Today we are going to talk about a smartphone which is made for those people whose budget is very limited, but not their wishes. The Indian smartphone market is like an ocean, where every week some new fish, i.e., a new phone, is seen swimming. In this crowd, Poco, which is known for its ‘value for money’ phones, has played a new bet – Poco C71.
Its price starts around ₹ 7,000. The question arises, does this phone at this price give everything that a common user needs? Does it live up to its promises? Or will you have to make many compromises for the low price? Let’s find answers to all these questions in this review and find out if Poco C71 is the right choice for you.
Poco C71 Review
Poco C71 smartphone was released on 4th April 2025, its first sale started on 8th April. It’s a low-budget phone, whose price is only ₹6999. Anyone who just wants a smartphone for normal use without any great features at an affordable price, then Poco C71 will be a great option.
Poco C71 Features and Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
| Display | 6.71-inch HD+ LCD Display |
| Resolution: 1650×720 pixels | |
| Refresh Rate: 90Hz | |
| Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm Octa-core CPU) |
| RAM | 4GB or 6GB LPDDR4X |
| Supports Virtual RAM expansion | |
| Storage | 64GB or 128GB eMMC 5.1 |
| Expandable up to 1TB via microSD card | |
| Rear Camera | 8MP AI Single Camera |
| Front Camera | 5MP Front Camera |
| Battery | 5000mAh (Li-ion Polymer) |
| Charging | 10W Charging Support |
| Port: USB Type-C | |
| Operating System | MIUI is based on Android 13 |
| Security | Side-mounted Fingerprint Scanner |
| AI Face Unlock | |
| Connectivity | Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS |
| Ports | USB Type-C, 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| Build | Plastic Body with Matte Finish |
| Dimensions | 168.4mm x 76.3mm x 8.3mm |
| Weight | 195g |
● Design and Build
When you think of a ₹7,000 phone, you don’t picture a premium glass or metal body, and the same is true with the Poco C71. This phone is made entirely of plastic, but that doesn’t mean it feels cheap or flimsy.
How is the in-hand feel?
Poco has done a smart job here. The back of the phone has a matte finish, which has two big benefits. First, it gives a good grip in the hand, reducing the fear of the phone slipping. Second, it doesn’t get fingerprints and smudges easily, so your phone will look neat most of the time.
The design of the phone is very simple and clean. There are no flashy patterns or colors, which gives it a sober look. It is also decent in weight, and despite its large screen, it doesn’t feel too heavy in the hand.
Buttons and ports
One good thing is that the fingerprint scanner is placed on the side of the phone along with the power button. This is seen in most phones these days, and it is quite fast and reliable. At the bottom of the phone, you will find a USB Type-C port, which is a welcome move at this price, as many brands still offer the old micro-USB port. And yes, there is also a 3.5mm headphone jack for music lovers like you and me!
● Display
This phone has a big 6.71-inch screen, which is good enough for watching videos or browsing the web. But its biggest highlight is its 90Hz refresh rate.
In simple terms, when you scroll through menus, check Instagram or Facebook feeds, or scroll up and down web pages, everything will feel buttery smooth and fast. Most phones in this price range get a standard 60Hz display, compared to which the 90Hz experience is much better. This is a feature that is usually found in phones above ₹ 10,000, so the Poco C71 gets full marks here.
Negative Point
Yes, there is a compromise that you have to make. This is an HD+ display, not Full HD+. This means that the screen has a resolution of 1650×720 pixels. If you look very closely, you might find the text or icons a little less sharp, especially if you are coming from a Full HD+ screen.
But honestly, this is a common thing at this price point, and most people won’t have any major complaints. The video viewing experience is good, and the colours look decent.
The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which should help protect it from minor scratches.
● Performance and software
The Poco C71 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 processor. This is a well-known and tested chipset, which is specially designed for budget gaming and everyday use. With this, you get the option of 4GB or 6GB of RAM.
This phone will not disappoint you in normal day-to-day tasks like running WhatsApp, watching videos on YouTube, calling, and browsing the Internet. Switching between apps is also quite smooth, especially in the 6GB RAM variant. Yes, if you open 15-20 apps simultaneously, then it can become a bit slow, which is very unusual for a phone of this price.
If you want to play heavy games like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) or Call of Duty, this phone will run them, but you will have to keep the graphics settings on ‘Low’ or ‘Smooth’. On high settings, you will face frame drops and lag. In short, this is not a gaming phone, but can do for light gaming.
Software experience: Pros and cons
The Poco C71 runs MIUI based on Android 13. MIUI is full of features and gives you many customization options. But, it has an old problem – bloatware, that is, many pre-installed apps. The good news is that most of these apps can be uninstalled. You might also encounter some ads, although Poco has tried to reduce them in recent years.
● Camera
If the camera is your biggest priority when buying a phone, you should probably look elsewhere. The Poco C71’s camera department is its weakest aspect.
There’s a single 8-megapixel AI camera on the back. It takes decent photos in good daylight. Colours can look a little dull, and details are lacking, but the images are good enough to post on social media.
The camera’s reality comes out as soon as the light gets low. Photos taken at night or indoors show a lot of noise, and details are almost missing.
There’s a 5-megapixel camera on the front for video calling and selfies. This, too, is just passable. It works fine in daylight, but don’t expect too much from it. Overall, the camera is here only so that you can take a picture or make a video call when needed, not for photography.
● Battery and charging
Now let’s talk about the department where the Poco C71 shines again – its battery.
Powerful 5000mAh battery
This phone has a big 5000mAh battery. The Helio G85 processor and HD+ display don’t consume much power, which simply means that the battery lasts a lot longer. For a normal user, this phone will easily last a full day on a single full charge.
If you are a light user who only uses calling and a little WhatsApp, then this phone can last you for two days. This is a huge plus point for those who don’t want to charge their phone frequently.
Who should buy the Poco C71?
So should you buy the Poco C71? The answer depends on your needs. Let’s make it simple.
You should buy this phone if:
- You have a very tight budget (₹7,000 – ₹8,000).
- You want a big screen and a smooth 90Hz refresh rate experience.
- Battery life is of utmost importance to you.
- You are looking for a secondary phone or gifting someone their first smartphone.
- Your usage is mainly limited to calling, WhatsApp, YouTube, and social media.
You shouldn’t buy this phone if:
- You’re expecting a good camera.
- You desperately need fast charging.
- You want to do heavy gaming.
- You hate bloatware and ads.
- You want a Full HD+ display.
Conclusion
In short, the Poco C71 is an honest budget phone. It knows who it is and what it can do. It focuses on features that improve the average user’s experience, like a big, smooth display and a long-lasting battery.
It has cut down on areas like the camera and charging speed to keep the price down. If you’re okay with these compromises, then at its price, the Poco C71 is a very strong and worth considering.