Who would’ve thought that a feature that has only existed in mid to flagship-level smartphones can easily be incorporated into an entry-level device at a much affordable price? realme has recently teased the arrival of the newest realme C55 in the Philippines and we got first dibs in order to give you a peek on whether it’s a cop or a drop before you #AddToCart.

While full details like price and availability are yet to be revealed, here’s a closer look at the device as well as its main features. Our full review will be up on April 18 after its official launch in the country. You may also watch out for its virtual launch via Facebook here.

INSIDE THE BOX

Similar to other units in the C Series, the realme C55 box comes in a simple yellow box. Inside, you’ll find the unit with a screen protect film, a 33W SUPERVOOC charging adapter, Type-A to Type-C USB cable, warranty card, quick guide, SIM Ejector Pin, and jelly case. Considering that this is a budget smartphone, it’s great that realme was able to include fast charging.

I got the realme C55 in Sunshower color, which goes really well with my flashy OOTDs, too!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

On the box, you’ll find that features like the 64MP AI Camera, 33W SUPERVOOC Charge, 5000mAh battery, and 7.89mm Ultra Slim design are being highlighted, but what sets this device apart from the rest would be its Mini Capsule feature and aesthetic design that is beyond basic. At first glance, it looks like a decent all-rounder smartphone, but we’ll test it further in the next few days to see if it meets the expectations that it sets on paper.

For those who are not yet familiar with the Mini Capsule, it’s a software feature that displays battery charging, data, and step count status and warnings on top of the screen. It adds an overlay surrounding the punch-hole camera to make the notifications more noticeable. I personally think that this feature isn’t necessary but more of a nice-to-have for aesthetic purposes; however, knowing how some people (kids, especially) are after the premium look and feel that they can find in high-end devices, having a much affordable alternative is definitely a big help. I think it would be better if they include other notifications there, though.

To make the Mini Capsule feature possible, the realme C55’s front camera is positioned at the top center portion of the display. On the right side, you’ll find the volume rocker button and a fingerprint unlock which doubles as a power button. On the left, you have two slots for nano-SIMs and a microSD slot for extra storage.

At the bottom, there’s the usual audio jack, microphone, USB port, and speaker grilles. While on top, you’ll find a clean and smooth surface.

As for the design, I like how the back is smudge-proof and how the boxier build makes it easy to grip. The Sunshower color – one that seems to glisten and change hues depending on the viewing angle, is just a huge plus in terms of design. I can imagine how good it would look like when paired with scene-stealing OOTDs, though! No doubt it’s being marketed as the “stylish champion”. For those who want something more muted, the realme C55 will also come in Rainy Night (black) and Rainforest (blue green) colors.

Lastly (at least for now), the cameras are looking good. I wasn’t expecting much but it did give me decent detailed photos under bright lights. Full camera test results will be up on my next blog update.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display	6.7” FHD+ 1080 x 2400 LCD Screen-to-Body Ratio: 91.4% PPI: 391 Refresh Rate: 90Hz Touch Sampling Rate: 180Hz Brightness: 550 nits (typ) / 680 nits (HBM)
Dimensions	165.65mm x 75.98mm x 7.89mm
Weight	189.5g
System	OS: realme UI 4.0 (based on Android 13) Processor: MediaTek Helio G88
Storage	6GB + 128GB / 8GB + 256GB
Rear Camera	64MP + 2MP
Front Camera	8MP
Audio	Bottom-firing speaker 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Battery	5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging
Connectivity	WiFi 2.4GHz / 5GHz Bluetooth: 5.2 Frequency Bands: 2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G
Colors	Sunshower, Rainy Night, Rainforest

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

No details nor hints have been released yet in the Philippines, so it’s best to RSVP for now and tune in to the official launch happening next Tuesday (April 18, 2023) at 6:00 PM on realme’s Facebook page.

I’m betting it’s less than Php 10,000 — maybe around Php 8,000, but we’ll have to wait and see.

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