realme C53 unboxing: First look and initial impressions

realme will launch its latest addition to its popular budget line C-series. On June 22, Thursday 6 p.m., the realme C53 will debut via a live stream on the brand’s Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube channels.

The phone already debuted in Malaysia in early June, so you might already have an idea of what the device is all about. But before the local launch happens, let’s take a quick look at the realme C53.

Inside the Box

The realme C53 comes in the yellow-colored box we’re all familiar with. Inside the box, you are getting the usual set of accessories.

• realme C53 unit
• Silicone case
• SUPERVOOC Charger
• USB-C cable
• SIM eject tool
• Documentation

Conspicuously missing from the phone is the pre-installed screen protector, but everything else seems to be in order.

Setting up the realme C53 for the first time is like any other realme experience. You get the usual set of third-party apps that come with the initial setup. It slows down the initial setup. As per usual, you can just delete the apps that you don’t need.

Initial Review

The realme C53 follows the design language of recent realme phones with a flat-edge design and a minimalist layout. Our review unit is the Champion Gold variant which has a light golden glow with golden streaks that run through the back. The other color option is the classic black aptly named Mighty Black.

To create the design, realme used what they called a Golden Silk Coating Process that uses several layers of coating, with a thickness of just 400nm, to create the effect.

On the hand, the phone feels good and solid despite the plastic construction. It is the thinnest C-series phone, boasting a thickness of just 7.49 mm with a C-angle side design for added ergonomics.

The realme C53 is built around a 6.74-inch IPS display with an HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 90Hz. The screen looks vibrant and punchy with decent brightness. Meanwhile, the high refresh rate keeps animations smooth and responsive. As always, the bottom bezels are thicker than the side bezels, which is expected in this range.

The phone has an 8MP front camera under a dewdrop notch. It also has the nifty Mini Capsule notification feature. For the most part, the value it adds is cosmetic, but I like how it’s implemented. As mentioned before, I hope they expand what they can do in the near future.

At the back, there are two cameras, comprised of a 50MP primary camera paired with a depth sensor. Like other realme models, the lens is protruding from the back. They sit on a rectangular module with a shiny finish that complements the rear panel.

Under the hood, the realme C53 is powered by a Unisoc T612 chip, a modest entry-level processor manufactured using a 12nm process. It’s good for daily activities, but it will struggle against graphics-heavy games.

Our review unit has 6GB of RAM with an additional up to 6GB of virtual RAM, a generous 128GB of storage, and a 5000mAh battery with 33W SUPERVOOC fast charging. It runs on realme UI T Edition on top of Android 13.

So far, the realme C53 is fast and responsive in daily operation. The animations look smooth. But we’ll dive deeper in our full review, coming soon.

See also: realme 10 Pro 5G review: Flat design, impressively thin bezels

The realme C53 will launch in the Philippines on June 22, 2023. You can catch the live stream launch at 6 p.m. on realme’s Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube channels.

realme C53 Specs