Apple iPhone 12 vs POCO C65
The Quick Answer
Apple's iPhone 12 and Poco's C65 serve entirely different markets, making direct comparison challenging.
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone 12 and Poco's C65 serve entirely different markets, making direct comparison challenging. At $799, the iPhone 12 delivers flagship performance with its A14 Bionic chip, superior 60Hz OLED display (1200 nits brightness), and professional-grade camera system featuring OIS and 4K Dolby Vision recording. Its Ceramic Shield front, IP68 rating, and MagSafe wireless charging represent premium build quality. The C65 at $109 takes a budget-first approach with a larger 6.74-inch IPS LCD screen (90Hz refresh, 500 nits), bigger 5000 mAh battery, and impressively 50MP main camera on paper. However, specs tell only part of the story. iPhone 12's 4GB RAM with optimized iOS outperforms the C65's 4-8GB running Android, delivering smoother daily performance despite lower specifications. Camera quality heavily favors iPhone 12, producing sharper, more detailed photos with better color accuracy and superior low-light performance, despite the Poco's higher megapixel count. Build materials differ dramatically: iPhone 12 uses aluminum and ceramic glass versus plastic on the C65. Battery endurance clearly favors C65 with its 5000 mAh capacity versus 2815 mAh, though real-world efficiency depends on usage patterns. Choose iPhone 12 if you prioritize performance, camera quality, and longevity. Select C65 if budget dominates your decision and battery life is paramount, accepting compromises in processing power and imaging capabilities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone 12 if…
- →First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- →Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- →Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
Buy the POCO C65 if…
- →Incredibly affordable at $109 for a usable smartphone
- →5000 mAh battery lasts multiple days with basic usage
- →NFC support at the ultra-budget tier is useful
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone 12
Pros
- First iPhone with 5G connectivity
- Ceramic Shield front cover is four times more drop-resistant
- Flat-edge design is comfortable and stylish
- A14 Bionic delivers excellent performance and efficiency
- Dolby Vision HDR video recording is a first for any smartphone
Cons
- 60Hz display when competitors offered 90Hz or 120Hz
- Small 2815 mAh battery offers mediocre battery life
- 64 GB base storage is inadequate in 2020
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- No telephoto lens — only dual camera
POCO C65
Pros
- Incredibly affordable at $109 for a usable smartphone
- 5000 mAh battery lasts multiple days with basic usage
- NFC support at the ultra-budget tier is useful
- IP52 splash resistance for basic water protection
- 90Hz display is smoother than typical 60Hz entry-level phones
Cons
- HD+ resolution is pixelated on the large 6.74-inch screen
- Helio G85 is very weak — struggles with modern apps
- No 5G connectivity
- 18W charging is slow for the 5000 mAh battery
- 5 MP front camera produces poor quality selfies
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone 12 | POCO C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 14 | Android 13 (MIUI 14) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 164 g | 192 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame, Ceramic Shield front | Plastic frame and back |
| IP rating | IP68 | IP52 |
| Dimensions | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4 mm | 168.0 x 77.8 x 8.09 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP, f/1.6, OIS | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Front camera | 12 MP TrueDepth, f/2.2 | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision HDR | 1080p@30fps |
| Ultrawide | 12 MP, f/2.4 | — |
| Depth | — | 0.08 MP |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 128 GB, 256 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2815 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 18W wired |
| Wireless charging | 15W MagSafe | No |
| Display | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches | 6.74 inches |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 | 1600 x 720 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 90Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1200 | 500 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2x3.1 GHz + 4x1.8 GHz) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz + 6x1.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| Chipset | Apple A14 Bionic | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 2.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
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