Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition vs Realme 5i: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and Realme consistently delivers impressive value. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition and the Realme 5i. Both offer compelling features at affordable prices, but which one reigns supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Realme 5i edges out the C15 Qualcomm Edition thanks to its superior Snapdragon 665 chipset, offering noticeably better performance and a more responsive user experience. While the C15 boasts a larger screen, the 5i's overall package makes it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition Realme 5i
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE (2CA) 450/50 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India
Launch
Announced2020, October 28. Released 2020, October 292020, January 06. Released 2020, January
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions164.5 x 75.9 x 9.8 mm (6.48 x 2.99 x 0.39 in)164.4 x 75 x 9.3 mm (6.47 x 2.95 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight209 g (7.37 oz)195 g (6.88 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass (unspecified)
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density)720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (peak)IPS LCD
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 240 & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 240)Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm)Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm)
GPUAdreno 610Adreno 610
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1eMMC
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP B/W, f/2.4 2 MP, f/2.412 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCNoNo
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGmicroUSB 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired10W wired
Type6000 mAh5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsPower Silver, Power BlueBlue, Green
ModelsRMX2195RMX2030, RMX2032
PriceAbout 110 EURAbout 170 EUR
SAR0.54 W/kg (head)     0.62 W/kg (body)-

Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition

  • Larger Display
  • Decent Battery Life
  • Affordable Price

  • Weaker Processor
  • Slower Performance
  • Slower Charging

Realme 5i

  • Better Performance
  • Superior Camera
  • Faster Charging (relatively)
  • More Responsive UI

  • Smaller Display
  • Slightly Less Battery Life (marginal)
  • 10W Charging is slow

Display Comparison

The Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition features a larger 6.52-inch display compared to the Realme 5i's 6.5-inch screen. Both utilize an IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels (HD+). While the C15's larger size offers more screen real estate, the difference in viewing experience is minimal. Both offer adequate brightness and color reproduction for their price range.

Camera Comparison

The Realme 5i boasts a quad-camera setup with a 48MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The C15 Qualcomm Edition also has a quad-camera setup, featuring a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. While the megapixel count is higher on the C15, the 5i's superior image processing and the more capable Snapdragon 665 generally result in better image quality, especially in low-light conditions.

Performance

This is where the Realme 5i truly shines. Its Snapdragon 665 chipset is significantly more powerful than the C15's Snapdragon 460. The 665's Kryo 260 cores offer higher clock speeds and improved overall processing power, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. The C15, while capable for basic tasks, will struggle with more demanding applications.

Battery Life

Both phones feature a large 5000mAh battery, providing excellent battery life. However, the Realme 5i's more efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset allows it to squeeze slightly more usage out of each charge. While both easily last a full day, the 5i has a slight edge in endurance.

Buying Guide

The Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition is ideal for users prioritizing a large display for media consumption and casual gaming. The Realme 5i is a better fit for those seeking a smoother, more responsive experience for everyday tasks and slightly more demanding applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Realme C15 good for gaming?
The Realme C15 can handle basic games, but it will struggle with more demanding titles. The Realme 5i offers a significantly better gaming experience.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both offer excellent battery life, but the Realme 5i's more efficient chipset gives it a slight edge.