Content

1. Contents of delivery
2. TECH SPECS
3. Positioning
4. Design, dimensions, controls
5. Display
6. Battery
7. Memory, chipset, performance
8. Communication capabilities
9. Camera
10. Software
11. Competitors
12. Results

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone
• 18w charger
• Micro-USB cable
• SIM card tray eject tool
• Protective film (already glued on)
• User manual, warranty card

Positioning

Not so long ago, on the pages of МР, we got acquainted with the inexpensive smartphone realme C11, which is made in a new design for the company and has a capacious battery. For the smartphone, I personally had certain questions about positioning and performance. The company did not stop there, and here is a new announcement and a new representative of the C series, the C15 model. Notice the absence of C12-C14?

The novelty can visually resemble the C3 model, having similar dimensions and a textured back. At the same time, realme C15 is positioned as the first smartphone in the world to combine a 6000 mAh battery and 18W fast charging. Well, it is likely that this is so, but I would not call such a bundle a record in general, it was worth clarifying about the price segment. During the presentation, much attention was paid to power saving modes and all kinds of digital calculations on autonomy, so the emphasis is obvious. We understand the features of realme C15.

Design, dimensions, controls

The main visual accent in the smartphone is the back cover. It is divided into three areas, in each of which the direction of the grooves changes. This geometry serves both an aesthetic and partly practical function, improving the grip and preventing the device from sliding in the hand. There is no cover in the kit, so this is an important aspect. At different angles, the color of each of the areas can vary from light blue to dark blue. There will also be a gray version on sale, both colors are strict, calm and solid, the back design contributes to the visual differentiation of the smartphone.

In the realme C11 review, I wrote that it would be nice to completely drown the neat square camera block into the body, slightly increasing the thickness and capacity of the battery to 6000 mAh. In the case of the hero of the review, it turned out: the cameras protrude above the surface of the back literally by a millimeter, while the backlash when entering text on a smartphone lying on the table is minimal and is observed when you press the upper left of the display.

Next to the cameras are a flash and a fingerprint sensor. Control keys are located on the right side, on the left – only the SIM card tray. The headphone jack is in place, it is on the bottom end. The aspect ratio is not very conducive to operating the realme C15 with one hand without having to grip the smartphone. For this, a one-handed control mode is provided, it can be taken out into the drop-down quick settings panel and quickly turned on / off.

Display

In all respects, the screen in realme C15 repeats that in the C11 model. This is an IPS-matrix with a diagonal of 6.5 inches, medium-thick bezels, annoying droplet notch and protective Gorilla Glass. There is no oleophobic coating, as in the more expensive 6S model, let alone a segment of 10-15 thousand rubles. The margin of brightness is average, it can be difficult outdoors under bright sunlight. In terms of color reproduction and viewing angles, the situation is quite typical for IPS in the price segment up to 15 rubles: calm colors, not as deep as in AMOLED, black, slightly fading into gray. The cutout cannot be hidden programmatically, you will have to resort to dark “wallpaper”.

The display resolution remained at the HD + mark, this “Wishlist” of mine is still relevant, give Full HD +. Let me emphasize once again that this is a subjective wish, the pixel density allows you to comfortably use a smartphone without loose fonts and other visual artifacts. Of course, the choice of resolution in this case is tied to autonomy. Choosing Full HD + for this parameter would not be so impressive results, plus everything is unclear how this would affect the final cost of the smartphone.

Battery

While watching the presentation of the company, I got the impression that the main marketing feed of the realme C15 is tied to the autonomy. For its segment, the combination of 6000 mAh and 18 W fast charging is really not bad, but with Type-C everything would be more relevant and modern. A full charge from 0 to 100% takes two and a half hours, compared to the C11 and three hours of charging for 5000 mAh, it seems to be not bad, but against the background of solutions with Type-C it looks so-so.

The video looping test showed an excellent result at 37 hours of operation, mixed use in my usual test scenario (messengers, streaming music, YouTube, Bluetooth headphone connection, email sync, calls) showed the result in two full days at about? from the maximum level. In case the user wants to improve the performance, there are dedicated modes, as in other realme devices: freezing applications, monitoring system performance, two power saving modes (normal and super).

In terms of autonomy, everything is fine here, except for using an old connector. Of course, he “knows how” and charge gadgets, reversible charging is available via an OTG cable or an adapter with the option enabled in the settings. There is no question of any fast reversible charging, but the option is useful, especially for charging headphones, watches and other wearable electronics.

Memory, chipset, performance

The realme C15 uses the same entry-level MediaTek Helio G35 gaming processor. It is difficult to expect performance heights from it, but if in the case of the previous C-series smartphone there was clearly a bottleneck in the form of a small amount of RAM, then the situation is a little better. The only version of realme C15 available on the Russian market – with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. Not the fastest eMMC 5.1 memory class is used, but this is already better than 32 GB.

The amount of RAM for a budget device is sufficient, for example, the PUBG test game runs on medium settings with smooth graphics. Game testing revealed the following results: the average frame rate was fixed at 23 fps, while the frequency stayed above 18 fps 88 percent of the time, and the average processor temperature was 43 degrees. A slight heat was felt on the part of the case closer to the left side of the smartphone.

Overall performance is at an acceptable level, below which I personally find it difficult to fall. I think that 3 GB of RAM should be left in the same place as the HD + resolution, Micro-USB and cutouts in the screen – in the ultra-budget segment up to 8 rubles. I do not exclude the presence of other opinions, but my position is exactly that.

Communication capabilities

There is an NFC module here, and this cannot but rejoice, I did not notice any problems in my usual scenarios (payment, connection to peripherals, recording trips to a transport card). Otherwise, parity with C11:

“The smartphone uses one speaker with an average headroom. For those for whom it will not be enough, we have left a 3.5 mm jack, so you don’t have to put your favorite wired headphones far away…. There are no problems with the volume of calls, the level of audibility is normal, nothing outstanding, but there are no complaints either. “

Camera

The main module remains the same as in the previous model: it is a “shirik” with a resolution of 13 megapixels. An ultra-wide 8 megapixel lens was added to it, but they decided not to stop there and bring the number of cameras up to four. But the portrait lens and the so-called “retro-module” can hardly be called full-fledged cameras, they are used in certain scenarios – respectively, to obtain the “bokeh” effect and when applying a color filter imitating an old faded frame on a dusty camera. The main camera shoots well during the day and in good lighting, at night or in a dimly lit room, the shooting results are not always encouraging. I liked the wide-angle shooting, and the shots are pretty good. The front-facing camera was also slightly upgraded, from 5 to 8 megapixels. Interestingly, face recognition in most cases works even with sunglasses on, an interesting moment.

Sample Photos

Sample video (MP4, 32 MB) >>>

Software

The realme UI shell has not yet received an update until its second iteration based on Android 11, however, the capabilities of the current version are enough for smooth use: call and screen recording, dark mode, deep power settings, no ads and much more, as described in review.

Competitors

At the start of sales, which, by the way, already today, a smartphone costs 10 rubles. For this money, it competes with the Redmi 990C NFC, in which, at a cost of 9 rubles, 9 GB less RAM, 990 W slow charging with a 1 mAh battery. Oppo A10 can also be added here, which loses even more due to 5000 GB of permanent memory and an even less capacious battery.

If we take the cost after October 12, then it will be 12 rubles, and here a clear competitor is Redmi 990, which in the 9/4 GB version costs a thousand more, but it has a higher resolution, Type-C and is actually fast charging, albeit 64 mAh. Of course, it’s worth mentioning realme 5000i, which for 6 offers a camera system at the level of realme 13S, a more powerful gaming processor, while still losing in battery capacity. I would add Honor 990e to this company, but everything is not so good in terms of autonomy, a memory card replaces the SIM slot, there is no fast charging, but the main camera is 6 megapixels.

Results

In the current line of inexpensive devices, the realme C15 looks much more interesting due to its excellent autonomy, the presence of NFC and an eye-catching exterior. For the available characteristics, the cost at the start of sales seems to be more adequate, more curious models can be found in the range of 12-14 thousand. Is a smartphone worth the money? It all depends on the usage scenarios, but in most aspects of everyday use, the realme C15 can easily replace the main device. It is also suitable as an additional phone with a portable battery function, the functionality allows you to always keep charged headphones, watches and other portable gadgets.

Despite a number of subjective wishes for the filling of the smartphone, I can still recommend it for purchase in the segment up to 13 rubles, the overall impression is pleasant, there is no feeling of a secondary model. It is significant that this particular smartphone, during the presentation and in the news materials after it, drew more attention from the seemingly more powerful realme 000S.

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