Realme C85: World record-breaking “ultra waterproof” phone, but not for the reason you think

Realme has just launched a new budget-oriented mid-range smartphone in Malaysia, the Realme C85 5G. What’s interesting, though, is that the phone just earned itself a title in the Guinness World Records.

Realme C85 sets water resistance world record with 280 people

By reading the subheading, you might think the Realme C85 set a world record for being the most water-resistant smartphone, right?

Well, that isn’t exactly what happened. Instead, the Realme C85 earned the title of “Most People Performing a Mobile Phone Water-Resistance Test Simultaneously” in the Guinness World Records.

280 participants partook in the record-breaking attempt in Jakarta on 20 November 2025, each holding a Realme C85 device, lined up poolside in a domino-style formation before submerging their phones in unison for a full two minutes. Every unit of the Realme C85 managed to power on with no issues after the submersion, passing the Guinness World Records with zero malfunction.

Realme C85 can resist water for up to 60 days, corrosive household spills

Realme says the C85 5G has the toughest protection rating ever offered in the segment, surpassing its IP66/68/69/69K certifications. This includes its claimed ability to defend against an array of 36 liquids, such as chlorinated pool water, saltwater splashes, and corrosive household spills.

The C85 is also put through extreme submersion tests at up to 30 minutes at 6 meters depth, and 60 days at 0.5 meters, all while maintaining full operational integrity across temperatures from 0°C to 85°C. In addition, the Realme C85 passed the military-grade MIL-STD-810H compliance, allowing it to survive 2-meter drops onto hard surfaces.

Realme C85 5G in Malaysia: Pricing, availability & spec details

With a retail price of RM1,099, the Realme C85 5G is, at the time of writing, offered solely via Hotlink, but at a subsidised price through the telco’s Postpaid 70 plan. With a 24-month contract, the Realme C85 5G can be obtained at just RM59, while a 12-month contract puts the C85 5G at RM359. Going with either option will get you a free blind box that contains a mini plushie keychain.

Available in either Peacock Green or Parrot Purple, the Realme C85 5G is equipped with a 6.8” 144Hz IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1570x720p pixels. Offered in a single 8GB RAM + 256GB storage option, the Realme C85 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC.

Imaging-wise, you get a single 50MP f/1.8 rear camera with a 1/2.93” Sony IMX852 sensor, while an 8MP f/2.0 shooter handles selfies up front. The Realme C85 5G can record videos at up to 1080p at 30fps for slowmo 720p videos at 120fps.

Keeping lights on for the Realme C85 5G is a 7,000mAh battery that supports 45W charging via USB-C, bypass charging, and reverse wired charging. Software-wise, the phone ships out of the box running on Realme UI 6.0, based on Android 15.