The Xiaomi Poco series is known for delivering impressive features at affordable prices. Two contenders in this lineup are the Poco M5 and the Poco C40. But which one offers the best value for your money? This comprehensive comparison will help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco M5 takes the lead thanks to its significantly more powerful chipset and brighter display. While the C40 boasts a massive battery, the M5's overall performance and screen quality make it the better choice for most users seeking a budget-friendly smartphone.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, September 05 | 2022, June 06 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 13 | Available. Released 2022, June 17 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back | - |
| Dimensions | 164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.35 in) | 169.6 x 76.6 x 9.2 mm (6.68 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 201 g (7.09 oz) | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| | - | Dust & splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 720 x 1650 pixels (~268 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.71 inches, 106.5 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (HBM) | IPS LCD, 400 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) | JLQ JR510 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC1 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS | Android 11, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Green, Yellow | Power Black, Coral Green, Poco Yellow |
| Models | 22071219CG | 220333QPG |
| Price | About 100 EUR | About 110 EUR |
| SAR | 1.04 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.83 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 121h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1363:1 | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.6 LUFS (Good)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 386311 (v9)
GeekBench: 1896 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Poco M5
- Better Performance (Helio G99)
- Brighter & Higher Contrast Display
- Likely Better Camera
- Good Battery Life (121h Endurance)
- Potentially smaller battery than C40
- Charging speed could be faster
Xiaomi Poco C40
- Massive Battery Capacity (likely >5000mAh)
- Very Affordable
- Decent for Basic Usage
- Weak Performance (JLQ JR510)
- Less Vibrant Display
- Lower Camera Quality
- Slower Performance
Display Comparison
The Poco M5 features a brighter display with a measured peak brightness of 448 nits and an impressive 1363:1 contrast ratio, offering better visibility and richer colors. The Poco C40's display details are less readily available, but it's generally expected to be less vibrant and with lower brightness. This gives the M5 a clear advantage.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer camera capabilities, the Poco M5 is expected to have a more capable camera system. The Helio G99 often pairs with better camera sensors and image processing capabilities. The Poco C40's camera is likely adequate for casual snapshots but won't match the M5's image quality, especially in low light. Specific camera specs (megapixels, aperture) are needed for a more precise comparison.
Performance
The Poco M5's Mediatek Helio G99 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the Poco C40's JLQ JR510. The G99 offers significantly faster processing speeds and better graphics performance, making the M5 noticeably smoother for everyday tasks, gaming, and multitasking. The C40's chipset is adequate for basic usage but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Poco C40 is known for its exceptionally large battery, often exceeding 5000mAh. While the Poco M5's battery capacity is not explicitly stated, its endurance rating of 121h suggests very good battery life. However, the C40 likely offers slightly longer usage on a single charge, especially with light usage.
Buying Guide
The Poco M5 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a decent camera, and a vibrant display for media consumption. The Poco C40 is a good option for those primarily focused on long battery life and basic smartphone functionality, and who are on a very tight budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Poco M5 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset (Helio G99) and better graphics capabilities.
❓ Which phone has the longest battery life?
The Poco C40 likely has the longest battery life, thanks to its large battery capacity, although the Poco M5's endurance rating is also very impressive.
