Highlights

• POCO C65, launched this week, comes with a 6.74-inch 90 Hz display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
• It is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 processor.
• Runs on Android 13 with the company’s MIUI 14 for Poco skin on top.
• POCO C65 price in India is expected to be Rs. 8,499.
• Expected to be launched on Dec 18, 2023.
• Will be available in the base variant of 4 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage.
• POCO C65 will be available in two colour options – Pastel Blue and Matte Black.

POCO is flexing its customer-centric approach with every new launch.

With the recent C-series launches, it becomes evident that the brand’s focus is intact on offering the best features at the most affordable prices.

In this review, we are taking a closer look at this week’s newly released under 10K 4G smartphone – POCO C65.

What clearly is a rebranded version of Redmi 13C, the POCO C65 seems to be offering everything that a user would expect from a decent 4G smartphone.

Let’s get into our detailed POCO C65 hands-on review to know more.

POCO C65 – Key Specifications

• 74″ HD+ 90Hz Display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• MediaTek G85 SoC
• Up to 16GB of RAM* (Including 8 GB virtual RAM*)
• Up to 256 GB large storage
• 50MP AI Triple camera
• 5000mAh battery with 18W fast Charging Support (Type C)
• Side fingerprint sensor with tap gestures
• Splash-resistant and dust-protection

POCO C65 – Pros & Cons

POCO C65 – Unboxing

POCO C65 arrives in a standard yellow POCO packaging, flaunting “Made in India” stamp on top of the box.

You will find the device neatly packed inside the box.

As for accessories available inside the C65 box, one would usually expect Poco to include everything that one might need to use the phone.

However, one the the common in-the-box accessories missing from the box is a clear case for the device.

Here’s everything you will find in the box 

• POCP C65 handset
• 10W Power Adapter (phone supports 18W)
• Type-C USB Cable
• SIM Ejector Pin
• Quick Start Guide

POCO C65 – Unboxing Video

POCO C65 – Design and Build Quality

POCO C65 follows a simple yet stylish design philosophy.

We received the Matte Black variant for this review and it has a chic vibe.

The shimmering black rear panel is anything but matte though.

POCO’s two-tone approach is again on display here with the back having a glossy camera module placed on top of the shiny back.

The good news is the shimmery part of the rear panel doesn’t attract fingerprints or dust.

On the other hand, the glossy camera module with two large circular camera houses and flash is a magnet for fingerprints smudges and dust particles.

With just 8.1mm thickness and 192g weight, POCO C65 is a lightweight and easy-to-handle device.

However, the boxy body with a sharp and flat frame is not something we found to be very ergonomic.

POCO C65 – Display and Multimedia Performance

The POCO C65 with its 6.74-inch IPS LCD display is slightly larger than the predecessor POCO C55.

It also has a better 90Hz refresh rate compared to the 60Hz refresh rate used last received in C55.

The display appears smooth with decent images.

The colour might look a bid faded to some users but we didn’t find any issues as such as far as visuals are concerned.

What POCO could have improved is the brightness.

At 353 nits, the brightness on paper seems to be perfect for the price segment but when we tested the phone in direct sunlight, the screen wasn’t usable.

POCO has incorporated the Widevine L1 support for HD viewing of streaming content.

For the price segment, it is impressive to see C65 getting the TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification and Flicker Free certification. Although, there is no HDR support.

To protect the smartphone from drops and scratches, it the display comes with the Gorilla Glass 3 safeguard.

POCO C65 – Processor and Software

The POCO C65 is not designed to be a powerful smartphone that supports heavy usage.

The under 10K segment automatically puts in the basic phones category.

So, performance-wise, this one isn’t making any promises.

Just like its predecessor, the C65 also MediaTek Helio G85 SoC.

Now, this 4G processor isn’t something that raises excitement in a smartphone.

If we compare it to some other segment alternative, this weak chipset easily comes off as one of the major drawbacks.

We performed some usual benchmark tests and results also aren’t very encouraging.

This is not a device you purchase for multitasking or gaming.

However, if we keep all the theoretical knowledge about the chipset aside and dive in with zero expectations, POCO C65 isn’t that bad for everyday usage.

POCO C65 – Camera Capabilities

POCO C65 comes with a 50MP AI triple rear camera setup, which has multiple camera enhancement features to support everyday photography needs.

The rear camera setup has Film filters, Night mode, AI portrait mode with depth control, Timed burst, Voice Shutter, Tilt-Shift, Watermark, Google Lens, HDR, Sticker and Film filters.

We tried to test the camera quality with some sample shots.

While daylight shots in different modes were impressive, the camera output in Night mode seems underwhelming in multiple shots.

Most shots seem to be losing clarity when zoomed in. However, for the price bracket that C65 caters to, we found the rear camera decent.

It serves the purpose and can be a useful companion for social media enthusiasts and everyday users

POCO C65 – Day Samples

POCO C65 – Night Samples

The POCO C65 is also equipped with an 8MP selfie camera.

The front camera systems also come with multiple image enhancements.

The selfie shots had decent clarity and sharpness in our front camera tests. The overall camera performance was in line with the price category this device falls into.

POCO C65 – Battery and Charging

The POCO C65 comes with a massive 5000mAh battery capacity that supports 18W fast charging.

However, the brand has bundled a 10W charger inside the box for some reason.

So, if you have a high-power charger, you can use that to get a faster charging speed for the device.

This is also the first USB Type-C charging in the POCO C-series.

To test the charging speed, we tried charging the device with the 10W charged and it took a good 2 hours and 45 minutes to get a 100 per cent charge from almost zero battery.

So, we suggest you use a high-power charger to get a faster charging speed.

POCO C65 – Verdict

The under 10K 4G smartphone segment has seen several additions in recent years, providing the user base with tons of options to choose from.

This category is primarily a blend of features and affordability.

POCO C65, as one would expect, is also a combination of both.

The smartphone features a huge 6.74-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass protection.

The display is smooth and definitely adds to the overall appeal of the smartphone.

In terms of performance, the Poco C65 is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset.

Now, this chipset isn’t one of the most powerful ones but for the price category, it does its job.

The camera capability is decent to good and most output mostly depends heavily on lighting conditions.

POCO has surely done a great job with the battery and charging capacity for the category.

C65 comes with a massive 5000mAh battery.

As for recommending the smartphone, we believe this a decent option for the under 10K segment.

At ₹8,499 for the base 4 GB + 128 GB variant, it is for users who want a basic phone for their simple everyday tasks.

MyMobile Rating (Editor’s Rating)

Design – 3.5/5

Display – 3.5/5

Performance – 2.5/5

Camera – 2.5/5

Battery – 4/5

Overall – 3/5

Reasons to Buy

• Classy lightweight design
• Smooth 90 Hz refresh rate
• Up to 256 GB storage (higher variant)
• AI Camera
• Good battery backup

Reasons Not to Buy

• No 5G connectivity
• Mediocre performance
• Low charging speed
• Average display
• Underwhelming camera performance

Poco C65 – Price and Availability

The Poco C65 is priced at ₹8,499 for the base variant of 4GB RAM + 128GB storage options.

Other than this, the device is also available in the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant for ₹9,499 and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant for ₹10,999.

The under 10K 4G smartphone comes in Pastel Blue and Matte Black colour options and is expected to go on sale online exclusively on Flipkart starting 18 December 2023.

Comparison with Leading Segment Alternatives

FAQs

Q1. What are some of the front camera features of POCO C65?

Answer. The 8GB front camera of POCO C65 comes with the following extra features to enhance photography performance –

• AI portrait mode with depth control
• Film Filters
• Timed burst
• AI Beautify
• HDR
• Selfie timer
• Screen soft light/Flash
• Palm Shutter
• Voice Sutter
• Add time stamp on photos

Q2. Does POCO C65 have a fingerprint sensor?

Answer. Yes, POCO C65 comes with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor also has a TAP gesture feature.

Q3. What are POCO C65 display features for OTT viewing?

Answer. POCO C65 Supports L1 widevine, TÜV low blue light certification and TÜV flicker-free certification to enhance the overall OTT viewing experience.

Q4. How is the software of POCO C65?

Answer. The Poco C65 has the Helio G85 SoC at the helm and runs Android 13-based MIUI 14 for Poco out of the box. It comes with the promise of two Android version updates and three years of security updates.

Also Read: Poco F5 5G Launch Soon ,Memory Variants Revealed & Key Details Emerge Via FCC Certification

Also Read: POCO X5 5G with 120Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 695 SoC, 48MP camera & 5000mAh battery launched in India: Price in India, Specifications, Colours & Availability

Also Read: POCO C55 with 50-Megapixel Rear Camera, MediaTek Helio G85 SoC ,6.71-inch display & 5,000mAh Battery launched in India: Price, Specifications