The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the ZTE Blade V40s and the Realme C55. Both promise compelling features, but which one truly delivers the best experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Realme C55 edges out the ZTE Blade V40s thanks to its faster charging, brighter display, and slightly more powerful chipset. While the Blade V40s offers a decent experience, the C55 provides a more polished and feature-rich package for the price.
| 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 | LTE | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, October 04 | 2023, March 07 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 04 | Available. Released 2023, March 08 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.5 x 75.8 x 7.6 mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.30 in) | 165.6 x 75.9 x 7.9 mm (6.52 x 2.99 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 184 g (6.49 oz) | 189.5 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~392 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.72 inches, 109.0 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 680 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc UMS512T T618 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MP2 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 12, MyOS 12 | Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 64 MP, (wide), 1/2.0", PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, (wide) |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, (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 | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes, 360˚ (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Yes | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 22.5W wired | 33W wired, 50% in 29 min |
| Type | Li-Ion 4500 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Black | Sun Shower, Rainy Night, Rainforest |
| Models | - | RMX3710 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | ₹ 8,399 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 123h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1264:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-31.8 LUFS (Below average)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 257263 (v9)
GeekBench: 1452 (v5.1), 1413 (v6)
GFXBench: 9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
ZTE Blade V40s
- Clean and simple software
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Decent battery life
- Slower charging speed
- Less powerful chipset
- Dimmer display
Realme C55
- Faster charging (33W)
- Brighter display (659 nits)
- Slightly more powerful chipset (Helio G88)
- Stylish design
- Realme UI can be a bit cluttered
- Camera performance not exceptional
Display Comparison
The Realme C55 boasts a significant advantage with its measured 659 nits peak brightness, making it much easier to view outdoors. Both phones share a 1264:1 contrast ratio, indicating good color reproduction, but the Realme's brightness gives it a noticeable edge. The Blade V40s display is likely adequate indoors, but struggles in direct sunlight.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is difficult to definitively declare a winner without detailed testing. Both phones are marketed as having capable cameras, but the Realme C55 likely has a slight edge due to the generally better image processing capabilities of MediaTek chipsets. Expect decent image quality from both, but don't anticipate flagship-level results.
Performance
The Realme C55's MediaTek Helio G88 generally outperforms the Unisoc T618 found in the Blade V40s. While both feature octa-core CPUs with similar core configurations, the Helio G88's architecture and optimizations provide a smoother experience, especially for gaming and demanding apps. The Blade V40s is sufficient for everyday tasks, but may show some lag under heavier loads.
Battery Life
Both phones claim an impressive endurance rating of 123h, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Realme C55's 33W charging significantly outperforms the Blade V40s' 22.5W charging, allowing for much faster top-ups. This is a crucial advantage for users who value quick charging.
Buying Guide
The ZTE Blade V40s is a good choice for users prioritizing a clean software experience and a reliable, albeit not blazing-fast, performer. The Realme C55 is ideal for those seeking a vibrant display, faster charging, and a slightly more powerful processor for smoother multitasking and gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both phones claim a similar endurance rating (123h), suggesting comparable battery life. However, the Realme C55 charges significantly faster.
❓ Is the Realme C55 good for gaming?
The Realme C55's Helio G88 chipset offers better gaming performance than the ZTE Blade V40s' Unisoc T618, making it a slightly better choice for mobile gaming.
