The Realme C3 and Samsung Galaxy A01 are two of the most affordable smartphones today with prices of less than ₱6,000.

Let’s compare these based on design, display, cameras, performance, connectivity, sensors, and battery. Hopefully, this comparison will help prospective buyers which budget smartphone to choose.

 

Key Specs Comparison

FeaturesRealme C3Samsung Galaxy A01
Display6.5" IPS Display (720 x 1600 pixels, 270 ppi)5.7" IPS Display (720 x 1520 pixels, 295 ppi)
OSAndroid 10 with Realme UIAndroid 10 with One UI
ChipsetMediaTek Helio G70Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
RAM3GB RAM2GB RAM
Rear Camera12MP + 2MP + 2MP Triple Rear Cameras13MP + 2MP Dual Rear Cameras
Front Camera5MP Selfie Camera5MP Selfie Camera
Storage32GB Internal Storage16GB Internal Storage
Cellular4G LTE (Dual SIM)4G LTE (Dual SIM)
Wi-FiWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
CommsBluetooth, GPS & FM RadioBluetooth, GPS & FM Radio
USBMicro-USB with USB OTGMicro-USB with USB OTG
Audio3.5mm Audio Jack3.5mm Audio Jack
SecurityFace & Fingerprint UnlockFace Unlock
Battery5,000mAh Battery3,000mAh Battery
Charging10W5W
Price₱5,990 Official PH Price₱5,490 Official PH Price
For a detailed specs comparison, use the PTG Compare Tool.

 

 

Design and Display

Realme C3 back cover design and rear cameras.

Realme C3 back cover design and rear cameras.

Both the Realme C3 and Samsung Galaxy A01 have tall screens with an HD+ resolution and a small “waterdrop” notch. The former is larger at 6.5 inches (diagonal) but the latter has slightly higher pixel density and may appear sharper.

The body material for both phones is plastic but the Realme C3 has a textured back that prevents smudges and produces an optical pattern.

 

Performance and Storage

Samsung Galaxy A01 rear cameras.

Samsung Galaxy A01 rear cameras.

The Realme C3 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G70 chipset while the Samsung Galaxy A01 rocks a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439. Since the Helio G70 has been optimized for gaming, it runs games more smoothly than the Snapdragon 439.

Both phones come with Android 10 OS out of the box. Still, the Realme C3 offers a smoother experience in basic tasks since it has 3GB of RAM while the Samsung Galaxy A01 only has 2GB.

Furthermore, the Realme C3 has double the internal storage of the Samsung Galaxy A01 at 32GB.

 

Cameras

Realme C3 UI

Realme C3 UI

The Realme C3 has triple rear cameras while the Samsung Galaxy A01 has two. If we’re just looking at the number of the cameras, the Realme C3 is the winner.

However, the secondary and tertiary cameras of both phones are 2 Megapixels only. Hence, the real comparison lies in the main camera and the Samsung Galaxy A01 slightly edges with its 13MP main camera.

Meanwhile, both smartphones have 5 Megapixel selfie cameras housed in the screen notch.

 

Connectivity and Sensors

Samsung Galaxy A01 UI with dark mode.

Samsung Galaxy A01 UI with dark mode.

Both the Samsung Galaxy A01 and Realme C3 are dual-SIM 4G LTE smartphones with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, micro-USB port, and USB OTG support.

There’s one sensor found on the Realme C3 that’s absent in the Samsung Galaxy A01 — a fingerprint scanner. It’s found at the back of the phone and provides a secure and convenient way of unlocking.

 

Battery and Charging

The Samsung Galaxy A01 comes in black or blue.

The Samsung Galaxy A01 comes in black or blue.

In terms of battery capacity, the Realme C3 totally eclipses the Samsung Galaxy A01 with its 5,000mAh battery compared to the other’s 3,000mAh cell.

The Realme C3 should last for a way, way longer time on a single charge. In my Realme C3 full review, the device got an above-average battery life test score of 12 hours and 31 minutes.

It also supports a faster charging speed at 10W compared to the Samsung Galaxy A01’s 5W charging speed.

 

Conclusion: Which is the better smartphone?

Realme-C3-unboxing

Contents of the Realme C3 box.

Between the Realme C3 and Samsung Galaxy A01, the Realme C3 is the better smartphone in terms of design, display size, performance, storage, camera count, sensors, battery capacity, and charging speed.

The Samsung Galaxy A01 has a slightly smaller and more pixel-dense display. It also has the Samsung brand which still holds a special place for Filipino consumers.

My recommendation is to go for the Realme C3 even in it costs ₱500 more. It offers a better smartphone experience and comes with more extra features.