Poco C85 5G was released in late 2025 and has been designed to be a strong budget competitor. This isn’t just another entry-level phone; with its massive 6.9-inch 120Hz display and powerful 6,000mAh battery, it’s designed to be the ultimate media companion for those who prefer not to carry a charger. But does the smartphone actually perform what it says it does, or is it just a nice packaging with a huge screen? Let’s see how well POCO’s newest budget fighter works in the real world. Here is our full review of the Poco C85 5G.
In This Article
Design and Display
The phone comes with a 33W power adapter and a screen protector already fitted. Besides this, there is a Type-C cable, a SIM tool, a quick start guide, a warranty card and a protective case.
The device’s backside features a dual-tone back panel with a matte appearance. A huge square camera island design stands out at the top, contrasting with a matte texture that effectively resists fingerprints.
The C85 comes in three colourways: Power Black, Mystic Purple, and Spring Green. For the review, we have the Mystic Purple. This variation has a light-refracting coating that creates the sense of movement. When the phone is angled under a light source, the purple hue changes from darker violet to lighter lavender tones, replicating the motion of flowing light and shadow.
The “POCO” logo is strategically positioned vertically on the right side of the rear panel. Furthermore, the Mystic Purple logo is intended to complement the accent colours on the device’s frame, resulting in a visually appealing and coherent look that is consistent with modern design aesthetics.
A clear, slim cover is the ideal way to safeguard the phone’s polycarbonate back while showcasing the Mystic Purple aurora. It allows the colour effect to remain visible and protects the phone from scratches when placed on rough surfaces or carried in a bag or pocket with coins or keys.
The gadget is built to last and withstand wear and tear, making the mobile phone perfect for everyday usage, even if it’s not too expensive. The device has a polycarbonate body made of high-quality plastic that makes the mobile more durable against drops than glass. However, this is a little heavier since it has a huge battery.
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The gadget boasts an IP64 rating, indicating it is dust-tight and splash-proof. This means the handset can withstand rain or minor spills without damage, but it cannot be fully submerged in water. Its rear panel features curved edges on all four sides, enhancing grip and providing a comfortable hold, especially given the large 6.9-inch screen.
The power button on the right side features an integrated side-mounted fingerprint sensor that allows for biometric unlocking, as well as a volume rocker, which is a single tactile bar located directly above the power button. The SIM/microSD tray on the left side has a triple-slot design that can hold two Nano-SIM cards and one microSD card (up to 1TB), allowing users to enjoy more capacity without losing connectivity.
A centrally located USB Type-C port on the bottom edge enables efficient 33W charging and data transfer. The gadget also retains a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare in newer phones, and is strategically located at the bottom for easy management when using wired earphones. Furthermore, the bottom edge has a primary microphone for crisper voice calls and a loudspeaker grill, which improves the audio experience by allowing for a 200% volume increase option.
Additionally, internal seals protect the ports, ensuring the phone is dust-tight and splash-resistant. The high-quality polycarbonate buttons, similar to the frame, provide tactile feedback with a firm click, enhancing user interaction.
Overall, the design and construction qualities position this product as a practical solution for those who want both longevity and user-friendliness.
The smartphone’s front features a waterdrop notch to accommodate the selfie camera. While not as modern as a punch-hole design, this option helps to keep the device’s pricing reasonable while maintaining slim side bezels.
The phone features a 6.9-inch IPS LCD display with HD+ resolution (1600×720 pixels). It supports a 120 Hz refresh rate with AdaptiveSync, reaches a peak brightness of 810 nits in High Brightness Mode (hbm), and 660 nits under normal conditions. The touch sample rate is set to 240 Hz. Furthermore, TÜV Rheinland has validated the display for low blue light, flicker-free operation, and circadian-friendly use. TÜV Rheinland approved the display for low blue light, flicker-free operation, and circadian-friendly use.
The 6.9-inch display, with approximately 254 ppi pixel density and HD+ resolution, offers an excellent viewing experience for streaming movies or YouTube, providing a cinematic feel. However, there is a trade-off: tiny text and detailed UI icons may appear slightly softer compared to a 1080p screen. Nonetheless, this lower resolution helps extend battery life. The display also features a 120 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smoother animations and scrolling on social media than a standard 60 Hz screen.
AdaptiveSync technology also saves battery life by decreasing the refresh rate on photographs. The LCD boasts a peak brightness of 810 nits, allowing it to be easily visible outdoors even in direct noon sunlight, a common problem with entry-level smartphones.
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Wet Touch Technology 2.0 is an innovative feature that allows displays to function effectively even with wet fingers or raindrops on the screen. It performs reliably whether outdoors or in the kitchen. This device is ideal for casual activities such as binge-watching, reading e-books, and browsing social media. However, it is not suitable for professional photo editing or high-end gaming, as it only supports 83% of NTSC colours and HD+ resolution.
Performance and Cameras
The Poco phone has a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 CPU that is based on 6 nm technology. This chip is recognised for its effective thermal and battery management, particularly in 5G applications. With LPDDR4X technology, the gadget comes with 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB of RAM. The 8GB model may be upgraded to 16GB utilising Turbo RAM, which uses extra internal storage. The smartphone has 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, which makes apps load much faster than older eMMC storage that is commonly found in low-cost handsets.
The 8GB RAM model we have can run 10 to 12 apps at once (including WhatsApp, Instagram, Chrome, Spotify, and light games) without having to refresh when you switch apps. If you need more power, the device can add up to 8GB of virtual RAM to its 128GB of storage, bringing the total to 16GB of RAM. This helps keep heavy tasks running smoothly and stops slowdowns during prolonged usage.
The Dimensity 6300 chip also offers good 5G connectivity, especially in areas where the signal is weaker. This improves video calls and streaming high-quality music. The phone’s thermal performance is quite effective; it remains cool even after long periods of use, such as when watching many YouTube videos or using Google Maps.
HyperOS 2.0, designed for Android 15, improves the user experience with its outstanding snappiness, especially on the 8GB RAM variant. The technology keeps smooth animations, such as accessing folders and bringing down the notification shade, fixed at 120 Hz.
The POCO C85 5G, like other POCO and Xiaomi handsets, comes preloaded with bloatware and embedded ads. The 8GB RAM edition controls these background operations more efficiently than the 4GB model, allowing users to clean up unwanted apps in around 10 minutes. The Poco phone includes several apps and games (bloatware), which may be removed by long-pressing their icons. However, Xiaomi-branded applications like GetApps, Themes, and Mi Browser cannot be completely deleted, although they may be disabled to reduce their interference.
Even though the smartphone has an entry-level Dimensity 6300 CPU, the POCO C85 5G with 8GB of RAM is optimised for gaming. The additional RAM helps reduce stuttering when playing games, so frame rates stay steady across a range of popular games: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) gets frame rates of 40 to 60 FPS, Free Fire Max consistently plays at 60 FPS, and Call of Duty: Mobile gets frame rates of 50 to 60 FPS. The smartphone also has a 120 Hz refresh rate, which makes the visuals smoother, and a 240 Hz touch sampling rate, which makes it much more snappy, making it great for competitive gaming scenarios.
AnTuTu Benchmark Score: 5,76,574
The POCO C85 5G camera is designed for casual users. It features a dual rear camera setup, including a 50mp main lens with an f/1.8 aperture and a basic 0.08mp auxiliary lens primarily used for depth detection to enhance portrait mode background blur. The device also has an 8mp front camera with an f/2.0 aperture, suitable for selfies and video calls.
The camera performs optimally in bright lighting conditions, capturing crisp images with vibrant colours ideal for social media. Its dynamic range handles intense sunlight effectively, preserving shadow details but occasionally overexposing bright clouds. The 50MP “Ultra HD” mode is useful for photographing stationary objects, allowing users to zoom in on menus or documents and still read small text clearly.
Since there is no Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), software solutions are essential for night photography. The dedicated Night Mode is crucial for capturing quality images in low light. For the best results, maintain stillness for roughly two seconds. The 8GB POCO C85 processes night shots faster than the 4GB or 6GB models, reducing waiting times for users.
We also didn’t use digital zoom more than 2x because the quality dropped a lot after that. Also, setting HDR to “Auto” gets the best results. This will stop bright regions, like the sky, from becoming too bright.
The Soft-Light Ring is the front camera’s best feature. It’s a software function that makes the screen brighter to create a ring light effect. The device enhances selfies taken in low light conditions. Both the front and rear cameras can record video at up to 1080p quality at 30 fps, aligning with typical standards for such cameras. This makes them suitable for creating content for platforms like YouTube Shorts or Reels. However, the absence of image stabilisation could impact video quality, so users are advised to use a tripod or maintain steady movements for optimal results.
Portrait Mode assists with edge detection, particularly when it involves differentiating hair from the background. Lastly, the time-lapse mode is great for filming moving scenes, such as sunsets or clouds.
With a large 6,000mAh capacity, the device provided a battery life of up to two days under normal usage circumstances. During strenuous gaming sessions, such as with BGMI, the battery usage is around 5-7% per hour, exceeding the normal 5,000 mAh phones, which drain at 10-12% per hour. The charging capability is 33W; therefore, charging is slow rather than fast. It takes about 30 to 33 minutes to charge from 0% to 50%, and about 75 to 80 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%. You can also charge other devices, like TWS earphones or a friend’s phone, through a Type-C to Type-C connection.
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The phone supports 10W wired reverse charging. The battery has a lifespan of 1,000 charge cycles and retains 80% health, which means that if charged every other day, the battery may work optimally for over five years.
Verdict
The Poco C85 has a powerful 6,000mAh battery and a huge 6.9-inch 120Hz display, providing a longer cinematic experience even with intensive 5G usage. Although the device has HD+ resolution and a subpar low-light camera, it reflects its entry-level price tag. The 8GB RAM version improves speed and allows for easy multitasking with HyperOS 2.0. It is a practical option for individuals who value screen size, extended battery life, and reliable 5G connectivity above high-quality photography.
The price in India starts at Rs 10,999.
Buy via Flipkart
Pros
- Massive 6,000mAh battery
- Allows reverse wired charging
- 120Hz Display
- Supports features like Google Gemini and Circle to search
- IP64 rating (dust and splash resistance) and Wet Touch 2.0 technology
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- A dedicated microSD slot
Cons
- Softness in fine text
- No ultra-wide lens
- Bloatware
- Video recording capped at 1080p at 30 fps
- No video stabilisation
