Xiaomi Poco C65 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Xiaomi Poco C65 is an enticing blend of affordability and functionality, perfect for users seeking a budget-friendly smartphone without compromising on features. Boasting a 50MP main camera, MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, and a vibrant 6.74-inch display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, this device delivers a solid user experience. With a sleek design, reliable performance, and a generous 5000 mAh battery, the Poco C65 stands out in its price range. Available in multiple variants with different RAM and storage options, this smartphone offers excellent value starting at a competitive price point of USD 109.

Design and Build Quality

The Xiaomi Poco C65 boasts a sleek design with a premium look and feel, available in Black, Blue, and Purple color options. Its physical appearance is enhanced by the Gorilla Glass protection on the front, ensuring durability against daily wear and tear. The construction of the device features a plastic frame and back that mimics a brushed metal texture, giving it a sense of robustness and sturdiness. The ergonomics of the Poco C65 are well thought out, with convenient placement of buttons and controls for easy access. Despite its 192g weight and dimensions of 168 x 78 x 8.1 mm, the phone offers good portability and a comfortable grip for one-handed usability. The finishing touches on the back panel add to the overall appeal, making the Poco C65 an attractive and well-built device suitable for daily use.

Display

The Xiaomi Poco C65 boasts a sizable 6.74-inch IPS LCD display, providing ample screen real estate for content consumption and gaming. With a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio, users can expect decent clarity and sharpness for everyday use. The Gorilla Glass protection adds durability to the screen, safeguarding it against scratches and minor impacts. The display offers a 90Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth transitions and fluid interactions while navigating through apps and menus. Additionally, the display supports a peak brightness of 450 nits, making it suitable for outdoor visibility in most lighting conditions. The Poco C65's display strikes a balance between size, resolution, and refresh rate, catering to users looking for an immersive visual experience on a budget-friendly device.

Performance

The Xiaomi Poco C65 is equipped with a MediaTek MT6769Z Helio G85 chipset, offering commendable CPU and GPU performance for a budget-friendly device. In benchmark tests, the Poco C65 scored well in synthetic benchmarks, indicating its solid processor efficiency and GPU capabilities. This translates to smooth multitasking performance, fast app loading speeds, and an overall lag-free user experience. When it comes to gaming performance, the Poco C65 demonstrates good gaming capabilities, providing a satisfactory gaming experience for casual gamers. The GPU benchmarks and graphics scores reflect the device's ability to handle graphically demanding games with decent frame rates and visual quality. The system optimization on the Poco C65 contributes to its thermal management, ensuring sustained performance levels during extended gaming sessions. Overall, the performance analysis of the Xiaomi Poco C65 reveals a device that strikes a balance between efficient processor performance, GPU efficiency, and optimized system management, resulting in a smooth and responsive user experience.

Software and User Interface

The Xiaomi Poco C65 runs on the Android 13 operating system with MIUI 14 for POCO, providing users with a familiar interface and features. The software offers a good level of customization, allowing users to personalize their experience with themes, wallpapers, and more. While the device comes with some pre-installed apps, known as bloatware, users can easily uninstall or disable them to suit their preferences. The user-friendliness of the software is enhanced by a straightforward interface that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for both new and experienced users. Overall, the software on the Xiaomi Poco C65 provides a smooth and intuitive user experience, with the flexibility to tailor the device to individual needs.

Camera

The Xiaomi Poco C65 boasts a 50MP primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture, ideal for capturing detailed shots with good sharpness and clarity. This setup excels in daylight photography, producing images with natural colors and decent dynamic range. The addition of a 2MP dedicated macro camera enhances close-up shots, while the AI scene recognition feature helps optimize settings for different scenarios. In low-light conditions, the Poco C65 maintains respectable performance, although noise reduction could be improved for better night photography results. The device supports HDR mode for improved contrast in challenging lighting situations and offers various shooting modes like portrait mode and panorama mode for creative flexibility. When it comes to video capabilities, the Poco C65 can record in 4K resolution with video stabilization to reduce shaky footage, making it suitable for capturing high-quality videos. Additionally, the camera app provides options for slow-motion video and time-lapse recording, offering users a range of creative possibilities for their video content.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Poco C65 is equipped with a robust 5000 mAh battery that ensures long-lasting usage without frequent recharging. The device supports 18W PD charging, allowing for efficient and relatively quick charging times. With a focus on power efficiency and optimization features, the Poco C65 offers a satisfactory battery performance that caters to everyday usage needs. Users can expect a commendable screen-on time and standby time, thanks to the device's battery optimization capabilities. While the phone does not support wireless charging, the fast charging option provides convenience for users on the go. Overall, the battery capacity, charging speed, and optimization features contribute to the Poco C65's reliable battery performance and endurance.

Connectivity and Networking

The Xiaomi Poco C65 offers a range of connectivity options to cater to users' needs. It supports dual SIM functionality, allowing users to manage two phone numbers simultaneously. In terms of network compatibility, the device is equipped with LTE capabilities, ensuring reliable and fast data speeds for browsing and streaming. For wireless connectivity, the Poco C65 features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, supporting dual-band frequencies for seamless internet access. Additionally, Bluetooth 5.3 is available on the device, enabling users to connect wirelessly to other devices such as headphones or speakers. The inclusion of NFC allows for convenient contactless transactions and data sharing. With a USB Type-C port, the Poco C65 offers fast and reversible wired charging and data transfer. Furthermore, GPS and GLONASS support ensure accurate navigation and location tracking for users on the go. Whether you need to stay connected through mobile hotspot functionality or share data wirelessly, the Xiaomi Poco C65 provides a comprehensive set of connectivity features to enhance your user experience.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Xiaomi Poco C65 with related gadgets in the market, it competes with devices like the Redmi 12, Redmi Note 12, Samsung Galaxy A14, and Tecno Spark 10 Pro. In terms of design and build quality, the Poco C65 offers a solid construction with Gorilla Glass protection, similar to its competitors in the budget segment. However, it lacks any formal ingress protection and has a traditional yet classy look compared to the Redmi 12's sleek design.

In terms of display, the Poco C65 features a 90Hz refresh rate, providing a smoother experience than the Redmi Note 12 and Tecno Spark 10 Pro, which have standard 60Hz displays. While the HD+ resolution on the Poco C65 may be a drawback compared to the FullHD+ displays of the Samsung Galaxy A14 and Redmi Note 12, it still offers decent visual quality for its price range.

Performance-wise, the MediaTek Helio G88 chipset on the Poco C65 delivers reliable everyday performance, although it may lag behind the Redmi Note 12's Snapdragon processor in intensive tasks. The camera setup on the Poco C65, featuring a 50MP main camera, competes well with the Redmi 12's camera but falls short compared to the higher-resolution sensors on the Redmi Note 12 and Samsung Galaxy A14.

Overall, the Xiaomi Poco C65 presents a competitive option in the budget segment, offering good value for its price point when compared to its related gadgets in the market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Xiaomi Poco C65 offers a compelling budget-friendly option for users seeking a reliable smartphone experience without breaking the bank. With its solid build quality, decent camera performance, and satisfactory overall specifications, the Poco C65 presents a good value proposition in its price range. While it may not excel in any particular area, it delivers a balanced combination of features that cater to everyday usage needs. If you are looking for a budget device with a dependable performance and a trusted brand like Xiaomi, the Poco C65 is definitely worth considering for your next smartphone purchase.