Design and Build of the POCO C65
The POCO C65 embraces a minimalist yet functional design ethos. Available in matte finishes like Power Black, Pastel Blue, and Forest Green, it resists fingerprints while offering a comfortable grip. The plastic back panel curves gently into a flat frame, housing a distinctive circular camera module – a visual signature aligning with POCO’s recent design language. At 8.1mm thick and weighing 192g, it feels substantial without being cumbersome. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor doubles as a power button, providing quick, reliable unlocking. A 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C port, and dedicated microSD slot sit alongside the speaker grille and volume buttons. Durability features include IP52-rated splash resistance, shielding against light rain or accidental spills – a rarity in this price segment. The phone’s construction prioritizes practicality over premium materials, ensuring resilience for everyday use.
Display Quality and Visual Experience
Featuring a 6.74-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen, the POCO C65 offers expansive viewing real estate ideal for videos, browsing, and gaming. The 1600×720 resolution delivers adequate sharpness for casual use, though text and fine details lack the crispness of higher-priced FHD+ panels. A 90Hz refresh rate elevates the experience significantly, ensuring smoother scrolling, animations, and touch response compared to standard 60Hz budget phones. Brightness peaks at 600 nits, enabling reasonable outdoor visibility under direct sunlight. Color reproduction leans toward vibrancy, typical of POCO’s tuning, while the waterdrop notch minimizes bezels for an immersive feel. Corning Gorilla Glass protection is absent, making a screen protector advisable. The display supports Widevine L1 DRM, enabling HD streaming on Netflix and Prime Video – a bonus for entertainment enthusiasts.
Performance and Software: MediaTek Helio G85 Power
At its core, the POCO C65 utilizes MediaTek’s Helio G85 chipset – a 12nm octa-core processor with two Cortex-A75 performance cores (clocked at 2.0GHz) and six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores (1.8GHz). Paired with Mali-G52 MC2 GPU, it handles everyday tasks like social media, web browsing, and multitasking capably. Light gaming is feasible; titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and Genshin Impact run at low-to-medium settings with occasional frame drops during intense scenes. Memory options include 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB RAM, with POCO’s RAM Expansion feature borrowing up to 8GB from storage for improved multitasking. The device boots Android 13-based MIUI 14 for POCO, offering features like customizable always-on display, app cloning, and gesture navigation. While functional, MIUI includes bloatware, and POCO commits to only one major OS update (Android 14), raising long-term software support concerns.
Camera Capabilities: Triple-Lens Setup
The POCO C65 sports a triple rear camera array: a 50MP primary sensor (f/1.8 aperture), an 8MP ultra-wide lens (120° FOV), and a 2MP macro sensor. In daylight, the primary camera captures decent shots with accurate colors and sufficient detail, though dynamic range is limited. Pixel-binning combines four pixels into one for brighter 12.5MP photos in low light, but noise becomes noticeable without Night Mode. The 8MP ultra-wide lens offers versatility for landscapes or group shots, but images suffer from softer edges and color inconsistency versus the main sensor. The macro camera produces usable close-ups under strong lighting. Video recording maxes out at 1080p/30fps with electronic stabilization, resulting in shaky footage during movement. The 8MP front camera handles selfies adequately, supported by AI beautification modes. Overall, the camera system is functional for social media and documentation but lacks refinement in challenging conditions.
Battery Life and Charging: 5000mAh Endurance
Battery longevity is the POCO C65’s standout strength. Its 5000mAh cell consistently delivers 1.5–2 days of moderate use, including 5–6 hours of screen-on time involving streaming, browsing, and light gaming. Power efficiency stems from the low-resolution display and frugal Helio G85 chip. Heavy users streaming video for 8+ hours or gaming intensively will still comfortably clear a full day. Charging, however, is a bottleneck. The bundled 10W charger takes approximately 2.5 hours for a full 0–100% top-up – slow compared to rivals offering 18W or 22.5W solutions. Overnight charging becomes routine. Wireless charging is absent, expected at this price. Battery optimization features in MIUI, like Ultra Battery Saver mode, extend usage during critical low-power scenarios. For users prioritizing endurance over speed, the C65 excels as a reliable all-day companion.
Storage, Memory, and Expandability
Storage flexibility enhances the POCO C65’s value proposition. It ships with 128GB or 256GB of eMMC 5.1 storage, sufficient for apps, photos, and media. Real-world speeds are adequate for loading apps and files, though slower than UFS standards in pricier devices. Crucially, a dedicated triple-slot tray allows simultaneous use of two nano-SIM cards and a microSD card (expandable up to 1TB) – a practical advantage over hybrid slots forcing users to choose between dual-SIM functionality or extra storage. Memory configurations include 4GB/128GB, 6GB/128GB, and 8GB/256GB variants. RAM Expansion (Virtual RAM) allocates unused storage as temporary RAM, improving multitasking fluidity when switching between apps. This feature mitigates limitations of lower physical RAM, especially on the 4GB model.
Connectivity, Audio, and Additional Features
The POCO C65 covers essential connectivity standards: dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and FM radio. Call quality is clear, and 4G speeds are reliable for streaming and downloads. The single bottom-firing speaker delivers adequate volume but lacks bass depth, making headphones preferable for media consumption. The 3.5mm jack ensures compatibility with wired audio accessories. Security options include the rear fingerprint sensor (fast and accurate) and AI-assisted face unlock, which works swiftly in good light but struggles in darkness. Sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and ambient light sensor are present. While lacking NFC for contactless payments or 5G support, these omissions are typical for entry-level devices. Pre-installed MIUI apps like POCO Store and third-party bloatware can be uninstalled, reclaiming storage space.
Value Proposition and Market Competition
Priced aggressively around $100–$150 depending on configuration, the POCO C65 carves a niche for users seeking maximum battery life and essential functionality at minimal cost. Its 5000mAh battery, 90Hz display, and dedicated microSD slot are compelling strengths. Key competitors include the Redmi 13C (similar specs, same chipset), Samsung Galaxy A05 (weaker performance, comparable battery), and realme C53 (sleeker design, faster charging). The C65’s Helio G85 outpaces entry-level Unisoc or Snapdragon 4xx chips in rivals, offering better gaming potential. However, slow charging, mediocre cameras, and limited software updates are trade-offs. For budget-conscious buyers prioritizing screen size, endurance, and smooth basic performance over camera excellence or future-proofing, the POCO C65 represents a formidable value-driven choice in the ultra-affordable segment.