Xiaomi Poco M5s vs Realme C51 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification
Realme C51
Realme C51
Realme

General

Launch Date September 6, 2022 August 1, 2023
Release Year 2022 2023

Physical

Volume 99.25 cm³ 102.59 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.6 "/g 3.62 "/g
Weight 178.8 g 186 g
Height 160.5 mm 167.2 mm
Width 74.5 mm 76.7 mm
Thickness 8.3 mm 8 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Blue
  • White
  • Gray
  • Mint Green
  • Carbon Black

Display

Screen Size 6.43 " 6.74 "
Resolution 1080 x 2400 720 x 1600
Aspect Ratio 20:9 20:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 83.5 % 85.5 %
Pixel Density 409 PPI 260 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 90 Hz
Typical Brightness 450 nits N/A
HBM Brightness 700 nits N/A
Peak Brightness 1100 nits 560 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 120.93 mAh/in² 110.07 mAh/in²
Battery Density 50.38 mAh/cm³ 48.74 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 5000 mAh 5000 mAh
NFC Support Yes Yes
Chipset Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU Mali-G76 MC4 Mali-G57

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0 USB Type-C 2.0, OTG

Software

Operating System Android Android
Initial OS Version 12 13
Maximum OS Version

Comparison Summary

Alright, let's dive into a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Poco M5s and the Realme C51. These two contenders in the budget smartphone arena offer distinct approaches, and understanding their strengths and trade-offs is crucial for making an informed choice.

1. Specifications Breakdown

FeatureXiaomi Poco M5sRealme C51Real-World Implications
Design
Dimensions (mm)160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3167.2 x 76.7 x 8The Realme C51 is slightly taller and wider, while the M5s is a touch thicker. The M5s is more compact overall for pocketability
Weight (g)178.8186The M5s is slightly lighter, which may feel more comfortable during prolonged use.
Display
Size6.43"6.74"Realme C51 offers a larger display for media consumption, and more screen real estate.
Resolution1080x2400720x1600The M5s has a significantly sharper display, resulting in clearer text and images, making it better for detailed viewing.
PPI409260The higher pixel density on the M5s means a crisper image, less pixelation compared to the C51.
TechnologyAMOLEDIPS LCDM5s delivers superior colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast than the C51's LCD panel, and also more power efficiency with dark mode.
Refresh Rate60Hz90HzThe C51's higher refresh rate will make scrolling and animations appear smoother, although M5s may have better overall response times.
Brightness (nits)11000The M5s is much better for outdoor viewing due to its significantly higher peak brightness. The Realme C51's lack of brightness information is concerning.
Performance
ChipsetMediatek Helio G95Unisoc Tiger T612The M5s' Helio G95 is much more powerful than the T612 for gaming, multitasking and app loading.
AnTuTu Score418,627220,000The M5s offers significantly higher raw performance, it can handle more demanding apps and games smoothly than the C51.
GPUMali-G76 MC4Mali-G57 MP1The M5s has a more powerful GPU for a better gaming experience, and is well suited for graphics intensive apps.
Camera
Main Camera (MP)64 (f/1.9, 1/2")50 (f/1.8, 1/2.76")The M5s has a larger sensor and more megapixels for potentially more detailed shots, especially in good lighting.
Selfie Camera (MP)13 (f/2.4, 1/3.06")5 (f/2.2, 1/5")The M5s boasts a significantly higher-resolution front-facing camera, resulting in sharper selfies and video calls.
Wide Angle Camera8MP (f/2.2, 1/2.8")NoneM5s allows for ultrawide landscape shots, not present on the C51.
Portrait Mode Camera2MP (f/2.4, 1/5")NoneThe M5s has a dedicated depth sensor for more accurate background blur in portrait photos.
Macro Lens2MP (f/2.4, 1/5")NoneM5s can capture close-up details with the dedicated macro lens.
Video RecordingUp to 4K@30fpsUp to 1080p@30fpsM5s offers higher resolution recording, providing sharper and more detailed videos.
Camera Features4K Video, Quadruple Camera, Night ModeDual Camera, Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF), PanoramaThe M5s offers more versatile shooting modes (4K, Wide-Angle, Portrait, Macro), better for varied photographic scenarios, while C51 has PDAF for faster focusing.
Battery Life
Capacity5000mAh5000mAhBoth offer similar battery capacity, expect to get similar endurance.
Charging33W Fast Charging33W Fast ChargingBoth support relatively fast charging, minimizing downtime.
Battery FeaturesReverse ChargingNoneM5s can reverse charge other devices, adding utility.
Software
OSAndroid 12Android 13The C51 has a newer version of Android, potentially offering the latest features and security patches.
Connectivity
Wi-Fi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/acBoth support current Wi-Fi standards, suitable for modern wireless networks.
Bluetooth5.0 (LE, A2DP, EDR, HID)5.0 (LE, A2DP, LDAC, SBC, AAC)Both have Bluetooth 5.0, M5s has EDR & HID support and C51 has LDAC, SBC and AAC for superior audio transmission
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, GalileoGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GalileoM5s has broader global navigation system support for more accurate location tracking, specifically with the Beidou system.
Storage
Internal64/128/256GB64/128/256GBBoth offer similar storage options, allowing for plenty of space for apps and media.
RAM4/6/8GB4/6GBM5s has an 8GB option for users who like to heavily multitask and want extra headroom, better gaming performance.
Expandable StorageNoNoNeither phone offers expandable storage, consider your needs before buying.
Audio
Audio FeaturesHi-Res Audio, Stereo SpeakersNoise cancellation microphoneThe M5s has higher quality audio for media consumption, while the C51 has noise cancellation, better for phone calls.
Security
FeaturesSide-mounted Fingerprint SensorSide-mounted Fingerprint SensorBoth phones have the same fingerprint scanner technology.
Build Quality
Screen ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3UnknownM5s has a known screen protection, while the C51 protection is unknown.
Sensors
SensorsFingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic ProximityFingerprint, Accelerometer, ProximityM5s has a complete sensor suite for varied applications, and better gaming performance.

2. Key Insights

Xiaomi Poco M5s Strengths:

  • Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with higher resolution, brightness, and color accuracy provides a significantly better visual experience.
  • Strong Performance: The Helio G95 chipset delivers much better overall performance, ideal for gaming, multitasking, and intensive tasks.
  • Versatile Camera System: The quad-camera setup with 4K video, a wide angle lens, macro, and portrait modes, provides more creative options and higher quality photos & videos.
  • Better Audio: The Hi-Res Audio and Stereo Speakers on the M5s provides much better media consumption quality.
  • More Sensors: Gyroscope, Compass, Ultrasonic Proximity sensors offer more versatility.
  • Reverse Charging: M5s can be used to charge other devices, increasing its utility.
  • Screen Protection: The Gorilla Glass 3 on the M5s offers better protection from scratches.

Realme C51 Strengths:

  • Newer Software: It comes with Android 13 out of the box.
  • 90Hz Display: Smoother scrolling, and animations
  • Slightly Larger Display: Good for those who like a bigger screen.
  • Bluetooth Audio: Higher quality codecs available for audio transmission.

Trade-offs:

  • The Realme C51 compromises significantly on display quality and performance compared to the M5s, it would struggle with demanding games and apps.
  • The Poco M5s lacks expandable storage which is a slight drawback.
  • The Realme C51 has a lower resolution main camera with a smaller sensor compared to the Poco M5s, and no additional lenses.
  • The Realme C51 has an unknown screen protection.

3. User Profiles and Recommendations

Xiaomi Poco M5s is ideal for:

  • Media Consumers: Those who watch videos, and browse social media and demand a vibrant and crisp display with good audio.
  • Gamers: Users who want a budget phone capable of handling graphically intensive games.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value versatile camera capabilities and high-quality photos and videos.
  • Tech Enthusiasts: Users who appreciate better tech specs and overall better performance.

Realme C51 is best suited for:

  • Casual Users: Those who primarily use a smartphone for basic tasks like browsing and phone calls.
  • Budget Conscious Users: Users who are looking for the cheapest entry level phone.
  • Those that like larger displays: Users who prefer larger screens.
  • Android Fans: Users who prioritize the latest Android OS.

4. Buying Decision Framework

Here are three key questions to help you decide:

  1. How important is display quality? If you want a vibrant and crisp screen, the Poco M5s is the clear winner. If basic viewing is sufficient, the Realme C51 may be acceptable.
  2. What level of performance do you need? If you use apps for gaming, photo and video editing, or like to multitask, the Poco M5s is a much better choice. If you mostly use basic functions the Realme may be acceptable.
  3. What do you value most in a smartphone camera? If you value detailed high-quality photos and videos, along with creative camera modes, the Poco M5s offers significantly better options.

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • For the Casual User: If the user just uses their phone for calling, messaging, basic browsing, and very light media consumption, the Realme C51 may be sufficient if price is the sole factor. But this is not recommended.
  • For the Media Enthusiast: The Xiaomi Poco M5s is the better choice. With its AMOLED display, the user will have a great experience when browsing the web, watching videos and social media.
  • For the Gamer: The Xiaomi Poco M5s will offer a much better gaming experience, due to its superior performance, display and gyroscope support.

My Choice

Given my preference for superior display quality, strong performance, and a versatile camera system, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco M5s. The AMOLED display alone is a significant advantage, especially given my frequent use of the device for media consumption and my occasional use of it for gaming. The significant performance uplift offered by the M5s means I will have a device that will not be slow, and the versatile camera system will provide the flexibility I want in a smartphone camera. While the Realme C51 is newer and comes with Android 13, its trade-offs in display and performance mean it does not come close to the versatility offered by the M5s.

While both phones have their unique appeal, the Xiaomi Poco M5s provides more value for the majority of use cases, which aligns with my personal preferences and recommendations.

Alex Griffin
Alex Griffin

Technology analyst specializing in mobile devices and consumer electronics.

Core Expertise

  • Mobile technology analysis
  • Consumer electronics evaluation
  • Technical specification interpretation
  • User experience insights

Professional Mission Empowering readers to make informed technology decisions by transforming intricate specifications into understandable, practical guidance.

Demystifying technology, one device at a time.