Realme C21Y 64 GB / 4 GB (RMX3261)
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The low-cost smartphone from the Realme brand is very similar in appearance and characteristics to the C21 model and, apparently, has become its simplified version with the prefix "Y" in the title. The device has retained a plastic case with a matte finish and an interesting graphic pattern on the back panel, as a result of which it does not slip in the hand and does not leave fingerprints.
The 6.5-inch IPS display has a low resolution of 1600x720 pixels and a small “chin” at the bottom. The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel, and the 5-megapixel selfie camera is located in the waterdrop notch. The main difference between Realme C21Y lies in the use of the Unisoc Tiger T610 processor — a low-cost solution just for entry-level devices. But praise deserves a capacious 5000 mAh battery and a triple slot that can fit two SIM cards and a memory card to expand the storage capacity. In general, we can safely say that the smartphone has everything you need, including a 3.5 mm audio jack, a USB host (OTG) and even an NFC, which, however, is only available in the version for the Russian market. The main camera is designed as a compact square block and consists of three modules: 13 MP main sensor, 2 MP black and white sensor and 2 MP macro module.
Good balance of price and quality
Realme over the years of its existence has already got its hands on the release of smartphones that offer excellent value for money, and Realme C21Y is another confirmation of this. Its price tag is very limited, but this does not mean that the phone is suitable mainly for calls and only for children and the elderly. On the contrary, thanks to a good “hardware”, the model will become a reliable “workhorse” and will consistently perform all everyday tasks. It is based on the Unisoc Tiger T610 processor, and this, perhaps, at first glance, may repel a potential buyer. The chip of the little-known Chinese company Unisoc (formerly Spreadtrum) is intended for low-cost devices, but is not as popular as Qualcomm and MediaTek solutions. Nevertheless, the devil is not as bad as he is painted: the processor is quite fast, applications run quickly, the interface does not slow down. Moreover, you will be able to play games at your leisure at medium settings without any problems.
Realme also threw additional forces to the aid of the Unisoc Tiger T610. This is 4 GB of RAM (and such a volume is not often seen in devices at this price) and 64 GB of ROM. Storage can be expanded with a microSD card, but the memory itself is far from fast — eMMC 5.1. However, for an inexpensive phone, this is rather the norm, not a drawback. In addition, the Realme R Edition shell is used — something like an analogue of Android Go without unnecessary settings, so as not to additionally burden the system.
Design and features
The smartphone looks like a typical entry-level representative: a plastic case, a regular fingerprint scanner at the back, a teardrop-shaped cutout and a large “chin” under the screen. The display itself is quite large — IPS with a diagonal of 6.5" with a modest resolution of 1600x720 pixels. Therefore, you can’t call the handset compact: the dimensions are 164.5x76x9.1 mm, and the weight is 200 g. But Realme definitely deserves praise for the design: the textured back panel has an X-shaped pattern that visually divides the back into four parts. It turned out both nice and practical, since the lid is not easily soiled and does not slip in your hand. However the location of the speaker at the back was not a very good solution — if the phone is, for example, on the couch with the screen up, then you can easily miss an incoming call.
The cameras are fully consistent with the cost of the device — less, no less. The front camera here is 5-megapixel, and the main one consists of three sensors with a resolution of 13 MP, 2 MP (black and white module) and 2 MP (for shooting macro). In good light, the pictures are good, but at night the quality is lame. Otherwise, everything is smooth: the slot can accommodate both two SIM cards and a memory card without sacrificing anything, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and NFC, but only for the Russian market. The battery is quite capacious — 5000 mAh, so one charge is enough for a couple of days of battery life. Charging uses an outdated microUSB port.
