THE POCO C71

The POCO C71, a budget smartphone that’s been making waves in 2025 for its surprising blend of style, performance, and affordability.

POCO C71: A Budget Smartphone That Punches Above Its Weight

In a market saturated with smartphones vying for attention, the POCO C71 emerges as a compelling option for budget-conscious users. Launched in April 2025, this entry-level device from POCO — a sub-brand of Xiaomi — offers a surprisingly rich feature set for its price point. With a large 120Hz display, a 32MP camera, Android 15, and a massive 5200mAh battery, the C71 is designed to deliver a smooth and stylish experience without breaking the bank.

Let’s dive deep into what makes the POCO C71 stand out in the crowded budget smartphone segment. (You can watch the unboxing and review by JayTine TV HERE)

Design and Build Quality

The POCO C71 doesn’t look like a budget phone at first glance. It features a dual-tone rear panel with a textured finish on one side and a smooth, glossy surface on the other. This design choice gives it a premium aesthetic, especially in the Desert Gold, Cool Blue, and Power Black color options.

·         Dimensions: 171.8 x 77.8 x 8.3 mm 

·         Weight: 193 grams 

·         Build: Plastic back and frame, glass front 

·         IP Rating: IP52 for dust and splash resistance

Despite its large size, the phone feels comfortable in hand, thanks to its curved edges and balanced weight distribution. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button is responsive and easy to reach.

Display: Big, Bright, and Smooth

One of the most impressive features of the POCO C71 is its 6.88-inch HD+ IPS LCD display. While the resolution is modest at 720 x 1640 pixels, the screen compensates with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is rare in this price range.

·         Refresh Rate: 120Hz 

·         Brightness: 600 nits peak 

·         Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz 

·         Certifications: TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light, Flicker-Free, and Circadian Friendly

The display is ideal for casual gaming, social media scrolling, and video streaming. However, under direct sunlight, visibility can be a bit challenging. The teardrop notch housing the front camera is a dated design choice, but forgivable given the price.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the POCO C71 is powered by the Unisoc T7250 chipset, built on a 12nm process. It features an octa-core CPU with 2x Cortex-A75 cores at 1.8GHz and 6x Cortex-A55 cores at 1.6GHz, paired with a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU.

·         RAM Options: 3GB, 4GB, or 6GB 

·         Storage: 64GB or 128GB eMMC 5.1 

·         Expandable Storage: Up to 1TB via microSD 

·         OS: Android 15 (Go Edition) with Xiaomi’s HyperOS skin 

·         Updates: 2 years of OS upgrades, 4 years of security patches

The performance is adequate for everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and light gaming. The Android 15 Go Edition ensures a lightweight and responsive experience, although multitasking can be limited on the lower RAM variants.

Camera Capabilities

The POCO C71 sports a dual-camera setup on the rear, headlined by a 32MP primary sensor. There’s also an auxiliary lens, though its function is minimal. On the front, you get an 8MP selfie shooter.

·         Rear Camera Features: HDR, Night Mode, Portrait, Ultra HD, Time-lapse 

·         Video Recording: 1080p at 30fps (front and rear) 

·         Selfie Camera: 8MP with HDR and Night Mode

In daylight, the main camera captures decent shots with good color reproduction and contrast. Low-light performance is average, with noticeable noise and reduced detail. The selfie camera performs surprisingly well, especially in well-lit environments.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is one of the POCO C71’s strongest suits. It packs a 5200mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use.

·         Charging: 15W wired (charger included in the box) 

·         Standby Time: Up to 7 days 

·         Talk Time: Up to 46 hours

Charging speed is modest, taking around 2.5 hours for a full charge. While not blazing fast, it’s acceptable for the price bracket.

Audio and Connectivity

The POCO C71 includes a top-firing mono speaker, which is an unusual placement. While the audio quality is average, it’s loud enough for calls and casual media consumption.

·         3.5mm Headphone Jack: Yes 

·         FM Radio: Yes 

·         Bluetooth: 5.2 

·         Wi-Fi: Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 

·         USB: Type-C 2.0 

·         SIM: Dual Nano-SIM + dedicated microSD slot 

·         Sensors: Side fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, compass, virtual proximity and ambient light sensors

Security and Extras

Security features include a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and AI face unlock. Both work reliably, though the fingerprint scanner is faster and more consistent.

The phone also supports Wet Touch Display, allowing limited usability even with damp fingers — a thoughtful addition for tropical climates like the Philippines.

Pricing and Availability

The POCO C71 is aggressively priced, making it one of the most affordable smartphones with a 120Hz display and Android 15.

·         India: ₹6,499 for 4GB + 64GB 

·         Philippines: ₱3,699 for 3GB + 64GB, ₱4,499 for 4GB + 128GB 

·         Availability: Flipkart, Shopee, Lazada, and official POCO stores

Competition

In its price range, the POCO C71 competes with:

 

·         Redmi A5 – Offers similar specs but lacks a 120Hz display 

·         itel A80 – Slightly better camera but lower refresh rate 

·         Samsung Galaxy M05 – More brand recognition, but higher price

The C71 holds its own with a better display and more modern software support.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

·         Stylish dual-tone design 

·         120Hz refresh rate display 

·         Android 15 with long-term updates 

·         Large 5200mAh battery 

·         Affordable pricing

Cons:

·         Average camera performance 

·         Slow charging speed 

·         No NFC or 5G support 

·         Display resolution could be higher

Final Thoughts

The POCO C71 is a testament to how far budget smartphones have come. It doesn’t pretend to be a flagship killer, but it delivers where it matters most: display, battery, and usability. For students, first-time smartphone users, or anyone looking for a reliable secondary device, the C71 is a smart pick.

It’s not perfect — no phone at this price is — but it’s thoughtfully designed and well-executed. If you’re on a tight budget and want a phone that looks good, lasts long, and runs the latest Android, the POCO C71 is hard to beat.