The Realme C3 and Nokia 5.3 represent compelling options in the sub-$150 smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price, they take different approaches to achieving this. The Realme C3 prioritizes gaming performance with its MediaTek Helio G70, while the Nokia 5.3 leans towards a more balanced experience with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing gaming and raw processing power, the Realme C3 emerges as the winner. Its Helio G70 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge. However, the Nokia 5.3 offers a more refined software experience and potentially better long-term software support, making it a solid choice for those valuing stability and updates.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/75 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, February 19. Released 2020, February 20 | 2020, March 19. Released 2020, April 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75 x 9 mm (6.47 x 2.95 x 0.35 in) | 164.3 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 185 g (6.53 oz) |
| | Weather-sealed ports & loudspeaker | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 480 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769V/CB Helio G70 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6125 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EEMC2 | Adreno 610 |
| OS | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
5 MP, 13mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.8", 1.25µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| 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 | 4.2, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired
Reverse wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Frozen Blue, Blazing Red | Cyan, Sand, Charcoal |
| Models | - | TA-1234, TA-1223, TA-1227, TA-1229 |
| Price | About 150 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.03 W/kg (head) 0.95 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) |
Realme C3 (3 cameras)
- Stronger gaming performance due to Helio G70 chipset
- Potentially faster app loading times
- More vibrant image processing
- Potentially lower battery life during intensive use
- May receive fewer software updates
Nokia 5.3
- Cleaner Android experience
- Potentially better battery life during moderate use
- Likely better long-term software support
- Less powerful processor for gaming
- Slower app loading times
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely feature LCD panels, typical for this price bracket. The key difference lies under the hood: display driver efficiency. Without specific display specs, it's difficult to definitively say which is superior, but the Nokia 5.3's Snapdragon 665 is built on an 11nm process, potentially leading to slightly better power management for the display, though the impact will be minimal.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature a triple-camera setup, but the specifics are crucial. Without detailed sensor information, it's difficult to assess image quality. However, the Realme C3's focus on gaming suggests a potentially more aggressive image processing pipeline geared towards vibrant colors and contrast, appealing to social media users. The Nokia 5.3, aligning with Nokia’s brand image, likely prioritizes more natural color reproduction. The presence of a dedicated gaming chip in the Realme C3 could also mean better image signal processing (ISP) capabilities, potentially leading to faster image capture and improved low-light performance. The usefulness of any included 2MP macro or depth sensors on either device is questionable.
Performance
The core of the difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme C3’s MediaTek Helio G70 (12nm) features a dual-cluster CPU configuration – two Cortex-A75 cores for peak performance and six Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. This contrasts with the Nokia 5.3’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm), which uses Kryo 260 Gold and Silver cores. While both are octa-core, the Helio G70’s A75 cores offer a higher clock speed (2.0 GHz vs 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold) and are generally more powerful. The 11nm process of the Snapdragon 665 *should* offer better power efficiency, but the G70's GPU is likely to provide a more substantial gaming boost. This translates to smoother gameplay and faster app loading times on the Realme C3.
Battery Life
Both devices are equipped with 10W wired charging, indicating a similar charging experience – expect around 2-3 hours for a full charge. Without knowing the battery capacity of each device, it’s hard to declare a clear winner. However, the Snapdragon 665’s 11nm process *could* translate to slightly better battery life during moderate usage, offsetting a potentially smaller battery capacity. The Realme C3’s more powerful processor will likely consume more power during intensive tasks, reducing battery life during gaming or video streaming.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme C3 if you need a phone primarily for mobile gaming, streaming video, and general multitasking where speed is paramount. Its Helio G70 chipset delivers a more responsive experience for demanding tasks. Buy the Nokia 5.3 if you prefer a cleaner Android experience, value potential software updates, and prioritize a balanced performance profile for everyday tasks like calling, messaging, and social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Realme C3's Helio G70 overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G70 is a capable chip, but its 12nm process isn't the most efficient. While it won't likely reach critical temperatures, expect some thermal throttling during extended gaming. The phone's plastic build will help dissipate heat, but performance may dip slightly after 30-60 minutes of intense gameplay.
❓ How does the Nokia 5.3's software experience compare to the Realme C3?
The Nokia 5.3 runs a near-stock version of Android, offering a cleaner and more streamlined user experience. Realme's UI (based on Android) is more heavily customized with additional features and pre-installed apps, which some users may find bloatware. Nokia also promises more consistent software updates and security patches.
❓ Is the Snapdragon 665 in the Nokia 5.3 powerful enough for popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Snapdragon 665 can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve a smooth frame rate. It won't deliver the same level of performance as the Realme C3's Helio G70, which can handle higher settings with greater ease.
