One of the world’s first smartphones powered by a 12nm MediaTek Helio G35 chip (read about it here) is finally official, more than a week after Realme teased it online.

(Update, July 23: And it’s official in the Philippines! See its price and availability here. And read our review of the phone here!)

(Update, July 16: The Realme C11’s Philippine launch date has been set!)

The Realme C11 has debuted in Malaysia, joining the competing Xiaomi Redmi 9C, which also gets a Helio G35. The SoC was spotted in Geekbench scoring 900 and 4,153 in the single- and multi-core tests, respectively. It has a price tag of RM429 (around P4,988 or $100 converted) for the 2GB/32GB model and will go on sale on Shopee Malaysia July 7th with a pair of Realme Buds 2 as a freebie for early buyers.

READ ALSO: Redmi 9C, Redmi 9A with new Helio chips priced from $84

We’re not sure yet if the budget handset will be launched in the Philippines, but our guess is it will — probably after the Realme X3 SuperZoom’s local announcement.

The Realme C11 is a perfect example of a budget phone that doesn’t look cheap. It has that squircle rear-camera module popularized by devices such as the Huawei Mate 20 series and Apple iPhone 11 lineup. The brand tweaks the back design by adding a vertical strip on the left side of the unit’s panel, where the 13-megapixel main and 2-megapixel depth sensors are. The camera system, by the way, already features Nightscape mode.

SEE ALSO: Realme C3 review: A real powerhouse for less

Turn the Realme C11 over, and you’ll see the 6.5-inch waterdrop LCD screen with a 5-megapixel selfie shooter at the top. It also boasts a 5,000mAh battery with reverse charging, Android 10-based Realme UI, and eye-catching Mint Green and Pepper Grey colors.

Realme C11 launch in Malaysia

Realme C11 specs

• 6.5-inch waterdrop HD+ LCD display
• MediaTek Helio G35 processor
• 2GB RAM
• 32GB expandable storage, up to 256GB
• Dual 13-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (depth) rear cameras
• 5-megapixel front camera
• 5,000mAh battery with reverse charging
• Realme UI based on Android 10
• Colors: Mint Green, Pepper Grey

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