is slightly lighter and slimmer than the Realme C25, making it easier to handle.
## Realme C20: A Budget-Friendly Option
The Realme C20, a more stripped-down version of the Realme C21, is absent from this hands-on experience. However, it features essentially the same specifications as the Realme C21, except for the lack of display certification, a fingerprint sensor, and a single 8-megapixel rear camera. Available only with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, it is priced at Rs. 6,999. It can be considered as a refreshed Realme C11.
## A New Era for the C-Series?
Realme’s new C-series additions don’t redefine the budget smartphone segment, but instead, are strategically positioned as complementary additions to the existing budget portfolio. The Realme C25 emerges as the most compelling option of the three, while the Realme C21 and Realme C20 aim to target specific price points within the C-Series lineup.
Stay tuned for the full reviews of the Realme C25 and Realme C21, offering a deeper insight into their performance and capabilities.
## A Quick Comparison
Here’s a quick comparison table summarizing the key features of the three new Realme C-series smartphones:
| Feature | Realme C25 | Realme C21 | Realme C20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Starting) | Rs. 9,999 | Rs. 7,999 | Rs. 6,999 |
| Display | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G70 | MediaTek Helio G35 | MediaTek Helio G35 |
| RAM | 4GB | 3GB/4GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB | 32GB/64GB | 32GB |
| Rear Camera | 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | 8MP |
| Battery | 6,000mAh | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Fast Charging | 18W | No | No |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes | Yes | No |
| Operating System | Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) | Realme UI (Android 10) | Realme UI (Android 10) |
## Conclusion
Realme’s new C-series offerings aim to provide a wider range of options within the sub-Rs. 10,000 segment. The Realme C25 stands out as an upgrade to the C15, with a promising performance improvement. The Realme C21 and Realme C20, while not groundbreaking, offer good value for money and fill specific price point gaps within the C-series lineup.
Realme’s approach to the budget smartphone market is a strategic one. By addressing existing limitations and introducing compelling features, they have developed a diverse portfolio of devices to cater to a wide range of consumers. Only a thorough evaluation can truly determine whether these new additions will truly make a mark in the crowded budget smartphone market.
