Whether it’s for studying, office tasks, casual gaming, or capturing moments, the entry-level realme C67 shines performance-wise.
Design: 5/5
Out of the box, the realme C67 exudes a modern and lightweight impression that made me want to explore its features further. The slim 7.59mm body and rounded edges contribute to its modern aesthetic style. Weighing only 185 grams, it made me feel at ease carrying it around all day. This is a smartphone that fits just right in your hand, striking a good balance between weight and comfort. As I flipped the smartphone to explore the back, the Sunny Oasis color greeted me like stepping into a daylight forest. The three-color gradient coating process creates shimmering stripes dancing in the light, for a beautiful visual display.
The Realme C67 has an IP54 rating, which I was able to test out. Whether subjected to a sudden splash of water or being in a dusty environment, this smartphone can still deliver reliable performance. Just remember that while the IP54 rating indicates a certain water level resistance, this smartphone is not fully waterproof. It can only handle limited water exposure, so no jumping into the pool or swimming under the sea with this phone.
Looking at the rear camera, the sleek and pill-shaped design creates a polished look and adds to the modern style of the smartphone. Plus, the lenses have a gold-colored ring design, which adds elegance to the camera’s appearance. The front camera features a hole punch design offering a widescreen display. This is convenient because you’ll have full visuals for viewing documents, watching films, playing games, editing photos, and making short videos.
On the left side of realme C67 are the dual micro SIM and micro SD card trays. On the right side are the volume button and the fingerprint scanner. It also has a dual microphone and dual stereo speakers at the top and bottom part of the smartphone. At the bottom are the USB Type-C charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Hardware: 5/5
With the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 at its core, the realme C67 is an ideal companion for everyday activities, as demonstrated by its Geekbench 6 scores. With a single-core score of 473 and a multi-core score of 1555, this smartphone can deliver versatile performance despite being an entry-level smartphone. Testing its CPU capabilities, it seamlessly handled multitasking activities, such as capturing moments, browsing social media, and even editing short videos. Its GPU scored 379, which is sufficient for multitasking and some light gaming.
The realme C67 packs a substantial 5000mAh battery power, which allowed me to seamlessly perform multiple tasks and enjoy some entertainment throughout the day. Running on the latest Android 14 operating system delivers convenient features, such as having the latest software updates, more security features, customizable themes, and wallpapers. As for enhancing user interaction, the realme UI T edition optimizes the device’s interface for a smooth and user-friendly experience, allowing me to navigate and use the smartphone effortlessly.
User Experience: 4/5
The realme C67 delivers good performance in standard rear camera photography, especially under well-lit conditions. Featuring a 12MP camera and 3x-in sensor zoom, it holds up well, particularly for an entry-level device. Though the 3x-in sensor zoom needs some improvement to produce sharp images, this smartphone shines when used for wide-shot photography, producing photos that are perfect for Instagram. Additionally, the realme C67 offers a familiar camera feature – Street Mode, available in the rear camera settings. In Street Mode, you have the option to capture photos with various filters integrated into the system, adding a creative touch to your photography experience. For selfie enthusiasts, the realme C67 has an 8MP front camera that is capable of capturing smooth quality selfies with a charming bokeh effect on the background.
Exploring the videography capabilities of the realme C67, its rear camera supports video recording from 720p to 1080p that runs in 30fps, providing a standard high quality for casual videos. However, do note that the videos may come with a subtle grainy quality, depending on specific lighting conditions. Yet, the recorded videos showcased some good and smooth quality results in well-lit settings. The rear camera features Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for clear video recording. It can handle some small movements while effectively maintaining good video quality. However, larger motions may lead to some blurriness. The front camera performs well in recording at 1080p with a 30fps frame rate. The embedded sensors automatically make necessary adjustments without compromising video quality. It delivers smooth and excellent-quality selfie videos in well-lit environments.
In the gaming and entertainment realm, the realme C67 can provide a smooth and high-quality gaming experience for casual games such as Sims FreePlay and Snack Bar. However, mobile gaming enthusiasts might find it falls short of meeting their gaming expectations, although Mobile Legends: Bang Bang can be played with high graphics and frame rate.
The realme C67 stands out as a mini movie smartphone, featuring a wide 6.72” LCD ideal for an enjoyable film-watching and casual gaming experience. A 90Hz refresh rate brings an extra layer of responsiveness to interactions, making every touch seamless and every scroll silky-smooth. It also enhances your gaming experience because it adds a fluid layer of delight when playing Sims FreePlay, Snack Bar, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
The dual stereo speakers shine in delivering clear vocals that resonate loudly, so I can hear the lyrics. However, there’s a noticeable imbalance as the treble beats dominate the bass, resulting in a bit of a muddled sound, particularly at maximum volume settings.
In the front camera’s hole punch design is the Mini Capsule 2.0 that appears when notifications come in, like those from calendar and weather. Also, it adds some functionality as a music playback control with a simple press. Despite the redundancy of this feature, given the existing lock screen controls, it is convenient when the smartphone is active. This way, switching between music tracks is effortless without the need to access the notifications bar.
Embodying a slim design, the realme C67 is built to last through the day, thanks to its 5000mAh battery. Even with activities like playing casual games, capturing photos and videos, and playing some music, this smartphone is able to manage heat efficiently. Adding to its convenience, the realme C67 features quick charging capability courtesy of the 33W SUPERVOOC charger. It offers extensive storage with its 256GB capacity, expandable up to 2TB. An efficient 8GB RAM seamlessly supports realme C67’s performance and updated software.
Value: 3/5
The 8GB+256GB variant is priced at PHP10,999, which seems relatively high for an entry-level smartphone. However, the alternative 8GB+128GB variant is available at a more budget-friendly price of PHP9,999.
Specifications:
- Display: Screen Type: IPS LCD | Screen Size: 6.72” | Screen Resolution: FHD+ 1080×2400 | PPI: 391 | Screen-to-Body Ratio: 91.40% | Refresh Rate: 90Hz | Touch Sampling Rate: 180Hz | Brightness: 800 Nits (Typ); 950 Nits (HBM)
- Protection: IP54 Dust & Water Resistance
- Color: Sunny Oasis & Black Rock
- Storage: 8GB+128GB | 8GB+256GB | Storage Expandability: 2TB
- Battery Capacity: 5000mAh
- Power Supply: Charging Wattage: 33W SUPERVOOC Charge
- Camera: Rear: 108MP+2MP | Front: 8MP
- Audio: Speakers 2 | Audio Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack
- Operating System: realme UI U Edition, Android 14
- Voice Assistant: Google Assistant
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 (6nm; 4G)
- Connectivity: WiFi: 2.4GHz, 5GHz | Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 | Frequency Bands: 2G / 3G / 4G
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 164.6mm x 75.4mm x 7.59mm
- Weight: 185g
What’s Hot:
- Expandable storage up to 2TB
- IP54 dust & water Resistance
- 5000mAh battery capacity
What’s Not:
- Rear camera 3x zoom
- Imbalance between treble and bass beats
Bottomline:
A smartphone that embodies practical features for everyday activities but not for heavy gaming.
Reviewed by Alyssa Silva
Also published in GADGETS MAGAZINE February 2024 Issue.