Realme C53 5G: Realme has made a name for itself in the cutthroat world of budget smartphones with its emphasis on strong specifications at wallet-friendly prices.
Realme is now looking to reimagine what users can expect in the under-₹12,000 segment with the Realme C53 5G. But is it just another budget phone that’s just taking advantage of the 5G craze, or does it offer a little more? Let’s find out.
Initial Impressions: Clean and Cool
One look at the Realme C53 5G, and you could be forgiven for thinking it was a significantly more costly phone. It is slim at just 7.5mm thick, and weighs about 182 grams.
That makes it very comfortable to hold and use — one-handed. The back is decorated with a premium-like finish, embellished with a sparkling pattern that plays with the light beautifully.
The flashy isn’t overly tacky — an accomplishment for a phone in this price range.
Large, bright, and motionless.
On the front sits a 6.74-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The touch response is smooth and general navigation is snappy, thought I suspect the high refresh rate plays a role.
It’s not Full HD (it stick to an HD+ resolution, but the colors are nice and it should be bright enough for indoor or light outdoor use. Whether you’re Instagramming, YouTubing or reading the news, the screen gets the job done.
Performance: Just Fine for the Daily Grind
The Realme C53 5G is equipped with the Unisoc T612 processor under its hood. It’s no powerhouse, but the phone kept pace for those everyday tasks such as calling, messaging, browsing and some light gaming.
The phone has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with the option for virtual RAM expansion and a microSD card slot if you want to add more space.
Multitasking is generally good but you will see a bit of stutter when you use heavier apps or play games.
Software: Mostly Clean, but Not Perfect
It boots on Android 13 operating system and Realme UI T Edition and even the UI is free from bloating. It does come with some preinstalled apps and bloatware, which can be annoying, but most bloatware can be uninstalled or disabled.
To that add another nice touch, the “Mini Capsule,” which is like the iPhone’s Dynamic Island.
It visualizes battery level and some notifications in a playful, animated fashion — more gimmick than anything else, but it’s a little flourish.
Cameras: Good in the Sunlight, Fine as They Are Otherwise
The camera arrangement consists of a 50MP primary lens with a 2MP secondary lens. In decent lighting it snaps sharp, colorful photos that plenty of people will be more than happy to share on social media.
Low light is a different story, however. Noise sneaks in, and detail can blur.
The 8MP front camera is fine for selfies and video calls too, but again, don’t expect night and day miracles. Recorded video maxes out at 1080p, which is fine for the price.
Battery Life and Charging
The Realme C53 5G is backed by a 5000mAh battery that easily runs for a day with moderate use. The 33W fast charging will get you from zero to around 50% in no time.
And that’s not a bad thing if you have a very mobile lifestyle and aren’t always able to stay plugged in.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Slim and light with a high quality look
UI feels smooth with 90Hz refresh rate
High-capacity battery with fast charging
Lots of storage including virtual RAM and microSD card support
Budget-friendly pricing
Cons:
The camera’s performance in low-light is average
Some bloatware on the sofware side
Not in Full HD Display resolution
CPU only for light tasks
No proper 5G support despite the name in a few versions
Realme C53 5G: judgement: A sound budget competitor
The Realme C53 5G doesn’t want to be everything all at once — and that’s its strength. It aims to provide good battery life, decent day to day performance and look good without hurting your bank balance.
It’s far from perfect, especially in camera and raw power, but it nails the basics for casual users and first-time smartphone buyers. For the frugal, it’s hard to argue with this one.
