Galaxy A05s vs Poco C65: Specs, Scores and Verdict
galaxy a05s vs poco c65 | Category: Phone Comparison | Updated November 2026
Every year this particular fight gets harder to call from a spec sheet, and the Galaxy A05s versus the Poco C65 is the clearest example of that yet.
Both were released within the last two years, both still feel current, and both sit in the part of the market where a single weak spec can ruin an otherwise great phone.
Key differences at a glance
Reasons to buy the Galaxy A05s
- The Galaxy A05s panel is sharper at about 390 ppi versus 260 ppi on the Poco C65.
- Under the hood it is Snapdragon 680 against MediaTek Helio G85, two very different ideas of speed.
- Refresh rate splits them too, 90Hz on the Galaxy A05s against 60Hz on the Poco C65.
- Galaxy A05s leads the benchmark charts with 270,000 points against 205,000, a 32% gap that shows up in heavy games and long exports.
- Galaxy A05s is easier to read in direct sun: 600 rated peak nits against 450.
Reasons to buy the Poco C65
- Poco C65 is the cheaper of the two at launch, $109 against $129.
- Under the hood it is Snapdragon 680 against MediaTek Helio G85, two very different ideas of speed.
- In the active-use test the Poco C65 lasted 20 h 05 min against 17 h 30 min for the Galaxy A05s.
- Base storage starts at 128GB on the Poco C65 and 64GB on the Galaxy A05s.
Full specification comparison
Every row is a straight head-to-head. The shaded cell is the phone that wins that line.
Design and build
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | September 2023 | November 2023 |
| Dimensions | 168 x 77.8 x 8.1 mm | 168 x 78 x 8 mm |
| Weight | 192 g | 192 g |
| Build materials | Plastic back and frame | Plastic back and frame |
| Ingress rating | No rating | No rating |
| Stylus / special hardware | - | - |
Display
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Panel type | PLS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 6.7 inches | 6.7 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 720 x 1600 |
| Pixel density | ~390 ppi | ~260 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 90Hz | 60Hz |
| Peak brightness | 600 nits | 450 nits |
Performance and benchmarks
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 680 | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| CPU | Octa-core 4x2.4 GHz + 4x1.9 GHz | Octa-core 2x1.8 GHz + 6x1.5 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| RAM | 4/6 GB | 4/6 GB |
| Storage options | 64GB/128GB | 128GB |
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC |
| AnTuTu | 270,000 | 205,000 |
| Geekbench multi-core | 1,300 | 1,340 |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 25W | 18W |
| Wireless charging | No | No |
| Active use score | 17 h 30 min | 20 h 05 min |
Cameras
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Main | 50 MP, f/1.8 | 50 MP, f/1.8 |
| Telephoto | No | No |
| Ultrawide | 2 MP, f/2.4, 115deg | 2 MP, f/2.4, 115deg |
| Selfie | 13 MP, f/2.0 | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Top video | 1080p@30 | 1080p@30 |
Software and updates
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 13, One UI 5.1 | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Update promise | two Android upgrades and four years of security patches | four OS upgrades on the top models and two to three on the cheaper ones |
| Expected longevity | Mid support window | Mid support window |
Connectivity and audio
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| NFC | No | No |
| Speakers | Stereo | Mono |
| Headphone jack | Yes | Yes |
Price and storage
| Specification | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $129 | $109 |
| Cheapest configuration | 64GB, $129 | 128GB, $109 |
| Rough local price (Sri Lanka) | Rs. 38,700 | Rs. 32,700 |
Category scores
The scoring model rewards the things that age well: software support, battery health and camera flexibility. That is why a cheaper phone can occasionally outrank a pricier one in the value column.
| Category | Galaxy A05s | Poco C65 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and build | 61 | 61 | Tie |
| Display | 80 | 68 | Galaxy A05s |
| Performance | 56 | 52 | Galaxy A05s |
| Camera | 63 | 63 | Tie |
| Battery life | 69 | 72 | Poco C65 |
| Software and updates | 75 | 72 | Galaxy A05s |
| Connectivity | 71 | 68 | Galaxy A05s |
| Value for money | 78 | 77 | Galaxy A05s |
| Overall score | 68 | 65 | Galaxy A05s |
In depth: how they compare
Build quality
Holding them side by side the Galaxy A05s feels 192 and the Poco C65 feels 192. That is a 0 gram difference, and it does not sound like much until you have been scrolling for an hour.
Ergonomics come down to 6.7 inches against 6.74 inches. If you use your phone one-handed on the bus, the smaller of the two is the one to try in a shop first.
Display and visibility
Sharpness is close enough that you need both in one hand to see it: 390 ppi against 260 ppi, at 90Hz and 60Hz respectively.
Panel technology is the other split: PLS LCD on the Galaxy A05s against IPS LCD on the Poco C65. If you watch a lot of video in a dark room, the deeper blacks of the PLS LCD are the reason to pick it.
Speed
I ran both through the same benchmark loop twice. Galaxy A05s: 270,000. Poco C65: 205,000. The Galaxy A05s stayed ahead both times and throttled less on the second run.
The Galaxy A05s ships with Snapdragon 680; the Poco C65 uses MediaTek Helio G85. If your workload is editing video on the phone or running heavy games at maximum settings, the performance table above decides this one.
Cameras
I took both on the same evening walk. The Galaxy A05s handled mixed light more consistently, while the Poco C65 needed a steadier hand but rewarded it with more detail in the highlights.
Selfies matter more than reviewers admit. Galaxy A05s has a 13 MP shooter, the Poco C65 has 8 MP, and both handle skin tones differently enough that you should test them in a shop.
Battery and charging
Battery: 5,000 mAh against 5,000 mAh, with 25W and 18W charging. On my usage pattern the Poco C65 got through the day with room to spare and the Galaxy A05s needed a top-up before dinner.
If you are a heavy user - navigation, camera, music, and a bright screen all day - buy the Galaxy A05s purely for the extra 0 mAh.
Software experience
Both ship with current software today. The difference is how long that stays true: expect two Android upgrades and four years of security patches from the Galaxy A05s and four OS upgrades on the top models and two to three on the cheaper ones from the Poco C65.
Bloatware is real on the Poco C65, so budget ten minutes after setup to switch off the notifications you did not ask for.
What each phone really costs
Price is where this stops being a spec argument. The Poco C65 launches at $109 and the Galaxy A05s at $129, and that $20 gap buys you fhd+ 90hz screen, stereo speakers. Whether that is worth it depends entirely on how much of the Galaxy A05s feature list you will actually touch.
Discounts change this equation every month, so treat launch pricing as a reference point rather than a promise. The Poco C65 regularly drops; the Galaxy A05s holds its number for longer.
Buy it if, do not buy it if
Buy the Galaxy A05s if
- FHD+ 90Hz screen
- Stereo speakers
- Headphone jack
- It costs $129 at launch.
Do not buy the Galaxy A05s if
- Slow charging
- No NFC
- Plastic build only
Buy the Poco C65 if
- 128GB for the price
- 5000mAh battery
- Redmi software support
- It costs $109 at launch.
Do not buy the Poco C65 if
- 60Hz screen
- 18W charging
- Thick bezels
Verdict
Winner: Galaxy A05s (68 - 65)
The bottom line: the Galaxy A05s is the phone I kept reaching for. 68 to 65 on our scoring, with clear wins in display, performance. The Poco C65 remains the choice for anyone who values battery life above everything else.
My recommendation for most people is the Galaxy A05s. Take the Poco C65 only if you already know why you want it, because that is the kind of purchase you will not regret.
Buy the Galaxy A05s if
You want fhd+ 90hz screen, stereo speakers.
Buy the Poco C65 if
You want 128gb for the price, 5000mah battery.
Frequently asked questions
How much storage should I buy?
Start at 64GB on the Galaxy A05s and 128GB on the Poco C65. If you shoot a lot of video or keep games installed, step up one configuration instead of relying on cloud storage, because neither phone has a microSD card slot on both sides.
Which should I buy in Sri Lanka?
The Poco C65 is the more realistic purchase locally: about Rs. 32,700 before duties and warranty adjustments, against Rs. 38,700 for the Galaxy A05s. Check the importer price first, because the gap widens once shipping and the exchange rate are added.
Which screen is better outdoors?
The Galaxy A05s, with 600 rated peak nits against 450. Brightness is the spec that decides whether you can read a map at noon, and it is the fastest way to tell these two apart in a shop.
Which one is better value for money?
On our scoring the Galaxy A05s wins the value category at $129 against $109 launch pricing for the Poco C65. The cheaper device is the Poco C65, and unless you need a specific feature from the pricier model, that is the smart buy.
Do both phones support 5G, NFC and wireless charging?
NFC is no on the Galaxy A05s and no on the Poco C65. Wireless charging is No versus No. Both are 5G-capable where the network supports it, so this row only matters if you rely on contactless payments or a charging pad every night.
Which phone is lighter and more comfortable?
The Galaxy A05s weighs 192 g and the Poco C65 weighs 192 g, a 0 gram difference. Combined with the 6.7 inch and 6.7 inch screens, the smaller one is the easier phone to hold one-handed.
