Looking good doesn’t have to be expensive and the realme C53 proves just that. It’s more than its premium-looking rear camera design and stylish color because this new budget smartphone is one of the fastest (if not the fastest) entry-level smartphone with 33W SUPERVOOC charging, pretty colors, large storage, 50MP camera, and a Mini Capsule for a more premium feel. It’s also a champ in the C-Series as it’s currently the slimmest in the lineup! While it looks good on paper, is this something that can keep up with a millennial’s busy lifestyle?

Here’s what I can say after taking it to work, leisure walks, and events for a whole week.

Design & Display

The realme C53 boasts an eye-catching design with its sleek and modern aesthetic — something you wouldn’t see often in that price range. The Champion Gold color even has an iridescent glow that looks like a mix of gold, platinum, blue, and green that differ depending on the angle. This look is complemented by additional rays of light from the camera module, too! It’s too pretty, I wasn’t convinced that it’s made out of plastic at first glance. Some of my friends and colleagues even thought it was from a different brand that costs 5x more than it’s actual price.

Despite my reluctance when it comes to glossy smartphones, the realme C53 proved that it’s possible to sport a glossy back without being a fingerprint magnet. While I still prefer putting on a jelly case for extra protection, it’s definitely a level above the usual entry-level designs.

The device also feels comfortable on the hand even if you cling onto it for almost an entire day, thanks to its slim 7.49mm profile and light 182g weight. It’s even a bit slimmer than the realme C55! But just like its predecessor, the important buttons — volume and unlock, remain easy to reach on the right side of the device. The left side houses the SIM tray, while the bottom part houses a 3.5mm headphone port, charging port, and speaker grill.

In front, you’ll find a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD display with a 720 x 1600 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, still capable of delivering decent colors and details, unless you use it directly under the sun around noon. It’s not the best in class in terms of brightness but it won’t be a problem if you’re indoors most of the time.

The bezels don’t look distracting even if the bottom part is thicker as usual. The top bezel also has an extra u-shaped portion for the front camera but it’s not bothersome when watching videos.

With its 90Hz refresh rate, expect smooth visuals as well.

Camera

The camera module of the realme C53 is noticeably smaller than that of the C55’s and I honestly find this prettier! The realme C53 has a 50MP AI main camera, 0.8MP depth sensor, and an LED flash at the back. I initially thought the LED flash was a third camera! You can also access different photography modes — Night, Portrait with adjustable aperture, Panorama, Pro, and 50M. As for videos, the realme C53 has a Slo-Mo option, Timelapse feature, and normal video capture at 1080p, 720p, and 480p.

In front, you’ll find an 8MP AI camera that can be used for Portrait Mode, Photo, and Video. Unfortunately, Night Mode is not available for selfies. Video sizes are also limited to 720p, 480p, and CIF, all at 30fps.

Equipped with a dual-camera setup, the realme C53 captures decent photos, especially under bright lights. It may be a hit-or-miss when used indoors and at night, though. Photos taken during a gloomy day turned out gloomier than the actual scene, but the photos taken on a sunny day remained true-to-life. If you have the time to tinker around the filters and shooting modes, this won’t be much of an issue.

As for its zoom, you can toggle it up to 10x but I wouldn’t recommend it as photos come out a bit blurred and with low saturation.

On the other hand, selfies on the realme C53 come out a bit soft, as if removing my blemishes even with the Beauty settings off. Still usable for profile photo updates, though! You also have the option to take snaps in Portrait mode for extra focus on the subject. The downside for me is that it tends to blur out parts that shouldn’t be, such as ears or corners of your eyeglasses.

Storage & Performance

Under the hood, the realme C53 is powered by a capable Octa-core Unisoc T612 processor paired with 6GB RAM (can be further expanded to 12GB via dynamic RAM) and 128GB of internal storage. This ensures smooth multitasking and minimal lags while keeping your photos, videos, and files intact. The phone handles everyday tasks with ease but may start to get wonky when you play graphic-intensive games like Genshin Impact and Ragnarok Origin on its highest setting. The solution to this is to switch to the lowest playable setting.

On the other hand, when it comes to productivity apps, social media, and streaming platforms, the realme C53 can keep up even with multiple apps running in the background. I was able to check Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube without problems even with Viber, Messenger, and WhatsApp running. A decent work partner, I must say.

As for its software, the realme C53 runs on realme UI T edition based on Android 13, which is very clean, simple, and easy to navigate. Like the realme C55, this device includes a Mini Capsule which expands from the front camera whenever you’re running out of battery and when charging.

Battery

realme markets this smartphone as the “Charging Champion” of the C Series. This is not surprising as the realme C53 also houses a sizable 5000mAh battery, ensuring all-day usage without the need for frequent charging. When you need to charge, you’ll only need more or less 30 minutes to reach 50%.

The device optimizes power consumption, extending battery life further. With moderate usage, users can comfortably get through a full day without worrying about running out of power. Additionally, the phone supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly replenish the battery when needed.

Price & Availability

The realme C53 (6GB + 128GB) will be available for purchase starting June 23 for only Php 7,999. However, early birds who will be placing an order online via realme’s official TikTok Shop and Lazada flagship store on June 23 will be entitled to a Php 1,000 discount, with the total at only Php 6,999!

Those who prefer buying in-store (as long as it’s an official realme offline store) are also in for a treat as they will be receiving a free TechLife Portable Blender 40W worth Php 999 from June 23 to July 2. Walk-in customers at select stores will also automatically qualify for the realme Mystery Box promo where they can get a chance to win prizes such as a DIZO Watch 2 Sports or realme Cooling Back Clip until June 25.

Considering the price and all the freebies that come with the realme C53, I’d say it’s a good buy for budget-conscious consumers. Even at an affordable price, realme was able to create a smartphone with an attractive design, vibrant display, capable cameras, long-lasting battery life, and reliable performance. While it may not match the capabilities of higher-end smartphones, it delivers value for its price range.

For the full specs, visit:

realme C53 Unboxing: Sneak peek before its official launch in the PH on June 22

---

For updates on our latest discoveries within (and outside) the Metro, don’t forget to follow Manila Millennial on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. Keep safe, everyone!