“Budget smartphones are almost always a compromise” – Kommersant FM

Kommersant FM columnist Alexander Levi talks about how the smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer turned out.

Budget smartphones are almost always a compromise, and sometimes real sacrifices. Therefore, one can judge the success of a model only if one selects a specific list of assessments. I’ll explain using the example of a new product – the C67 model worth about 15 thousand rubles, which I recently tested.

If the potential owner of the device is interested in stereo sound, the number of pixels in the camera, a processor from Qualcomm, protection from dust and moisture, as well as the ability to expand the memory, then this option can be considered successful.

In the same case, if the user wants a gaming device with macro-, tele- or wide-angle sensors, forced support for high-frequency display operation, noticeable autonomy or ultra-fast charging, then this is definitely not a suitable option.

I didn’t say anything about the appearance of the smartphone, and here’s why. Firstly, this is largely a matter of taste. Secondly, there is hardly a person who sincerely wants to buy an ugly smartphone.

In the plastic case, the C67 managed to play well with the texture of the surfaces – it’s pleasant to touch. Strict flat screens and side edges will not suit everyone, but I see this as an honest decision by the designers, no attempts to flirt with half-shapes. The usual plastic spacer between the display and side frames in the realme C67 is missing, which is great. But if you don’t specifically look for this achievement, it seems to be unnoticeable.

Without a hint of irony, I consider the main camera block, similar to the head of a rotary electric razor, to be a big victory for the designers, especially in comparison with the consolidated version – Realme C67 5G, which is not supplied to our market. That element is terrible for that one. And in the version for Russia, we managed to smartly pack a 108 MP main sensor and rangefinder.

The declared three- and five-fold zooms work, of course, at the software level. Surprisingly, regular crop is even inferior to the built-in zoom scenarios. It’s different in the case of a five-fold zoom, and even more so when shooting outside of daylight. As for the selfie camera, I suggest pretending it doesn’t exist.

But with the active “Mini Capsule 2.0” mode, which is similar to how Dynamic Island works in the iPhone, the user will interact constantly. And this is exactly the feature that makes the Realme C67 stand out, and not only in its category.