Poco C85 5G Review: I Didn’t Think ₹12K Could Buy This Much Power!

Build and Design: First Impressions

When I first held the Poco C85 5G, especially the Spring Green variant, I genuinely liked how refreshing it looked. The colour gives the phone a youthful vibe and makes it appear more expensive than it is. The dual tone back and curved body look polished enough for a budget phone and from a distance it feels like a device that belongs to a higher segment.

But the moment I touched it, reality set in. This is still a plastic phone. The finish is clean and smooth but the material clearly reminds you that this is a budget friendly device. Even then, the phone feels sturdy and well put together. At 7.99 mm, it remains surprisingly slim despite carrying a huge display and a massive battery. It weighs around 205 grams which gives it a solid reassuring feel without being too heavy.

For what it costs, the build and design achieve a balanced mix of practicality and aesthetics.

Display: Big and Smooth with One Major Trade Off

The display is one of the biggest attractions of this device. The Poco C85 packs a large 6.9 inch IPS LCD screen which immediately feels like a mini theatre in your hand. Watching videos, scrolling Instagram, attending online classes or simply reading articles feels noticeably more immersive because of the sheer size.

The 120 Hz refresh rate makes everyday interactions smooth. Scrolling feels fluid, animations glide naturally and the overall UI experience benefits from the high refresh rate. At this price, getting 120 Hz is always a bonus.

But there is a catch and this is something users should keep in mind. The screen resolution is only HD Plus. On such a large display, the lack of sharpness becomes noticeable. Text and smaller elements do not look as crisp as they would on a Full HD Plus panel. If you are someone who cares deeply about display sharpness, this will matter. If your primary use is content consumption and casual scrolling, you might not mind it.

Overall the display is enjoyable for its size and smoothness but the lower resolution is the one compromise that stands out.

Software Experience: Clean Enough with a Few Nudges

The Poco C85 5G comes with Android 15 running HyperOS 2.0. The UI looks modern and the layout is visually pleasing. My first impression was positive because the animations were reasonably smooth and the interface felt current.

However, the device does come with a handful of pre-installed apps. Some of them are useful and some of them I immediately wished I could remove. It is not the worst case of bloat I have seen on a budget phone but it does take away the feeling of a clean, fresh out of the box experience.

In everyday use, the phone performs reliably. Messaging, browsing, social media, switching between apps and light multitasking feel comfortable. There were a few occasions where I noticed slight pauses or sluggishness especially when switching between heavy apps or reopening apps after a long gap. It is nothing alarming and definitely not a deal breaker for the price but it does remind you that this is an entry-level 5G device.

Overall the software experience is smooth enough for daily life with a few minor hiccups here and there.

Performance: Suitable for Ordinary Work and Light Gaming

The Poco C85 5G uses the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor paired with 6 GB of RAM and an additional 12 GB dynamic RAM option. For basic everyday usage the phone handles everything well. Calls, chats, emails, browsing, reels, short videos and streaming all run smoothly without stress.

The 5300 square millimetre vapour chamber cooling helps the phone stay cooler during extended usage. I noticed mild warmth while gaming and video streaming but never anything concerning.

For gaming expectations need to stay realistic. Light games run absolutely fine and mid level games are playable with reduced settings. Heavy games do work but you will encounter frame drops and stutters. If your priority is gaming on a budget there are slightly stronger alternatives in the same price segment.
Still for simple daily tasks and casual gaming the Poco C85 5G performs reliably.

Camera: Social Media Ready but Not for Creators

The camera setup is straightforward. A 50 megapixel main and a 2 megapixel depth lens at the back along with an 8 megapixel selfie camera.

In daylight the photos look decent. Colours come out, natural skin tones look pleasant and the dynamic range is acceptable for a phone in this price category. Portrait shots looked nicer than expected and the blur effect adds a social media friendly look to the images. Selfies are bright, slightly beautified and perfectly usable for Instagram, WhatsApp and video calls.

The real limitations show up in low light. Noise increases detail drops and colours lose their richness. There is no ultra wide lens either which limits how versatile the camera system can be. Video recording maxes out at 1080p which is fine for casual clips but nothing more.

In simple terms this is a camera built for social media and everyday snaps not for content creators or photography enthusiasts.

Battery and Charging: The Star Feature

The battery on the Poco C85 5G is easily the most impressive part. The 6000 mAh battery consistently lasted me more than one full day and often went into a day and a half on moderate use. Heavy users will comfortably get through a full day as well.

The 33 watt fast charging is convenient and gets the phone powered up quickly. One unique feature that genuinely surprised me is reverse wired charging. I used it to charge my earbuds once and it worked flawlessly. This essentially allows the Poco C85 to act as a mini power bank in emergencies which is extremely practical.

Poco also claims that the battery will retain about 80 percent health after one thousand charge cycles which is roughly four years of regular usage. If true, that is a significant advantage for long term value.

Connectivity, Audio and Additional Features

The connectivity suite includes 5G dual band Wi Fi Bluetooth 5.3 GPS and multi satellite support. Everyday navigation, calls, internet usage and travel apps function without any hiccups.

The phone has a single bottom firing speaker which gets loud enough for reels, videos and casual viewing. It also has a 3.5 mm headphone jack which many budget users will appreciate especially students and offline viewers.

The IP64 rating adds an extra layer of confidence with protection against splashes and dust. This makes the phone more durable for everyday unpredictable situations.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Poco C85 5G

After using the Poco C85 5G extensively here is how I see it. If you want a phone with excellent battery life, a big display, stable everyday performance, decent cameras for social media and practical features like reverse charging this phone fits perfectly.

But if you want a sharp Full HD Plus display, premium build, higher class gaming performance or a more versatile camera then you may want to consider alternatives in the same price range.

If Poco prices it aggressively this becomes a highly sensible choice for budget buyers and students. If they get the pricing wrong, competition from Realme and Redmi will quickly overshadow it.