Day by day, and from device to device, realme is developing into one of the biggest “players” in the smartphone market, especially in the category of affordable mid-range devices. In 2023 we saw several proposals in this price category, from the realme C53 at €179.00 to the realme 10 at €249.00. This year the company’s vision is to make the C series of devices even more competitive, spearheaded by the all-new realme C67.
The “champion” of the C series promises upgrades in four areas, the camera, functionality, design and performance. The realme C67 is the first device in this category with a 108MP main sensor, but also the first model in the series to come equipped with a Qualcomm system-on-a-chip (SoC). In recent years, C series devices such as the realme C55 came with processors from MediaTek or Unisoc, but here the company decides to equip its new model with the Snapdragon 685, which is made in 6nm lithography.
We had the opportunity to test the realme C67 for a few days, before its official launch in Greece, so it’s time to bring you our first impressions. Stay tuned to IGN Greece, as our detailed review of the device will follow in the next few days, but until then, let’s take a closer look at the features and capabilities of the realme C67.
The packaging of realme mobiles is always thoughtful and includes everything the user needs, and naturally the realme C67 could not be the exception to the rule. So in addition to the 33W SuperVOOC fast charger, we have a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable, SIM tray extraction tweezers, as well as a silicone protective case. In addition, there is a pasted protective film on the screen.
The device is available in two different color shades, Black Rock (black) and Sunny Oasis (green), with the latter literally stealing the show. realme has accustomed us to stylish and impressive mobiles, but the realme C67 is something else. When you look straight at the back of the device, its color is a light green, close to the gasp, but when you rotate it or look at it from an angle, the color changes to golden green, through an impressive 3D effect. We were also pleased with the fact that the back of the smartphone is particularly resistant to fingerprints. Our only gripe in terms of design is that glossy rectangular surface around the camera bump.
If we exclude the camera bump, the design philosophy of the realme C67 is very similar to that of the C55, with the subtle curves at the edges of the frame. Its thickness is only 7.59 mm, a value that makes it thinner than the realme C55 by 0.3 mm. On the bottom side of the frame we find a speaker, the USB-C charging port and the 3.5 mm headphone port, while on the top side we have another speaker. Yes, you heard right! realme C67 is the first C series model to come with dual stereo speakers. In terms of their performance, we were completely satisfied in terms of volume, although the sound tends to distort when the volume goes above 85-90%. Regardless, it’s a welcome upgrade to the device’s audio capabilities. Meanwhile, the realme C67 boasts another first in the C series, as it has an IP54 certification against dust and water.
On the right side of the frame, we find the volume up and down button, as well as the power button, which has an integrated fingerprint reader. Fingerprint recognition is lightning fast and the unlock animation is almost instantaneous. The device generally sits very well in the hand, no matter where you hold it.
On the front of the realme C67 dominates a 6.72-inch screen with a resolution of 1,080 by 2,400 pixels and a refresh rate of 90Hz. At first glance, the screen appears to have the same technical specifications as the realme C55, however in this case the maximum brightness reaches 950 nits. Therefore, the display remains easy to read even on the sunniest days. Of course, the panel is still IPS and therefore we don’t have the deepest blacks. Nevertheless, the colors are quite accurate in the sRGB mode and vivid in the DCI-P3 mode, while at the same time you have the possibility of further personalizing the color temperature, either automatically, choosing from one of the three available presets (Natural, Warm or Cool), or manually.
Inside the realme C67 we find the Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chipset, which is accompanied by 8GB of RAM (expandable to 16GB) and 256GB of storage space (expandable up to 2TB). The chipset in question may be old, but it can still cope with the basic needs of a user, while showing very good thermal behavior. Even when we subjected the realme C67 to multiple benchmarks, including the CPU Throttling Test, the device remained quite cool.
In terms of software, the realme C67 uses the realme UI skin on top of Android 14. The user experience is almost stock Android, with no bloatware, though the Google News page is still missing from the launcher. The navigation experience is admittedly pleasant, helped by the 90Hz refresh rate, although the Mini Capsule (now version 2.0), which is realme’s answer to Apple’s Dynamic Island, is still a gimmick with no real use . Yes, now there are more notifications that appear where the selfie camera is, since in addition to the charging notification, we have weather, music and daily walking goal notifications, but none of this drastically affects the user experience. We believe that some updates are still needed until realme manages to fully integrate the Mini Capsule into its software and make it an integral part of the realme UI.
The first samples from the autonomy of the device are very positive, as we exceeded 7 hours SOT with normal use, network and auto brightness. Even if the battery runs out, thanks to fast charging at 33W, it takes less than half an hour to replenish the 5,000mAh battery to 50%.
On the back of the realme C67, we find the main 108MP sensor with f/1.75 aperture, accompanied by a 2MP depth sensor with f/2.4. On the front we have a selfie camera with a resolution of 8MP and f/2.1. Both cameras can shoot videos in FHD resolution at 30fps. The main sensor, Samsung’s ISOCELL HM6 is the one that actually wins the impressions, as it significantly upgrades the capabilities of the device. We were used to seeing this particular sensor in mobiles costing €300 or more, but this is the first time we see it in a device that costs €209.90. The size (1.67”) of the sensor allows the user to take more detailed and clear shots, even in low-light conditions, while the 3x In-sensor Zoom technology uses 12 million pixels at the center of the 108MP sensor to enable photo capture without losses.
In summary, the first impressions left by realme’s new device are admittedly positive, as the company has made substantial upgrades in several areas, including the camera, speakers, and display. In general, the Chinese company tries to offer as many features as possible, keeping the cost of the device low, i.e. a little above the psychological limit of €200. The goal seems to be being achieved, although our final view will crystallize in the coming weeks. So be sure to come back to IGN Greece for our detailed review.