Apart from being the first budget phone to be powered by the gaming-capable 12nm Helio G70 octa-core processor, realme is highlighting the triple-camera configuration of the C3.
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| Camera interface of the realme C3 |
Why? It is expected to be one of the most affordable phones with a triple-camera setup. At the back, it features a 12MP f/1.8 primary camera with PDAF tech for fast and accurate focus. It is paired with a 2MP f/2.4 secondary camera with up to 4cm macro, another 2MP f/2.4 depth camera for bokeh shots, and an LED flash.
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| Triple-cam on a budget |
It has auto HDR, Filters, Chroma Boost, Portrait, and Expert mode with up to 16s long exposure.
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| There is a 5MP selfie cam in the notch |
For selfies, you'll get a 5MP f/2.2 snapper with Filters, AI Face Beauty, and Portrait mode.
Now, let's see if it is any good. Here are our first few shots.
Rear Camera Samples
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| Daylight 1 |
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| Daylight 2 |
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| Daylight 3 |
In daylight, realme did a fine job. Focus speed is decent. Most of the shots that I took are detailed. Colors are also okay, but it is a bit contrasty. I'm glad that the daylight images that I got aren't overexposed. Dynamic range could be better, but that's understandable as this is a budget phone.
Only one thing, I would have liked it better if it has an ultra-wide camera to let me capture scenes with a wider field of view.
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| 1x |
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| 2x |
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| 4x |
The realme C3 also supports up to 4x near-lossless digital zoom. Personally, I think realme did a fine job with it as long as you are in a well-lit situation. The zoom up to 4x zoom is usable in daylight.
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| Close-up without Ultra Macro |
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| Close-up with Ultra Macro |
The second camera of the realme C3 is a 2MP f/2.4 4cm macro camera. We tried it and it works. But, it is only usable in well-lit situations.
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| Another macro sample |
The macro sensor will struggle in areas with dim lighting.
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| Sample shot with bokeh blur |
The third camera can help users achieve DSLR-like blur or the bokeh effect. It works on the realme C3, but do not expect it to be as great and clean as higher-end camera phones. At least it is there.
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| Indoor shot |
For indoor shots, it has respectable performance. The shot that I got is fairly detailed. The dynamic range is decent as well. Overall exposure looks great overall too.
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| Low light 1 |
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| Low light 2 |
In low light, despite the lack of Nightscape mode, it can take pretty good night shots as long there's a bit of light. It has good exposure control and colors are still accurate. Dynamic range isn't that wide, but it is not that noisy unlike shots from other budget camera phones.
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| Low light 3 |
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| Low light 4 |
But of course, we are still missing the Nightscape mode. It would have been useful in situations where's there's little light. It could have made the shot above better.
Selfie Camera Samples
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| Selfie daylight |
For selfies, the 5MP shooter performs well in scenes with natural light. It has average details and fairly accurate colors.
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| Another daylight selfie |
The field of view is not too narrow as well. It wide enough to fit several people in one frame even if you don't have a selfie stick. It is actually respectable despite being a 5MP shooter only.
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| Normal selfie vs selfie with AI Face Beauty and Portrait mode |
Like other realme devices, it has AI face beauty and a portrait mode for selfies. From afar, the bokeh looks alright. You will only see missed blurred edges upon closer inspection. The AI face beauty will soften your skin. In my experience, it didn't make my skin lighter, unlike other selfie cams.
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| Indoor |
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| Low light |
For indoor dim scenes and low light, it can still take usable images. But, expect it to show more visible grain. Don't expect it to perform great in such conditions.
Quick thoughts
The realme C3 can take respectable images despite being a budget phone. I also like that fact that it is versatile enough and it has plenty of modes to try. It even has decent low light performance even if it doesn't have a Nightscape mode.
The lack of an ultra-wide camera is forgivable since it is a budget phone. It would have just been better if it has the Nightscape mode.
But so far, I'm quite pleased with what it can do. This could be the one for those who are looking for a budget phone with great specs and good cameras.
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