Realme C55 review

introduction

The Realme C55 is a nice upgrade over the entry-level Realme C33. It offers a higher resolution display, faster hardware, improved cameras, and much faster 33W wired charging.

Realme C smartphones have become popular for their feature-rich package on a budget and Realme C55 is another tempting offer. It offers a large 6.72-inch LCD screen with expanded 1080p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It runs on the Helio G88 chipset, and the base configuration now starts with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage – expandable, of course.

Cameras have been upgraded on both sides. There’s a dual camera setup on the back with a 64MP primary and 2MP depth sensor, while the selfie camera is now 8MP with 1080p capture, up from 5MP and 720p video.

One of the more interesting upgrades is the charging speed of the 5,000mAh battery. Realme has implemented its 33W SuperVOOC charging, a first for the C series, and a huge improvement over the previous 10W charging inside the Realme C33.

Finally, another curious thing available as part of the Android 13/Realme UI 4 combo on the Realme C55 is the experimental Mini Capsule feature, which is an imitator of Apple’s Dynamic Island. Basically, this is an animation that displays battery status and data usage in an expandable black spot around the selfie camera.

The Realme C55 specifications at a glance:

• Body: 165.6×75.9×7.9mm, 190g; Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back.
• Screen: 6.72″ IPS LCD, 90Hz, 680 nits (peak), 1080×2400 px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 392ppi.
• chipsets: Mediatek Helio G88 (12nm): Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G52 MC2.
• Memory: 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
• Operating system/software: Android 13, Realme UI 4.0.
• Rear camera: Broad (main): 64MP, 1/2″, PDF; Depth: 2 megapixels.
• Front camera: 8 MP, (wide).
• Video capture: Rear camera: 1080p@30/60fps; Front camera: 1080p@30fps.
• Drums: 5000mAh; 33W wired, 50% in 29 min (advertised).
• Various: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); 3.5mm jack.

We are glad that Realme has used such a fast charging solution and the charger comes bundled with the phone. In fact, the only thing we consider missing on an entry-level smartphone of this type is some sort of splash-resistance or water-repellent coating. But few, if any, phones in this price range offer such protection, so we won’t hold it against the Realme C55.

Realme C55 unboxing

The Realme C55 ships in a typical yellow paper box. Inside, you’ll find the phone itself, the 33W SuperVOOC charger, and a USB-AC cable needed for charging to work.

There’s more, of course. Inside the package you will also find a soft and transparent protective case. Further inspection reveals that the phone has a protective film pre-applied to the display. It’s a giant fingerprint magnet, sure, but it helps against scratches.