Poco C81 launch in India signals that the Xiaomi sub-brand is doubling down on big-battery budget phones for first-time and value-conscious buyers.
The handset debuts alongside the Poco C81x, with both models aimed at users who want long battery life, basic gaming and social media performance without crossing the Rs 11,000 mark.
The Poco C81 launch in India sees the phone priced at Rs 10,999 for the lone 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. The Poco C81x undercuts it slightly at Rs 9,999 and comes with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Both Poco C81 and C81x will go on sale via Flipkart in India from April 27 at 12pm.
Poco C81 is offered in Elite Black, Ice Blue and Sunset Gold, while the Poco C81x skips the Sunset Gold option and launches in two colourways. Both phones carry an IP52 rating for basic dust and splash resistance, which is still unusual at this end of the market.
At the heart of the Poco C81 launch in India is a 6.9-inch HD+ LCD display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling, aimed at smoother scrolling and casual gaming. The Poco C81x uses a slightly smaller 6.88-inch HD+ panel, also offering up to 120Hz refresh rate but with a slightly lower peak brightness than the C81. Both smartphones are powered by an octa-core Unisoc T7250 chipset paired with Mali-G57 graphics, clocked up to 1.8GHz.
The Poco C81 launch in India highlights its 6,300mAh battery with 15W wired fast charging and 7.5W reverse wired charging, allowing it to top up other devices in a pinch. The Poco C81x gets a 5,200mAh battery with the same charging support, trading some endurance for a slightly lighter body. Poco claims the large cell on the C81 is designed to retain around 80 percent health after 1,000 charge cycles, underlining its focus on longevity.
On the software side, the Poco C81 launch in India brings Android 16-based HyperOS 3, with a promise of four years of OS updates and six years of security patches. The Poco C81x ships with Android 15 and is set to receive two years of OS updates and the same six years of security support, which still stretches beyond what many rivals offer in this bracket. Both models are dual-SIM 4G devices with support for dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS and USB Type-C.
For optics, the Poco C81 launch in India features a dual rear camera setup headlined by a 13-megapixel main sensor, paired with a secondary auxiliary sensor that Poco has not detailed publicly. The Poco C81x keeps things simpler with a single 13-megapixel rear camera. Both smartphones carry an 8-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls and can record video at up to 1080p at 30fps. Side-mounted fingerprint scanners handle biometric security on both handsets.
The Poco C81 launch in India strengthens the company's position in the entry-level segment by combining a 6,300mAh battery, 120Hz display and long-term software support at Rs 10,999. The Poco C81x, meanwhile, offers a slightly leaner package but keeps the same core experience under Rs 10,000, which should appeal to students, secondary-phone buyers and users who prioritise battery over raw power. Neither phone is likely to excite spec enthusiasts, given the modest Unisoc T7250 processor and basic camera hardware, yet their mix of endurance, clean design and extended update promise makes them serious contenders in India's crowded budget smartphone space.