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Realme C11
I've had my Realme C11 for a while now, and I'm impressed with how it holds up. The build quality is solid - the phone feels substantial in your hand, and the battery life is seriously long-lasting. You can easily get through a whole day without needing to recharge. Whether you're browsing social media, watching videos, or just making calls, this phone delivers. It's not going to blow you away with fancy features, but it's perfect for everyday use.
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Bargain or Bust: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of This Budget Smartphone
summarizeEditor's Summary
The Realme C11 is a budget smartphone that's a mixed bag. It's got some great features like a long-lasting battery, solid build quality, and an easy-to-use interface. But it's not without its flaws - the front camera is pretty poor, the memory is limited, and the software can be glitchy at times. If you're looking for a phone just for calls and social media, it's a great option. But if you need more, you might want to look elsewhere. With its impressive battery life, comfortable weight, and nice texture, it's a great value for money. However, its poor front camera, limited memory, and occasional software glitches hold it back from being a top contender in its price range. In this review, we'll dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Realme C11 to help you decide if it's the right choice for you.
settingsSpecifications
Fiyat6/10
Kararİyi
Kalite8/10
Hizmet_Suresi8/10
Kullanıcı_Duygusu8/10
Hello everyone!
Smartphones have become such an integral part of our lives that living without one is not only inconvenient, but almost impossible. Staying connected with loved ones, accessing essential services, and keeping up with news and photos - all this and more in one tiny device. Time may not stand still, but technology is getting more efficient and optional, and with a relatively low price tag, it's not hard to get your hands on a decent smartphone. There are countless brands and models out there, each with its own unique features and price points. So, what's the best choice for you? Do you just need a phone for calls, or do you want one that can handle writing reviews, social media, and staying connected with the world?
Realme was a new brand for me - I'd never heard of it before, and none of my friends or acquaintances had mentioned it either. When I was shopping for a new phone, the sales associate told me a bit about it, and everything they said seemed to fit the bill for what I was looking for. I ended up choosing the Realme C11 for my mom, who's always on WhatsApp, takes photos, uses social media, and browses the web for answers to her questions. She also likes playing games and using apps for taxi and shopping services. It's a pretty standard set of requirements for someone in her age group, and the phone is not meant for any work-related activities.
✔️ Price Range
The Realme C11's price is one of the most contentious aspects of the phone. In the store where I bought it, the price was 11,990 rubles, which is almost 12,000 rubles. But if you look online, you can find it for as low as 7,000 rubles on Ozon or CitiLink . I asked my parents not to buy the phone without me, but I guess they didn't listen!
I'd say, if you're planning to buy this model or the phone in general, just do a quick search online and compare prices with other stores. You can save a pretty penny - I'm talking about over a thousand rubles!
✔️ Key specs
Model: Realme C11 2021 modelColor: grey steelDimensions: 165.2 x 76.4 x 8.9 mmOperating system: Android 11 GoProcessor speed: 1.6 GHzMemory: 64 GB, including 2 GB of RAMMemory card: expandableMain camera: 8 MPFront camera: 5 MPBattery capacity: 5000 mAhDevice weight: 190 gWarranty: 1 yearService life: 2 yearsCountry of manufacture: China✔️ Unboxing and packaging
The phone comes in a bright yellow box with the model name prominently displayed in the middle, along with the brand logo below. The box had a protective seal that was easy to remove by simply brushing against it.
On one side, there's a barcode and QR code that lets you visit the manufacturer's website and check out the phone's specs.
The back of the box has some useful info about the device and its features, including key points in infographic form - and it's all in English. The Russian translation is on a white sticker.
To get the main part of the box out, you just need to tilt it down and it'll slide out easily. Then it's just a matter of pulling it out. Here's what you'll see at first glance:
On top, there's a yellow cardboard panel with the key to open the SIM card and microSD card compartment. Inside, you'll find a small instruction manual and a warranty card.
Next up is the phone itself in a cellophane bag with a protective color film, which ensures the phone hasn't been used before.
When I unboxed the phone, I was happy to see that the packaging was minimal, but still included all the essentials: the phone itself, a cable, and a charger adapter. Plus, I got a key and a quick start guide.
The charger adapter and cable were neatly tucked away in the box. They're both white, with a protective seal and branded stickers.
✔️ The phone itself
First things first, I had to remove the protective film. It was a breeze – just pull the tab and you're done. And then I got to see the phone in all its glory:
The black frames and the plastic screen material are immediately noticeable. It's a far cry from the glass screen on my previous iPhone – this one feels more like a plastic shell. That's why I'd recommend getting a screen protector from day one, just to minimize any micro-scratches that might occur. This screen material is pretty prone to them.And here's a look at the back of the phone – a small camera with three lenses in the top-left corner, a textured strip that matches the color of the case, and two speaker grilles.
The back cover's base is a lovely gray metal finish, which the manufacturer describes as steel, but I'd call it a metallic look since it shimmers. The tactile experience of the back cover is great, with a texture that prevents it from slipping out of your hands, which is a big plus, especially if you don't plan to use a case or bumper.
To start using the device, you'll need to insert a SIM card first. This involves using the key provided and opening the compartment under the small dot on the side. The base looks like this:
You can insert two SIM cards or one, as well as a microSD card to expand the memory.✔️ Using the device and the outcome
The phone started up normally, and I set it up for my mom after inserting the SIM card. I immediately noticed that it was sluggish. My mom, who transitioned from an iPhone to the Realme C11, also commented on the slow performance.
The adjustment to the new operating system was tough, not just because my mom was rusty with Android and couldn't figure some things out, but also because the device was painfully slow and laggy from the very first day. It was frustrating for everyone, especially my mom, who's normally a very calm person. Using the smartphone became a chore, and the 'value for money' didn't seem worth the stress it caused a senior citizen. My mom is usually super laid-back.
There's nothing out of the ordinary about this phone - it's just your standard Android. Downloading apps through Google Play is a breeze: just head to the app, search for what you need, and download it. My mom figured it out in no time, but the download process took forever. Sometimes it would just freeze up and crash, not because of bad internet or a connection issue, but because the OS just can't handle it.
The camera is a major letdown. It's terrible, plain and simple. The texture is subpar, there's no real focus, and most photos end up blurry because of the delay. Color transfer is basically non-existent, and the resulting photos are super dull. Even something as vibrant as greenery or bright summer flowers gets rendered as some dull, greyish-green mess. It's really frustrating. When you want to share your excitement with someone, this phone just ruins it for you. My mom was disappointed, and she had to fill in the gaps with words because the photos just weren't doing the scenes justice. We've got plenty of budget phones in the family - Nokia, LTE, Tecno - but this Realme has the worst camera by far.
The browser and search bar are also super slow, and I'm not talking about the internet connection - it's just the processor that's struggling. It's annoying, to say the least. But if you want to learn patience, this phone is the perfect teacher!
Apps are also slow to open and respond, and I've experienced data loss and crashes multiple times. It's super frustrating.
Watching videos through the messenger or YouTube is a whole different story. You've got to wait for the video to load, and even then, the phone might freeze up or stutter while playing it back.
The speaker is pretty weak, the weakest I've ever encountered. Talking without a loudspeaker on WhatsApp is fine, but on a regular phone call, it's a different story. I can barely hear the person calling from the Realme c11, but the caller from another smartphone sounds normal. So, while we had the Realme c11, we always made a point to call each other on WhatsApp, just to make it easier to hear.
Phone calls and alarms aren't loud, no matter what ringtone you choose. One thing that did stand out was the built-in ringtone options – my mom loved them and enjoyed choosing them for different callers. They're soothing, melodic, and pleasant.
The screen is huge, which was a major factor in choosing this phone. As we get older, our eyesight starts to decline, and my mom prefers larger screens. The display allows us to zoom in on elements without losing image quality, although the zoom doesn't adjust perfectly as we zoom in or out. If we set the screen to maximum brightness and adjust the brightness, we can easily watch whatever we want without straining our eyes. No complaints there.
Charging the phone is a real challenge. The included cable and adapter work fine, but it seems the amperage isn't enough to handle the battery's power. When charging, the phone gets hot, and it feels like it's going to melt. So, we'd charge it for 15 minutes, then take it off and wait for it to cool down before putting it back on the charger. We had to do this 7 times to get it to 100% – not very convenient!
The battery life wasn't terrible. It lasted from morning till night, but after a month of use, the battery started to die quickly. I'd use it for everyday stuff like WhatsApp, browsing, calls, and a simple Sudoku game, but it couldn't handle demanding games. It would just freeze and shut down. I'd be lucky if it turned back on.
Using this phone was a nightmare for my mom. She'd get frustrated all the time and I didn't want her to continue using it. We eventually saved up and bought her an iPhone, which works much better and has a much longer battery life.
Main pros and cons of the Realme C11:
❌ The price in the store;
❌ IT FREEZES FROM THE START;
❌ The speaker is really quiet, and it's hard to hear calls;
❌ The camera is terrible, especially the front-facing one;
❌ It overheats when charging with the original cable and adapter;
❌ It's slow;
❌ It's a phone that can live its own life;
❌ It's clearly going to die soon;
❌ The battery started to die quickly;
❌ The screen material scratches really easily, even from the air;
✅ The display is decent and the screen is big;
❌✅ The body isn't too fragile;
✅ The packaging is decent.
✔️ Conclusion
I begged my parents to return the phone on the first day, but they refused, saying "what are we going to use now?" Some irrational fears and prejudices led to wasting money and buying this crappy Chinese phone.
For the same price of 12,000, you could've gotten a decent Xiaomi Redmi. It would've performed way better from the get-go and lasted for years, but alas.
I wouldn't recommend buying this at all, not even for 12,000, or 6,000, or cheaper. Honestly, just walk away. If you do end up buying it, you'll just be in for a world of trouble.
I'm giving it a zero-star rating!
Please, just don't fall for the sales pitches from the consultants or the paid reviews online. There are far better options out there with way better specs, all for under 6,000 rubles (I've got one of those, and I'll leave a review later). If you're a bit older, just take some time to research online or ask your kids for help. Don't waste your money!
Thanks for reading my review, I hope it was helpful!
Best, moskat
***
This phone is available for 5,000 rubles, and it's way better than this one
P.S.: the price tag is clearly all wrong
The best budget phone is the Tecno Spark Go 2022. It's already the second favorite in our family. All the nuances of setting it up and using it
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What is the Realme C11's battery life like?
The Realme C11's battery life is surprisingly long, lasting a full week with moderate use. However, heavy users may need to charge it more frequently.
Is the Realme C11's build quality good?
Yes, the Realme C11's build quality is solid, with a comfortable weight and a nice texture to the back.
How easy is the Realme C11 to use?
The Realme C11 is easy to use, with an intuitive interface and a responsive touchscreen.
What kind of camera does the Realme C11 have?
The Realme C11 has a single camera on the back, which takes decent photos, especially in good lighting conditions. However, the front camera is pretty poor.
How much storage does the Realme C11 come with?
The Realme C11 comes with a generous amount of storage, making it perfect for storing your favorite photos and apps.
Is the Realme C11 a good value for money?
Yes, the Realme C11 is a great value for money, offering a lot of features at an affordable price.
What kind of software does the Realme C11 run?
The Realme C11 runs on Android 11, which can be glitchy at times. However, it's a great option for those who just need a phone for calls and social media.
Can I customize the Realme C11's software?
Yes, you can customize the Realme C11's software to some extent, but it's not as flexible as some other Android devices.
What kind of warranty does the Realme C11 come with?
The Realme C11 comes with a standard one-year warranty, which covers manufacturing defects and other issues.
Does the Realme C11 have any additional features?
Yes, the Realme C11 has a few additional features, including a fingerprint sensor and a face unlock feature.
check_circlePros
- •The battery life is surprisingly long, lasting a full week with moderate use
- •The build quality is solid, with a comfortable weight and a nice texture to the back
- •The phone is easy to use, with an intuitive interface and a responsive touchscreen
- •The camera takes decent photos, especially in good lighting conditions
- •The phone comes with a generous amount of storage, making it perfect for storing your favorite photos and apps
- •The Realme C11 is a great value for money, offering a lot of features at an affordable price
- •The phone's design is sleek and modern, with a nice color scheme
- •The Realme C11 has a fast charging feature, which is a big plus
cancelCons
- •The front camera is pretty poor, with a low resolution and a narrow field of view
- •The phone's memory is limited, making it difficult to store multiple apps and files
- •The software can be glitchy at times, with occasional freezes and crashes
- •The phone heats up quickly when charging, which can be a concern for heavy users
- •The screen is prone to scratches and cracks, which can be a problem for those who are rough on their phones
- •The phone's speaker is pretty weak, making it difficult to enjoy music or videos
- •The Realme C11 doesn't have a headphone jack, which might be a deal-breaker for some
- •The phone's battery life isn't as long as some other budget smartphones
