The Realme C100x is an entry-level smartphone from the brand that stands out for having a large 8,000 mAh battery and a distinct design, which incorporates an LED on the back for notifications. However, to maintain a relatively accessible launch price, this device presents certain limitations in terms of performance, screen, and connectivity.
When testing the most complete version (8 GB of RAM + 256 GB of storage), the author details the device's aspects. Tecnoblog, an independent journalistic outlet since 2005, conducted the analysis without advertising intent, highlighting the pros and cons of the product, as the C100x was provided by Realme as a donation.
Upon unboxing the Realme C100X, one finds the phone with a pre-applied film and a semi-transparent case, in addition to manuals, a 45W fast charger, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and the SIM tray key. The packaging is considered complete, eliminating the need to separately purchase a charger and case, although the author suggests investing in a higher quality screen protector due to the ease of scratches on the included one.
Available in gold and blue, the tested unit was blue. The design catches the eye with its rounded corners and rear coating that changes appearance depending on the angle. The camera module also features the Pulse Light, the notification LED.
Visually, the C100x is striking, but its construction is made mostly of plastic, showing slight looseness on the lower back in the analyzed unit. The sides have the volume and power buttons, which integrate a fingerprint reader. On the bottom, there are the speaker output, the USB-C input, and the P2 input for wired headphones.
The device has IP64 dust and splash resistance certification, as well as MIL-STD-810H military certification against drops, although using a case and screen protector is recommended.
Realme equipped the C100x with a 6.8-inch IPS LCD panel, with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and HD+ resolution. Unlike AMOLED competitors in the same range, the display suffers from lower contrast and viewing angles, but its size is adequate for media consumption. The brightness reaches 900 nits, offering good visibility in controlled environments and in the shade. The front camera cutout is in a teardrop shape.
Regarding the 120 Hz refresh rate, the author observed that initial scrolling was not very smooth; only after forcing 120 Hz in the settings did the experience improve, and there might still be slight ghosting for more attentive users.
The audio system has only one output on the bottom, with limited quality and distortion at high volumes, making it advisable to use headphones for movies or music. The main rear camera is 50 MP (f/1.8) with an auxiliary sensor, while the front camera is 5 MP (f/2.2).
In good lighting conditions, photos are satisfactory, with vibrant colors aided by post-processing. However, overexposure can occur. At night, despite light leakage, the night mode offers good results if the object remains still. In selfies, blown-out white can appear, but the results are adequate for social media. In videos, recording reaches 1080p at 30 fps on the rear and 720p at 30 fps on the front, but they suffer from high contrast and shaking due to the lack of optical stabilization. Autofocus also has flaws, which hinders QR code reading.
In terms of performance, the smartphone handles basic tasks such as social media, browsing, and videos without noticeable lag, keeping apps in the background. Although the test was done with 8 GB of RAM, there is a version with 4 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 64 GB of storage, which will have inferior performance. All models use the Unisoc T7250 processor (8 cores, 12 nm) and the ARM Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. In Geekbench 6, it achieved 418 single-core, 1,512 multi-core, and 629 in GPU, but the GPU test was time-consuming, suggesting possible incompatibility.
A point of attention is the eMMC 5.1 storage, significantly slower than the UFS of competitors (about 250 MB/s versus 2,100 MB/s), which contributes to delays when opening applications. Simple games are supported, but heavy titles like Fortnite cannot maintain a stable 30 FPS, making them unplayable.
The C100x comes from the factory with Android 16 and the Realme UI interface, which includes features such as speaker cleaner, noise reduction in calls, and customizable shortcuts. The air gesture feature, tested by the author, did not work on any occasion.
The Pulse Light, the notification indicator LED for calls or battery status, is a notable feature, attracting attention and helping to identify alerts without needing to pick up the phone. However, it can be a distraction in places like cinemas or work, and it is disableable in the settings. The LED customization menu proved slow and frozen during tests.
The manufacturer also promotes AI functions in the gallery and a professional editing studio, but the professional editing tested, such as AI eraser, did not yield satisfactory results.
In the battery category, the C100x stands out with an 8,000 mAh capacity, utilizing silicon-carbon technology. The author managed to use the device for four days with 11 hours and 24 minutes of screen-on time, maintaining 17% charge remaining, which guarantees at least two days of moderate use for most users, making it ideal for those who spend long periods away from a charger.
The recharge time from 0% to 100% with the original 45W charger was 1 hour and 48 minutes. In connectivity, the model supports Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, and 4G, but lacks 5G or eSIM support. The set is completed by the microSD slot and the 3.5 mm P2 input.
The C100x can be advantageous for those who need long autonomy and a low cost for daily tasks. Currently, the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage version costs around R$ 1,400. Furthermore, the angular design and the Pulse Light appeal to those looking for something different. However, it is crucial to avoid this model for heavy gaming, as the GPU performance is insufficient. Competitors like Galaxy A36 and Redmi Note 15 offer better gaming performance, AMOLED screens, and 5G support.
