The POCO C85 is a new budget phone. It launched in India on December 9, 2025. This model fits well for entry-level users. It has a big screen. The battery lasts long. Performance is decent. Many Indians want cheap 5G phones. This one gives that. Prices start under 12,000 INR. We will look at all details. This helps you choose. In India, people need good value. Long battery for daily use. Simple cameras for photos. The POCO C85 meets these.
POCO is from Xiaomi. It makes affordable phones. The C series is for budgets. The C85 follows older models. It adds 5G support. AI camera tools too. In 2026, prices are stable. You can find deals. Rivals like Redmi A4 or Moto G35 compete. But POCO offers big battery. IP64 protection. This is good for Indian weather.
Specifications Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9-inch IPS LCD, 720 x 1600 pixels (HD+), 120Hz refresh rate, 810 nits peak brightness, Waterdrop notch, TÜV Rheinland certified |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 (6nm), Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 + 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), Mali-G57 MC2 GPU |
| RAM & Storage | 4GB/6GB/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 storage, Expandable up to 1TB via microSD |
| Rear Cameras | 50MP wide (f/1.8, PDAF), 0.08MP auxiliary, LED flash, 1080p@30fps video, HDR, Night mode |
| Front Camera | 8MP wide (f/2.0), 1080p@30fps video, HDR, Portrait mode |
| Battery | 6000mAh, 33W wired charging (50% in 28 min), 10W reverse wired charging |
| Software | Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0, 2 major OS updates, 4 years security patches |
| Build & Protection | 173.16 x 81.07 x 7.9 mm, 211g, Polycarbonate back, Plastic frame, IP64 dust/splash resistant |
| Connectivity | 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS (GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS), FM radio, USB-C, 3.5mm jack |
| Other Features | Side-mounted fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Proximity, Ambient light sensor, AI camera tools |
| Colors | Mystic Purple, Spring Green, Power Black |
| Price | Starting from ₹10,979 (4GB + 128GB) |
Design and Build Quality
The design is simple. It is 7.9 mm thin. Weight is 211 grams. This feels okay to hold. Not too heavy. The back uses polycarbonate. This is plastic. It looks like glass. Frame is plastic too. This keeps cost low. Colors include Mystic Purple. Spring Green. Power Black. Mystic Purple shines. Spring Green is fresh.
The phone is 173.16 mm tall. 81.07 mm wide. Edges are flat. This adds grip. In India, hands get sweaty. It helps. IP64 rating protects from dust. Splash water too. It handles light rain. But not full water. In tests, it survives drops. Front has strong glass. No Gorilla name. But it resists scratches.
Buttons are on sides. Power and volume keys click well. Bottom has USB-C port. 3.5mm headphone jack. Speakers are there. SIM tray takes two nano SIMs. Plus microSD. Fingerprint sensor is on side. It unlocks fast. Face unlock works too. Camera module is on back. It has two lenses. LED flash. Overall, it looks modern. Not premium. But good for price. In reviews, users like the build. It feels solid. For daily use in India, it fits well.
Display
The screen is 6.9 inches. It uses IPS LCD type. Resolution is 720 x 1600 pixels. This is HD+. Pixel density is 254 ppi. Images look okay. Not super sharp. Colors are bright. It supports 83% NTSC. Videos on YouTube look fine.
Refresh rate is 120Hz. Scrolling feels smooth. Games are better. Peak brightness is 810 nits HBM. 660 nits typical. You see well in sun. In India, outdoors is key. This helps. Waterdrop notch is small. Screen-to-body is 81.8%. Bezels are thin. Aspect ratio is 20:9. Good for movies.
Protection is there. TÜV Rheinland certified. Low blue light. Eyes stay comfortable. Touch sampling is 240Hz. Good for touch. In reviews, display is praised. For media and reels. But resolution is low. Not FHD. For budget, it is fine. Watching Netflix or Hotstar is enjoyable.
Performance
The chip is MediaTek Dimensity 6300. It is on 6nm process. Octa-core CPU. Two cores at 2.4 GHz. Six at 2 GHz. GPU is Mali-G57 MC2. This handles daily tasks.
RAM options are 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB LPDDR4X. Storage is 128GB UFS 2.2. You can expand up to 1TB with microSD. Apps open okay. Multitasking is fine for light use. In benchmarks, AnTuTu is around 553,034. Geekbench single is 728. Multi is 1,956. Games like BGMI run at low settings. Up to 60 fps. Phone warms after 30 minutes. Battery drain is 5%. Heating is 13.4°C rise.
In India, many use social apps. WhatsApp calls. It runs smooth. AI helps with camera. Boot time is 27 seconds. Sensors include accelerometer. Compass. Proximity. Ambient light. For price, performance is good. Not for heavy games. But everyday use is solid.
Also Read Samsung Galaxy F36: Best Mid-Range Smartphone Under 20,000 INR
Software
It runs Android 15. With HyperOS 2.0. This is from Xiaomi. It is clean. But has some bloatware. POCO promises 2 major OS updates. Up to Android 17. 4 years security patches. This is decent for budget.
UI has gestures. Custom icons. In India, it supports Hindi. Updates come regular. AI tools include photo enhance. Voice shutter. But some apps send ads. You can remove most. In reviews, software is okay. Not stock Android. But responsive. For long use, updates help.
Camera System
Cameras are basic. Rear has two. Main is 50MP wide. f/1.8 aperture. 26mm focal length. PDAF for focus. Sensor size 1/2.76 inch. 0.64µm pixels. Daylight photos are sharp. Colors good. Dynamic range okay.
Second lens is 0.08MP auxiliary. Helps with depth. No ultra-wide. LED flash. Features include HDR. Night mode. Portrait. Time-lapse. Low light is average. Noise there. But night mode helps.
Front is 8MP wide. f/2.0 aperture. 26mm. 1.12µm pixels. Selfies are clear. Skin tones okay. Portrait mode has edge issues. Video is 1080p at 30fps. Rear and front. HDR video. But no OIS. Shaky in motion.
AI tools enhance. Like voice shutter. In India, people take family photos. This camera fits casual use. Reels on Instagram look fine. But not pro. Reviews say daylight good. Night inconsistent. For budget, it is acceptable.
Battery and Charging
Battery is the star. 6000mAh Li-Polymer. It lasts two days normal use. Heavy use one day plus. Video playback over 22 hours. Gaming 12 hours. In PC Mark test, 15h 19m. Standby is long.
Charging is 33W fast. 50% in 28 minutes. Full in 1h 7m. Charger in box. Reverse charging 10W. Charge earbuds or watch. In India, power cuts are common. Big battery helps. Reverse is useful for travel. Reviews praise battery. It beats rivals.
Pros and Cons
Pros include big display. Long battery. Fast charging. Expandable storage. IP64 protection. 120Hz screen. Good value. Reverse charging. Headphone jack.
Cons are low resolution screen. Basic cameras. Some bloatware. Plastic build. No ultra-wide lens. Average low light. Gets warm in games.
Pricing and Availability
In India, base 4GB + 128GB is ₹10,979 on Amazon. 6GB + 128GB is ₹11,999. 8GB + 128GB is ₹13,499. As of January 2026, deals on Flipkart. Like ₹599 cashback with Axis or SBI cards. Effective under 11,000. Buy on Flipkart. Amazon. Offline stores. This price makes it best under 12,000 INR.
FAQs
What is the price of POCO C85 in India?
The base model with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage starts at ₹10,979. Higher variants go up to ₹13,499.
Does it have good battery life?
Yes. The 6000mAh battery lasts up to two days. It supports 33W fast charging.
Is the camera good for low light?
The 50MP main camera is average in low light. Night mode helps but results are inconsistent.
What about software updates?
It gets two major Android updates and four years of security patches. Starts on Android 15.
Is it water resistant?
Yes. It has IP64 rating for dust and splash protection.
Does it support 5G in India?
Yes. It works with Indian 5G bands from Jio, Airtel, and Vi.
Can I expand storage?
Yes. Up to 1TB via microSD card.
Is there bloatware?
HyperOS has some pre-installed apps. You can uninstall most.
How is the performance for gaming?
It runs games like BGMI at low to medium settings. Gets warm but playable.
Where can I buy it?
On Flipkart, Amazon, and offline stores in India.
Conclusion
In summary, POCO C85 is a top budget pick. It gives big battery for long days. Smooth display for videos. Decent cameras for snaps. For Indian users, it fits well. 5G ready for future. IP64 for daily mishaps. If you want cheap and reliable, go for it. Ignore low res screen. It sets a good bar under 12,000 INR.
