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?
🏆 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.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE (2CA) 450/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, October 28. Released 2020, October 29 | 2020, January 06. Released 2020, January |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.5 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified) |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2 (~83.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (peak) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4250 Snapdragon 460 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Realme UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP B/W, f/2.4
2 MP, f/2.4 | 12 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 6000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Power Silver, Power Blue | Blue, Green |
| Models | RMX2195 | RMX2030, RMX2032 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | 0.54 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.