Reviews

The art of being in and behind the frame

An OPPO Reno15 5G review

Published

February 13, 2026

MJ Jucutan

As someone who tells stories for a living, I’ve always stood behind the camera.

I know all too well that I’m exceptional at framing people and landscapes, capturing moments that make sense later.

When I flew to Northern Mindanao, I told myself I was going for a change of scenery. I wanted to exist inside my own narrative, too.

Bukidnon became the perfect backdrop for getting to know myself in and behind the frame. In my pocket was the OPPO Reno15 5G in Aurora White.

There were no expectations of the smartphone being part of the story. I just wanted to see if I could trust it to document my adventures.

Surprisingly, it did.

Refinement over noise

I’ve always been drawn to designs that stand out. Covering the Reno series from its earliest iterations up to the Reno15 has been a hallmark of my career in journalism.

I like pieces that catch attention. As a Leo, I’ve always loved it — in how I dress and in the items I carry. In the past, that meant bold finishes and loud statements, much like the Reno lines before this.

As I grew and aged gracefully, my taste evolved. I still want to demand some form of presence. I just don’t want it to feel abrasive.

The Reno15 demands attention without being loud. The Aurora White finish looks clean and polished from afar. Up close, the surface shifts under light and a shimmer reveals itself only when you move it.

The glass back flows seamlessly into the camera module, so the silhouette feels cohesive rather than decorative. It still carries that flat-edge familiarity people love to compare to an iPhone, and I get why.

In hand, the Reno15 5G feels substantial at 197 grams, yet it never became uncomfortable during long days of recording across different adventures.

The 6.59-inch frame sits comfortably when I’m scrolling one-handed or holding it up to film while moving, like when I rode a 4×4 to a ranch, gripping it tightly as rough terrain threatened to jolt everything out of place.

That said, I live actively. I move between environments without babying my devices. My arsenal looks like gear ready for battle, and that sums up what I need from a smartphone.

The Reno15 5G’s IP66, IP68, and IP69 protection means this beauty is tougher than it looks. It resists dust and handles water exposure. Add Splash Touch support, and even slightly damp fingers don’t interrupt what I’m doing.

Light under pressure

For someone who practically lives under the sun, the display became both a companion and a challenge.

When I was filming in open fields, the Reno15 5G’s screen sometimes struggled against harsh midday light. Even at 1200 nits in high brightness mode, the glare could be relentless.

I found myself stepping into pockets of shade, tilting the screen at careful angles, squinting just to confirm whether a shot was framed properly.

On days when there was no escaping the sun, I trusted the camera and my instinct for composition. I mounted the phone on my Ulanzi tripod, positioned myself in the scene, and focused on performing rather than obsessively reviewing every second.

There was a learning curve, but it reminded me that sometimes you have to let the moment unfold and stitch the story together later from whatever you captured.

Now Playing: Undercover Miss Hong

My life as a creative director isn’t all shooting and exporting. I consume as much as I create. Inspiration has always come from film and television.

Lately, I’ve been watching Undercover Miss Hong on Netflix, with Park Shin Hye playing Hong Keum-bo, an elite securities inspector who goes undercover as a rookie employee inside a suspicious investment firm.

Set in 1997 Seoul during the Asian Financial Crisis, the series commits fully to its time period. The palette leans into muted browns and dusty blues that echo economic tension.

Interiors feel dim and textured and office spaces look rigid. The fashion reflects the late ’90s without turning into a costume. Nothing is polished for surface appeal because everything feels rooted in its world.

On the Reno15 5G’s 6.59-inch AMOLED display, those tonal differences came through clearly. Dark scenes retained shadow detail instead of collapsing into flat black, while warm tungsten lighting looked rich without veering orange.

Beyond inspiration, I trim clips and scrub through footage I captured during my trip. The 120Hz refresh rate makes swiping and scrubbing feel fluid.

Where nothing lags

As someone fond of flagship devices like my OPPO Find X9 and iPhone 16 Pro, I know immediately when a smartphone feels like a compromise. The OPPO Reno15 5G is technically midrange, yet it never felt like one.

From setup to day-to-day use, everything felt smooth. Apps opened quickly so I switched between shooting, editing, messaging, and uploading without hiccups.

My neurodivergent brain appreciated that it could keep up with the constant mental tabs I have open.

The 6500mAh battery lasted about a day and a half after shooting across cities and mountains. Charging took around 45-50 minutes from zero to 100% with 80W SUPERVOOC.

What I appreciated most was O+ Connect. I’ve used it before on the Find X9 and previous Reno devices, and it continues to make my workflow seamless.

It’s no secret that I exist deep within Apple’s ecosystem. My MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro are cross-functional tools for my work. I even switched to Apple’s Creator Studio.

Using the Reno15 5G as my primary content device during testing could have felt disruptive. Instead, O+ Connect allowed me to move files across devices easily.

I treated the Reno15 5G like a mirrorless camera, then refined everything on a bigger screen.

A playground for precision

Artificial Intelligence has ingrained itself into our devices in ways that don’t always feel natural.

I’ve seen AI productivity tools work well for people in high-pressure professions. For me, efficiency doesn’t mean teaching a system how to think before it works for me.

What stood out in the Reno15 series was AI Mind Space. It allowed my scattered brain to consolidate screenshots, schedules, references, and fragments of information into one hub that actually mirrors how I operate.

As someone who saves everything for later, it felt less like automation and more like organization that understands me.

Then there’s AI Motion Photo Popout. As a creative director, I don’t like posting stories the way everyone else does. I have a desire, deep in my bones, to stand out.

Popout lets me lift subjects out of the frame and turn them into layered visuals. I used it for Instagram Stories and thumbnails instead of settling for a random still from a Reel.

Being able to refine directly in the Gallery — erasing distractions or turning motion into cinematic snippets — meant I could act on impulse without sacrificing my love for curation.

Learning to be seen

During my time in Northern Mindanao, I stopped pretending I didn’t want to be in the photos.

For the longest time, I’ve been more comfortable orchestrating the frame than occupying it. I knew where to stand and how to direct, or where the light should hit… but for everyone else.

This past year, I’ve been learning to own the space I’m in and not dimming my light simply because I’m afraid of how bright it might be.

The OPPO Reno15 5G’s 50-megapixel ultra-wide front camera made that easier than I expected.

I told OPPO’s Creative Manager in passing that I genuinely liked the new hardware when he asked how the experience had been so far, and I meant it.

The wider field of view meant I didn’t have to overthink whether everyone fit into the frame. I didn’t have to do that subtle, Gen-Z arm stretch or step back awkwardly just to make room for the scenery.

I could capture more of the background without looking hideous in the process. The frame felt immersive, yet balanced: Faces looked natural and proportions didn’t warp.

There’s something powerful about not having to choose between yourself and the scenery. You can be the subject, or you can be part of the story. With this smartphone, you’re allowed to coexist with both.

I even asked my photographer friend, Neil Jimenez, to take my portraits using the 50-megapixel telephoto portrait camera.

Holding still in front of the lens felt unfamiliar. I tried to remain statuesque, composed, trusting him to see what I usually see in others.

The portraits came out vivid without distortion. The backgrounds softened, but never stretched or exaggerated.

It was strange to watch myself in those frames. To notice how the light rested on my cheeks, and see how my smile shifted when something genuinely amused me. To observe expressions I never see because I’m usually the one observing.

There’s another side of you that only appears when you let yourself be seen.

Behind the lens where I’m most comfortable

If being in the frame felt vulnerable, being behind it felt like home.

Bukidnon still feels like a dream when I replay it in my head: Horses moving across open fields, mountains layered into one another like watercolor washes.

I shot wide and then cropped in. The main camera gave me enough details to experiment. Whether I stayed at 1x or zoomed into 2x or 5x, I shaped the narrative the way I wanted people to experience it.

I framed lines and symmetry, and leaned into negative space. I played with contrast, like the way Alpine Village’s architecture stands against the surrounding greenery in Dahilayan.

There was room to explore. Room to make mistakes. It felt like the device in my hand wasn’t just a tool, but a collaborator responding to the way I see the world.

Filmed and directed by yours truly

After leaving the love of my life last year, I began documenting my trips. Maybe it was for content or healing. But I started treating my life like a film I had to direct and star in.

Acting in your own story while directing it at the same time is harder than it sounds. It requires vulnerability and believing that your perspective is worth documenting.

Bukidnon became my practice. I recorded clips using the OPPO Reno15 5G in 4K HDR because I wanted the footage to be stable and detailed even when I was moving.

I remember stressing over file sizes, wondering if I had overcommitted to quality. But when you care about storytelling, you’d rather have too much detail than not enough.

There were pine-lined roads. Snippets of conversations. Landscapes that felt cinematic without trying. And of course, me being a dramatic, slightly unhinged main character like I was starring in a Taylor Swift music video.

Getting out of my comfort zone meant taking the Reno15 5G — mounted securely on a tripod — to a 350-meter zipline ride. For a brief moment, I imagined I was Elphaba flying away from the Emerald City.

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I also brought it to the Razorback ride, using Dual-View Video to record the mountains stretching in front of me while capturing my own reaction at the same time.

I’ve done something similar during an ATV ride in Bohol, but this felt different. Higher stakes (and chances of falling if I abruptly stop). Faster wind (and a cold one, because we’re high up in the mountains). More nerves (because I’m not in control).

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I was terrified. The accelerator felt awkward under my control and the seatbelt didn’t feel secure. I’m short, so even sitting comfortably required adjustment.

There was a moment where I questioned whether I had overestimated my courage. But I survived. This story is published. The video is up.

Sometimes, being able to capture how a place made you feel — not just how it looked — is priceless. Vulnerability and honesty matters.

The courage to step into your own frame matters. It just helps when the device in your hand is capable enough to keep up with the story you’re brave enough to tell.

Is the OPPO Reno15 5G your GadgetMatch?

The OPPO Reno15 5G isn’t perfect. Priced at PhP 36,990, it sits a few thousand pesos higher than its predecessor, so the jump asks you to think twice.

What you’re really paying for is refinement. It has smarter AI integrations and a more cohesive overall experience.

But here’s the thing: this is the first Reno in a while that feels grown up. It makes storytelling easier for people who live half their lives online, with a camera system and performance that feel steady enough to rival devices in higher tiers.

So if you’re wondering whether it’s your GadgetMatch, consider a Swipe Right if you’re a content creator who values camera versatility, especially a strong front camera. If you move between Android and Apple ecosystems and need something that lets you shoot, edit, and publish on the go, this fits that workflow.

Swipe Left if you’re extremely price-sensitive or if you rarely go beyond basic point-and-shoot and don’t see yourself using the AI tools built into the system.

The OPPO Reno15 5G won’t transform your life. But if you’re already in the middle of writing your own story, it’s a dependable co-director and co-producer.

And sometimes, that’s all you need.

Laptops

30 days later with the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra: Like seeing an ex

Felt exactly as I remembered.

Published

August 10, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

I genuinely thought that was it.

The review was done. The feature was out. ASUS had already collected the laptop. In my head, the campaign was over.

Then, out of nowhere, they sent it back.

Between the original review period and this unexpected encore, I ended up living with the ExpertBook Ultra for close to 30 days.

I wasn’t expecting to spend more time with it, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain. If anything, I just hoped they wouldn’t ask for it back again anytime soon.

Picking it back up felt familiar.

Like seeing an ex.

The butterflies came back almost immediately. So did everything I remembered about it.

It also got me thinking.

Maybe the best follow-up to a review isn’t spending another week with a laptop. Maybe it’s asking yourself one simple question:

How much did you actually miss it after it was gone?

That question was surprisingly easy to answer.

It still feels impossibly light

The first thing I noticed wasn’t the display. It wasn’t the keyboard either.

It was the weight.

That became painfully obvious on days when I absolutely had to bring my laptop around. The 0.99kg starting weight really does make a difference when you’re bouncing between cafés, meetings, and wherever else work decides to take you.

So when the ExpertBook Ultra came back, it slipped right back into the same routine. Same cafés. Dinner after. Then back home where work usually followed me all the way to bed.

Most definitely inside the Bravo Tote V2. I upgraded my bag too lol.

The thing I noticed almost immediately wasn’t that it was light. I already knew that. It was how quickly everything came back.

Like we never parted.

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is still everything I want my MacBook Pro to look and feel like.

I still have a weird relationship with the Nano Ceramic finish

I know this sounds ridiculous, but I still catch myself running my hand across the lid before opening the laptop.

It’s just become part of the ritual.

Pick it up. Marvel at how light it is. Run my hand across the 9H Nano Ceramic finish. Then get to work.

One of the things I wondered after ASUS took the laptop back was whether I’d still care about the finish once the honeymoon phase had worn off. It felt like one of those features that would naturally lose its magic over time.

Apparently not. If anything, the time apart made me appreciate it even more. And as I continued to use it, these words came to mind: “I wish we never parted. I wish you stayed. And I wish you never go away.”

I forgot how much I liked working on it

One thing that didn’t change while the ExpertBook Ultra was away was the kind of work I do.

The breadth and depth of it certainly didn’t magically change. I still spent my days coordinating projects, replying to emails, juggling deadlines, and letting ChatGPT help me process unresolved feelings and questionable timing in between writing articles.

That also meant I wasn’t really the target audience for some of the ExpertBook Ultra’s AI for Work features. I appreciated having tools like MyExpert, AI ExpertMeet, and Copilot+ within reach, but my workflow rarely called for them. Most days, I was simply too busy doing the work instead of exploring new ways to do it.

Although, I will say I did a lot more coordination work than the emotionally charged reviews and features I usually enjoy writing.

I also started editing a reel before eventually handing it over to one of our video editors for reasons completely unrelated to the ExpertBook Ultra. Rodneil issue.

The keyboard, though, was just as lovely as I remembered. The 1.5 mm key travel still struck a nice balance between comfort and responsiveness, while the ASUS ExpertCool keyboard with its Excimer UV coating gave me one less thing to worry about during long workdays.

People often say a good keyboard is one you stop thinking about. I never did.

Every now and then I’d be halfway through an article and randomly catch myself appreciating how good it felt to type on. It’s one of those things you don’t expect to notice after days of use, but somehow you still do.

The haptic touchpad, on the other hand, started feeling like it was fighting me a little this time around. I still think that’s more of a software thing than an ASUS thing. If there’s one thing Apple still has over practically everyone else, it’s the MacBook trackpad.

That said, I still never found myself reaching for a mouse.

I got distracted… again (thanks, 3K Tandem OLED)

Eventually, though, my brain would tap out.

That’s usually when I’d stop pretending to be productive and switch to whatever was helping me decompress that week.

This time, it was See You at Work Tomorrow. I initially watched for second female lead Kang Mina (due for a lead role, btw) but got hooked with the rest of the cast pretty quickly.

I also started Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You. It’s quietly become one of my comfort shows of late.

And naturally, there were the occasional fancams. This time, mostly of Kim Chaewon during LE SSERAFIM’s PUREFLOW concert stops.

Funny enough, I don’t think I consciously appreciated the 3K Tandem OLED display as much this time around. I think I just got used to how good it looked.

Somewhere between deadlines, comfort shows, anime, and Chaewon fancams, I stopped noticing the display altogether. I just enjoyed whatever happened to be on it.

That’s probably the highest compliment I can give it.

Turns out, I hadn’t changed my mind

One of the reasons I was genuinely happy the ExpertBook Ultra came back was because I wanted to see whether I’d remembered it too fondly. After all, that’s usually what time does. You remember the good parts, forget the little annoyances, and convince yourself something was better than it actually was.

That never happened here.

If anything, getting the laptop back just reinforced the conclusions I had already come to the first time around. It still feels impossibly light. I still think it’s everything I want my MacBook Pro to look and feel like. And yes, I still wish it ran macOS.

Sorry, Windows.

What surprised me more was that I never really found myself looking for reasons to disagree with my original review. I wasn’t paying attention to the little things anymore. Nor was I trying to re-review the laptop or see if I’d somehow missed a fatal flaw the first time around.

I just… used it.

It stopped feeling like a review unit and simply became the laptop I reached for whenever I had work to do or wanted to unwind with a K-drama at the end of the day. Looking back, that’s probably why nothing really changed. I had already formed my opinion. Getting it back just confirmed it.

The person I picture using this laptop also hasn’t changed. It’s still for people who’ve made strides in life and want a machine that reflects where they are while keeping up with everything they’re taking on.

That’s who I pictured when I first wrote about the ExpertBook Ultra.

Funny enough… That’s still who I picture today.

Sometimes the best review begins after the review ends

When ASUS took the laptop back, there was actually some relief. It signalled that the campaign was over.

That feeling didn’t last very long.

I couldn’t help but long for it shortly after, especially on days that I absolutely had to bring a laptop around. The weight really does play a big factor during days like this. And as ridiculous as it sounds, I never quite got over the Nano Ceramic finish either.

That’s probably what surprised me the most. Not that I still liked the ExpertBook Ultra. I already knew that.

It was realizing just how much of the experience stayed with me after it was gone.

If you’ve been considering the ExpertBook Ultra, my advice probably hasn’t changed after spending close to 30 days with it. Don’t buy it because it’s the lightest laptop around or because it packs every feature under the sun. Buy it because you want a machine that quietly gets out of your way and lets you focus on the work that matters. That’s what it ended up doing for me.

After this reunion, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra will likely leave me again. Some exes are just like that. They’re meant to be exes.

And while they don’t stay, they leave an imprint on how you go about life moving forward.

I just know some part of me will always look for the best that I’ve found with the ExpertBook Ultra whenever another laptop lands on my desk.

Is that fair? Perhaps not. But it is what it is.

Thinking of making the switch?

If you’ve been considering the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra, ASUS Business Philippines is currently running an Early Bird Bundle Promo until August 31, 2026. Purchase any ASUS ExpertBook Ultra from participating ASUS Expert Stores and select tech retailers to receive over Php 13,000 worth of freebies, including an ASUS 100W GaN Charger and SSI Gift Certificates. (DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-261070 Series of 2026.)

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra starts at Php 129,995 and is available through select ASUS authorized stores and tech retailers nationwide.

Every purchase also includes a 3-year battery and charger warranty extension, with upgradeable warranty coverage of up to 5 years, giving you added peace of mind long after you’ve taken it home.

Where to buy:

ASUS ExpertBook Ultra: https://ph.asus.click/ExpertBookUltra-WheretoBuy
ASUS Expert Store – Lazada: https://ph.asus.click/ASUSExpertBookStoreLazada
ASUS Expert Store – Shopee: https://ph.asus.click/ASUSExpertBookStoreShopee

For businesses, ASUS Business Philippines also offers flexible configurations tailored to your organization’s needs. To learn more about volume purchases, visit:
https://ph.asus.click/Business-VolumePurchase

Laptops

ROG STRIX G16 Review: Building for the moment

Setting it up however you want to make the most out of it

Published

August 10, 2026

Gab Orlina

As someone who loves to build PCs, gaming laptops do not completely appeal to me as much as it would for other people. Apart from the limited capacity to tinker and upgrade parts, in some cases, gaming performance doesn’t feel the same as an actual desktop PC.

Also, there’s the ever-present concern on its portability given that most gaming laptops come in rather hefty clam shells.

The other thing is that given we now have more portable ways to play the game, gaming laptops feel behind in the game. Handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X make it easy to just bring the games with you even if you won’t be able to play all genres anyways.

However, there are still those that dare to take the chance on the clam shell for all the other, non-gaming aspects it excels in.

So, when ROG came to us with the ASUS ROG STRIX G16, I wanted to give it a shot to see if it’s something worth totally investing in.

On paper, it promises to be an excellent device for all of its intended use cases, but you can say that about anything at this point. There has to be something different that truly makes this device worthwhile in 2026.

Performance-maxxing at its finest

If it isn’t obvious yet, I think that this new version of the ROG STRIX G16 performs absolutely well with the hardware it comes with.

Powered by the new Intel Core Ultra 9 and an NVIDIA RTX 5080, it covers every little use case you need it for. Editing spreadsheets, creating videos from scratch, playing RTX-compatible games with high quality details – it honestly can do no wrong.

On the outside, the device sports a 16-inch, 2.5K ROG Nebula Display, maxed out with a refresh rate of 300hz. While it does come in the unorthodox 16:10 aspect ratio, it doesn’t totally ruin the viewing nor gaming experience in my opinion.

Also, that high enough of a refresh rate already puts this display within the competitive gaming tier of performance. So, expect to hit more headshots when you play on this device, hopefully.

The thing is, for me, this is expected coming out from ASUS ROG. Great internal hardware, matched with the external hardware to maximize the gaming experience – it’s what they’re known for.

At this point, they’ve continuously raised the bar on maxing out gaming and productivity performance that it bears no repeating past this point.

So, what’s new?

Designing the experience your way

The ROG STRIX G16 for 2026 sports a rather subtle, nearly minimalist physical appearance upon unboxing. Bannered by an LED ROG logo and several nods to their brand messaging, it’s as unassuming as one would expect.

Once you turn it on, you are greeted with the flash of RGB light strips surrounding the keyboard and the underside of the laptop – all fully customizable on Armoury Crate. If you ask me, that’s not even the best part.

When you flip the device to the underside, you will notice this peg that can pass off as its rubber footing. However, inspect it further and it’s actually a switch that, when slid to the left, unlocks the protective cover of the laptop’s internal hardware.

Once unlocked, it allows you to easily add another M.2 SSD storage or expand your RAM to 64GB, which is a huge deal on its own.

Upgrading your laptop was never this easy nor safe to do, considering that you will normally need to remove the screws and potentially void the warranty. With the ROG STRIX G16, both of those worries are eliminated for you to craft the perfect gaming machine.

The only thing, though, is it’s still a pretty bulky machine that made some weird tweaks to the other components.

I’m personally not a fan of the unbelievably large trackpad and the somewhat awkward key travel while typing due to the switches being small for my hands. External peripherals are a must, but the components having weird quirks are not a total deal breaker.

No heat in the moment

ROG brings its new Intelligent Cooling system that it applied to the 2026 version of the STRIX G16, which promised better heat dissipation on paper. Part of the design choice to accompany this was to open up most ventilation on the rear end, unlike other models that still evenly distributed it to the sides.

This, to me, was a welcomed change especially with Intel chips that typically throttle during intense workloads.

The most obvious pain point I had before was immediately addressed by this new cooling system. Effectively, they made the heat dissipate through one ventilation area so it no longer affects other parts of the laptop to make the experience uncomfortable long term.

One example of this: the keyboard doesn’t take the heat after three hours of non-stop play on Performance mode while the system is throttling to achieve better frame rates.

Even after I shut down the laptop after use, the underside doesn’t get too warm either. I initially thought it had to be if that was an area you would have easy access to.

Well, I’m glad to never attempt to fry eggs on a laptop ever again, at least!

Battery levels that keep you in the clutch

For a device this powerful, it’s not a surprise to me that the battery drains quickly when you’re on the move. In my regular usage, I tallied around four to five hours before zero, only slightly improved to five and a half when leaving the device idle for a while.

Surprisingly enough, increasing the intensity of the load cuts these numbers only by a bit – clocking in three and a half hours maximum with heavy gaming.

Fortunately enough, the 380W charger charged it back to full at a quicker time and pace as its battery drain time.

Going from none to done took an average of two hours when idle, nearly two and half hours when in use while charging.

To me, this is more than enough time to go on a break when the games are tilting you too much. You can also use the 100W USB-C charger if you want to keep the laptop idle for longer and it will take four hours.

Is the ROG STRIX G16 your GadgetMatch?

For a laptop priced at a whopping PhP 319,995, the ASUS ROG STRIX G16 is the kind of all-around machine you can build to capture any moment. On its own, the performance truly speaks for itself whether you need it for work in the day or play till the wee hours.

However, when you’re willing to tinker around the machine like I was, you can unlock so much more out of it, especially in the hardware department. It’s a bonus that this machine lets you do it a lot easier without risking any warranties to be voided.

Admittedly, I still have some more questions about the design philosophy and longevity because of the hardware pre-built in.

For one, some design choices truly made it feel like you could only enjoy this with additional peripherals at your disposal. Plus, the battery charges fast to compensate for how quickly it runs out, too.

Although these aren’t deal breakers for me but for others, you might want to take note and try it out too.

Overall, you can’t go wrong with a machine that lets you achieve great performance when you’re willing to dig deeper into it.

As someone who loves to build PCs, this is one of the few gaming laptops that appeals to me while ignoring the obvious dent on my wallet. Even with other options out there, this might just be the one that you can future-proof as long as you can afford to do so!

Reviews

realme C100: Enduring and durable in spite of entry-level realities

Enough power but needs more agility

Published

July 11, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

Several smartphone brands have successfully balanced cost and capability in the entry-level and midrange segments. realme, on the other hand, appears to still be navigating this refinement process after the realignment in budget handsets.

The brand’s latest mass market offering, the realme C100, highlights an aggressive focus on physical endurance and battery capacity.

These are two welcome additions to give consumers more value for what they purchase. Yet, there are compromises in other areas that ultimately hold the package back from being a worthy everyday utility.

Long battery life

Bannering the realme C100 is its 8,000mAh Titan battery. This substantial boost in capacity translates to better longevity on a day-to-day basis.

For just casual usage patterns, it can easily last even up to four days. When left on standby, it can even stretch to an impressive nine days or so.

When finally time to recharge, the device supports 45W SUPERVOOC fast charging, which is ample for its segment.

As smartphone brands lean toward offering larger batteries, it’s a positive trade-off for those who don’t plan on purchasing power banks any time soon.

Unoptimized performance

The C100 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor and runs on the Android 16-based realme UI 7.0.

Performance is inconsistent at best. Light social media scrolling and casual streaming aren’t met with hiccups.

But, with gaming, the handset falters a bit, even with the supposedly less demanding titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. There are frame drops, stutters, and a it of lag that disrupts the overall experience.

That’s even with GT Mode turned on.

This would also considerably hamper the workflow of utility workers’ daily routines, should they choose this.

Thankfully, with a long battery life, the C100 is still something you can wield to stay connected throughout the entire day, especially for commuters, students, and young professionals.

However, the lack of 5G connectivity is also a downer, especially if you’ll need a better and faster network.

Ideally, I would put it as chiefly just a tool for constant comms and something you’d put on your desk — expecting new messages, emails, and notifications or updates here and there.

Inferior display

In front, the realme C100 sports a 6.8-inch 120Hz display on paper. It has an HD+ resolution but the pixel density sits at just a mere 256ppi.

There’s visible graininess or lack of distinct sharpness, be it streaming YouTube or viewing photos you’ve just taken with the device.

The same hardware limitation reminds me of past compromises in previous C series entries. Photos appear muddy and noticeably soft on screen, so it’s difficult to judge image clarity until files are transferred to another display.

The 1,200 nits of peak brightness helps a bit, although it is still a bit trickier to see things under the bright sunlight.

Cameras: Decent, as usual

For its camera, the realme C100 has quite the standard 50MP main camera. It’s decent for captures in terms of color and detail, but I’ve seen better overall quality from previous C series entries.

It’s tough when its indoors and under low light conditions — as expected. Naturally, you can’t expect the same detail outside of 1x zoom.

Some quick samples:

It’s a you-get-what-you-paid for on the stills department; something you’d use for documentation more rather than artistic captures. I would have hoped for more stability with filming, so you can use it for quick reels or splice them for vlogs.

When I asked my nephew to use the phone for a bit, he didn’t take too many images, which tells a lot about what the camera package can offer.

Look and feel

Onto its appearance, the device comes with a simple, squarish build with a faux triple camera island at the back.

It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, though in the place of round cameras, they look more like app icons shape-wise.

There’s slightly curved corners, just the right amount of thickness, a decent 90.4% screen-to-body ratio, and a bit of weight given the larger battery.

To its credit, the phone has a good grip and a less slippery back, even with its fancy design.

It is obviously great to have ArmorShell Glass protection too, as durability and ruggedness are two non-negotiables in this segment to remain competitive.

Aside from that, the phone boasts of IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance. The display itself is also optimized for wet touches through Rain Touch Mode.

Is this your BudgetMatch?

For consumers prioritizing raw survival metrics, the final verdict leans toward a Swipe Left. It’s close though.

While the market shift toward military-grade drop resistance, high-tier IP waterproofing, and massive batteries makes sense as they save users from the hidden or unexpected costs of broken screens, liquid damage, and purchasing extra power banks, smartphones still requires a baseline level of operational smoothness.

At this price point, there are multiple cheaper alternatives with a more stable and responsive user experience.