The Pros and Cons of realme C55 NFC

The realme C Series, known for its elegant designs, includes impressive models like the realme C33 and C35. Yet, these phones retain the water drop notch - a common feature of budget-friendly devices.

The realme C55 NFC, however, stands out. It showcases a high-end punch-hole front camera - a first for the realme C Series. The realme C55 NFC isn't defined solely by this feature, as it also introduces a series of enhancements that distinguish it from its predecessors.

Are you curious to learn about the latest updates? Explore our article detailing the benefits and disadvantages of the realme C55 NFC. The following table provides a summary for your convenience.

The above details indicate that the realme C55 NFC surpasses the standard offerings of the realme C Series. If you're interested in a deeper exploration of this phone, continue reading this review.

Specifications of realme C55 NFC

Pros of realme C55 NFC

The realme C55 NFC pushes the usual limits of the realme C Series phones. The benefits listed below demonstrate why it distinguishes itself from its predecessors.

1. Thin, Attractive Body Design

There are several reasons why this phone's design is viewed attractive. First off, it's thin and comparatively lightweight.

The phone boasts a slender 7.89 mm thickness and a modest weight of 189.5 grams. Despite its flat frame and back cover, the slimness of the realme C55 NFC makes it pleasant to hold.

Secondly, it has the unique pattern on its back cover. On the Sunshower variant, vertical lines form a textural design. These lines, reminiscent of rain, harmonize with the sunlight-like colors.

The matte back cover can display hues of blue, red, or orange, contingent on the viewing angle and lighting. This dynamic color effect, a first for a realme C Series phone, adds an appealing depth. The camera area, meanwhile, has a simple glossy finish without any pattern.

The Rainy Black color variant shares the same pattern. However, unlike Sunshower, it doesn't feature color-changing properties, making it ideal for those who appreciate subtlety.

Lastly, as initially mentioned, the realme C55 NFC pioneers a punch-hole style front camera in the realme C Series. Intriguingly, this camera hole pairs with a unique feature known as "Mini Capsule", set for discussion in the third point.

2. Wide Display with High Refresh Rate

The realme C55 NFC opts for a 6.72-inch IPS LCD panel, rather than an AMOLED screen. This display supports Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels), a feature that has been commended for its quality by the YouTube channel K2G.

The display is well-suited for both multimedia consumption and social media browsing. It comes with a 90 Hz refresh rate that offers smoother menu navigation. However, according to Jagat Review's tests, not many apps are capable of operating at this refresh rate.

Applications like YouTube and Play Store are limited to a 60 Hz refresh rate. In terms of brightness, the realme C55 NFC screen performs admirably in both indoor and outdoor settings, boasting up to 680 nits of brightness.

Moreover, the screen has a 180 Hz touch sampling rate and is Widevine L1 certified, allowing Full HD movie streaming from platforms like Netflix. However, it doesn't yet support HDR video playback.

While the type of protective glass hasn't been specified, realme has equipped this phone with a screen protector for added safety.

3. The Distinctive Mini Capsule Feature

Are you familiar with the Dynamic Island feature found in the iPhone 14 Pro? This attribute, which allows the front camera area to adjust in size, now also appears in the realme C55 NF called "Mini Capsule".

This makes the realme C55 NFC one of the first Android smartphones to introduce this feature. Essentially, the Mini Capsule moves notification displays to the areas beside the front camera hole. This gives the impression of a dynamic front camera hole that seems to change in size.

At the time of the realme C55 NFC's launch, the Mini Capsule could only display battery charging notifications. However, realme has committed to expanding the range of notifications that can be displayed in the future.

4. Reliable Daily Performance

The SoC of this device includes an eight-core CPU, with two Cortex A75 cores (2.0 GHz) and six Cortex A55 cores (1.8 GHz). Additionally, it comes with a Mali-G52 MC2 GPU (1 GHz) for graphics. This SoC is quite impressive for a phone in its category.

However, its internal storage utilizes eMMC 5.1, not UFS, which may result in slower loading times for heavy applications and games.

Thankfully, it includes a generous LPDDR4x RAM, either 6 GB or 8 GB, which helps the CPU in the loading process.

In daily use, the realme C55 NFC performs smoothly. You won't find significant issues while using various social media apps, browsing, or just watching videos. The large RAM ensures smooth multitasking.

The device also offers a Dynamic RAM feature, which can virtually expand the RAM up to 8 GB. However, given the already ample built-in RAM, this feature might seem unnecessary.

In gaming tests conducted by Jagat Review, the realme C55 NFC managed to run a range of titles smoothly, including PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile Battle Royale, Mobile Legends, and Subway Surfers.

Unfortunately, none of these games were playable at a 90 fps frame rate. Both PUBG Mobile and COD ran at a maximum of 60 fps, while Mobile Legend operated between 58-60 fps.

The device scored around 250,000 on the AnTuTu 9 benchmark test. On GeekBench 5, its single-core and multi-core scores were 376 and 1463, respectively.

5. Large Memory, Includes a microSD Slot

As mentioned in the performance section, the realme C55 NFC comes in two memory options. One variant features 6 GB RAM with 128 GB storage, and the other provides 8 GB RAM coupled with 256 GB internal storage. Both variants offer ample storage capacity for a phone in its range.

You can download and use numerous applications. Storing a large number of files, such as photos and videos, won't be an issue. If you still need more space, there's an available microSD slot.

You don't have to give up one of your SIM cards, as this phone's microSD slot is dedicated. It has its own separate compartment, distinct from the two SIM card slots. The maximum capacity of the microSD card you can use is 1 TB.

6. Impressive Camera Results

The realme C55 NFC comes with two rear cameras and one front camera. The rear cameras include a 64 MP main camera with an f/1.79 aperture and a 2 MP black/white camera with an f/2.4 aperture. The front camera has an 8 MP resolution with an f/2.2 aperture.

The main camera is complemented by a flash. However, only the main camera has the auto-focus feature. It can record videos up to 1080p at 60 fps, while the front camera can record up to 1080p at 30 fps. Unfortunately, there's no video stabilization feature for any of the cameras.

Based on our trials, the realme C55 NFC takes satisfactory photos with both the main and front cameras. The colors aren't overly vibrant, the details are satisfactory, and the dynamic range is decent, especially in well-lit environments.

For low light or nighttime settings, using the night mode is recommended. As seen on the K2G YouTube channel, the night mode greatly enhances night photos by increasing exposure and detail and even reducing lens flare in some instances.

Below are some sample shots taken by the realme C55 NFC, tested by our Carisinyal team.

When it comes to video recording, the results are quite ordinary. The sound quality could be better since the phone only has a single microphone. The absence of a stabilization feature leads to shaky videos. However, the videos in low light settings are decent with minimal noise and smooth playback.

7. NFC Support and a Range of Sensors

The realme C55 NFC is packed with various sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, and compass. It also features a fingerprint scanner on the power button. However, its gyroscope is virtual, not physical.

The absence of a physical gyroscope explains the lack of video stabilization in this phone. Although the virtual gyroscope can be used for games, it's not very responsive. Its best use appears to be determining your direction when using map apps.

A key feature of this phone is NFC connectivity. The phone's NFC accuracy has been enhanced. You can touch any side of this phone (360 degrees) to the target device. With the realme C55 NFC, you can check and replenish e-money balances easier.

8. The Sales Package Includes a Charger

Customers still can get a 33W charger in the realme C55 NFC's sales package. In addition to the charger, the box includes a SIM card ejector, a soft case, a pre-applied screen protector, and a few sheets of documentation.

The charger and soft case are the most vital accessories. If these items are already in the sales package, you save the hassle and extra expense of finding them separately. While chargers can be purchased easily, a suitable soft case for a particular phone model does not usually appear until some time after its release.

Cons of realme C55 NFC

Despite having a range of attractive features, the realme C55 NFC isn't an impeccable budget smartphone. Here are some of its weaknesses:

1. Lack of an IP Rating

The realme C55 NFC doesn't have an IP (Ingress Protection) rating, or at least, realme hasn't confirmed it. This means the phone may not be safeguarded against dust or water splashes.

Therefore, if you choose this phone, you'll need to handle it with care. Aim to use the device in secure environments to enhance its durability.

2. 5000 mAh Battery has Limited Endurance

The realme C55 NFC has a substantial 5000 mAh battery, common for today's standard smartphones. But, a large battery doesn't necessarily guarantee long-lasting battery performance.

Tests conducted by Jagat Review reveal that this phone's battery only sustained 16 hours and 38 minutes of local video playback (1080p at 30 fps). This outcome is somewhat disappointing, as most phones with a 5000 mAh battery are usually expected to last at least 20 hours.

On a positive note, charging the realme C55 NFC is quite fast. Using the included charger, the battery can be fully charged in just around 1 hour and 13 minutes.

3. Absence of Ultrawide Camera

In 2023, it's common for entry-level and economical mid-range smartphones, including the realme C55 NFC, to not include an ultrawide camera. Therefore, this phone only has one functional camera at the back.

Without an ultrawide camera, you can't capture wide-angle shots. This omission is likely a strategic move to reduce the production costs associated with entry-level and budget mid-range phones.

These types of phones typically yield small profit margins, and with the cost of components like SoCs (System on a Chip) currently on the rise, manufacturers have had to make sacrifices to maintain affordable selling prices. Here, the ultrawide camera was one of the features left out.

4. Lack of Stereo Speakers

The realme C55 NFC also doesn't have stereo speakers, likely as another measure to keep the phone's price affordable. This phone comes with a single speaker, located at the bottom near the USB-C port.

According to Jagat Review, this phone's speaker delivers sound quality that is suitable for its category. Additionally, there is an UltraBoom Speaker feature that can increase the volume. This feature can be activated by pressing the volume up button when the speaker volume is already maxed out at 100%.

5. There is Ads and Bloatware

The realme C55 NFC comes with the Android 13 operating system, overlaid with the realme UI 4.0 interface. This is great news as it means the phone uses an up-to-date operating system.

However, there are a few things to note about this phone's software. Firstly, it has a fair amount of pre-installed applications, also known as bloatware. You'll find apps like LinkedIn and GetContact, which you might not need. Fortunately, most of this bloatware can be uninstalled.

Secondly, ads appear in various places on this phone. It is common for ads to be present on budget phones.

Conclusion

Like all smartphone manufacturers, realme is currently grappling with a challenging situation. The high cost of components demands that they continue to deliver competitive products in the budget-friendly market segment.

To address this situation, realme has opted to exclude some less critical features to concentrate on enhancing others. This strategy has resulted in the creation of the realme C55 NFC. This device is unique, distinguishing it from previous models in the realme C Series.

The phone boasts a captivating design that changes color and a punch hole. Other attractive features include a sizable screen, a decent camera, substantial memory, and a well-rounded sales package. Additionally, it includes a built-in "Mini Capsule" feature, which isn't software from a third-party provider.

However, the phone misses out on features like an IP rating, an ultrawide camera, and stereo speakers. If these omissions don't bother you, the realme C55 NFC is still worth to think about. After all, it is an appealing choice for a cost-effective phone launched in 2023.