POCO's cheapest phone, but its Helio G36 and 10W charging show their age.
₹7,499 for 4GB + 64GB
- Display
- 6.71" · 90Hz
- Chip
- MediaTek Helio G36
- RAM
- 4GB
- Camera
- 8MP main + 1 more
- Battery
- 5,000 mAh
- Charging
- 10W
Is it any good?
The C61 is the cheapest phone POCO sells: ₹7,499 for 4GB + 64GB, with a 6.71-inch 90Hz screen and a 5,000 mAh battery. It is a 4G phone for calls, chats and video, for buyers who put the lowest price ahead of everything else.
Gorilla Glass 3 covers the screen, a microSD card of up to 1TB fits in its own slot, and there is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a side fingerprint sensor. The 8MP main camera sits next to a 2MP depth camera, and the selfie camera is 5MP. It comes in Mystical Green, Ethereal Blue and Diamond Dust Black.
The catch is age: it launched in 2024 with Android 14 on a MediaTek Helio G36, gets two Android updates, and 10W is slow charging for a 5,000 mAh battery. ₹1,500 more buys the C71, with a 120Hz screen, a 5,200 mAh battery, 15W charging and Android 15.
Every spec
The whole spec sheet, minus the marketing words.
Spec score 5.2/10, worked out from this spec sheet, not a hands-on test. How we score
Performance
Not rated. We have not placed this chip yet.
- MediaTek Helio G36
- Octa-core CPU, up to 2.2GHz
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB storage
Display
- 6.71 inches
- LCD
- 1650 x 720 (HD+) resolution
- 90Hz refresh rate
- 500 nits peak brightness
Rear camera
- 8MP main
- 2MP depth
- 1080p at 30fps video
Front camera
- 5MP
- 1080p at 30fps video
Battery
- 5,000 mAh battery
- 10W wired charging
Build
- No dust and water rating
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3
- 199 g
- 8.3 mm thick
- Colours: Mystical Green, Ethereal Blue, Diamond Dust Black
Software
- Android 14 · 2 OS updates
Connectivity
| Network | 4G LTE |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| NFC | No |
Availability
| India launch | 28 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Status | On sale in India |
| Versions | 4GB + 64GB₹7,499 |
What to compare it with
About the same money, different brands. Pick one to see them side by side.
POCO C61, answered
POCO C61 price in India starts at ₹7,499 for the 4GB + 64GB.
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What is the price of the POCO C61 in India?
It starts at ₹7,499 for the 4GB + 64GB. That is the only version sold in India. These are starting prices, before bank and exchange offers.
When was the POCO C61 launched in India?
It went on sale in India on 28 March 2024.
How big is the battery on the POCO C61, and how fast does it charge?
It has a 5,000 mAh battery with 10W wired charging. These are POCO's own figures.
What kind of display does the POCO C61 have?
A 6.71-inch LCD at 90Hz, with HD+ resolution and up to 500 nits of peak brightness. The glass is Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
Which processor does the POCO C61 use?
The MediaTek Helio G36, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
What cameras does the POCO C61 have?
On the back: 8MP main + 2MP depth. On the front: 5MP. Video goes up to 1080p at 30fps (rear), 1080p at 30fps (front).
How many software updates will the POCO C61 get?
It ships with Android 14. POCO promises 2 OS updates.
Is the POCO C61 waterproof?
It has no official dust and water rating, so keep it away from water.
Does the POCO C61 support 5G?
No. It is a 4G phone, so it can't use 5G networks.
What are the main rivals of the POCO C61?
At about the same price from other brands: the itel City 100 (₹7,599), the Infinix Smart 9 HD (₹6,699), the Lava Bold N2 Lite (₹8,949) and the HMD Vibe 5G (₹8,999). Each name opens the two phones side by side.
What else to consider
Similar phones
Other brands, about the same price.
