In previous releases, the realme C series made a name for itself by emphasizing durability, flexing features like drop resistance and water resistance. Carrying that philosophy over, the new realme C100 immediately grabs attention for another reason: its massive 8,000mAh battery. Having spent some time with it in person, here are my first impressions.
realme C100 Back design
Design and Build
The design language of this phone is very familiar. It features a flat back panel with a subtle texture that helps with grip, paired with flat side frames that give it a modern look. Despite the large battery inside, the phone doesn't feel overly bulky in the hand.
Picking it up for the first time, the phone does feel a bit plastic. That said, it's understandable given its price segment. Manufacturers have to make compromises somewhere, and I'd personally take a plastic build if it means getting an enormous battery.
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| realme C100 side buttons, fingerprint scanner |
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| realme C100 left side (SIM tray) |
Display
Up front is a 720p display, which admittedly was a bit disappointing to see. To its defense, though, it works fine for what it needs to do, and thankfully, realme opted for a punch-hole selfie camera instead of a dated notch design.
Being an IPS panel, it does exhibit some backlight bleeding, perhaps a bit more than what I'm used to seeing, but the high refresh rate makes everyday interactions feel smooth and responsive nonetheless.
Viewing experience, while not topnotch, seem fairly acceptable but low res.
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| realme C100 front display |
Battery
Moving on to its main highlight, the battery.
The realme C100 is noticeably heavier than what I'm used to carrying daily. But when you remember it's housing an 8,000mAh cell, the extra weight suddenly makes a lot more sense. It's a tradeoff that many users would probably be willing to make, especially those who prioritize long battery life over having an ultra-light device.
Based on my initial usage, the battery endurance on this thing is no joke. Pairing that massive 8,000mAh battery with relatively modest hardware seems to work in its favor. It just keeps going, and at no point did I find myself worrying about reaching for a charger. If battery life is your top priority, the realme C100 is already making a very strong first impression.
Honestly, it's still kind of crazy to think about. An 8,000mAh battery inside a smartphone would have sounded unrealistic just a few years ago. And perhaps even crazier is knowing that realme also has the realme P4, which packs an even larger 10,000mAh battery. I can't even imagine what that device feels like in hand, but that's a story for another day.
Initial verdict
For now, the realme C100 is shaping up to be an interesting option for users who simply want a phone that can keep going for days on a single charge. We'll need more time with it to see how it performs in everyday use, but that giant battery alone already makes it one of the more intriguing budget phones we've seen this year.
The realme C100 retails for Php 16,999 for the 4GB+256GB variant and Php 19,999 for the 8GB+256GB model.
As part of its first sale promo, prices drop to Php 14,999 and Php 17,999, respectively. Those buying online get an even better deal. Until June 30, the 4GB+256GB variant is available for as low as Php 11,195, while the 8GB+256GB model drops to just Php 14,000 on Shopee, TikTok Shop, and Lazada.