Realme C61: A Budget-Friendly Smartphone That Packs A Punch

Body

The Realme C61 boasts a sleek design with dimensions of 167.3×76.7×7.8 mm, making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. Weighing 187 grams, it strikes a good balance between being lightweight and feeling substantial. The metal frame adds a touch of durability and premium feel, unusual for devices in this price range. Available in Marble Black and Safari Green, the C61 offers a couple of stylish options to suit different tastes. Here are the relevant specs:

The dimensions and weight of the Realme C61 contribute to its overall comfort and portability. The phone strikes a good balance between being compact enough to handle comfortably and substantial enough to feel durable in hand. This makes it suitable for extended use without causing hand fatigue, and it easily slips into a pocket or a bag without feeling overly bulky.

The Realme C61 features a metal frame, which enhances its durability and premium feel compared to devices using plastic frames in the same price range. Metal frames generally provide better structural integrity and can withstand drops and impacts better than plastic. They also dissipate heat more efficiently, which can help in maintaining optimal performance during extended use or charging.

However, metal frames may contribute to a slightly heavier weight compared to phones with plastic or composite frames. They can also be prone to scratching. Despite these considerations, the choice of a metal frame for the Realme C61 adds a touch of elegance and durability that is often appreciated in budget-friendly smartphones.

In terms of color choices, the Realme C61 offers two distinct options: Marble Black and Safari Green. These colors cater to different personalities and preferences:

• Marble Black: This color exudes a classic and professional look, appealing to users who prefer a sleek and understated design.
• Safari Green: This hue offers a more vibrant and youthful appearance, appealing to those who want their smartphone to stand out with a unique and energetic color.

Overall, the dimensions, weight, and choice of a metal frame in the Realme C61 contribute positively to its ergonomic design and durability, making it a practical choice for everyday use and ensuring it remains visually appealing to a wide range of users.

If we compare the Realme C61 with the predecessor Realme C51, it's not much different in terms of dimensions and weight. The C51 was 167.2×76.7×8 mm and 186 g. Material-wise, it featured a glass front and a plastic back and frame.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

With an IP54 rating, the Realme C61 is dust and splash resistant. While this doesn't make it waterproof, it does provide some protection against everyday spills and dust, enhancing its durability for daily use.

The "IP" in IP54 stands for Ingress Protection, and the two digits that follow each have a specific meaning. The first digit, the 5 in this case, refers to protection against solid particles. In Realme C61's world, that means it's dust-resistant. It's not completely dust-proof, but dust won't enter it in amounts that interferes with its safe operation. So, if you find yourself in a desert adventure or just have a knack for dropping your phone in the sandbox, fear not - the Realme C61's got you covered.

Next, the second digit, the 4, is all about protection against liquids. In this case, it's splash-resistant. So, a bit of rain or an accidental spill won't send your phone into panic mode. Just don't go tossing it into the pool for a dramatic entrance - that's a bit beyond its splash-resistant superpowers.

Now, about shielding your precious gadget from the environmental elements. While the C61 can handle the occasional splash, if you're planning a deep-sea expedition, I'd recommend a protective case. Think of it as a stylish armor for your phone - it wards off more than just evil scratches.

And let's not forget the screen - a screen protector is like a superhero shield against scratches and scuffs. It's the unsung hero that takes the hits, leaving your display unscathed and shining like a beacon of resilience.

So, dear users, embrace the case, adorn your screen with a protector, and let your Realme C61 venture fearlessly into the world. After all, a little extra armor never hurt anyone, right?

Display

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

The Realme C61 features a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and a more responsive touch experience. It has a resolution of 720×1600 pixels, offering a 20:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of approximately 270 PPI. While it's not Full HD, the display quality is adequate for most tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming.

Realme C61 display. Image credit: Realme

Here are the relevant specs:

IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD displays are known for their wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. This makes them a popular choice for smartphones, as they ensure that colors remain consistent and images retain their clarity when viewed from different angles. IPS displays generally offer better color accuracy and wider viewing angles compared to traditional TN (Twisted Nematic) LCDs, making them more suitable for media consumption and gaming.

The 90 Hz refresh rate is one of the standout features of the Realme C61's display. This higher refresh rate means the screen updates 90 times per second, resulting in smoother scrolling, more fluid animations, and an overall more responsive experience. This is particularly beneficial for gaming and navigating through the user interface, as it reduces motion blur and provides a more immersive experience compared to the standard 60 Hz displays found in many budget phones.

The display resolution of 720×1600 pixels translates to an approximate pixel density of 270 PPI (pixels per inch). While this resolution is not as high as Full HD (1080p) or Quad HD (1440p), it is adequate for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, using social media, and watching videos at 720p. The lower resolution also helps conserve battery life, which is a practical advantage for an entry-level device.

However, for tasks that require higher clarity and detail, such as reading small text, editing photos, and watching high-definition videos, a higher resolution display would be preferable. Users who prioritize media consumption at the highest quality might find the 720p resolution limiting.

The Realme C61's display offers a typical brightness of 450 nits and a peak brightness of 560 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM). While these brightness levels are sufficient for indoor use and most outdoor conditions, they might be on the lower side for very bright outdoor environments or under direct sunlight. In such scenarios, it can be challenging to see the screen clearly, as higher brightness levels help in overcoming glare and reflections.

Your touch is the command, and the Realme C61 ensures it's heard loud and clear. The 180 Hz touch sampling rate means your interactions with the screen are swift and responsive, offering a seamless touch experience. Touch sampling refers to how quickly the screen updates and detects your touch inputs. A high touch sampling rate like 180 Hz is crucial for your smartphone's responsiveness. Whether you're gaming or simply navigating through your apps, the screen keeps up with your every touch.

In conclusion, the Realme C61's IPS LCD display with a 90 Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and responsive user experience, particularly beneficial for gaming and general navigation. The 720×1600 pixels resolution is adequate for most everyday tasks and media consumption at 720p, but it might not satisfy users who demand higher clarity and detail for specific content types. The brightness levels, while decent, could be higher to ensure better visibility in extremely bright conditions.

Overall, the display on the Realme C61 offers a good balance of features for its price range, making it a suitable choice for budget-conscious users who seek a smooth and enjoyable visual experience without the need for ultra-high resolutions or exceptional brightness levels.

For comparison, the predecessor Realme C51 featured a 6.74-inch, 720×1600 px IPS LCD display, with 90 Hz refresh rate and 560 nits peak brightness.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

The Realme C61 supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE, ensuring decent network connectivity for most users.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds and improved call quality.

SIM

The dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by) support allows you to manage personal and work numbers seamlessly or use two different carriers to maximize network coverage.

Chipset - Performance

Under the hood, the Realme C61 features the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, built on a 12-nm process. The octa-core CPU, consisting of two types of cores, along with the Mali-G57 GPU, delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks. While it may not handle intensive gaming or heavy multitasking as well as high-end phones, it should suffice for typical use cases like browsing, media consumption, and light gaming. Here are the relevant specs:

The Realme C61 is powered by the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, which features an octa-core CPU and a Mali-G57 GPU. This combination provides a balanced performance for an entry-level device, catering to a variety of everyday tasks while maintaining efficiency.

The octa-core CPU in the Unisoc Tiger T612 is divided into two clusters:

• Cortex-A75 Cores: These cores are designed for performance-oriented tasks. They deliver higher processing power and are optimized for handling intensive applications such as gaming, complex calculations, and multitasking. Despite having the same clock speed as the Cortex-A55 cores (1.8 GHz), the A75 cores have a more complex architecture that allows them to execute instructions more efficiently and quickly, thus providing better performance for demanding tasks.
• Cortex-A55 Cores: These cores are designed for efficiency. They handle less demanding tasks such as web browsing, social media, and background processes. These cores are optimized for power efficiency, ensuring that the phone consumes less battery during routine activities, thereby prolonging battery life.

Using two different types of cores allows for a balance between performance and power efficiency. This heterogeneous multi-core architecture, known as ARM's big.LITTLE configuration, enables the device to dynamically allocate tasks to the appropriate cores based on their requirements. Intensive tasks are handled by the performance-oriented Cortex-A75 cores, while everyday tasks are managed by the efficient Cortex-A55 cores. This approach maximizes performance when needed and conserves power during routine operations.

The Mali-G57 GPU is responsible for rendering graphics and handling visual tasks. It provides adequate performance for casual gaming, video playback, and graphical user interface (GUI) interactions. While it may not offer the high-end gaming capabilities found in flagship devices, it is sufficient for entry-level and mid-range gaming titles, as well as for everyday multimedia consumption.

Given the combination of the Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, the octa-core CPU, and the Mali-G57 GPU, the Realme C61 is well-suited for a variety of tasks, including:

• Web Browsing: Smooth performance for surfing the internet and using web-based applications.
• Social Media: Efficient handling of social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Multimedia Consumption: Adequate for watching videos, streaming music, and viewing photos.
• Casual Gaming: Capable of running less demanding games with reasonable performance.
• Everyday Productivity: Suitable for tasks like emailing, messaging, and using productivity apps.

However, while the Realme C61 is competent for many everyday tasks, certain activities might require a more powerful configuration, such as:

• High-End Gaming: Games with advanced graphics and high performance requirements might struggle on this device.
• Heavy Multitasking: Running multiple demanding apps simultaneously may push the limits of the CPU and RAM.
• Professional Applications: Intensive applications for video editing, graphic design, or 3D modeling would require more powerful hardware.
• Advanced Photography and Videography: High-resolution image and video editing apps might not perform optimally.

In summary, the Realme C61, with its Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, octa-core CPU, and Mali-G57 GPU, offers a balanced performance suitable for everyday tasks and moderate multimedia consumption. The combination of Cortex-A75 and Cortex-A55 cores ensures efficient power management while providing adequate performance for typical user activities. However, users seeking high-end gaming, professional-grade applications, and advanced multitasking capabilities might need to look at higher-tier devices with more robust hardware configurations.

For comparison, the predecessor C51 featured the same chipset, CPU, and GPU combination as the C61.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

The Realme C61 offers a range of memory configurations. The dedicated microSDXC slot allows for additional storage expansion, ensuring you have plenty of space for apps, photos, and videos.

For comparison, the predecessor Realme C51 came in four variants, offering 3 GB to 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB to 256 GB of eMMC 5.1 internal storage, expandable via a microSDXC card.

Cameras

The dual-camera setup on the Realme C61 includes a 32 MP primary sensor, capable of capturing sharp and detailed photos. The auxiliary depth sensor helps with portrait shots, ensuring a nice bokeh effect. The camera setup can record videos at 1080p at 30 fps.

The 5 MP front-facing camera is suitable for selfies and video calls, though it may not produce the same level of detail as higher-end devices. It can also record videos, making it versatile for basic vlogging and social media updates.

Rear Camera

Realme C61 main camera setup. Image credit: Realme

The Realme C61 is equipped with a dual-camera setup that aims to provide a versatile photography experience for an entry-level device. Let's break down the roles of the two lenses and the features of the camera. Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	Realme C61
Number of Cameras	2 (Dual)
Resolution (Megapixels)	32 MP (wide), N/A (depth)
Aperture	f/1.8, N/A
Autofocus	PDAF, N/A
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash, panorama

The primary lens of the Realme C61 is a 32 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. This lens is designed to capture sharp and detailed images, making it suitable for a variety of shooting conditions, from well-lit environments to low-light scenarios.

The 32 megapixel resolution ensures that images are captured with a high level of detail, allowing for crisp and clear photos. This is particularly useful for cropping and enlarging photos without significant loss of quality. And the f/1.8 aperture allows more light to enter the sensor, improving performance in low-light conditions. This helps produce brighter and clearer images even in dimly lit environments.

The second lens in the camera setup is an auxiliary depth sensor. This lens plays a crucial role in enhancing portrait photography by providing depth information to the camera system. It assists in creating a bokeh effect, where the background is artistically blurred while keeping the subject in sharp focus. This results in professional-looking portrait shots with a pleasing background separation.

By accurately detecting the distance between the camera and the subject, the depth sensor improves the overall quality and realism of portrait photos.

Among the camera features, PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) is an autofocus technology that helps achieve faster and more accurate focusing by detecting phase differences in the light entering the camera. This results in quicker focusing times, which is especially beneficial when capturing moving subjects or when shooting in dynamic environments. With PDAF, the camera can lock onto subjects swiftly, reducing the likelihood of missed or blurry shots.

The inclusion of an LED flash provides additional illumination for low-light conditions. This feature is particularly useful when shooting in dark environments or at night, helping to brighten up the scene and enhance the details in photos.

Panorama mode allows you to capture wide-angle shots by stitching together multiple photos taken in a sweeping motion. This feature is ideal for landscape photography, group photos, or any scenario where capturing a broader view is desired. It provides an expansive field of view that a single shot cannot achieve, making it perfect for scenic vistas and large group portraits.

The main camera supports video recording at 1080p resolution and 30 frames per second (fps). This allows you to capture high-definition videos with decent clarity and smoothness, suitable for sharing on social media or personal viewing.

In conclusion, the Realme C61's dual-camera setup, featuring a 32 MP primary lens with PDAF and an auxiliary depth sensor, offers a versatile photography experience. The primary lens captures high-resolution, detailed images with good low-light performance, thanks to its wide aperture. The depth sensor enhances portrait photography by providing accurate depth information, resulting in appealing bokeh effects.

Additional features like the LED flash and panorama mode further enhance the camera's capabilities, making it a well-rounded option for users looking to capture a variety of scenes and moments. While it may not compete with the advanced camera systems found in higher-end devices, the Realme C61's camera setup is more than adequate for everyday photography needs, offering good value for an entry-level smartphone.

For comparison, the older Realme C51 featured a dual camera setup, consisting of a 50 MP (27 mm, f/1.8) wide lens supporting PDAF, and a 0.08 MP (f/3.0) auxiliary lens. It could record 1080p videos at 30 fps, and its feature set included LED flash, panorama, and HDR.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

One of the standout features of the Realme C61 is its 5000 mAh battery. This sizable battery ensures long-lasting performance, easily getting through a full day of usage on a single charge. The 10 W wired charging is relatively slow by today’s standards, but considering the battery capacity and the phone's price point, it remains acceptable.

For comparison, the older C51 came with a similar battery, with 33 W wired charging support.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

The Realme C61 comes with a loudspeaker and retains the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a feature that's becoming rare in many modern smartphones. This makes it convenient for users who prefer wired headphones or have invested in high-quality audio gear.

For comparison, the predecessor Realme C51 had a similar audio setup.

Connectivity

With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, the Realme C61 ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The Realme C61 boasts Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

With GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, and BDS support, you can navigate with confidence, whether exploring new cities or embarking on outdoor adventures.

The absence of NFC might disappoint users who rely on contactless interactions.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C 2.0 - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C 2.0 ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology.

Sensors

The Realme C61 comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Proximity Sensor: Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared, sound, light, or electromagnetic fields) without physically contacting it. It is used, for example, to turn off the screen when you position your device close to your ear while making a call.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is side-facing in the C61.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.
• Compass: The compass determines your device's orientation. It is essential for navigation apps, map orientation, and augmented reality experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is Realme C61 release date?

  The Realme C61 has been announced on the 28th June, 2024. It is expected to release on the 2nd July, 2024.

• What is Realme C61 price?

  The Realme C61 is priced starting from INR 7699 (about USD 92) for the 4 GB / 64 GB variant, and goes up to INR 8999 (about USD 108) for the 6 GB / 128 GB variant.