POCO C61 : POCO just pulled a fast one on the competition. The C61 launched today, and honestly, if you covered up the price tag, you’d swear this thing costs twice as much. Gone are the days when budget meant boring plastic slabs. This phone looks like it belongs in a much pricier lineup, and that’s not an accident.

The leather-textured back panel feels surprisingly good in hand. Not that slippery glass nonsense that sends phones flying across tables. The ring design around the camera module gives it character – like POCO actually cared about aesthetics this time. Available in Mystical Green and Ethereal Blue, both colorways look way classier than typical budget fare.

Audio Experience That Makes You Do a Double-Take

Here’s where things get weird – in a good way. POCO stuffed legitimate hi-fi audio features into this budget beast. The dual speakers pump out sound that’ll make you check if you accidentally connected Bluetooth speakers. We’re talking actual stereo separation, not that tinny mono speaker garbage most cheap phones serve up.

The headphone jack (yes, it still exists!) supports high-res audio playback. Plug in decent earphones and suddenly you’re hearing details in songs you missed before. The built-in DAC isn’t just marketing speak either – audiophiles on tight budgets finally have something worth considering. Volume levels get properly loud without distortion kicking in, perfect for those impromptu parking lot parties.

Even the haptic feedback got attention. Typing feels satisfying with subtle vibrations that don’t feel like a dying mosquito trapped inside your phone. It’s these little touches that make daily usage surprisingly pleasant.

Display Technology Punching Above Its Weight

The 6.71-inch display runs at 90Hz, and before you say “only 90?” remember this phone’s price bracket. Scrolling feels smooth enough that going back to 60Hz phones feels jarring. The LCD panel won’t win awards against OLEDs, but POCO tuned it well. Colors look natural, not washed out like typical budget displays.

Brightness hits 500 nits – nothing groundbreaking, but sufficient for most situations. The real surprise? Excellent viewing angles. Share videos with friends without everyone complaining about color shift. The dot-drop notch design maximizes screen real estate without being intrusive. Sure, punch-holes look more modern, but this implementation works fine.

Performance Built for Real-World Usage

MediaTek’s Helio G36 runs the show here. Not a powerhouse by any stretch, but POCO optimized things cleverly. Daily tasks flow smoothly – messaging, browsing, social media scrolling all happen without annoying stutters. The 4GB RAM (expandable virtually to 8GB) keeps essential apps running in background.

Gaming? Well, Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG run on lower settings, but they run. Casual games like Candy Crush or Subway Surfers? Butter smooth. The storage starts at 64GB, expandable via microSD up to 1TB. Finally, a budget phone that doesn’t force you to delete photos every week.

Battery life deserves its own applause. The 5000mAh cell easily pushes through a full day of moderate use. Heavy users might need a top-up by evening, but that’s expected. (POCO C61) The 10W charging feels ancient by today’s standards, taking about two hours for a full charge. Planning ahead becomes necessary, but at least the battery lasts long enough to make charging less frequent.

Camera System That Knows Its Limits

The 8MP main camera won’t compete with flagships, and POCO knows it. Instead of gimmicky features, they focused on consistency. Daylight photos come out decent – good enough for social media, memories, and quick snaps. Low light? That’s pushing it, but the LED flash helps in a pinch.

The 5MP front camera handles video calls competently. Selfies look acceptable with decent skin tones. No beauty mode overload turning everyone into plastic dolls. Sometimes honest photos beat heavily processed ones, and POCO gets that.

Pricing That Redefines Entry-Level

Sitting at just ₹7,999 for the base variant, the C61 makes smartphones accessible to practically everyone. The higher 6GB/128GB variant at ₹8,999 offers better value for those who can stretch slightly. At these prices, complaining feels almost unfair.

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POCO C61 Verdict on POCO’s Latest Gamble

The POCO C61 succeeds by not pretending to be something it’s not. Instead of chasing specs, POCO focused on experiential improvements – better audio, nicer design, smoother display. For first-time smartphone users, students on shoestring budgets, or anyone needing a reliable secondary device, this makes perfect sense.

Available starting tomorrow across retail stores and online platforms, expect stocks to move fast. At this price with these features, POCO might’ve just redefined what “entry-level” means.