Umidigi A15C vs Xiaomi Poco M5s: A Detailed Comparison for Budget Shoppers

The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. The Umidigi A15C and Xiaomi Poco M5s both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price point, but they take different approaches. The A15C prioritizes a newer chipset, while the Poco M5s focuses on faster charging and a brighter display. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you choose the right device.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Poco M5s is the better buy. While the Umidigi A15C’s Unisoc T606 is a modern chip, the Poco M5s’ Helio G95 provides a noticeable performance uplift, coupled with significantly faster 33W charging – a crucial advantage for daily usability. The brighter display is also a key benefit.

PHONES
Phone Names Umidigi A15C Xiaomi Poco M5s
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced20232022, September 05
StatusAvailable. Released 2023Available. Released 2022, September 06
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back
Dimensions167.6 x 75.3 x 8.6 mm (6.60 x 2.96 x 0.34 in)160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight195 g (6.88 oz)178.8 g (6.31 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution720 x 1650 pixels (~269 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 106.2 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 500 nitsAMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 700 nits (HBM), 1100 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetUnisoc T606 (12 nm)Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MP1Mali-G76 MC4
OSAndroid 13Android 12, MIUI 13
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal128GB 8GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide)13 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/acWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging10W wired33W wired, 64% in 30 min
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsGraphite Black, Jade Green, Lavender Purple, Pearl White, Space GrayGray, Blue, White
Models-2207117BPG
Price-About 120 EUR
SAR-1.00 W/kg (head)     0.65 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.60 W/kg (head)     0.87 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 132h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 360681 (v9) GeekBench: 1831 (v5.1) GFXBench: 18fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Umidigi A15C

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Modern Unisoc T606 chipset
  • Functional for basic tasks

  • Slow 10W charging
  • Likely lower display brightness
  • Inferior performance compared to Poco M5s

Xiaomi Poco M5s

  • Faster Helio G95 processor
  • Significantly faster 33W charging
  • Brighter 756 nit display

  • May be slightly more expensive
  • Endurance rating is the same as A15C
  • Camera details are limited

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Poco M5s boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 756 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the Umidigi A15C. This makes the Poco M5s far more usable outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the higher peak brightness of the Poco M5s is the defining factor. Bezels and panel technology (LCD vs IPS) are not specified for the A15C, suggesting a more basic display experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking for both. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the market positioning of the Poco M5s suggests a more refined camera experience, potentially with better image processing algorithms. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on many phones in this price range is often a marketing gimmick and unlikely to provide significant photographic value on either device.

Performance

The Poco M5s’ MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, with its 2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 cores and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, demonstrably outperforms the Umidigi A15C’s Unisoc T606 (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.6 GHz Cortex-A55). The Cortex-A76 cores in the G95 offer a substantial architectural advantage over the A75 cores in the T606, resulting in faster application loading and smoother multitasking. While both are 12nm chips, the G95 is optimized for gaming. The Poco M5s is likely to handle demanding games with higher frame rates and fewer stutters.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 132 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the Poco M5s’ 33W wired charging is a game-changer. It can achieve 64% charge in just 30 minutes, while the Umidigi A15C is limited to a slow 10W charge. This difference in charging speed significantly impacts usability, allowing the Poco M5s to quickly top up when needed, minimizing downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Umidigi A15C if you prioritize a very basic, functional smartphone and are on an extremely tight budget, and don't mind slower performance and charging. Buy the Xiaomi Poco M5s if you value faster performance for gaming and multitasking, a brighter and more visible display, and the convenience of rapid 33W charging, even if it means spending slightly more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Helio G95 in the Poco M5s capable of running demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty Mobile?
Yes, the Helio G95 is a capable gaming chipset. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it can comfortably run PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile at medium to high settings with playable frame rates. The Umidigi A15C’s Unisoc T606 will struggle with these titles at higher settings.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the Umidigi A15C with its 10W charging?
With 10W charging, a full charge from 0% on the Umidigi A15C will likely take over 3 hours, potentially closer to 4. This is a significant drawback compared to the Poco M5s’ 33W fast charging, which can reach 64% in just 30 minutes.
❓ Does the Poco M5s support any form of fast charging protocol (e.g., Power Delivery)?
While the Poco M5s supports 33W charging, specific protocol support isn't detailed in the provided data. However, Xiaomi phones generally support Power Delivery and Quick Charge, but it's best to verify compatibility with your charger.
❓ What type of storage does the Poco M5s use (eMMC or UFS)?
The provided data doesn't specify the storage type. However, phones in this price range often use eMMC 5.1 storage. UFS storage would be a significant advantage, offering faster read/write speeds and improved app loading times, but is unlikely on either device.