Review of the Poco C65
Our Verdict
The Poco C65 is a solid budget phone with an impressive camera, solid battery life, and decent performance. It’s also one of the better builds on a budget device, with a lightweight plastic frame that feels comfortable in your hands. However, it’s not 5G ready, comes with a slightly outdated chipset, and is slower to charge than many of the low-cost alternatives. There’s also something of a bloatware problem, with the phone filling up with unnecessary apps you may not need.
- Cheap
- Solid camera for price range
- Decent performance
- Best budget display
- Slow to charge
- Slightly outdated chipset
- Lots of bloatware
These days, budget phones are huge business. Many firms provide inexpensive Android handsets to customers who want premium features without paying premium prices. One example of this is the Android market. The Poco C65 is the newest low-cost smartphone from Poco, a Xiaomi subsidiary. It costs less than $200 and has a 50MP camera, support for HD video, and a Gorilla Glass screen. Surely there must be a catch?
There is a catch, however it may not be enough to turn you off. Poco C65 isn't prepared for 5G. Although it isn't the only inexpensive phone from a major brand that lacks 5G connection, it more than makes up for it in other respects. As you will soon discover, Poco is just one of the several companies bringing in a new age of feature-rich budget phones that don't really stand out from the mid-range options. So, is purchasing one for yourself worthwhile? Now let's get started.
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Cost and accessibility
The Poco C65's price varies depending on the variant you choose and the shop you purchase from, but we've seen it listed on AliExpress for as little as $106. This pricing is for the entry-level model; more storage is just $20–30 more.
You may get this phone in Black, Blue, or Purple, to choose from. Additionally, there is a choice between two storage capacities for the phone: 128GB with 6GB of RAM and storage, or 256GB with 8GB of RAM and storage.
Specifications
Software and features
On Android 13, the Poco C65 runs Xiaomi's proprietary MIUI 14 overlay. For those who don't know, Android 14 was released at the end of last year, thus this isn't the most recent version. Since Xiaomi is currently bringing out HyperOS, the MIUI successor that runs on Android 14, it has a valid explanation for using the older version of Android 13 on these phones. Nevertheless, it will be fascinating to see whether HyperOS is finally added to the C65, since it would somewhat enhance the device's daily use.
Although the Poco C65's user interface is rather inviting, there is an issue with bloatware. You see a plethora of applications readily accessible on the home screen as soon as setup is finished. While some of them, like YouTube and Netflix, are necessities for individuals, other websites like Booking.com and LinkedIn are simply taking up space. The nine pre-installed games—none of which are well-known games, more like clones of well-liked mobile genres—are not included on this list.
Although the bloatware might be a nuisance, the C65 has comprehensive security features. Along with fingerprint and faceprint recognition, you may unlock your phone using a code or pattern. The security features function as well as, if not better, than those found in mid-range handsets, and setup is simpler.
While highlighting the Poco C65's advantages, it's important to note its disadvantages as well. This is a 4G phone, as we said at the beginning of our review, so if you live somewhere with 5G coverage, you won't be able to take use of it with this device. That may not seem like a huge problem to many, but if you depend on 5G, it's something to keep in mind. Another problem is that the C65 has a poor IP52 certification, which means that it is barely waterproof enough to withstand light rain. Even if my smartphone isn't pricey, I still want it to be a bit more water-resistant so that I may use it with confidence every day.
Design
The Poco C65's design is best characterized as functional rather than opulent, which is to be expected given the price range. With its long display and slim design, it doesn't appear like a cheap phone at first glance. Except for the Corning Gorilla Glass screen, it is rather obvious that plastic makes up the majority of the device's construction once you pick it up. It may seem a touch cheap due to its plastic construction, but it is also really light. Any day of the week, I would choose a construction that is dependable and lightweight over one that seems finer, but you may have a different opinion.
The C65 has a pleasant feel to it, and unlike other phones that are curved or have metal backs, it doesn't slide about on uneven surfaces. It's functional and somewhat robust, as I've already said, making it a great option for a smartphone for those who don't really need all the bells and whistles of a high-end model. That means it might be your grandma's or a child's first smartphone, or, as I use it, a cheap backup phone in case you ever have to go somewhere and don't want to take the chance of losing or damaging your more costly one.
Show
The 6.74-inch IPS LCD display on the Poco C65 boasts a max brightness of 600 nits and operates at 90 Hz. That calibration may not be all that amazing to tech enthusiasts, but given that this phone is on the lower end of the pricing range, it's not awful at all. You can play casual mobile games with sharp graphics and no graphical delays, and you can view HD films on YouTube or Netflix.
The screen on this phone is as excellent as you can get for the price range, but it's not quite as vibrant as something in the midrange since it uses an LCD rather than an OLED display, as some more costly handsets may. The 600 nits peak brightness is also not too problematic in most environments, while gaming and seeing tiny print may be a touch difficult in really bright outdoor conditions. Reiterating that blinding brightness is not an option at this price range is vital, since the comparably priced Samsung Galaxy A14 can only achieve 500–600 nits.
Camera
Let's go on to one of the Poco C65's more unexpected features. Although it is one of the greatest shooters I've seen on a device this cheap, the handset's 50MP main camera won't alter the world. You can capture buildings and landscapes with the same quality that I've seen other more mid-range options accomplish with the right illumination. Even while it's not quite as good when it comes to a human or animal topic, it's still rather good.
Although I don't use the 2MP macro camera much, it functions rather well, thus it's difficult for me to comment on it. I've included a photo of a pound coin as an example, and you can clearly see the design, the writing, and even the minuscule rubs and scratches on it. As I said before, I don't use the macro lens much, but it does the job, and in the field, amateur photographers may find some use for it.
Considering that I've been let down by the selfie cameras on much more costly handsets, the Poco 65's 8MP camera can capture pictures of you and your pals that are worthy of Instagram. Similar to the main camera, it's not amazing, but you can't complain about the quality of photographs you're receiving with any of these lenses given the pricing. Poor lighting doesn't make things any better, but that's a problem with all low-cost phones.
Power Source
The remarkable battery life of the Poco C65 is its best feature. This device will easily survive well over 24 hours, even with a few hours of gaming; it may last much longer if you use it intermittently for chatting and web surfing. Given Poco and Xiaomi's reputation for producing durable phones, this is almost expected, but it's even more remarkable considering that this is a low-cost phone.
The battery life is excellent, however the charging rates are not up to par. I received around 10% juice per 15 minutes of charging using the approved equipment, which comes to approximately 2.5 hours for the full 100%. This speed might be annoying if you're in a hurry since it's not quite as quick as some of the more costly Poco and Xiaomi smartphones. Additionally, it lacks wireless charging, although this isn't a huge deal or a terrible loss considering how few low-cost phones from the competition have this function.
Performance
The Poco C65's performance isn't great. Daily tasks like making calls, sending texts, accessing the internet, snapping photos, and playing simple mobile games like Candy Crush or Royal Match are all handled flawlessly by it. But don't expect high-end mobile games like Honkai Star Rail to run very well. While HSR and comparable experiences may still be enjoyed on this smartphone, they are definitely not fluid.I wasn't surprised by the C65's mediocre performance since the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset it uses is getting on for four years old. This indicates that it just isn't up to par with some of the more demanding mobile games that have been released after this chipset's 2020 debut. However, this isn't always the case; in my testing, Asphalt 9 functioned well. Even more difficult games, like Honkai Star Rail, may be made more enjoyable by increasing the refresh rate in the settings to 60 Hz instead of the normal 60.The Poco C65 not only manages to run most games smoothly, but it also effectively dissipates heat. During my time with the phone, I played games for lengthy periods of time, and even with something as demanding as Asphalt 9, the phone never heated up in my hands. That may not seem like a major thing, but it's encouraging to see a low-cost smartphone address a problem with heat dissipation given that Samsung and Apple have both had issues with their much more costly flagship models.