The POCO C61 is a recent entry into the budget smartphone market, offering a large display, a decent battery, and a stripped-down feature set at an attractive price point. Launched in April 2024, it caters to users looking for a reliable phone for everyday tasks without breaking the bank. Let’s delve deeper into what the POCO C61 brings to the table.
Design and Display
The POCO C61 boasts a large 6.71-inch HD+ display with a waterdrop notch. While not the sharpest on the market with a 720 x 1650 resolution, it offers ample screen real estate for watching videos, browsing the web, and gaming. The 90Hz refresh rate is a welcome surprise at this price range, providing smoother scrolling and animations compared to traditional 60Hz displays.
The phone comes in a “Radiant Ring Design,” according to POCO, which translates to a textured back that promises a comfortable grip and a stylish look. It’s available in Ethereal Blue and likely other color options, though details on those are limited at this time.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the POCO C61 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G36 processor, a budget-oriented chipset aimed at everyday tasks. Paired with 4GB of RAM, it should handle basic applications like social media, messaging, and light browsing with ease. However, demanding games and multitasking might push its limits. Storage starts at 64GB, which is sufficient for most users, but there’s also a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
Cameras
The camera department on the POCO C61 is basic. The rear setup consists of an 8MP primary sensor and a secondary 0.08MP sensor, likely for depth effects. Don’t expect flagship-level image quality here. The 5MP front-facing camera should suffice for casual selfies and video calls.
Battery Life
One of the POCO C61’s strong points is its battery life. It packs a massive 5000mAh battery, which is becoming increasingly common in budget smartphones. With moderate usage, you can expect a full day or more on a single charge. However, the charging speed is limited to 10W, which might feel slow compared to some competitors offering fast charging solutions.
Software
The POCO C61 runs Android 14, the latest version of Google’s operating system at the time of launch. This ensures access to the latest features and security updates. However, since it’s a POCO device, a custom user interface (UI) might be layered on top of stock Android, potentially adding bloatware or altering the overall look and feel.
Price and Availability
The POCO C61 is currently available in India, with a starting price of ₹6,999 (approximately $85) for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. There’s no official word on global availability yet.
