The first thing I did when I started using the Realme C100 was to lower my expectations. I realized that it is not a flagship phone, so it is not appropriate to compare it to a flagship or mid-premium device. The Realme C100 is definitely aimed at entry-level users. Throughout use, this phone feels durable and budget-friendly. The battery is long-lasting, the build is solid, and the large screen provides comfort when watching videos or reading messages. It is suitable for those who prioritize durability and daily use over high performance. Here is the full review of the Realme C100.
Usage Experience
I still remember the last time I reviewed the C series from Realme, the Realme C12, around 2018 because at that time the concept was clear, which was a budget phone that emphasized battery life and a rugged build. Now, with the presence of the Realme C100, that concept seems to be reconnected. This phone once again emphasizes that it is not made to pursue high performance, but rather to give confidence to users who want a phone that can be relied on for daily tasks. It maintains the C series identity as a practical budget option with a focus on large batteries, wide screen displays, and basic durability suitable for everyday use.
During my more than a week using the Realme C100, the experience felt like a return to basics. This phone is certainly not the choice for those who want advanced cameras or great gaming performance. However, for daily tasks such as making calls, sending messages, watching videos, or browsing social media, it felt more than adequate.
The Realme C100's body feels solid in the hand, as if giving the message that it may not be the fastest but can last all day. The experience of holding it is also comfortable because there are not many weaknesses to criticize, in fact, its body design shows Realme's consistency in producing user-friendly devices. The combination of a boxy body with squared sides also provides a good grip because it does not hurt the hand and feels more stable when held. I often give such comments to devices with square or boxy designs, and the Realme C100 once again manages to maintain that balance through a simple design that is comfortable to use.
The layout of buttons and ports on the Realme C100 still maintains the usual Realme style because on the right side there is a power button with audio adjustment, while the left side is left empty. Next, on the bottom is the speaker, SIM slot space and USB-C port which is now standard on most smartphones. However, one thing that really catches the eye is the presence of a 3.5mm audio jack because in 2026 smartphones with an audio jack are considered rare. In fact, most brands have removed the feature and replaced it with a USB-C port.
Although some think that the existence of an audio jack nowadays is no longer relevant, for me it is still something interesting because this feature provides added value that is no longer offered by many modern devices. Furthermore, the use of wired earphones is now back in the spotlight and is considered a new style. Therefore, Realme's decision to retain the 3.5mm audio jack can be considered right and gives an advantage to users who still prioritize the traditional audio experience.
If I may comment on the capabilities of its audio system, the Realme C100 comes with a mono speaker that can reach a sound level of up to about 300 percent. However, the sound quality is not very convincing because it sounds quite bland and not very loud. For example, when listening to Chester Bennington's iconic scream in the last chorus of the song Given Up by Linkin Park, the sound sounds scattered, unbalanced and even a bit harsh.
The audio produced feels broken and not strong enough to provide a satisfactory listening experience. Overall, the Realme C100's audio system can be considered adequate for basic uses such as watching videos or answering calls. However, it is not an option for those who care about solid sound quality for music or entertainment.
When it comes to the screen, the Realme C100 actually has no problem in terms of size because it comes with a 6.7-inch display which can be considered standard for most smartphones today. This size provides comfort when held and gripped, in addition to facilitating daily activities such as watching videos, reading messages, or browsing social media. However, the resolution offered is only HD+, making the display less sharp and not so outstanding when compared to higher resolutions. However, for basic daily use, it is still sufficient and does not affect the main functions of the device.
Realme also promotes a refresh rate of up to 144Hz. In theory, a high refresh rate should provide smoothness when scrolling and interacting with the screen. However, the actual experience did not fully meet expectations because there were problems with scrolling that were not smooth and often stuck. This shows that a high refresh rate is not an essential requirement because not all applications support up to 144Hz. Finally, using lower settings makes the display more stable and consistent in real time.
It's easy to say, the Realme C100 screen provides a simple experience. It's large and comfortable to use, but the HD+ resolution and not-so-stellar refresh rate performance make it more suitable for users who want basic functionality over the smoothness of a premium display. Next, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor works well in terms of scanning speed, although the initial setup process is a bit slow. However, this is not too much of a nuisance because its location is more practical.
Internal Hardware – Mediatek Dimensity 6300
Realme C100 with MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip, 4GB RAM and 256GB internal storage is suitable for basic tasks but in 2026 such a RAM capacity feels a bit outdated. Many modern applications and operating systems are now smoother with at least 6GB or 8GB of RAM, so 4GB makes the multitasking experience feel limited. In the performance test, the Antutu score that stopped at around 85% after five minutes shows a moderate level of performance although it returned to normal after that. In terms of temperature, there was no overheating problem, it just felt a little warm, which can be considered positive for a budget phone.
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G – Exynos 1480 (4nm)
Infinix Note Edge – Dimensity 7100 (6nm)
Honor 600 Lite – Dimensity 7100 Elite (6nm)
Nothing Phone (3a) – Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 (4nm)
AnTuTu 3D
Score Device
Realme C100 577,629
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1,059,377
Honor 600 Lite 726,401
Infinix Note Edge 805,806
Nothing Phone (3a) 803,992
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Device
Realme C100 663 1758
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1138 3489
Honor 600 Lite 867 2660
Infinix Note Edge 972 2827
Nothing Phone (3a) 1146 3123
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Chip Score
Realme C100 383
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G 1042
Honor 600 Lite 640
Infinix Note Edge 692
Nothing Phone (3a) 1043
The typing experience on the Realme C100 still shows a slight delay, with a lag of a few seconds before the response appears. Watching videos at 1080P resolution can be considered adequate, but not completely smooth. Typing also feels a bit slow, just “okay okay” and not as fast as higher-end devices. Therefore, the Mediatek Dimensity 6300 chip used in the Realme C100 provides basic performance that is sufficient for daily use. This phone is suitable for budget users who want stable functions, but is not suitable for those who prioritize smoothness or high performance.
The Realme C100 also runs realme UI 7.0 based on Android 16. Among the features offered are a new interface with a simple and modern design, display mode options such as Vivid and Neutral and a refresh rate of up to 144Hz (although the actual experience is not entirely smooth). In addition, this system provides more efficient battery management, including low power consumption when in Standby Mode. The phone is also equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated with the interface for quick scanning. Users are also given independent display settings to change the refresh rate as needed, in addition to basic security functions such as system protection and standard security controls.
However, not all the full features of realme UI 7.0 are present on the Realme C100 because it is a budget phone. Premium features such as cross-device integration with iPhone or Mac, deep customization including customizable fingerprint animations and attractive Always-On Display displays and more advanced AI-based photography functions are not offered.
Camera and Image Quality
As a budget phone, the Realme C100 camera system provides a simple experience. In terms of image quality, the brightness and color saturation levels seem more balanced and not too high, thus making the shots look more natural. However, certain weaknesses are still clearly visible, especially when compared to mid-range or premium devices.
In low light conditions, images tend to show noise easily, although the level is still acceptable. On the other hand, when in bright lighting, the shots tend to be overexposed with relatively high highlights. In addition, image sharpness is also less than satisfactory, especially when the image is zoomed or cropped because edge detection is not very accurate. Furthermore, the use of digital zoom adds noise even during the day.
The basic camera UI functions on the Realme C100 only offer digital zoom, normal mode, and basic portrait mode. However, the camera application feels quite slow and sometimes experiences time lag, thus affecting the overall experience. The functions provided are also purely basic without any interesting additional features.
The camera functions on the Realme C100 clearly show that it is more of a basic use than a premium feature. Live Photo can only be used in normal mode without filters, while the editing tools in realme UI 7.0 only provide basic functions such as crop, adjust and simple filters. It is enough for quick modifications before sharing on social media, but does not offer advanced features such as AI Framing Master or layered editing that are usually found on more expensive models.
For video recording, the Realme C100 only supports up to 1080p at 30fps which is suitable for daily use but limited when compared to mid-range phones that already support 4K. The main camera can produce high-resolution images up to 50MP, but the lack of an ultra-wide lens limits your freedom. The best way to get consistent results is to use the 1x focal length without cropping.
Battery and Charging
The Realme C100 comes with a large 7000mAh battery capacity which at first glance looks impressive, as if it can last a day without problems. However, when used in daily life, its performance is not as good as expected. In normal use, the battery lasts around 7 to 9 hours (SOT) after a full charge, especially when used for typing or making long video calls. For example, the battery once dropped from 44% to 35% in about two hours or so, and then dropped back to 25% in almost two hours.
From this pattern, it is clear that a large capacity does not necessarily guarantee solid real-world durability. The 7000mAh figure is convincing on paper, but the actual performance depends on the usage pattern, the level of software optimization, and the efficiency of the phone's power management system. In conclusion, the Realme C100's battery is good enough for moderate daily use. It can last a whole day with normal activities, but if used for heavy applications or hours of video calls, its durability may decrease faster than expected.
Conclusion
The Realme C100 can be considered a budget phone that emphasizes battery life, a large screen display, and stable basic performance. It comes with a 7000mAh battery, a 6.7-inch display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, and a Mediatek Dimensity 6300 chip with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. All of this makes this device suitable for daily use such as messaging, social media, video calls, and content viewing.
However, the obvious weaknesses can be seen in the mediocre camera, the not-so-sharp HD+ screen resolution, and the performance that sometimes shows lag when typing or scrolling. Furthermore, despite the high refresh rate being promoted, the actual experience is not entirely smooth due to limited app support. The camera also only supports 1080p video recording at 30fps without an ultra-wide lens, thus making photography options quite limited.
Overall, the Realme C100 is worth considering if you are looking for a budget phone with a large battery that can last a long time, suitable for basic use and not too much emphasis on the camera aspect or premium smoothness. However, for users who prioritize advanced photography, high-resolution displays, or smooth performance, this phone may not meet expectations. With an affordable price, it is more suitable for students, workers who need a second phone, or users who want a practical device for everyday tasks. It maintains the identity of the C series as a budget phone that is simple, durable, and reliable for everyday use.
Pros
Large 7000mAh battery is enough for daily use.
144Hz display with Vivid/Neutral options.
Simple and modern design, suitable for a budget phone.
Dimensity 6300 chip is enough for basic daily tasks.
Updated interface with more efficient battery management.
Fast and practical side fingerprint sensor.
Cons
Medium performance.
Basic camera, low noise, overexposed highlights.
Basic editing without additional AI.
Camera app is sometimes slow and lags.
Basic audio with average quality.
