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Realme C33 review: what to expect from a $140 smartphone?

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In mid-April, realme added another model to its most budget-friendly C lineup, the realme C33. It is nice that such a tech giant offers models for every taste and budget. The hero of our review costs from $140. Today we will find out whether the gadget will meet with user disapproval, because it has some serious simplifications, but boasts a number of advantages.

realme C33 BF banner

Technical specifications of the realme C33

  • Screen: IPS, 6.5 inches, 720×1600, 270 ppi, 60 Hz, brightness maximum 400 nits
  • Processor: Unisoc Tiger T612 12nm, octa-core (2×1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55), Mali-G57 video card
  • RAM: 4 GB, LPDDR4X
  • Permanent memory: 64 GB UFS 2.2
  • MicroSD card support: up to 256 GB
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 (A2DP, LE), GPS (A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS), NFC, microUSB 2.0
  • Cameras: 50 MP, AF, f/1.8 + 0.3 MP depth sensor, FF, f/2.8, video max. 1080p @ 30fps
  • Front camera: 5 megapixels, f/2.2, 27 mm (wide-angle), 1/5.0″, 1.12µm, max. 1080p@30fps
  • Battery: 5000 mAh, 10W charging
  • Operating system: Android 12, Realme UI S shell
  • Optional: fingerprint sensor in the side key, 3.5 mm mini-jack, Dual SIM
  • Dimensions: 164.2×75.7x 8.3 mm
  • Weight: 187 g
  • Colors: Sandy Gold, Aqua Blue, Night Sea
  • Price: from 5500 UAH ($140)

Read also: realme 9 4G review: Midranger with 108MP camera and 90Hz screen

realme C33

Positioning and price

As we mentioned in the introduction, this is a model of the C line, which is positioned as a budget model. The cost of the 4/64 GB version starts at $140. The gadget is sold in black, blue, and gold colors. We tested the gold color variant.

realme C33

I should add that C33 is not the cheapest smartphone in the series. For example, the realme C30 costs from $100. At the same time, the new product is also not the most expensive. realme C35 costs more, namely from $150. That is, we have a “mid-ranger” among the “ultra-budget” phones. Let’s get to know it better!

Package contents

Once again, the phone costs very little, so of course we couldn’t do without simplifications, and you can see it right away. The box is very simple, made of thin cardboard.

However, the package includes all the necessary components: a charger (which is good, because POCO M5s and Galaxy M53 don’t have one), a microUSB cable, a SIM tray eject tool, a display film, and a user manual.

realme C33

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Did you notice anything strange? Well, first of all, the microUSB cable – I didn’t really like it. The microUSB connector is an outdated solution, even in low-end devices. Nobody uses it! And this is a big minus.

realme C33

Emotions aside, it’s just a different connector, no big deal. But it’s inconvenient to plug in a microUSB cable, and almost no one has such cables anymore. And you’ll have to use more wires at home because your other devices are probably charging via USB-C. And microUSB at the end of 2022 is not serious.

What’s the second one? Secondly, the lack of a protective case in the package. Yes, someone might say: “There’s no point in a case, because everyone buys to their own taste.” It seems so, but it’s always nice to make sure that the manufacturer cares about the safety of the gadget, even if it’s just a simple silicone case. And it’s good to have protection for your smartphone in the box right away. But… you have to save on something.

Design, materials, construction

The new realme design concept includes slim bodies, rectangular edges, and flat, glossy backs. The C33 looks the same as the new realme 9i 5G (not to be confused with the regular 9i) and realme 10. The colors are also similar. It’s even a little funny – you can confuse the latest “king of performance” with the cheap C33.

It seems to me that realme is not worried about the design of new models and will use this appearance more than once.

The body of the smartphone is made of high-quality plastic. Both the back panel and the frame surrounding it are made of the same material, which, again, affects the price. But it’s worth noting that the build looks good, nothing creaks, all the elements are connected to each other carefully and thoughtfully.

I like this flat frame that matches the color of the case. It provides additional protection, allows you to hold the phone securely in your hand, and the gadget does not slip.

The screen occupies almost 82.1% of the front panel surface. The bezels are relatively small, but uneven – the “chin” is wider.

realme C33

Ergonomics and arrangement of elements

Everything looks familiar from the front. The notch for the front camera is teardrop-shaped. The solution is a bit outdated, but normal in the world of “budget” phones. However, the back panel looks very attractive.

The golden-white case shimmers in the light, and if you look at the realme C33 from different angles, you get a shimmering effect – it looks very nice. In addition to the Sandy Gold version that we tested, there is also Night Sea. Its appearance is very similar to the realme 10.

realme C33

The cameras on the back are located separately (there’s not even an island, which is also something new), respectively, the main camera is 50 megapixels and the depth sensor is 0.3 megapixels. The camera pupils are quite large, but that’s the fashion now.

On the left side there is only a slot for 2 SIM cards and a memory card (the slots are separate, you don’t need to give up anything).

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realme C33On the right side is a power button with a built-in fingerprint scanner, and above it is a volume rocker.

At the bottom of the case, you can see a microphone, a mono speaker, a microUSB jack, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The dimensions of the realme C33 are 164.2×75.7×8.3 mm, so it’s hard to call it a compact phone. One-handed operation can be difficult.

The gadget fits well in the hand, and each button responds instantly to commands.

The back panel actively collects dust and fingerprints, so the case will come in handy, even if it partially spoils the appearance of the shiny back.

Read also: realme 9 Pro+ Review: Sturdy Middle with Curious Design

Realme C33 screen

The hero of our review has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 720×1600. HD is the minimum resolution for a modern smartphone, but it’s still acceptable for a $140 model. The screen grain is almost imperceptible, the colors are rich and natural.

As for the disadvantages, we are dealing with poor viewing angles. As soon as you change the position of the smartphone, the color reproduction is distorted, and the image gets a yellowish or greenish tint. But you can ignore this.

The maximum brightness is about 400 nits, so readability in the sun is not the best. The standard refresh rate is 60 Hz, so you shouldn’t expect more from a budget phone at this price.

realme C33In the settings, you can change some screen parameters, such as selecting a dark theme or reading mode, personalizing color reproduction, and choosing display modes: Auto, High Contrast, and Standard.

Read also: realme 9i Review: For Whom Is This Budget Phone?

Hardware, performance and connectivity

The Realme C33 is powered by a low-cost Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) processor. The model is available in 3/32 GB, 4/64 GB and 4/128 GB versions. Of course, this is not much, but for the ultra-budget segment and an undemanding user, the values are acceptable.

realme c33 UI

The memory can be expanded up to 256 GB, and a nice thing is that the SIM and microSD slots are triple and you don’t have to choose the “most important” one.

The phone works fine, but you shouldn’t expect much more. The C33 is not suitable for serious gaming, nor for people who work online and do a lot of things on a smartphone. The model will be a good option for “simple” users who want to surf the Internet, watch YouTube, play casual games (three in a row, etc.) and be active on social networks.

realme C33

Of course, the interface is not fast and not smooth enough, background programs are regularly “killed”, but in general, you can use it. This is a phone that will suit a primary school child, older relatives, and other undemanding users.

As for wireless connectivity, we have Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 and a number of geolocation services – GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. Unfortunately, there is no dual-band Wi-Fi, the phone only works in the 2.4 GHz band, so this will be a problem for people who have routers on a 5 GHz network.

NFC is available (although some reviews and descriptions of the realme C33 in stores are misleading in this regard), so you will be able to use contactless payments in stores.

Read also: realme Pad review: First tablet from the brand

Software

The realme C33 OS is Android 12 with the realme UI S Edition system shell. This is a simplified basic version of the proprietary overlay – not the one that can be found in the more expensive realme 9, 10, etc. The shell allows you to control widgets, the appearance of the desktop, but I wouldn’t say that the choice of options is great. Windowed modes, a sidebar, dynamic RAM expansion and other “unnecessary” functions are also missing.

In general, it has everything an ordinary user needs: customization of some elements, enhanced security, parental control, and SOS contacts.

The interface is intuitive and simple, and even the most inexperienced person can handle it. What else do we want from a basic smartphone?

Unlocking methods

I am a fan of only one method – the fingerprint scanner, because it is a quick and reliable solution. The scanner, located in the side key of the realme C33, responds quickly and does not make mistakes, even at different angles of contact.

realme C33

There are, of course, other ways to unlock, such as using your face. Yes, it works, but it doesn’t always work correctly in low light, and that’s a problem.

Read also: Redmi Note 11 Review: Classical Budget Phone by Xiaomi

Realme C33 cameras

On the rear panel, we see two camera eyes – a 50-megapixel main module with autofocus and f/1.8 aperture and a 0.3-megapixel depth sensor for blurring the background.

realme C33Of course, you won’t get great quality for this price, but the photos are not bad for an ultra-budget smartphone – I expected worse! The colors are a bit pale, there’s not much detail, but otherwise everything is fine in good light, even close-ups are very good.

PHOTOS FROM REALME C33 IN FULL RESOLUTION

If we talk about night photos, we have a decent result for this price. But I recommend that you always turn on the night mode, because without it, the photos will be blurry. This mode also brightens the frame a bit, but it doesn’t really matter. I should add that night photos take a very long time (4-6 seconds), sometimes I didn’t even want to wait because the process seemed endless to me. In this case, you must stand still all the time and preferably not breathe to get a satisfactory result.

The selfies from the front 5-megapixel camera are decent, the colors are good in the right light, I liked them.

Video can be recorded using several settings:

  • FHD 1080p, 30 fps
  • HD 720p, 30 fps
  • SD 480p, 30 fps

The quality is quite low, and normal stabilization is sorely lacking. There are examples at the links: daytime video, night video.

The camera app has the following modes: Pro, Night, Panorama, and TimeLapse.

Read also: Redmi Buds 3 Lite TWS Earphones Review: Cheap But High-Quality

Sound

The current speaker is nothing special – it sounds a little flat, but this is forgivable given the price. The speaker is good for basic tasks, such as listening to podcasts, making hands-free calls, watching movies. During phone calls, I could hear the other person well and there were no problems. There is also a mini-jack for those who prefer wired headphones.

realme C33

Realme C33 battery and operating time

The battery of the realme C33 has a capacity of 5000 mAh, which is supposed to be a plus, but on the other hand, we have a very old microUSB input that charges the phone for THREE hours.

But for consolation, I will say that the C33 really works for a long time, enough for 2 days of active use! A very good result, although it is not surprising – the model has a weak chipset and low screen resolution.

realme c33 UI

Read also: OPPO A96 review: Extremely stylish budget smartphone

Conclusion

The realme C33 left a mixed impression. The advantages of the smartphone include the price of up to $170, long battery life, and impressive design. However, the low price also has a flip side: average photo and video quality, slow charging and outdated microUSB, and rather poor performance. In any case, the realme C33 will be a good choice for undemanding users.

Are there any interesting alternatives? Yes, you can buy many other smartphones for about the same price. And they will all have at least a USB-C connector. For example:

  • Redmi 9C NFC (it has a better chipset, but the fingerprint scanner is located on the back, less RAM and a weaker camera),
  • Redmi 10C (Snapdragon 680 processor, 18W fast charging),
  • Moto G22 (90 Hz screen, 5G, 50 MP main camera + ultra-wide-angle lens, very interesting option) or E40 (also 90 Hz and 3 cameras, but a fingerprint scanner on the back, cheaper model),
  • Samsung Galaxy A13 (user-friendly One UI shell, ultra-wide-angle camera, but lower performance, less RAM),
  • Nokia G21 or G11 (rather primitive, but with 90 Hz screens),
  • Cubot P50 (6/128 GB of memory, Helio P60 processor, but only 4200 mAh battery and no fingerprint scanner).

At the recommended retail price, the realme C33 doesn’t look the best, but with the current discounts, it’s better than most of the competition!

Do you like the realme C33? Isn’t everything that glitters gold? Share your opinion in the comments!

Read also:

Review ratings
Appearance
9
Materials
9
Ergonomics
9
Screen
6
Performance
7
Cameras
7
Software
9
Battery life
10
The realme C33 left a mixed impression. The advantages of the smartphone include the price of up to $170, long battery life, and impressive design. However, the low price also has a flip side: average photo and video quality, slow charging and outdated microUSB, and rather poor performance. In any case, the realme C33 will be a good choice for undemanding users.
Olga Akukin
Olga Akukin
IT journalist with more than 15 years of experience. I love new smartphones, tablets and wearable gadgets. I do very detailed tests, write reviews, articles, news.
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The realme C33 left a mixed impression. The advantages of the smartphone include the price of up to $170, long battery life, and impressive design. However, the low price also has a flip side: average photo and video quality, slow charging and outdated microUSB, and rather poor performance. In any case, the realme C33 will be a good choice for undemanding users.Realme C33 review: what to expect from a $140 smartphone?
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