We are back with another device from realme that targets the budget-friendly smartphone market.
We used the device as our daily driver, and here are our thoughts on it.
Our review unit comes in the Victory Purple color variant. In terms of design, it looks good, but there is nothing particularly unique about it. It looks very similar to other smartphones in the same price segment.
During our time with the device, it felt comfortable to hold despite its weight of 219 grams and 8.63mm thickness. We also did not encounter any issues with its build quality.
However, if you are used to more premium smartphones, you may notice some differences, such as the softer edges and the less rigid back panel.
One of the key selling points of this device is its IP68 and IP69 ratings, which provide protection against water splashes and accidental submersion.
The phone features a 6.8-inch IPS LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness.
Unfortunately, it still uses an HD+ resolution, which is disappointing considering that many entry-level smartphones now offer Full HD+ displays.
In terms of quality, the display is average at best. It lacks the sharpness and vibrancy that I look for when consuming multimedia content. The bezels are also quite thick, although they did not significantly affect my viewing experience.
One issue that stood out was the display’s overall responsiveness. Despite having a 120Hz refresh rate, I experienced occasional slowdowns while navigating the home screen and switching between apps.
Powering the device is the MediaTek Helio G92 chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on our review unit.
For everyday tasks, the phone performs adequately. It handles light workloads such as checking emails, answering calls, browsing social media, and working on scripts without major issues.
However, it struggles when dealing with heavier tasks such as multitasking and video editing.
For gaming, we tested Mobile Legends and found the performance to be decent for its price range. We will be releasing a full gaming review soon, so stay tuned.
Benchmark Result
One of the highlights of the device is its massive 8,000mAh battery, paired with 15W wired charging.
During our PCMark battery test, the phone lasted an impressive 24 hours and 55 minutes, dropping from 100% to 20% battery life.
For a budget smartphone, that level of endurance is excellent, especially for casual users.
In real-world usage, the battery can easily last a couple of days before requiring a recharge.
The device is equipped with a single 50MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera.
For daylight photography, the rear camera performs surprisingly well. It offers a wide dynamic range, good highlight processing, and sharp colors with a respectable amount of detail. However, exposure can sometimes be inconsistent.
Low-light performance is less impressive. Images tend to appear soft and lack the detail and sharpness found in well-lit conditions.
As for selfies, the front camera captures a decent amount of detail, and facial features remain visible. However, highlight handling can occasionally be inconsistent.
For video recording, both the front and rear cameras support up to 1080p at 30fps. Video quality is not particularly impressive, but it is acceptable for a smartphone in this price range.
Overall, the realme C100 is a decent budget smartphone that offers a durable build and excellent battery life. However, it falls behind in several other areas, including display quality and overall performance.
If you are looking for an affordable secondary phone for light daily activities, this is not a bad option to consider.
As for the pricing, the realme C100 will officially launch on June 18, 2026. Stay tuned for the official SRP announcement.
That was our experience with the realme C100. What are your thoughts on this device? Let us know in the comments below.
If you want to have a better look of this device, you might want to check out our full experiential review video on our YouTube Channel!
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
