In the ever-competitive Indian smartphone market, budget-friendly phones with advanced features have always grabbed the spotlight. POCO, known for delivering feature-packed smartphones at affordable prices, is back with another bang—the POCO C75 5G. Priced around ₹8000, this device promises to make 5G technology more accessible to the masses without compromising on essential features.

In this comprehensive review, we’ll dive into every aspect of the POCO C75 5G, including its design, display, performance, camera, software, and battery life. We’ll also explore how it stacks up against competitors in the same price segment. Let’s get started!

Design and Build Quality

The POCO C75 5G maintains POCO’s signature design language. It comes in a sturdy yellow box, a hallmark of the brand, and includes the basics—the phone and a 10W charger (even though the device supports 18W fast charging). One noticeable omission is a protective back case, which is something many budget users might miss.

Materials and Finish:

• Back Panel: Made of polycarbonate with a dual-tone, dual-texture finish. The upper portion has a smooth matte effect, while the lower part boasts a textured “Marble Flow” design.
• Frame: Polycarbonate for durability.
• Colors: Available in Aqua Blue, Enchanted Green, and Silver Stardust.

The design ensures a smudge-free experience, as fingerprints don’t easily mark the surface. The rear also houses a circular camera module, adding a modern aesthetic to the phone. For durability, it comes with an IP52 rating, providing resistance to dust and occasional water splashes.

Display

The POCO C75 5G features a 6.88-inch HD+ LCD display with a high 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and general usage smoother than most budget devices. Additionally, the display has a 240Hz touch sampling rate, enhancing touch responsiveness for gaming and other tasks.

Key Display Features:

• Resolution: HD+
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz for smoother scrolling.
• Touch Sampling Rate: 240Hz for faster response times.
• Brightness: 600 nits peak brightness ensures decent outdoor visibility.
• Certification: TÜV Blue Light certification for reduced eye strain.
• Design: Water-drop notch with a slightly noticeable chin.

While the display quality is adequate for its price, a punch-hole design instead of a water-drop notch would have been preferable for a more modern look. The device also offers a decent multimedia experience, with good viewing angles and vivid colors for an LCD panel.

Performance

Under the hood, the POCO C75 5G packs a MediaTek Dimensity 7025 processor built on a 4nm architecture. This chipset offers a balanced performance for everyday tasks and light to moderate gaming. The AnTuTu benchmark score hovers around 370,000, which is commendable in this price bracket.

Specifications at a Glance:

Real-World Performance:

• Gaming: Casual games run smoothly, while titles like BGMI support up to 40fps on medium settings. Call of Duty runs on high settings with good stability.
• Multitasking: The device handles app-switching and multitasking without significant lag.
• Thermal Management: The phone remains relatively cool even during extended gaming sessions.

Software

The POCO C75 5G runs on MIUI 14, based on Android 13. The software experience is clean and optimized for this device. Notably, the phone comes with two years of guaranteed Android updates and four years of security patches, ensuring longevity.

Highlights of the Software:

• Pre-Installed Apps: While some bloatware is present, it can be uninstalled.
• Stock Dialer: Allows call recording without announcements.
• User Interface: Smooth navigation thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate.
• Notification Management: Options to disable unwanted notifications.

One notable improvement is the disabled Glance feature, which many users found intrusive in previous POCO devices.

Camera Performance

The POCO C75 5G sports a 50MP primary rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies. While these specifications might seem basic on paper, they deliver acceptable performance for the price.

Rear Camera Features:

• Photo Quality: Good dynamic range and sharpness in daylight.
• Portrait Mode: Decent edge detection and natural background blur.
• Video Recording: Supports up to Full HD at 30fps.

Front Camera Features:

• Photo Quality: Delivers sharp selfies with decent skin tones.
• Video Recording: Full HD at 30fps for video calls and vlogs.

Low-Light Performance: As expected in this price range, low-light photography is average. While night shots capture some detail, they lack the clarity seen in higher-end models.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the POCO C75 5G is its 5160mAh battery, which ensures a full day of usage even with heavy tasks. The phone supports 18W fast charging but comes bundled with a 10W charger, which takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to fully charge the battery.

Battery Insights:

• Screen-On Time: Over 7 hours of active use.
• Standby Performance: Excellent standby drain, lasting up to two days with moderate usage.

Connectivity and Additional Features

As a 5G smartphone, the POCO C75 supports seven 5G bands, ensuring compatibility with major network providers like Jio and Airtel. Other connectivity options include:

• Ports: USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack.
• SIM Slot: Full-sized slot with dual SIM + microSD support.
• Sensors: Includes all essential sensors like proximity, gyroscope, and accelerometer.
• Fingerprint Scanner: Side-mounted and highly responsive.

Price and Value Proposition

The POCO C75 5G is expected to be priced at around ₹8000, with potential discounts and offers further reducing the effective price. For this price, the phone offers a compelling package with 5G connectivity, a high refresh rate display, and decent overall performance.

Comparison with Competitors:

Final Verdict

The POCO C75 5G is a game-changer in the sub-₹10,000 segment, offering 5G connectivity, a smooth 120Hz display, and reliable performance. While there are minor compromises, such as the absence of a back case and a bundled fast charger, the overall value proposition makes this phone a standout option.

If you’re in the market for an affordable 5G smartphone that doesn’t cut corners on essential features, the POCO C75 5G is worth considering. With its solid build, dependable performance, and future-proof software updates, this device is poised to set a benchmark in the budget smartphone category.