Realme just announced budget-centric duos in Kenya as consumers prepare for the holiday season, the two devices are officially joining a rather crowded midrange segment, but one that has been competitive for most Kenyans. The Realme 7i and Realme C12 combines some interesting features while cutting down on some corners to maintain an attractive price range. While we expect some Kenyans to be thrilled with the offering, there’s no doubt the two devices by no means will appeal to the so-called power users who need the best in everything for optimal use in gaming and photography.
Display panels;
Both devices feature a 6.5-inch display panel with an expected resolution of 720 by 1600 for the 7i and 720 by 1560 for the C12. This is way below our benchmark of at least FHD resolution, meaning text and images juts won’t show as vivid and crisp as they do on panels with a higher resolution. The panels are also IPS rather than AMOLED, something we’re not in dispute with considering the price range. So, expect “normal” experience without that dash of vividness we’ve come to expect from OLED panels. On a positive note, Realme decided to use Corning Gorilla glass on both devices to protect from scratches and shutters caused by accidental falls, but you’d still need to use a screen protector and cover just to be on the safe side.
Interestingly, the Realme 7i has a 90Hz panel, expect smooth scrolling, an interface that seems faster to interact with and somehow a better gaming experience on games that support this refresh rate. We also get several treats on the 7i compared to the C12 as expected and this has been reflected in their prices with the 7i costing Ksh. 24,999 while the C12 almost half the price at Ksh. 14,999.
Cameras and Photography;
There’s a 64MP quad-camera setup on the 7i, featuring an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth and 2MP macro sensors. On the other hand, the lower-priced C12 packs a triple camera setup that includes a 13MP main sensor and two separate 2MP sensors. The selfie camera is capped at 16MP on the 7i and 5MP on the C12.
Other features;
Both devices come with Realme UI based on android 10 a Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 processor on the 7i and a MediaTek Helio G3 processor on the C12. Users opting for the higher priced 7i will have an option of choosing various storage options and between 4GB and 8GB system RAM while the low-end C12 will only be available in 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.
Its also worth noting that, the C12 packs a larger 6000mAh battery compared to 7i’s 5000mAh battery. So you’d generally expect longer battery hours on the cheaper model compared to it’s a little pricier sibling.