POCO C31 is the latest budget offering from POCO. The smartphone is an updated version of the POCO C3, and goes up against smartphones in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment in India.
Last week, Realme announced the Narzo 50i with a starting price of Rs 7,499. The POCO C31 costs Rs 1,000 more than the Narzo model, but it does manage to offer some additional features. Priced similarly, the Micromax In 2b that debuted earlier this year is also another rival for the POCO C31 and Narzo 50i. Is the POCO C31 capable of beating its competitors? Let us find out through a specifications-based comparison between the three smartphones.
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: complete specs
| Specs | POCO C31 | Realme Narzo 50i | Micromax In 2b |
| Display | 6.53-inch HD+ LCD (60Hz) | 6.5-inch HD+ LCD (60Hz) | 6.52-inch HD+ LCD (60Hz) |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G35 | Unisoc SC9863A | Unisoc T610 |
| RAM | 2GB |4GB | 2GB |4GB | 4GB | 6GB |
| Storage | 32GB | 64GB | 32GB | 64GB | 64GB |
| OS | POCO UI based on Android 11 | Realme Go UI based on Android 11 | Stock version of Android 11 |
| Rear cameras | 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | 8MP | 13MP + 2MP |
| Front Camera | 5MP | 5MP | 5MP |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh | 5,000mAh |
| Fast charging | 10W charging | 10W charging | 10W charging |
| Dimensions | 164.9 x 77.1 x 9 mm | 165.2 x 76.4 x 8.9 mm | 164.3 x 75.7 x 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 194g | 195g | 190g |
| Price | Rs 8,999 starting price | Rs 7,999 starting price | Rs 8,499 starting price |
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: price in India
The POCO C31 comes in two options in India such as 2GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage. They are priced at Rs 8,999 and Rs 9,999, respectively. It comes in Royal Blue and Shadow Grey. Both configurations will be sold for Rs 7,999 and Rs 8,999 during the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale. In addition, buyers will also benefit from 10 percent discounts through ICICI and Axis debit/credit cards.
The Realme Narzo 50i also comes in 2GB RAM + 32GB storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variants. They cost Rs 7,499 and Rs 8,999, respectively. It can be purchased in Carbon Black and Mint Green hues.
At launch, the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage and 6GB RAM + 64GB storage models of the Micromax In 2b were priced at Rs 7,999 and Rs 8,999, respectively. Last month, the company hiked the pricing of both models to Rs 8,499 and Rs 9,499, respectively. It can be purchased in colours like blue, black, and green.
Winner: Micromax In 2b
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: display
The POCO C31, Narzo 50i, and Micromax In 2b have almost the same-sized display that measures around 6.5 inches. These phones are fitted with LCD panels and sport a waterdrop notch design. All three phones support HD+ resolution of 720 x 1,600 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and 400 nits brightness.
Winner: Tie between POCO C31, Narzo 50i, and Micromax In 2b
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: performance and software
Micromax In 2b features the Unisoc T610 chip
The MediaTek Helio G35 with up to 4GB of RAM powers the POCO C31. The POCO UI-based Android 11 promises a cleaner experience. The Narzo 50i is powered by the modest Unisoc SC9863A chip and up to 4GB of RAM. It ships with Realme Go UI-based on Android 11.
The Micromax In 2b is powered by the Unisoc T610 chip. It offers a stock Android 11 experience. The low-powered Unisoc SC9863A powered Narzo 50i phone loses out to POCO and Micromax phones. The T610 has outscored the Helio G35 in benchmark tests like Geekbench and AnTuTu. Hence, the Micromax In 2b promises better performance as compared to the POCO C31.
Winner: Micromax In 2b
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: cameras
The C31, 50i, and In 2b are fitted with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The C31 gets a triple camera unit includes a 13-megapixel primary lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
The In 2b has a dual-camera setup on its back, which consists of a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The Narzo 50i has a single 8-megapixel rear camera. The POCO C31 wins this round for offering a dedicated macro camera.
Winner: POCO C31
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: battery
The C31, 50i, and In 2b are all packed with a 5,000mAh battery. Since these are entry-level offerings, they only come with 10W charging. POCO claims that the battery of C31 offers a longer lifespan. The Narzo model carries support for reverse charging.
Winner: Realme Narzo 50i
POCO C31 vs Realme Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: other features
POCO C31 features a rear-facing fingerprint scanner
The POCO C31 and In 2b are equipped with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Narzo 50i only supports face unlock since it lacks a fingerprint reader. The C31 and In 2b also support facial recognition.
The POCO and Realme models feature the older microUSB 2.0 port, whereas the Micromax phone features the newer USB Type-C port. The Narzo 50i is the only phone among the three to feature a splash-resistant build. The three phones offer common features like dual 4G VoLTE, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Since the Narzo 50i has a weaker chip, it supports only single-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. The other two phones promise better connectivity as they have equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.
Winner: Micromax In 2b
POCO C31 vs Narzo 50i vs Micromax In 2b: conclusion
The Narzo 50i loses out to POCO C31 and Micromax In 2b in important aspects like performance and cameras. The competition is stiff between POCO and Micromax. However, the latter has an upper hand in departments like chipset, RAM, operating system, and connectivity, and emerges the ultimate winner in this comparison.