The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme C61 and Xiaomi Poco X6 Neo are two contenders vying for dominance. While both aim to deliver an affordable experience, they take drastically different approaches to achieving it, particularly in chipset choice and charging capabilities. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and faster charging, the Xiaomi Poco X6 Neo is the clear winner. Its Mediatek Dimensity 6080, built on a more efficient 6nm process, significantly outperforms the Realme C61’s Unisoc Tiger T612, and the 33W charging is a substantial upgrade over the C61’s 15W.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, July | 2024, March 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, July 25 | Available. Released 2024, March 13 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.3 x 76.7 x 7.8 mm (6.59 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) | 161.1 x 75 x 7.7 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | 175 g (6.17 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 450 nits (typ), 560 nits (HBM) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1000 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 6080 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 14, Realme UI | Android 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 108 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.64µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.5", PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 16 MP, (wide) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 15W wired | 33W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sparkle Gold, Dark Green | Astral Black, Horizon Blue, Martian Orange |
| Models | RMX3939, RMX3930 | MZB0GGWIN, 2312FRAFDI |
| Price | $ 109.15 / £ 79.00 / € 89.99 | ₹ 18,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.85 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) |
Realme C61
- Potentially longer battery life (depending on capacity)
- Lower price point (likely)
- Simple and straightforward user experience
- Significantly weaker performance
- Slow 15W charging
- Less efficient chipset
Xiaomi Poco X6 Neo
- Superior performance with Dimensity 6080
- Faster 33W charging
- More efficient 6nm chipset
- Potentially shorter battery life (depending on capacity)
- Slightly higher price point
- Xiaomi’s MIUI can be resource intensive
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. While specific panel details (like peak brightness or color gamut coverage) are absent, the core difference lies elsewhere. Both likely utilize LCD panels given the price point. The focus here isn't display quality, but the underlying performance that drives the UI and apps displayed on them.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, given the price bracket, both phones likely feature a primary sensor paired with auxiliary lenses of limited utility (often 2MP macro or depth sensors). Image processing will be a key factor, and Xiaomi’s software generally offers more refined results than Realme’s in this segment. Expect the Poco X6 Neo to deliver more consistently pleasing photos, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.
Performance
The performance gap is the most significant differentiator. The Poco X6 Neo’s Mediatek Dimensity 6080 (6nm) features Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz, a substantial leap over the Realme C61’s Unisoc Tiger T612 (12nm) with its 1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 cores. The 6nm process of the Dimensity 6080 translates to better power efficiency and reduced thermal throttling during sustained workloads. This means the Poco X6 Neo will handle demanding games and multitasking with noticeably less lag. The Unisoc T612 is adequate for basic tasks, but will struggle with graphically intensive applications.
Battery Life
While battery capacity isn't specified, the charging wattage tells a clear story. The Poco X6 Neo’s 33W wired charging is a game-changer compared to the Realme C61’s 15W. This translates to significantly faster top-ups – potentially reducing charging times from over 2 hours to under 1 hour. While a larger battery on the C61 *could* offer longer overall runtime, the convenience of rapid charging on the Poco X6 Neo is a compelling advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme C61 if you need a basic smartphone for essential tasks like calls, messaging, and light social media use, and battery life is your absolute top priority. You're willing to sacrifice performance for potentially longer runtimes. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X6 Neo if you prefer a smoother, more responsive experience for gaming and multitasking, and value faster charging speeds to minimize downtime. You're willing to trade a bit of potential battery life for a significant performance boost.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Poco X6 Neo’s Dimensity 6080 get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 6080’s 6nm process is more efficient than the Unisoc T612’s 12nm process, meaning it will generate less heat under load. While some warming is inevitable, the Poco X6 Neo is less likely to experience significant thermal throttling compared to the Realme C61.
❓ Is the 15W charging on the Realme C61 really that slow in practical use?
Yes, 15W charging is considerably slower than 33W. Expect a full charge to take well over two hours, whereas the Poco X6 Neo can achieve a full charge in under an hour. This difference is particularly noticeable for users who frequently need to top up their battery throughout the day.
❓ Does the Poco X6 Neo support higher refresh rates for smoother scrolling?
While not explicitly stated in the provided specs, phones in this price range often include a 90Hz refresh rate. This would contribute to a smoother user experience compared to the standard 60Hz likely found on the Realme C61.
❓ How much of a performance difference will I notice between the Unisoc T612 and the Dimensity 6080 in everyday tasks?
For basic tasks like browsing and social media, the difference might be subtle. However, when opening multiple apps, switching between them, or playing demanding games, the Dimensity 6080 will provide a noticeably smoother and more responsive experience due to its superior CPU and GPU.
