Poco C65 review: a budget phone with some major flaws

Poco C65 review: a budget phone with some major flaws

Hello everyone!

So, I found myself in need of a new phone back in April 2024. My trusty old ZTE Blade A 7 2020 had a bit of a mishap – it slipped and fell onto a wet surface, and the screen just about detached. I've had some experience with screen repair, but unfortunately, the adhesive I used wasn't up to the task, and the display started acting up. It was getting pretty hard to use.

Needless to say, I was on the hunt for a new phone. But I wasn't exactly itching to break the bank on a high-end model. I started doing some research and browsing the market. The European phone scene is pretty sparse these days, and the shelves are mostly stocked with Chinese models. After reading a few reviews, I narrowed it down to Poco. I'd never checked them out before, but their C65 caught my eye.

Reviewing the POCO C65 and its features

Country of origin - China.Screen diagonal – 6.74 inches.Processor - octa-core MediaTek Helio G85.RAM and internal storage – 8/256 GB.Screen type - IPS.Main camera – triple camera 50 MP (with AI).Front camera – 8 MP.Battery capacity - 5000 mAh.Operating system, version, skin - Android 13, MIUI 14.4G, 5G support – Yes/No.Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS – Yes.NFC presence - Yes.Poco brand history

I had no idea about this brand and started looking up information about it.

POCO is a brand that was founded back in 2018 as a subsidiary of Xiaomi, one of the biggest tech companies out there. Their main goal was to create affordable, yet high-performance smartphones that could take on the flagships in the market. In other words, they were catering to users who want powerful smartphones without breaking the bank.

POCO's strategy was all about stripping away the unnecessary features and focusing on what really matters to users. They concentrated on performance, battery life, and build quality. Their devices are often praised for their well-balanced specs, which make them perfect for both gamers and those who just need a reliable phone for everyday use.

I managed to snag this phone on Ozon with a discount, and I paid 10748 rubles for it.

Package contents

The Xiaomi Poco C65 comes with a bare minimum set of accessories. The package includes:

The phone itself.User manual – it'll help you figure out the settings and functionality of the device.10W charger.USB Type-C cable – a modern interface for connecting your phone to a charger and other gadgets.SIM card ejector tool – a necessary tool for installing SIM cards and memory cards in your phone.I want to note that the packaging does not include screen protection glass and a silicone case.

Design and Build

The device's body is made of plastic, which is typical for budget models. The display is made of tempered Corning Gorilla Glass, which makes the phone resistant to damage.

The Poco C65 comes in some really attractive color options. I went for the dark blue one.

The phone's dimensions are pretty moderate – 168 x 78 x 8.09 mm. It weighs 192 grams, which makes it easy to hold in your hand. For me, it doesn't look or feel chunky, but I'm a guy. I'm not sure if women with smaller hands will find it comfortable to use one-handed.

I've been using the phone for six months now, and I'm impressed with the build quality. The back panel doesn't flex under pressure, which is a common issue with budget phones.

Poco C65 Pros

The C65 features a large IPS display that delivers great color accuracy and brightness. It's perfect for reading, watching videos, and looking at photos.

The 50MP primary camera takes great shots during the day and records video with decent detail. The photos turn out crisp.

The battery life on this device is insane - it lasts for a full 1.5 days with heavy use, but only if you've done a thorough manual optimization. In this price range, that's a rare feat for a smartphone. The battery also supports 18W fast charging, but I don't use it.

The performance of this device is more than decent. Despite having a non-flagship processor, it handles everyday tasks (calls, messaging, browsing the web) with ease. The phone shows great speed, and it doesn't lag even when launching multiple apps at the same time.

I was pleasantly surprised by the storage capacity: 256GB of internal storage that can be expanded with a microSD card. This means I can store a ton of data without worrying about running out of space. The 8GB of RAM, which can be upgraded to 12GB, provides a seamless experience even when multitasking.

About six months after buying the phone, I upgraded the operating system to Xiaomi Hiper OS (1.0.6.0UGPRUXM). Now, I'm running the latest version of the OS, which corresponds to Android 14 (14UP1A.231005.007).

Update to my review from 22 May 2025

In February 2025, I upgraded the operating system to Hiper OS 2.0.3.0.VGPRUXM, which corresponds to Android 15 (AP3A.240905.015.A2).

Poco C65 Cons

The one thing that really gets my goat is the problem that occurs during calls. Sometimes, the screen just doesn't respond to my touch, and I have to reboot the phone by holding the power button for a long time. This is a pretty annoying bug, especially when I need to end a call and make another one right away.

I've got to say, working with the virtual proximity sensor during calls has been a real pain. It's hit or miss. Sometimes it's fine, but other times it's like the screen is randomly getting tapped. I've gotten used to it, but when I'm trying to dial a number, I'll turn off the screen and lock it to prevent accidental taps. It's a bit of a workaround, but it works. Once I'm done with the call, I'll turn the screen back on and continue.

Another major drawback is the ads that are literally everywhere – not just in the apps I've installed, but even in the system apps. Luckily, I was able to figure it out on my own by reading up on tutorials online and setting it up accordingly.

When I first got the phone, the battery would last me a whole day. But after digging deeper, I found out that the phone is basically spying on me – sending reports on its usage, tracking my location, and all that jazz. The constant data exchange and massive ad traffic are probably why the battery drains so quickly.

One of the main issues with the POCO C65 is its camera performance in low light. During the day, it takes decent shots, but at night, the quality takes a nosedive. However, I've been surprised by how well it handles video recording in low light – as long as there's some sort of light source, it does a pretty good job.

I was really disappointed to find that the Poco C65 doesn't have a wide-angle camera. In today's smartphones, a wide-angle camera is a standard feature, and its absence in the Poco C65 was a major letdown. It's super inconvenient if you love taking landscape shots, group photos, and more.

Another major drawback of the Poco C65 is the lack of optical image stabilization. This results in a blurry photo when capturing in motion.

The slippery back panel of the Poco C65 is another major issue. Without a case, it's really hard to handle the phone. At some point, it might just slip out of your hands. The camera module sticks out a lot from the back panel, so I immediately ordered a bumper after buying the phone.

One thing that really puts me off about the Poco C65 is how long it takes to charge. I mean, it takes around 2 hours to go from 0 to 100% using the standard 10W charger. Now, I know some of you might be thinking, "Why not just get a 18W charger?" Well, I haven't tried that yet, but I'm not holding my breath.

Another thing that's been bugging me is the fingerprint sensor. It's located on the power button, which is just plain annoying. And to make matters worse, it doesn't always work as it should.

Update to this review from 22 May 2025

Winter is the perfect time to put POCO C65 to the test! The cold weather reminds me to get back to basics – no more texting, browsing, or chatting. It's time to survive the elements, not just live in them!

Just a heads up: this device works flawlessly only when the temperature is above 0°C. As soon as you start using it in sub-zero temperatures (below -5°C), things get really interesting – and not in a good way.

After just 5 minutes of use in the cold, POCO C65 starts to behave erratically – it ignores screen touches, starts typing random messages (like 'ываывап24215'), and may even freeze up completely. Imagine being out in the cold, trying to make a call or send a message, only to have your phone decide it's time for a game of 'guess the number' instead. And if you're unlucky, it might just crash after 10 minutes of exposure to the cold – that's not a pretty sight. So, my advice to POCO C65 owners: keep your phone close and warm, just like a hamster in a cozy cage!

One thing that's getting under my skin about the POCO C65 is its tendency to freeze when charging. You plug in the charger, and it's like it's decided to take a break and think about things instead of just charging up. The only way to get it going again is to force a restart with the power button. It's really frustrating when you're in a rush and the phone decides to put on the brakes, making you restart the whole thing. But, there is another way to get it back up and running without a restart - just leave it alone for a bit, and it'll come back to life.

If you're counting on reliable Wi-Fi, the POCO C65 has another surprise in store for you. For those who are used to instant Wi-Fi connectivity, this phone is a real test of patience. The phone doesn't connect to Wi-Fi right away, like it does on other devices. Often, tapping the Wi-Fi icon on this phone does nothing. Sometimes, you just have to wait for it to decide to connect on its own, and more often than not, you'll need to go into settings and force it to search for the network and connect.

Overall, I like the POCO C65. It's got a stylish design and feels solidly built. But, I can only give it a solid three out of five because there are a lot of drawbacks that make it hard to use comfortably.

Thanks for reading!

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