realme C31 review - The flagship of the low-cost smartphones?
Possible competitors in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75.9 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2022 | Realme C31 T7225, Mali-G52 MP1 | 197 g | 32 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 77.6 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2022 | Realme C35 T7255, Mali-G57 MP1 | 189 g | 64 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.60" | 2408x1080 | |
| 73.6 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2021 | Samsung Galaxy A03s Helio P35 MT6765, PowerVR GE8320 | 196 g | 32 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 77.1 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2021 | Motorola Moto E40 Tangula T700, Mali-G52 MP2 | 198 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 |
Case and features - Good workmanship with realme
realme wants to get it right in the low-priced cell phones segment in 2022 and brings some features to the under-200-euro price range that you could only dream of not so long ago.
The realme C31 is the cheapest offering of the current generation in Central Europe. It comes in two storage variants:
- realme C31 32 GB mass storage / 3 GB RAM: 140 Euro
- realme C31 64 GB mass storage / 4 GB RAM: 160 Euro
We got the realme C31 with 32 GB for testing in Light Silver, one of the two color variants alongside Dark Green. Both tones have a slightly textured back, which cleverly enhances the exterior and gives a pleasant feel to the plastic panel. A ray effect that refracts light so that it seems to emanate from the camera module is also quite pretty - realme calls this Dynamic Texture Design.
The phone workmanship is very good and the case itself also proves to be very stable in our test: pressure on the front only gets through to the screen's liquid crystal with great effort and the phone can hardly be twisted.
32 GB of mass storage is not exactly generous, but not unusual in this price range. The storage can be expanded via a dedicated microSD slot and even two SIM cards can be used simultaneously if required. The microSD reader proves to be quite slow in our copy test with the reference microSD card Angelbird V60, but it performs well for the class in the CPDT benchmark.
Annoying for everyday use: the realme C31 does not feature NFC, so contactless payment services cannot be used.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s (Angelbird V60) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (7.7 - 77, n=77, last 2 years) | |
| Realme C35 (Angelbird V60) | |
| Realme C31 (Angelbird V60) | |
| Motorola Moto E40 (Angelbird V60) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Communication, software and operation - No 5 GHz WLAN
The realme C31 theoretically supports WiFi 5, but without the 5 GHz band, so the transfer rates in our test with the reference router Asus GT-AXE11000 are significantly lower than those of the realme C35: around 70 - 80 MBit/s is not a bad rate in this class, but it does not stand out either.
In terms of mobile communications, there is only 4G, and only the most necessary frequencies are supported. Thus, you should check whether you can also use the smartphone for mobile Internet in the host country for further trips. In our short sample, the smartphone proved to be quite OK for its price range in terms of reception strength, but it cannot keep up with high-end smartphones.
The realme UI on the phone is based on Android 11, the security patches are from April 2022 and thus up-to-date at the time of testing. That is very pleasing for such an inexpensive phone. The preinstalled third-party apps are kept within limits, which means you hardly have to uninstall anything if you want a pure system. However, it is annoying that realme has not done any DRM certification, so you can only watch streaming content from many large portals in SD.
The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the standby button on the right side of the case. It can be used to unlock the smartphone directly from standby with a slight delay. The finger was always reliably recognized during our tests. The phone can also be unlocked via face recognition if desired.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| iperf3 transmit AXE11000 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Realme C31 | |
| iperf3 receive AXE11000 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Realme C31 | |
Cameras - Normal quaility for the given price range
The realme C31 features a 13-megapixel main camera with a Sony IMX258 sensor. The smartphone is thus in good company in its price range, even though the Motorola Moto E40 with its pixel-binning camera nominally offers a higher resolution and more flexibility.
The pictures look a bit pale in terms of colors and not particularly rich in details. Strong contours around objects are also visible from time to time. However, the smartphone can be used for snapshots. In low light, details are hardly visible in dark areas, but you can still recognize the image content.
The camera is supported by a 2-megapixel lens that takes care of the depth of field calculations. There is also a macro camera, also with 2 megapixels, for extreme close-ups.
Videos with the main camera can be recorded at a maximum of 1080p and 30 fps. The details are okay, but the autofocus always gives itself a second to think and then pulses slightly when focusing.
The selfie camera on the front does not have a particularly high resolution - 5 megapixels. The pictures look quite blotchy in detail, but if you do not look that closely, the picture quality is okay for the price range.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main cameraMain cameraLow Light
Display - Normal resolution, no PWM
An HD display in a smartphone under 150 Euros is quite common, but you have to do without frame rates higher than 60 Hz. The display is on the class level with a maximum of 413 cd/m² with a fully exposed brightness sensor, but it might still be too little on very bright days outdoors. At least the brightness distribution is quite even.
In our tests with the spectrophotometer and the CalMAN software, we noticed a rather strong blue cast in the display. Furthermore, especially dark areas change their color quite strongly depending on the viewing angle. We did not detect PWM.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 413 cd/m²
Contrast: 1033:1 (Black: 0.4 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.89 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 4.9 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
Gamma: 2.395
| Realme C31 IPS, 1600x720, 6.5" | Realme C35 IPS, 2408x1080, 6.6" | Samsung Galaxy A03s PLS, 1600x720, 6.5" | Motorola Moto E40 IPS, 1600x720, 6.5" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | 24% | 10% | 18% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 62 ? | 50 ? 19% | 54 ? 13% | 44 ? 29% |
| Response Time Black / White * | 34 ? | 24 ? 29% | 32 ? 6% | 32 ? 6% |
| PWM Frequency | 807 ? | |||
| Screen | 1% | -6% | 7% | |
| Brightness middle | 413 | 585 42% | 383 -7% | 452 9% |
| Brightness | 394 | 558 42% | 354 -10% | 431 9% |
| Brightness Distribution | 91 | 89 -2% | 88 -3% | 90 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.4 | 0.6 -50% | 0.34 15% | 0.46 -15% |
| Contrast | 1033 | 975 -6% | 1126 9% | 983 -5% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 4.89 | 4.4 10% | 5.09 -4% | 4.15 15% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 8.35 | 8.77 -5% | 9.25 -11% | 6.47 23% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.9 | 5.9 -20% | 6.5 -33% | 4 18% |
| Gamma | 2.395 92% | 2.228 99% | 2.261 97% | 2.157 102% |
| CCT | 7598 86% | 8001 81% | 8152 80% | 7557 86% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 13% /
6% | 2% /
-3% | 13% /
9% |
* ... smaller is better
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 34 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 21 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 13 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 90 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 62 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 33 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 29 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 96 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected |  | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance, emissions and battery life - Fast memory
With the Unisoc Tiger T612 as SoC, the realme C31 is well equipped for its class and has enough power for everyday use. It will not always be possible to browse through the menus smoothly - especially when more complex apps are running in the background. In graphics-intensive applications, the Motorola Moto E40 has a slight advantage in graphics-intensive applications because it can use a second graphics core in its chip.
You also have to put up with waiting times when surfing the web. Especially pictures on large websites need a moment every now and then until they are loaded after scrolling.
When it comes to storage, realme brings UFS 2.2 memory into play and thus provides a boost in loading times and also makes the system a bit smoother overall. Our test device does not achieve the great transfer rates of the realme C35, at least not in the 32 GB version we tested.
A maximum of 40 °C under full load, the heating of the case is not a problem at all.
The small speaker at the back does a rather poor job, sounds rather treble-heavy, and is sometimes uncomfortable to hear at maximum volume. If you want to connect external audio devices, you can do so via 3.5 mm or Bluetooth 5.0. However, the latest aptX codecs like aptX Adaptive or aptX LowLatency are not available.
The 5000 mAh battery is now standard in this class, and the realme C31 achieves typical runtimes for similar expensive devices at around 16 hours in our WLAN test. This is usually more than sufficient for everyday use, and you can often manage two days without a power outlet even during intensive use. However, recharging the battery takes a while since the realme C31 only charges with a maximum of 10 watts.
| GFXBench | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme C31 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Average Unisoc T7225 (4.7 - 10, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (3.6 - 247, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme C31 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Average Unisoc T7225 (5.3 - 5.6, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2.3 - 263, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| on screen Aztec Ruins High Tier Onscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme C31 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Average Unisoc T7225 (3 - 6.4, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 144, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen (sort by value) | |
| Realme C31 | |
| Realme C35 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A03s | |
| Motorola Moto E40 | |
| Average Unisoc T7225 (1.9 - 2, n=5) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (0.85 - 112, n=204, last 2 years) | |
| Realme C31 | Realme C35 | Samsung Galaxy A03s | Motorola Moto E40 | Average 32 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 122% | -31% | -29% | 71% | 475% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 478.8 | 907.1 89% | 279.8 -42% | 265 -45% | 569 ? 19% | 1859 ? 288% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 131.9 | 271.1 106% | 86.8 -34% | 156.3 18% | 289 ? 119% | 1445 ? 996% |
| Random Read 4KB | 89 | 137.8 55% | 64 -28% | 56 -37% | 125.4 ? 41% | 278 ? 212% |
| Random Write 4KB | 61.5 | 206.4 236% | 48.7 -21% | 30.7 -50% | 125.7 ? 104% | 310 ? 404% |
Temperature
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40.9 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.1 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speaker
Realme C31 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 31.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 6.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 59% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 34% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 75% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Motorola Moto E40 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 33.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (10% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 61% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 37%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 77% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%
Battery life
| Realme C31 5000 mAh | Realme C35 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A03s 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto E40 5000 mAh | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | |||||
| WiFi Websurfing | 947 | 958 1% | 1193 26% | 995 5% | 985 ? 4% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - Unique features in the low price range
It is a small sensation that realme integrates UFS storage into a smartphone that is partly available for less than 150 Euros. This fast storage, the chic and stable casing, and the good battery runtimes contribute to the positive overall impression.
The camera cannot stand out from the mass of cheap phones, but there are definitely slower phones for similar money. The fact that the security patches are apparently kept up to date is not necessarily common in the price range of fewer than 200 Euros, but it is still the case for the realme C31.
A very inexpensive phone with fast memory.
If we were allowed to express wishes for the next generation, we would wish for NFC, DRM certification, an improved camera, and a 90 Hz screen. Even so, the realme C31 is a well-equipped phone in the entry-level category.
If you would rather have a 90 Hz screen for little money, you should take a look at the Motorola Moto E40. If you add a few more Euros, you will get a good price with the realme C35 which has even faster memory, faster WLAN, and a much brighter screen.
Price and availability
The realme C31 is available directly from the manufacturer at prices starting at 140 Euros. At the time of testing, the phone was even cheaper on the Internet, for example at our partners amazon.de and Cyberport.
Realme C31
- 05/05/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Price comparison
