The brand’s newest low-cost 5G smartphone, the Realme C65 5G, makes some very audacious claims when it first launches. Realme claims that this is the quickest 5G smartphone under Rs 10,000 for entry-level users, and the device is powered by the brand-new MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC. The gadget has a 120Hz refresh rate panel, which is a first for the market, in addition to the new chipset. On paper, the Realme C65 5G is ready to live up to expectations, but does it perform as promised in practical use? Read my Realme C65 5G review to learn more.
Rating: 8 / 10
Verdict
Among the greatest performance-focused smartphones in its price range is the Realme C65 5G. Apart from its exceptional performance, the smartphone has a good battery backup, good daylight cameras, and a smooth refresh rate of 120Hz. For power users looking for a capable yet affordable 5G gadget, the smartphone comes highly recommended, even though its low-light photography may not thrill camera fanatics.
Design
With the Realme C65 5G borrowing a design cue from the newly released Realme P series smartphones, Realme appears to be simplifying the appearance of its smartphone lineup. The C65 features a circular camera module at the back that resembles a watch face, along with the same feather-like design components. When comparing the smartphone to the Realme P1 5G (review), there are a few minor variations that are noticeable upon closer inspection.
The headphone jack is now located at the bottom, while the SIM tray is now located at the top. With a weight of 190g and a thickness of 7.89mm, the phone feels similar in the hand to the Realme P1. Additionally, the smartphone has IP54 dust and water protection, which increases its endurance. The C65 is sure to please if you enjoy the way the P1 5G looks.
Display
A 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with HD+ (720 x 1604p) resolution, a high refresh rate of 120Hz, and a peak brightness level of 650nits is included on the Realme C65 5G. With a refresh rate of 90Hz, the phone currently has the greatest refresh rate in the sub-Rs 10K sector. The fast refresh rate is well-suited for the user interface and apps, which enhance daily use with a silky smooth scrolling experience. In comparison to other of its competitors in the sector, the display is relatively brighter and provides adequate viewing angles.
The speaker performs a fair job of enhancing the multimedia experience, and the tall display aids with it. I usually use my phone to read e-books at night or during my commute, and I had a good time using this one. It can function outside in less light, and the brightness is adequate for interior use. In exceptionally bright conditions, such as Delhi’s midday these days, the brightness, however, is a little lacking. The fingerprint scanner on the side of the phone is reliable and quick to unlock. Additionally, there is a rainfall touch feature that functions as planned.
Cameras
Together with a 2MP secondary lens, the Realme C65 5G has a 50MP AI primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture. An 8MP f/2.0 lens for video calls and selfies is located up front. Here’s a straight comparison with the Moto G24 Power, one of its main rivals. With a slightly warmer color temperature, the Realme C65 has a greater dynamic range. However, in bright environments, it does somewhat overexpose the picture. In contrast, the G24 Power tends to have more natural colors, but its dynamic range may be improved.
The selfie camera functions similarly, taking nice photos with natural skin tones during the day. It does, however, introduce a slight smoothing effect, and the photographs may appear overly crisp to some viewers. Selfies taken in dim light appear softer and lack detail.
Performance
Let’s get down to the point: how well does the Realme C65 5G function in everyday situations? The response is an impressive one! With 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS2.2 storage—which can be upgraded to 2TB with a MicroSD card—the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC meets all of its performance requirements.
When using the Realme C65 5G for routine tasks like app browsing, social media scrolling, video watching, and more, it functions flawlessly without any noticeable jerks or lags. When comparing everyday browsing to other low-cost phones, which have less power, the difference is apparent. We also tested its functionality as a gaming device by playing a few moderately demanding titles including Real Racing 3, BGMI, and COD: Mobile. The smartphone produced an enjoyable gaming experience in medium graphic settings, which was an impressive outcome.
In games like Real Racing 3 and COD: Mobile (medium graphical settings), the C65 reliably produces 60 frames per second. When using high frame rate settings and HD resolution in BGMI, the device continuously maintains about 40 frames per second. But as we played, we ran into a few problems, especially with the internal temperature rising, which led to some strange freezes and a few crashes in BGMI. Extended gaming sessions also negatively impacted the touch response, particularly in warmer weather.
Software
Realme UI 5.0, which is based on Android 14, is preinstalled on the smartphone. There are some pre-installed programs on the OS skin, but you can choose to uninstall them. It’s necessary to disable the “Hot apps” from the App Market settings and give them some more attention. Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, the user interface runs quickly and has several helpful features that I find particularly enjoyable to use, like the file dock, floating windows, and connect to Windows capability.
Additionally, the smart sensing features function as planned. It’s neat that the power button can also be set to do several different things. With the C65 5G, Realme guarantees two years of operating system updates and three years of software updates, guaranteeing the smartphone’s continued relevance through 2026.
Recharging and battery
The Realme C65 is powered by a regular 5,000mAh cell and has a 15W fast charger. The device’s battery is quite strong; it achieved an amazing PCMark benchmark score of 16 hours and 42 minutes. You can get by on this battery for an entire day of ordinary use. If you consume a lot of electricity, you might need to plug in your charger at the end of the day.
The cumulative battery drain during our two-hour gaming and video streaming test was about 24 percent, which is a good result. In terms of charging speeds, the gadget can be fully recharged from 0% to 100% in slightly over 2 hours using the 15W bundled charger, which is the usual charging speed for this price range.
Final Verdict
The 4GB+64GB Realme C65 5G starts at Rs 9,999 (Rs 500 bank offer included), which is a pricing that may just raise the standard for smartphones under Rs 10K. It has excellent performance that can compete with more expensive smartphones, a strong battery backup, the highest refresh rate (120 Hz) in the sub-Rs 10K range, and decent daytime cameras. The POCO M6 Pro 5G (review), Lava Blaze 2 (review), and Moto G24 Power (review) are the main competitors of the smartphone.
Similar to the Realme C65 5G, the former two offer excellent performance output for the money. Better visuals are provided by the M6 Pro’s higher resolution display (FHD+), while the Blaze 2 and G24 Power have stock Android-like user interfaces. In addition, the latter has a longer battery life than the Realme C65. If you have a tight budget and value features like performance, a long-lasting battery, and a crisp display, the Realme C65 5G is a great choice that won’t let you down.
