Poco X8 Pro Max two-minute review

It may not be the best Android phone ever made, but if you need a certain type of mobile, the Poco X8 Pro Max might just end up being the best phone you can buy.

This new Android-powered device from Xiaomi’s mid-range sub-brand is the first of its family to bear the iPhone-copying ‘Pro Max’ suffix — an odd decision, since there’s no non-Pro model at the time of writing, but for all intents and purposes, this is the top-end Poco phone of 2026.

While most ‘Pro Max’ or ‘Ultra’ phones opt for flashy features and high prices, Poco goes the other way. The X8 Pro Max is possibly the ultimate workhorse smartphone, designed not for fancy gimmicks you play with once and forget about, but to be a handset you can use every day for years without worry.

Case in point: it has one of the biggest batteries you'll find in a smartphone. Its 8,500mAh power pack is absolutely huge, and it allows the Poco to last for literal days without needing to be recharged. 'Two-day battery life’ is a common claim you hear from Apple and Samsung, with dubious accuracy, but in the Poco, it’s a reality.

I imagine light phone users could even get three days' use out of the X8 Pro Max, and when you do run low, its fast charging capabilities will get you back on the move in minutes. I comfortably kept to a two-day routine, but I was using the Poco intensively to review it, and you (hopefully) won't use your device as much as me.

This is no one-trick pony either. The charging speed is equally impressive, hitting 100W, which means you can fill that massive power pack up in a reasonable time (about 45 minutes, depending on your charger). Its processor and display are both pretty great for the price, too, and I used the phone for gaming without issue.

The Poco X8 Pro Max isn’t a phone for everyone. Its cameras are fine for day-to-day use but aren’t designed for photographers, and the software isn’t as refined as on some alternatives. The addition of two LED ring lights around the camera lenses is a neat addition on paper, but they don't amount to much in practice.

But when you consider that this is a fairly affordable phone, it’s easy to forgive a few rough edges. The X8 Pro Max is a mid-range mobile that’s easy to pick up without worrying too much about the up-front cost, and it’ll last you for absolutely ages, so you won’t need to think about replacing it for many years.

Poco X8 Pro Max review: price and availability

• Released on March 17, 2026
• 256GB storage: $469 / £469 (about AU$940)
• 512GB storage: $519 / £519 (about AU$1,040)

The Poco X8 Pro Max was announced alongside its non-Max equivalent, the Poco X8 Pro, on March 17, 2026, and at the time of writing, there's no non-Pro entry in the lineup. We’ll wait and see, though.

The handset starts at $469 / £469 (about AU$940, but Xiaomi doesn’t sell its Poco phones in Australia). Despite the presence of a USD cost, Xiaomi phones aren’t technically available in the US, and this is just the official reference price for the device. You can still ship the X8 Pro Max to the US, but it'll incur additional costs, and you might find support spotty.

That base model has 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, but for an extra $50 / £50 (about AU$100) you can double the latter capacity to 512GB storage. If you're buying this as a power-hungry work phone, that's not much money for a lot more storage.

Poco X8 Pro Max review: specs

Poco X8 Pro Max review: design

• Average-looking Android in black, blue or white
• Not too thick, but a little heavy
• Ring lights around camera

The Poco X8 Pro Max isn't as chunky as you'd expect for a phone harboring a veritable power bank under its skin. It measures 162.9 x 77.9 x 82.mm, which is about average for a phone of its ilk, and it only tips the scales a little more than average at 218g.

That weight likely comes from the glass front and back, and the aluminum frame, more than anything. The phone is IP68-rated, so it's well-protected against dust and immersion in water, though in some regions you'll get an additional IP69K rating. This isn't the case with the UK model.

At the end of the day, the X8 Pro Max is not an especially novel-looking phone. The model I tested, the white one, has a barely-perceptible vertical-stripe pattern on the back, but beyond that, it looks like your average Android. I presume the other models, which come in blue and black, are the same.

Look hard enough, and you'll find two LED rings; one surrounding each camera bump. These can be toggled to light up under specific circumstances: for an incoming call, to double as a camera app timer, or when music is playing. Honestly, though, I found these lights quite situational, and I barely saw them in action during my testing.

The power button and volume rocker, both on the right edge, were within reach of my thumb when I was using the handset one-handed, but that may not be true for smaller-handed users. The camera bump doesn't stick out too much, so the phone could be placed almost flush on surfaces. That's not a given these days.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max review: display

• 6.83 inches, 1280 x 2772 resolution
• 120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits max brightness
• AMOLED with 68 billion colors

The Poco X8 Pro Max has a sizeable 6.83-inch screen, like many other mid-priced Android phones on the market right now.

The rest of its display specs are in line with the competition too: you get a 1280 x 2772 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 3,500 nits of max brightness, and support for HDR10+.

Thanks to its AMOLED panel and support for up to 68 billion colors, the phone has a little bit of extra juice for watching movies or TV shows. This technology reduces the amount of banding you see (no more weird stripey sunrises in your shows!), and it combines well with the Dolby Atmos support also offered by the phone.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max review: software

• Android 16 with HyperOS 3
• Lots of bloatware to delete
• Four years of OS updates

The perpetual problem of Xiaomi's cheaper phones is that they always come pre-loaded with loads of bloatware; random games, third-party apps, and the company's own apps result in your main menu being cluttered before you've even started using the device.

You can delete them, but it's a chore to do so. You essentially have to claw your way back to the basic interface, which is Android 16 with Xiaomi's HyperOS 3 laid over the top.

To the same degree as most Chinese-made OSes, you get out of HyperOS what you put in; it doesn't have distinctive system-wide theme controls like One UI or stock Android, and instead tasks you with building your own interface with controls over the app icons, font, wallpaper, and so on.

As someone who doesn't like the overbearing system-wide themes of rivals, I'm a fan of Poco's approach, but it's not for everyone. If you want a simple and cohesive 'look', this phone isn't for you (unless you're willing to play around with its settings).

Poco doesn't make a huge song and dance about the AI features available in HyperOS, probably recognizing that consumers are a little tired of the subject at this point, but there are a few hidden away nonetheless: Circle to Search, Speech Recognition, and wallpaper generation are all here, and both Gemini and Copilot come pre-installed.

In terms of longevity, you'll get four years of operating system updates and six years of security fixes with the Poco X8 Pro Max. That's not the longest update commitment around, but it's a lot better than two or three years offered by some mid-range Android phone manufacturers.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max review: cameras

• 50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, and 20MP front cameras
• Pictures are detailed but not optimized
• A few handy video features

Poco has never made a serious camera phone, and the X8 Pro Max doesn't change that fact. The phone has the same two-part lens array as basically every other Poco of the past few years: there's a 50MP f/1.5 main camera and 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide, with a 20MP f/2.2 camera on the front to round out the party.

It’s a tried-and-tested combo for budget phones: these lenses are great for taking pictures of pets, scanning documents, and capturing holiday shots, which is what most casual users will be using them for anyway.

But people who take their photography seriously will want to opt for an alternative device with a telephoto lens or bespoke camera modes.

As you can see from the camera samples below, snaps I took on the Poco are perfectly fine: the phone performs admirably in low-light conditions, and captured plenty of detail in various environments. The f/1.5 aperture on the main camera is a bit wider than we sometimes see in this category, and that probably explains why my pictures were nice and bright.

What differentiates this device from a bona fide camera phone, other than its lack of a telephoto lens, is its optimization capabilities (or lack thereof). Post-processing on the Poco X8 Pro Max is light-touch — the phone's software will make slight brightness and contrast adjustments, but that’s it. It doesn’t add vibrancy or color to pictures, which makes some of the photos below look a little duller than they otherwise would.

Video recording goes up to 4K at 60fps, and I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the recorded footage came out. A few other tools, like focus peaking and exposure 'zebra stripes', make the Poco X8 Pro Max a little more advanced for videography than I’ve come to expect from budget phones. However, there's no slow-mo, which I’d come to understand was a staple of phones at this price range.

• Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max camera samples

Poco X8 Pro Max review: performance and audio

• Solid Dimensity 9500s chipset + 12GB RAM
• Performs well in gaming, even if not top-end
• Stereo speakers or Bluetooth 6.0

If you want a solid, affordable phone for gaming, the Poco X8 Pro Max has you covered, as it’s one of the more powerful handsets you can buy without stretching your budget to the dizzy heights demanded by a top-end mobile.

The phone has a MediaTek Dimensity 9500s chipset, designed by MediaTek as a slightly stepped-down version of the brand’s flagship Dimensity 9500 processor (which itself is considered a step down from Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon range). That 9500s chipset is paired with 12GB RAM, whichever model you pick up.

Despite that 's' suffix, though, the Poco's Dimensity 9500s chipset proved an admirable performer in benchmark tests, even if it didn’t match up to the true top-end chipsets found in bespoke gaming phones. The phone's average Geekbench 5 multi-core score was 8603, while 3D Mark’s Wild Life Extreme scores hovered around the 6000 mark. For context, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which I tested before, hit 7300.

What’s in 1300? Not much, because I found that the Poco X8 Pro Max could easily handle all the usual testing games I play: online shooters, PC strategy ports, and assorted indie titles. It could generally grapple with all the high-graphics options I threw at it, too, though sometimes it would find Ultra presets taxing. Still, titles loaded quickly and played smoothly, with none of the overheating issues that we often see on Snapdragon-loaded handsets.

For audio, you'll get a set of stereo speakers on the Poco X8 Pro Max, smartly positioned so you don't block them when holding the phone horizontally for gaming.

There's also Bluetooth 5.4 support for wireless headphones, but no 3.5mm jack for a cable connection.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max review: battery life

• Massive 8,500mAh battery
• 2-3 days battery life, depending on use
• 100W charging

It’s taken us a while to get here, but battery life is, for me, the best part of the Poco X8 Pro Max. Xiaomi has packed the phone full of juice: its battery is 8,500mAh, one of the biggest I’ve seen on a consumer smartphone before. Apparently, some even regions get a 9,000mAh version, but in the UK, that model isn’t on sale.

Suffice to say, an enormous battery like this lasts absolutely ages on a single charge. I’m talking two straight days of average phone use, and you’ll still have something left over. I have no doubt that the Poco X8 Pro Max is the longest-lasting phone I’ve ever reviewed.

Exorcising charging from your daily routine isn’t the only benefit of a huge battery like this. It ensures you can throw some gaming, video capture, or lots of screen time into your routine, without any kind of battery anxiety creeping in.

With such a big battery, fast charging seems almost unnecessary, but Poco has sweetened the deal with 100W wired powering. You’ll need to buy your own charger to hit this speed, though, as there’s a cable in the box but no wall plug.

With this charging speed, you can power the phone up from empty to full in just under 50 minutes. That doesn’t sound quick, but bear in mind the power pack is huge. You can also use the Poco as a power bank to charge up other devices, with 27W reverse wired charging. This phone is a battery champion.

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Poco X8 Pro Max review: value

I've never used a Poco smartphone that didn't offer value for money in some way, and that streak remains unbroken with the X8 Pro Max.

The phone offers an unparalleled experience if you need something reliable that'll last you for ages without charging. Sure, it doesn't offer flashy features or advanced cameras, but it's trying to be the panacea for people who just want a reliable mobile.

It's also built to last better than most flagships, ensuring you won't need to buy a replacement phone every other year.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Poco X8 Pro Max?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Poco X8 Pro Max review: Also consider

Not quite sold on this budget battery blower? Here are a few similarly-priced alternatives which are also worth your consideration.

How I tested the Poco X8 Pro Max

• Review test period = 3 weeks
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, native Android stats

I used the Poco X8 Pro Max for roughly three weeks before writing this review, and tested it alongside the non-Max version of the phone, which I was also sent.

Part of testing was lab-based: I used benchmark apps like Geekbench and 3D Mark, conducted battery tests, and timed it charging. The rest of my testing was experience-based: I used the Poco for normal smartphone purposes, gaming, and taking photos.

I've been reviewing smartphones for TechRadar for seven years, and in that time have tested countless mobiles from a variety of brands and price points. These include past Poco and Xiaomi devices, and other battery-focused phones.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2026

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – or so they say. That’s certainly true in the world of phone design, where a trend started by one company can echo through the industry in months or even weeks.

One of those trendsetters is Apple, which sends shockwaves through the phone market with the reveal of each new generation of iPhone. Last year’s iPhone 17 series was no different, and the new designs for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, as well as the new iPhone Air, have served as – ahem – inspiration for plenty of other phones already.

However, there's a point where inspiration goes a bit too far, but for some phone makers being accused of taking design elements from Apple’s latest handsets doesn’t seem to be a worry.

In fact, I’d say there are some phones on the market now that are just blatant iPhone 17 series clones (we’re including the iPhone Air as an iPhone 17 series model as it came out at the same time). Keep scrolling for a list of the five most shameless iPhone 17 series clones from other phone makers — just keep in mind that none of these phones are available in the US.

Honor Magic8 Pro Air

Let’s start with the new kid on the block, the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air – no prizes for guessing which iPhone this Android handset takes its inspiration from.

Announced in January 2026, the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air looks conspicuously similar to the iPhone Air, and Honor’s naming scheme makes the link pretty obvious. What’s odd about the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air (apart from its long name) is that, on paper, it’s a more capable handset than the iPhone Air in a couple of key ways.

The Magic 8 Pro Air has three rear cameras and a 5,500mAh battery – larger than even the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s battery capacity. For reference, the iPhone Air was widely criticized for its single rear camera and limited battery life. With that said, Honor’s slim flagship isn’t quite as thin as Apple’s, as the Magic 8 Pro Air measures 6.1mm thick compared to the 5.6mm iPhone Air.

Still, it’s hardly the most original design we’ve seen, and near enough copies the ‘plateau’ motif from the iPhone Air as well as the orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro.

It’s not even original enough to be the first Honor phone to nab design ideas from the iPhone Air – that title goes to the Honor 500 (released in China in November 2025), which arguably looks even more similar to Apple’s thin flagship. For now it seems that the Magic 8 Pro Air is a China-exclusive release, and the Honor 500 has only launched in select Asian markets – we’ll be on the lookout for a global launch for either or both handsets.

Honor Power 2

Double trouble – we’re sticking with Honor for the next entry on this list, the Honor Power 2, which despite being a mid-range handset takes more than a few cues from the most expensive iPhone on the market.

While the name of this phone doesn’t give quite as much away as the Magic 8 Pro Air, once you get your eyes on the Honor Power 2, it becomes clear that someone at Honor’s R&D department has a bit of a thing for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

What makes this so obvious is that the Honor Power 2 has the same plateau at the top of the phone, housing a triple-camera setup in a triangular pattern. With how simple phone design is these days, that means it already looks almost exactly the same as the iPhone 17 Pro. And did I mention it’s also bright orange?

That’s right, Honor didn’t just stop at construction – the brand has also nicked the quirky orange color scheme from this year’s flagship iPhone. How imaginative.

Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

I’m torn about including this next entry in the list, because despite a good helping of Apple inspiration, I do think the final product has some original and worthwhile ideas.

I’m talking about the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, released in China in late September 2025. On the surface, these phones aren’t that similar to Apple’s top-end handsets. The biggest difference is in the rear display on the Xiaomi flagships, which takes cues from the cover display on flip phones to offer a convenient way to check the time, receive messages, or take photos with the rear camera system.

However, we can’t ignore the name scheme here, which is not just similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but absolutely identical. What’s more, Xiaomi skipped over the Xiaomi 16 Pro entirely just to catch up to Apple, jumping straight from the 15 series to the 17 series.

I’m a fan of the best Xiaomi phones, and understand the need to keep pace with the big names in the industry, but this just seems desperate, even if the phones themselves are both cool and capable.

Poco F8 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra

Sticking with Xiaomi, we’re heading over to gaming-focused sub-brand Poco for the next iPhone-inspired models on this list, the Poco F8 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra, released in November 2025. Once again, the giveaway is the raised camera plateau, which houses three cameras and a flash module in Xiaomi’s typical square arrangement.

How similar these mid-range phones look to the iPhone 17 Pro depends on how it’s configured. In the silver colorway, the Poco F8 Pro very much resembles a silver iPhone 17 Pro, but the other color options are less directly tied to Apple’s models.

And considering that there’s no basic Poco F8 to speak of, it’s possible that the ‘Pro’ suffix was added to bring Apple’s high-end flagships to mind alongside the similar design.

As for the Poco F8 Ultra, the Bose speaker on the plateau and optional denim material option help to differentiate it from Apple’s design. I can’t see Apple releasing an iPhone that feels like a pair of jeans any time soon.

Inifinix Note Edge

Infinix isn’t a brand we talk about much here at TechRadar, as it’s mainly focused on releasing phones in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. But I had to include the recently announced Infinix Note Edge handset on this list, as it’s another clear-cut iPhone Air copy with a dose of iPhone 17 Pro design in there for good measure.

We’re talking about another thin, large phone with a camera plateau – but Infinix goes one step further with an Android wrapper that looks almost exactly like iOS 26.

However, Infinix seemingly at least had the good sense to withdraw its bright orange color option by the time of the phone’s official announcement (via GSMArena). I also find the name – Note Edge – pretty humorous, as it brings to mind the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge or older Galaxy Note phones much more than it does any Apple handset.

And to give credit where credit’s due, the Infinix Note Edge does sport some impressive specs, especially when it comes to its 6,500mAh battery capacity, which more than doubles the iPhone Air’s 3,149mAh capacity.

By the looks of these iPhone clones, it seems that Apple’s influence on phone design is set to continue – be sure to check out our list of the best iPhones if you’re thinking about picking up the real thing anytime soon.

• Xiaomi has launched a new Poco phone with a Bose-tuned subwoofer
• This is likely to deliver deeper bass than most handsets
• It also has a top-end chipset and a big battery

Poco – a sub-brand of Xiaomi – has come up with a novel way to make its latest handset stand out, and it’s something that you might not appreciate if you often get public transport.

You see, the company has partnered with Bose to equip the new Poco F8 Ultra with a subwoofer, along with dual stereo speakers. While stereo speakers aren’t unusual on phones, a subwoofer is, so this should be capable of delivering stronger bass than most smartphones.

That, of course, is a mixed blessing, as while it could turn the F8 Ultra into a genuinely useful mini speaker, it also inevitably means some people will take full advantage of the feature in public settings.

Still, it’s nice to see new and unusual features on phones, so we applaud Poco for that, even if we can already feel a headache coming on just imagining the antisocial ways this phone might be used.

A big screen and a massive battery

Subwoofer aside, the Poco F8 Ultra has a top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a 6.9-inch 120Hz OLED screen, a trio of 50MP cameras (one of which offers 5x optical zoom), a massive 6,500mAh battery, and 100W charging – or 50W when wireless.

It comes in two configurations – a version with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $729 / £749, and one with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $799 / £799. That said, there’s no word on when you’ll actually buy it in the US, and if you get it in the UK right now, it’s available at a hefty discount, with these two models currently reduced to £549 and £599 for the 12GB and 16GB versions, respectively.

Alongside this, Poco has also launched the F8 Pro, which also has dual stereo speakers tuned by Bose, but lacks the subwoofer.

It also has slightly inferior specs all round, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 12GB of RAM, a 120Hz, 6.59-inch screen, a 6,210mAh battery with 100W charging, a 50MP wide camera, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 50MP telephoto (with 2.5x optical zoom).

This one costs £549 / $579 for a model with 256GB of storage and £599 / $629 for one with 512GB of storage – but again, there’s no word on when you’ll actually be able to buy it in the US, despite pricing being announced, and you can currently get it at a reduced price in the UK, with it – presumably temporarily – going for £399 for 256GB of storage and £449 for 512GB.

Poco F6 Pro review: Two-minute review

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has sub-brands, with Redmi already having built a strong reputation, but you should also start to take notice of Poco. The latter originally launched as Poco by Xiaomi, though it soon spun off as its own independent brand while remaining under the Xiaomi umbrella.

Poco aims to provide customers with "everything you need, nothing you don’t" – delivering devices for those on strict budgets, promising to offer near-premium smartphones for less. The Poco F6 Pro is its most high-end offering, calling it an "all-around flagship that closes the gap on high-end performance phones," and in many ways, it succeeds.

The pricing and model availability of the Poco F6 Pro can be a little tricky to pin down. It comes in three models: 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage and the 16GB RAM/1TB model that I've reviewed here. While the UK get all three models, only the 512GB F6 Pro is available in Australia, priced at £549 / AU$999.

The Poco F6 Pro isn't officially available in the USA but, similarly to the 256GB and 1TB versions in Australia, international models can be purchased through AliExpress (as well as Amazon and Kogan in Australia).

I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, but across casual titles like Marvel Snap, Hearthstone and Clash Royale, as well as more demanding games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and PUBG Mobile, the Poco F6 Pro ran flawlessly with a steady 60FPS at high graphics settings.

It boasts a large, bright 6.67-inch WQHD+ display with sharp, vibrant colors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes gaming smooth and, combined with the 3200 x 1440 resolution, I found myself – a movie snob who desires the best possible viewing experience – genuinely enjoying watching movies and TV shows on the Poco F6 Pro. Perhaps most impressive is its 4000-nit peak brightness, just short of the OnePlus 12’s 4500-nit display.

With a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro camera, the Poco F6 Pro offers a solid setup for casual photographers. While it doesn’t quite match the vibrancy or feature set of the best camera phones – or the best budget camera phone – it produces sharp, well-defined images, even in incredibly dark environments, where it's assisted by AI to restore details and deliver clear images.

One feature I personally enjoyed – but might not be for everyone – is the iOS-like interface, specifically regarding the iPhone's swipe-down control center that HyperOS almost completely copies. As an iPhone user in my daily life, it made for an easier transition compared to something like Samsung’s One UI.

Now, for the bad – bloatware, and lots of it. Right out of the box, the Poco F6 Pro comes loaded with an abundance of applications, from duplicates with the Google suite to random games (Bubble Shooter, really?) and third-party apps that clutter the app drawer. Worse yet, you can't mass-delete them, forcing you to hold down each one individually and drag them to the bin.

Worse yet, ads appear within system apps like Themes. While they can be disabled, the fact that customers would have to traverse ads on a phone they've paid for is baffling, if not insulting. Despite enjoying my experience once I'd removed (most) ads, the sour taste they left was hard to forget.

In the budget phone market where high-quality UX is offered by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and now Apple with the iPhone 16e, it's a relatively small drawback that stops the Poco F6 Pro from sitting in the upper echelon of cheap phones.

Still, once beyond the initial setup pains, you're left with a stunning display, powerful performance and all-day battery life within a premium build. Poco even includes a 120W Type C pin charger (in certain countries), USB-C cable and a surprisingly high-quality phone case in the box.

Whether you’re a gamer, casual photographer, or someone who just wants a fast, reliable phone for streaming, scrolling and playing, the Poco F6 Pro delivers exceptional value.

Poco F6 Pro review: price and availability

• Released in May 2024 for £549 / AU$999 (12GB/512GB model)
• Not always available from reputable retailers
• 16GB/1TB model is only available in certain countries

The easiest way to purchase the Poco F6 Pro in the UK and Australia is through the Xiaomi online store. In Australia it is also available via independent retailers: Amazon, Kogan and AliExpress. Amazon and AliExpress reliably stock it for the UK too, while the latter is your only easy option in the US, where you could get it for a discounted price at around the $400 mark.

While the F6 Pro launched in May 2024, it didn't hit the Australian market until August 2024. It comes in three configurations: the 12GB/512GB model is priced at £549 / AU$999, a 256GB storage variant is also available, currently available for approximately £499, though it’s only available in select markets. The 16GB/1TB model is priced at £599, but is available in even fewer markets.

When I first got my hands on the Poco F6 Pro, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a lesser-known brand – at least in Australia where this phone was tested – claiming to offer impressive value even among the best budget phones. Yet, after testing it, I found it mostly delivered on its promise of flagship visuals and performance at a more accessible price.

Adding even more value, the Poco F6 Pro includes a 120W charger and a Europlug CEE 7/16 wall plug (in compatible countries), a USB-C cable, and a protective case – a rarity in an era where many brands are cutting back on in-box accessories.

Despite some minor drawbacks, the Poco F6 Pro consistently impressed me with its price-to-performance ratio. While the newer and cheaper Poco X7 Pro might be a better pick for those purely seeking ultra-budget gaming power, the Poco F6 Pro stands out as an excellent all-rounder with a gaming focus in the mid-range market.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: specs

Given the nomenclature, it's seems obvious that the Poco F6 Pro would be the more expensive handset compared to the standard Poco F6, but the story isn't so simple. The Poco F6 Pro is a gaming-focused all-rounder in the mid-range market, but its regular sibling actually outperforms the Pro in some areas, which a much more dedicated focus on speed.

The F6 Pro sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, while the Poco F6 sports the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Poco F6 Pro is also beaten in durability, with the IP64 durability rating and Gorilla Glass Invictus protection of the Poco F6 beating the Gorilla Glass 5 and IP54 of its Pro sibling.

Worth highlighting in the specs list is the F6 Pro's 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440 resolution), 50/8/2MP rear camera trio, and 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging.

Poco F6 Pro review: design

• Smooth quad-curved glass back
• IP54 durability rating
• Two color options

Much like the all-new iPhone 16e, the Poco F6 Pro sticks to just black and white options, ditching the more vibrant yellow seen on many other Poco phones. The result is a premium, albeit slightly boring-looking smartphone.

Unlike the plastic design of the F6, the Poco F6 Pro features an aluminum frame and marbled, smooth quad-curved glass back, giving it a high-end feel that exceeds expectations for its price.

My review unit was the white model, and while I usually prefer the more understated black, I quickly warmed to the color – especially since I had the option to cover the device with the included black case anyway.

Speaking of the included rubber phone case, it actually feels substantial, more like something you’d buy off Amazon than a flimsy throwaway addition.

However, the case won't protect your F6 Pro from its biggest design flaw – an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating. This means the Poco F6 Pro offers limited protection against dust ingress and water sprays, and compared to other phones in its class that offer a minimum IP67 rating, it simply falls short.

This could be a deal breaker for those who work in dusty environments or need their phone in inclement weather.

The only part of the Poco F6 Pro that (literally) sticks out when using the case – besides the (thankfully) minimal Poco branding – is its camera array. Three large lenses and a flash dominate the top of the rear of the device, which avoid the all-too-common table wobble.

Attractive from any angle you look at it, comfortable to hold with either one or two hands and going without the Poco yellow, the design of the F6 Pro would be one of my favourite features… if it wasn't more impressive in other areas.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: display

• 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440) with 120Hz refresh rate
• 4000-nit peak brightness
• Visible Gorilla Glass 5 protector

Alongside its gaming prowess, the Poco F6 Pro’s display is one of its standout features – and one of the best you’ll find at this price visually.

As someone who previously loved the compact iPhone 12 mini, I’ve had to adjust to using larger smartphones and, while bigger isn’t always better, the 6.67-inch screen on the Poco F6 Pro hits the sweet spot between usability and immersive viewing.

Not all screens are built the same. In the past I've struggled with the long and narrow 6.7-inch Motorola Edge 50 Pro, whereas the 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A55 feels much more comfortable to hold. It's worth noting that I have larger hands, but the Poco F6 Pro sits closer to the Samsung in terms of usability, with an excellent in-hand feel.

Beyond size, the Poco F6 Pro impresses with its 3200 x 1440 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (which you’ll need to activate in settings, with a 60Hz base), and 4000-nit peak brightness. Whether I was reading, gaming, or watching videos, the display looked fantastic – even outside under the bright Australian summer sun.

Unfortunately, one of the Poco F6 Pro’s biggest weaknesses is its durability. Strangely, the cheaper Poco F6 is actually tougher as it features Gorilla Glass Victus, while the F6 Pro is stuck with older Gorilla Glass 5.

Usually, I'd hope not to have to test the toughness of the screen, but my Poco F6 Pro took a tumble off my bathroom sink onto the tiled floor, coming away with some minor damage. I also found that it's quite easy to scratch up, coming away with a few marks just from sitting in my pocket and bag. My biggest problem, though, is that the glass is visibly sitting on top of the main screen, taking away from the F6 Pro's display.

The Poco F6 has an excellently bright, responsive display that is a joy to both watch and play on, but phones at this price, and considerably cheaper – it's non-pro sibling a prime example – offer stronger displays without a visually obtrusive protector.

• Display score: 4/5

Poco F6 Pro review: software

• Ads in system apps and suffocating bloatware
• HyperOS on top of Android 15
• 3 years of OS updates and 4 of security patches

One of the best things about a new phone is the naked, fresh interface and the Poco F6 Pro felt like it came wearing seven hats, three watches, and nine pairs of socks.

The software of the Poco F6 Pro is perhaps its weakest attribute. Pre-installed apps on Android phones never quite match up with the clean feeling of setting up a new iPhone. Typically, this includes useful essentials like the Google Suite, along with perhaps a few duplicate system apps such as a gallery and Google Photos.

This was my first time using a Xiaomi phone, and the Poco F6 Pro took my experience with bloatware to another level. I've never had to delete so many apps just to clear my home screen and keep only the ones I actually use.

Two app stores, the App Vault, Facebook, TikTok, Farm Frenzy, Booking.com, Bubble Shooter, LinkedIn, Mi Mover, Mi Remote, Mi Video, Gallery, Google Photos, Poco Community – you get the point. And that's far from the full list.

Note that I made things worse for myself by quickly rushing through the setup process and choosing to download several games right at the start. However, even when denying that, you'll still get far too many pre-downloaded, unwanted applications.

Once I cleared out the clutter, Poco’s HyperOS became a straightforward Android experience that I enjoyed.

On the customization front, the Poco F6 Pro offers a wealth of options. You can personalize your lock screen style, icons, fonts, notification effects, and even fingerprint unlock animation. The phone also supports themes that allow you to change multiple elements at once for a cohesive look.

For those who enjoy AI-powered features, the Poco F6 Pro offers plenty. Google Gemini is integrated and activates when holding the power button, allowing you to ask about what’s on the screen, issue voice commands or type requests. You also get Google’s Circle to Search functionality.

Beyond that, AI features extend into Notes, Gallery and Recorder, enabling AI summaries, proofreading, translation, image expansion, editing, transcribing, speaker recognition, summary generation, and more. There’s even an AI Interpreter for real-time translation during conversations or phone calls, as well as AI subtitles for translated video playback.

Overall, I enjoyed Poco’s HyperOS experience, and while the three years of software updates isn’t the most generous I’ve seen, it’s acceptable. However, that positive experience is heavily tarnished by built-in ads and an overwhelming amount of bloatware upon setup.

• Software score: 3/5

Poco F6 Pro review: cameras

• 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide
• 2MP macro, 16MP front camera
• Dull coloring

The ability to snap great photos on a cheap smartphone is one of the key needs for budget buyers. Sure, you want to save money by avoiding bank-breaking flagship devices, but you don't want to struggle to take family photos, or be left with blurry results when you snap a selfie at the end of your hike.

That's why, right next to battery life, camera performance is one of the top qualities of many of the best cheap phones, from the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, to the Edge 50 Fusion, Galaxy A55, Pixel 8a and more. That's not the case for the Poco F6 Pro – it makes no apologies for focusing on gaming power and all-day battery. However, it still does well enough for most users to be happy with their results, especially if it's a secondary need to gaming.

It is not the best camera I have used while testing the other budget phones, but it was satisfactory across the board. From the 50MP main camera, to the 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro and 16MP selfie camera, the Poco F6 Pro lets you take any photo you want.

It's not as feature-rich as other phone cameras in this market – there's not a ton of photo types or filters – and I did struggle to get the phone to focus in macro mode, but it performed well once in position and the subject wasn't moving.

The Poco F6 Pro has a few modes like document scanner and long exposure that allow you to do more than just take regular photos and videos. While the Poco F6 Pro claims to excel in night photography – and it certainly is impressive at pulling some detail from near pitch-black environments, I found it performed inconsistently in low-light environments like dimly lit restaurants.

The Poco F6 Pro isn't one of the best camera phones on the market, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A55 and the Samsung Galaxy A56 surpass it in the budget category. Still though, if you just want a decent enough camera setup for snapping the family, your pets or weekly hike, the Poco F6 Pro is more than up to the task.

• Camera score: 3.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: performance

• Handles strenuous loads
• Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
• Stereo audio, no headphone jack

Ranking smartphone processors isn’t always straightforward – some excel in speed, others in gaming, battery efficiency, or specific tasks. Still, the Poco F6 Pro runs on one of the better mobile chipsets available today in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

It delivers excellent, well-rounded performance and particularly stands out in gaming power and battery life. It even outperforms the Dimensity 8400 chip found in the newer Poco X7 Pro.

I reviewed the 1TB/16GB RAM model, and I was impressed by how cool it stayed under pressure. Many budget phones I’ve tested tend to heat up even during basic tasks, and even my personal iPhone 15 seems to get warm when I take a few seconds too long to select a podcast.

The Poco F6 Pro remained cool throughout my testing – even while gaming and charging simultaneously.

Its real-world performance translated well to benchmarks, too. In Geekbench tests, which measure CPU performance, the Poco F6 Pro’s multi-core score (4,733) outperformed the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Nothing Phone 2, and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Its single-core score (1,375), however, placed it alongside mid-range devices like the Pixel 7a, Poco F5 Pro, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo.

When it comes to 3D Mark gaming benchmarks, the Poco F6 Pro dominates budget and mid-range rivals and even approaches flagship-level performance:

As you can see, in nearly every benchmark test, the Poco F6 Pro significantly outperforms two of the best cheap phones on the market. And from my own experience, I can confidently say it felt just as powerful in everyday use.

As for its audio quality, the Poco F6 Pro connected to my Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, Apple AirPods 4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 very easily. Its dual stereo speakers offer Dolby Atmos where it can, and provided a completely enjoyable sound experience the rare times I wasn't using headphones.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Poco F6 Pro review: battery

• 20% in 5 minutes, full-charge in around 30 minutes (67W charger)
• Easily handles hours of gaming
• 120W charger included (in certain countries)

You might think that a smartphone that promises power, should have the battery to go with it. But, while that is not always the case, the Poco F6 Pro is certainly in line with that rule.

With a 5,000mAh battery, the Poco F6 Pro's battery capacity matches up to that of some of the best phones, not just the best cheap phones it's competing against. Battery capacity isn't everything, but even phones like the Google Pixel 9 Pro (4,700mAh) falls short in comparison to the Poco F6 Pro, which matches the battery capacities of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Like I said, battery capacity isn't everything, and it's actually the enhanced power efficiency of the F6 Pro, thanks to its LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with lce Loop system that makes it feel as good in use as its battery looks on the specs sheet.

The Poco F6 Pro only ever gets slightly warm when running games on low battery. And, as such, it has no issue lasting all day. So, while it varied depending on my use that day, I found myself with about 20% battery by the time I got home at 6pm after being up and using my phone from 5am.

With the included 120W charger – that's not compatible with Australian sockets – Poco promises a HyperCharge speed that will get you to 100% in just 19 minutes. Though of course you can purchase your own 120W charger to get those speeds.

With the Xiaomi 67W GaN wall charger – which can be purchased from the Xiaomi store – the Poco F6 Pro increased by 22% in just 5 minutes, while 15 minutes would get you around 70%, and it would sit at about 85% after 30.

Playing Fortnite Mobile on the Poco F6 Pro was a blast, and it lasted a touch more than 3.5 hours of continuous, nonstop 60FPS gameplay at high graphics settings and around 80% brightness.

Speaking of, after a day of strenuous testing, the Poco F6 pro was sitting at only 10% battery as I got onto the bus after work, but I still needed some entertainment for my commute. Luckily, six games of Marvel Snap (around 15 minutes), starting with the phone on just 8%, took the F6 Pro to just 2% battery, which the phone stated would last about half an hour if you stopped using it and saved it for emergencies.

For both regular use and heavy gamers, the Poco F6 Pro is an excellent choice in the budget space.

• Battery score: 4/5

Should you buy the Poco F6 Pro ?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Poco F6 Pro review: also consider

How I tested the Poco F6 Pro

• Review test period = 3 weeks (had the device for much longer)
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, native Android stats

I received the Poco F6 Pro in October 2024, but due to a combination of reviewing other devices, the Black Friday rush, and the busy Christmas period, I didn't get around to properly testing it until the new year. However, when I first received the device, I did use it as my main device for about a week and carried it with me to work, testing it intermittently during that time.

When I finally dedicated myself to the Poco F6 Pro review, I used it as my primary device for a three full weeks. During this time, I tested its capabilities with regular tasks like texting, video calling, and scrolling through social media for hours, along with gaming and streaming content from the best services.

The only out-of-the-ordinary activity I indulged in was playing mobile games like Fortnite and PUBG – as the device is gaming focused and I'm not much of a mobile gamer. I quickly found myself enjoying it quite a bit, especially when I paired my mobile gaming sessions with my PlayStation 5's DualSense controller.

To ensure accurate performance results, I ran 3D Mark and Geekbench tests several times throughout my review period, factoring in battery performance and daily usage conditions at the time of testing to get the most applicable numbers.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed March 2025]

You might know Pocophone for its budget and mid-range Android phones that tend to have a focus on processing power - and now the company has taken that to its logical extreme with the new Poco F4 GT.

This is the brand's newest handset and it touts some pretty impressive specs like a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, 120W charging and a big 6.67-inch screen. It also continues Poco's tradition of rather boring names.

Beyond those specs, the F4 GT also has a few gaming-specific features like a 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch input rate and, most interestingly, pop-up trigger buttons that you'll be able to map to functions, giving you a slight edge in competitive online games.

That's a feature we've seen on a few gaming phones in the past, and it would make the Poco seem like a new entry in this market niche - the fact that the device launched alongside some headphones themed around Genshin Impact helps with this reading too.

However the Poco F4 GT has that gaming phone feature, without the big issue that plagues lots of gaming phones.

Opinion: a gaming phone I wouldn't be ashamed to use

When I'm testing gaming phones, I find them useful when gaming out and about, but I'm often rather ashamed to be seen with them. Not because there's still a stigma around gaming phones - it's 2022, everyone and their moms game now - but because these phones are pretty ugly.

These phones are often big, bulky, bedecked with LED lights and angular designs - you can see one such example above.

I'll admit, 'gamer aesthetic' isn't something that really matches with my own fashion, and I'm often tentative about pulling out a giant glowing smartphone as a result.

But the Poco F4 GT has a rather understated design (well, the black and gray versions do, the yellow is arguably a little garish). If you pull one out your pocket, people aren't going to think "what is that?" with a judging stare.

Unlike most other gaming phones, I wouldn't be ashamed to use it in public, or put it on a table when I'm at a pub or restaurant - and for that reason, I'm looking forward to testing it... whenever it comes out. We don't have a launch date or price for it yet, so stay tuned for those, as well as a full review.

• This new phone is more powerful than my gaming PC and I don't know why

Two-minute review

The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G isn’t a typical Poco phone. Headline-grabbing Poco handsets of the past have had truly exceptional characteristics in one area. That was performance in the Pocophone F1, Poco F3 and Poco X3 Pro; and at the time, the Poco X3 NFC was almost unbeatable for its sheer value.

Xiaomi’s direction with the Poco X4 Pro is less clear, not helped by it effectively being a near-replica of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro, with a few tweaks.

You don’t get the standard-setting performance of the classic Poco models. And while the 108MP camera is solid enough by the standards of the series, it doesn’t challenge a Google Pixel 5a or OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G. 

With the Poco X4 Pro, Xiaomi is aiming for a balance that has rarely been the focus of the Poco series. 

Does it work? Somewhat. The design is less of an eyesore over some Poco phones. Its OLED screen is largely excellent, the stereo speakers well above average, and battery life is great. A glass, rather than plastic, rear is a nice touch, too. 

However, there are some issues. The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro has an annoying habit of closing down any apps running in the background, which isn’t helpful if you stream audio through your phone.

Its charging behavior is strange, too, with a bug causing the screen to continually light up. Plus, the Snapdragon 695 processor doesn’t really belong in a Poco phone, as they’re typically more powerful than that.

The often very cheap Poco X3 Pro is almost three times as powerful as the Poco X4 Pro 5G by some gaming metrics. While the 108MP camera appears to make up for it on paper, this doesn’t pan out in practice due to a weak Auto HDR mode that too-frequently results in overexposure and dull-looking pictures. 

This phone may get better all-round with successive software updates. But if the aforementioned issues are tied to the compromises inherent in its Snapdragon 695 processor, it may well not. There’s plenty to like here, but we can’t help but feel that Poco series fans will end up disappointed by the Poco X4 Pro 5G. 

Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G price and availability

• Announced in February 2022
• Costs 299 euros, with US and UK pricing to be confirmed

At the time of review, US and UK prices for the Poco X4 Pro are yet to be confirmed. It costs 299 euros, likely to translate to the same figure or slightly lower in UK pounds, and somewhere between $330 and $350 in the US. 

Xiaomi makes a step-down model, too: the Poco M4 Pro 5G. It comes with a slightly less impressive LCD screen, a MediaTek processor and a different 50MP primary camera. The Poco X4 Pro 5G was announced a few months later, in February 2022. 

Design

• Slimmer, boxier design
• Flat glass-back panel
• Good stereo speakers

The design language of the Poco X series has changed, fairly dramatically. The thick and chunky bodies of the Poco X3 Pro and Poco X3 NFC are out, replaced by a slimmer but more severe frame. 

The Poco X4 Pro is much less of a palm-filler as a result, easier to handle than the Poco X3 Pro. In addition, where the X3’s outer shell is all-plastic, the X4 Pro has a flat, glass rear panel. The phone’s sides remain plastic, but the overall feel of the device is a net improvement. 

Overall, the Poco X4 Pro 5G is a little more toned down over previous devices, although still more of a bicep-flexor than the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. 

That 'flex' is the extended glass platform that sits over much of the phone’s width. There doesn’t appear to be much point to it, other than such moves can appear to make the camera array seem more advanced than it is. You’ll see similar ostentatious designs in the Honor 50 range. 

The Poco X4 Pro 5G’s glass back does have a light-reactive layer beneath the glass, which generates light shafts, a bit like search lights pointed into a night sky. It isn’t garish; in fact, the effect will often be muted by the sheer number of fingerprint smudges the rear glass picks up. This Poco’s cousin, the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, avoids these with a matte glass finish.

You can opt for a bolder version of the phone, in blue and bright yellow. We haven’t seen the latter in person, but it looks great in renders. 

To subdue the light reactive rear, you could use the bundled case. This also highlights that big chunk of camera glass, ensuring the Poco X4 Pro looks distinctive both in and out of its case. 

Elsewhere, the Poco X4 Pro is strong on audio. You get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a very solid pair of stereo speakers. They’re loud and, for a phone, offer good lower-frequency output. We’ve listened to countless hours of podcasts and streamed radio on this Poco handset, and it does a great job.

The Poco X4 Pro also comes with an IR blaster, enabling the Poco to function as a universal remote. Water/dust-resistance is a basic but useful IP53, which is fine to tolerate some rain but little more, and the fingerprint scanner is nippy and sits on the side, within the power button. 

Finally, the SIM tray has two slots. The second can be used for either a second SIM or a microSD card. Our review phone has 128GB of storage, but there’s also a 256GB version of the Poco X4 Pro.

Display

• Strong image quality
• Good in bright conditions
• Oversaturated as standard, but color is customizable

The Poco X4 Pro has a largely excellent 6.67-inch AMOLED screen. Xiaomi has already established very high standards among budget phones, using Full HD displays even in its fairly cheap models; but the screen here is better than the display of the Poco X3 phones. 

OLED provides deeper contrast, with peak brightness higher too. Most noticeable has been that the Poco X4 Pro 5G switches into a completely new gear when the ambient light level gets very high. 

You can test this for yourself, if you’re by a window with bright sunlight beaming through. Put the Poco X4 Pro under the beam and you’ll see the OLED panel’s color and contrast shift to maximize visibility. It works well, and is the kind of feature we’d only have associated with true top-end phones just a couple of years ago. 

Color depth is great, too, although you may wish to drop down from Vivid to Standard mode, if you don’t want your app icons to look oversaturated. Vivid changes on-screen color based on the situation, but the core parts of the interface exhibit almost excessively vibrant tones, which won’t suit all tastes.

The 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution doesn’t quite deliver the sharpness and smoothness of an ultra-high resolution screen, but it’s the best you can ask for in a phone at this price. Note, too, that this is a 120Hz screen. Our Poco X4 Pro 5G came set to a 60Hz refresh rate, but 120Hz makes scrolling menus appear smoother, but at a cost to battery life. 

We found the Poco X4 Pro battery life to be good in either mode, so we recommend using 120Hz. 

Dynamic refresh rate is one of the few missing features here. Some high-end phones can switch refresh rate on-the-fly to maximize battery life. The Poco X4 Pro sticks at 120Hz unless you run an app or game that doesn’t support 120Hz, in which case it reverts to 60Hz. 

HDR is lacking, too – according to our testing at least. YouTube HDR videos play in standard dynamic range only. We find the excellent contrast of OLED to be a greater asset here, although older Xiaomi phones such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro do support HDR.

Software and performance

• A relatively weak processor for a Poco-series phone
• Aggressive power management has annoying effects
• Solid enough day-to-day performance

The Poco X4 Pro runs Android 11 and Xiaomi’s MIUI 13. It’s a recent version of Android, the latest of the Xiaomi interface. And the top-most visual layer is Poco Launcher, which determines the look and feel of the skin. 

It’s similar to the Poco X3 Pro. You get an app drawer with a plain white background, and there’s a dark mode for those who may prefer a moody look. 

As in other recent Xiaomi phones, the drop-down menus have a non-standard style. Flicks down from the right side of the screen summon the feature toggles; left-flicks pull down your notifications. It takes a while to get used to, but you can also jump between them with left-right swipes on the Poco X4 Pro screen. 

This is perhaps the most contentious part, so long as your head doesn’t explode on seeing a few unwanted preinstalled apps. The Poco X4 Pro comes with a few games, such as Tile Fun and State of Survival X Walking Dead, plus the Poco Community and Poco Store apps – but you can delete them.

General performance is good, with a few expected, and unexpected, niggles. The Poco X4 Pro’s app loads aren’t instantaneous, but are comparable with the more powerful Poco X3 Pro. Its multitasking screen is jerky, even in 120Hz mode – not an issue in the Poco X3 Pro, but it seems more a software quirk than anything else. The multitasking menu displays thumbnails of apps in their previous state, not a window of them actually running. 

Our main gripe is over something that was also a problem in the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. This phone will occasionally shut down apps streaming/playing audio in the background. It’s something you see in a phone whose power management is a bit too aggressive. Saving battery life is good, but not when it impacts day-to-day use. A fix could come via a software update; but the problem was noticeably worse in the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. 

Such an update won’t dramatically improve the Poco X4 Pro’s gaming performance, however. The Poco X4 Pro doesn’t come close to the likes of the Pocofone F1, the Poco X3 Pro and Poco F3 for gaming. The X4 Pro is ordinary at best, as a result of its Qualcomm's Snapdragon 695 processor. 

This is part of an important but sometimes frustrating breed of SoC: the affordable 5G chipset. Some are brilliant – such as the original king of budget 5G, the Snapdragon 765G. However, chipsets such as the Snapdragon 695 suggest that, just maybe, a MediaTek Dimensity chipset may be a better fit these days.

Just look at the Poco X4 Pro’s 3DMark Wild Life test scores. It achieves 1207 points, which doesn’t come close to the last-generation Poco X3 Pro’s 3450 points. 

This also plays out in actual games. The Poco X4 Pro chugs along at 20-something frame rates in Ark: Survival Evolved at its Epic graphics setting, something the Poco X3 Pro manages quite comfortably. That older Poco is a 4G phone, of course, but Xiaomi also made the Poco X3 GT last year. It has 5G and the MediaTek Dimensity 1100 processor, which is also far more powerful than the Snapdragon 695.

Fortnite runs okay at its Medium graphics setting, aside from occasional drops well below 30fps. These are to be expected with this sort of power – but, again, the cheaper Poco X3 Pro just does the job far better. It seems strange to acknowledge that a “Pro”-series Poco isn’t a gaming phone – and it’s a shame, since the display and speakers both outclass those in the Poco X3 Pro by a significant margin and are great assets for gaming.  

This lack of gaming grunt won’t be a deal-breaker for everyone, of course. But it seems a strange direction for a series typically loved by value-conscious techies who prioritize performance, particularly when the Redmi 11 Pro 5G makes the same moves. A change of direction makes more sense if your sister sub-brand doesn’t offer exactly the same goods.

Cameras

• Typically weak secondary cameras
• Solid main camera hardware let down by mediocre processing
• Weak video, limited to 1080p/30

Has Xiaomi traded the Poco series’s signature powerful processor for a top-class camera? Not really, but parts of it do sound good on paper. 

The Poco X4 Pro 5G has a 108-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel zoom. The last two are the typical fodder of upper entry-level phones. The wide is okay, but somewhat soft as a result of its limited sensor resolution — and the sensor is small, leading to limited dynamic range in trickier scenes. 

The macro is a filler camera, its 2-megapixel resolution incapable of capturing any image worth saving, even if it does let you get quite close to your subject. Xiaomi makes one of the best affordable macro cameras, the 5-megapixel telephoto in the Redmi Note 10 Pro. This one is nothing like it. 

The Poco X4 Pro camera rests on the 108-megapixel primary, which uses a Samsung HM2 sensor. It’s the same camera that sits in the similarly priced Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G, and the far more expensive Xiaomi 11T Pro. Which must be good news, right?

This camera’s image quality is variable. Image processing, including noise reduction, is significantly worse than some of Xiaomi’s previous efforts at this price — including, not surprisingly, the Xiaomi 11T Pro. This is evident up-close, where fine detail looks fuzzier than that on images taken with last year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro. 

The somewhat weak Auto HDR mode’s effects are more notable. In some phones, Xiaomi’s Auto HDR is up there with the best, kicking in when there’s a lot of light contrast in a scene, when a single-exposure shot is either going to leave you with a blown-out sky or murky-looking foreground, or both.

We went out with the Poco X4 Pro and the OnePlus Nord 2 5G, the Poco X3 Pro and Xiaomi 11T Pro to take some pictures for comparison. Too often the Poco X4 Pro exhibited the most overexposure – with the Poco X3 Pro only getting away with having a so-so camera last year because it was so powerful. 

The OnePlus shows significantly better mid-tone contrast, and cleaner, brighter areas of shadow. The 11T Pro, which uses the same sensor, produces much brighter, punchier pictures all-round, and is only let down by a tendency to amp up color too much. 

You can improve the Poco X4 Pro’s results by switching from Auto HDR to HDR. The full foreground becomes much brighter, and the pictures look both cleaner and more detailed up-close. However, it also results in creating a slight “halo” effect around high-contrast objects such as tree branches poking out into the sky. 

The overall effect is to make your pictures look less natural – and in other scenes this HDR mode is too much, so leaving it on 24/7 isn’t the solution.

Could this again be down to the Snapdragon 695, perhaps? We don’t know for certain, but it seems that either the SoC’s limited image signal processor is so weak that Xiaomi is unable to push it to do more without slowing down the photography experience. Or, Xiaomi’s own processing isn’t yet in harmony with the  image signal processor’s capabilities. 

Let’s hope it’s the latter, since it means the Poco X4 Pro may become more consistent with future software updates.

Time for a little context. You’ll see the limitations we’ve talked about when HDR is the only method by which the phone can produce a satisfying image. Shoot in daylight against a blue, rather than cloudy, sky and the results are usually pretty decent.

Night shooting isn’t terrible either, relying on a dedicated Night mode that genuinely improves dynamic range and reduces noise dramatically, taking images from “poor” to “OK”. It won’t get close to those captured with a Google Pixel 5a, mind.

Learn how to get the most from the Poco X4 Pro camera and you can achieve better results than the Poco X3 Pro. But general camera performance is a step down across the board from last year’s Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro – which is disappointing. 

There’s some more bad news, too – and another opportunity to bash the Snapdragon 695. It restricts the Poco X4 Pro to 1080p video capture at 30 frames per second. There’s no 4K capture, no standard 60fps shooting, even if you drop the resolution to 720p. This seems a bit odd when there’s a slo-mo mode with 120fps at 720p. 

The Poco X4 Pro crops into the view when you shoot video, suggesting the use of software stabilization. But the wobbly test footage we took at 1080p/30fps shows it’s at best very limited. 

Finishing up, the selfie camera has a 16-megapixel sensor that, by default, smoothes out skin excessively. You can switch this processing off for more natural-looking images, and results are solid in good lighting; but detail does fall away in indoor settings.

Camera samples

Battery life

• Long battery life, particularly at the 60Hz refresh rate
• Fast 67W charging
• Suffers from a weird charging bug

Coming back to the good stuff, the Poco X4 Pro is a long-lasting phone. For the first few days of testing we kept the handset at the default 60Hz screen mode, and could be left with as much as 45% battery life by bedtime. We’re not particularly light users, so this is a great result. 

Switching to 120Hz didn’t change things by much, either. Battery life is strong in either setting, and while this doesn’t make much sense, the Poco X4 Pro anecdotally seems to outlast the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. They have the same CPU, the same 5000mAh battery capacity and what appears to be the same display panel. 

Part of the testing took place through covid isolation, however — your phone’s screen will always use less battery if it doesn’t need to ramp up to compete with the light of the great outdoors. Still, the Poco X4 Pro is a trooper.

The handset also comes with Xiaomi’s mid-level 67W fast-charging standard. Xiaomi offers speeds up to 120W today, but 67W is still a lot more powerful than anything Samsung or Apple provides. 

Is it fast? It should be – but we noticed some strange behavior here. The Poco X4 Pro’s on-screen prompt cycles between 'charging' and 'fast charging' the entire time, causing the phone screen to continually light up during recharging. This looks like a bug to us, and is pretty annoying. 

It also appears to affect charging speed, which isn’t quite as nippy as we've seen from earlier 67W Xiaomi phones. On plugging in just seconds before the Poco X4 Pro switches off from low charge, it reaches 30% in 10 minutes, hits 50% charge at the 20-minute mark, and reaches 70% after 30 minutes. Great stuff. 

However, it slows down significantly thereafter. This is normal, but following 60 minutes, the Poco X4 Pro wasn’t quite full, sitting at 98%. And like most other phones at the price, the Poco X4 Pro doesn’t support wireless charging.

Should you buy the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: March 2022

Pocophone, a popular ex-Xiaomi-sub-brand, had one of the biggest shows at MWC 2022 when it unveiled two new budget phones, the X4 Pro 5G and the M4 Pro. 

These are two impressive-looking low-cost handsets, but the latter caught our eye for an interesting reason - it's not a 5G phone.

After the first 5G phones debuted in 2019, we quickly saw them eclipse their 4G counterparts, and now almost all new smartphones are compatible with 5G networks. For a while, low-end phones were the holdouts, but in 2022, most of them are 5G devices, too.

So, Pocophone's decision to launch a 4G phone in 2022, alongside a 5G device, is an interesting one, and we needed to know why. We chatted with Xiaobo Qiu and Angus Ng, Poco's General Manager and Head of Product Marketing, respectively, to find out.

It's not a 5G world

The first reason that Poco has 4G phones, Qiu explained to us, is because countries simply don't have 5G networks right now.

"For them, 5G is useless," Qiu pointed out, referencing Africa and South Asia as regions with very limited 5G coverage.

This is true even in countries where 5G is rolling out - in this writer's hometown in the UK, it's hard getting even 4G out of the city center.

Qiu made it sound like this was a temporary thing, though, saying that "this year, 5G will be able to cover more and more cities", suggesting that this increase was linked to how "after the pandemic, people can get back to normal life" which will increase use of mobile networks instead of home Wi-Fi.

Poco sells its phones in loads of regions all over the world, so it makes sense that it would cater for audiences who live in countries with limited 5G. But if Qiu is right, and 2022 brings more 5G across the globe, the days of 4G phones could be numbered.

If the price is right

Another key factor in 4G phones is the price. Ng told us that 5G chipsets "cost a bit more than 4G chipsets", explaining that "it's a matter of cost and price aggressiveness for our devices".

Poco smartphones are low-cost devices with an emphasis on performance and batteries, making them great for gaming. Like all budget handsets, they have compromises to keep the cost low, and it makes sense than 5G is an area that can be cut, since gaming on mobile networks isn't exactly common.

There's also the power of these components - "4G chipsets are becoming more and more mature in terms of system optimizations and software," Ng explained.

Qiu added that "I think the 5G smartphone price will be going down," so don't expect the cost and connectivity compromise to last forever, but for now it seems Pocophone is content to offer 4G phones for people on a budget.

When Qiu discussed the future of 5G phones, he did say that "there will be more and more applications" in the future, so perhaps when 5G becomes more useful, Poco will embrace it more fully. But we're currently waiting for developers to work on apps that really utilize 5G right now.

TechRadar's interview with Pocophone was wide-ranging and 5G was only one topic covered - we've got more pieces coming soon, so stay tuned for those soon.

• MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the world's largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting on the show all week. Follow our MWC 2022 live blog for the very latest news as it happens and visit our dedicated MWC 2022 hub for a round-up of the biggest announcements.  

We're currently in the midst of annual smartphone tech event Mobile World Congress (shortened to MWC 2022 because we're not writing that whole name out all the time) and it's bringing us loads of new launches all the time - you can follow the big beats with our MWC 2022 live blog which is running all week.

Perhaps one of the biggest exhibitors is Xiaomi, which launched two new Pocophone devices - the Poco X4 Pro 5G and Poco M4 Pro. Yeah, it's not exactly a big secret what's showing up.

The event has wrapped up now though, and news at MWC often moves on quick, so we're already thinking about OnePlus, Oppo and other brands. But Xiaomi's new Poco devices could end up being the stars of the show.

Pocophones are often impressively-specced affordable mobiles that sit alongside another line of Xiaomi phone, the Redmi devices, which is why the company has such a hold on the mid-range and budget phone market. These new devices are no different.

If you're interested in the event, you did miss it, but you can see the YouTube video of it here or check out our live blog below, to see what happened. Stay tuned for full reviews of these phones very soon.

Welcome to our Xiaomi Poco live blog - there are about two and a half hours until the event kicks off, so we've got a little time to run through what we expect to see.

We've got to say, Pocophone's naming convention is a little confusing.

We've already seen a Poco M4 Pro 5G - notice the added '5G' over the name of the handset we're seeing today - and we wouldn't be totally surprised if a Poco X4 Pro came at some point too (note the lack of '5G').

Lots of the time when brands use '5G' in the name of a mobile, it doesn't denote that it's a separate device to a 4G version, as lots of companies just shove it in the name of any 5G device as a selling point. 

That's not the case for Xiaomi though, and it uses the suffix 5G to differentiate totally different devices. 

Xiaomi is having a super busy 2022.

Just a month or so ago, we saw the Redmi Note 11 series of affordable devices, and we're expecting the flagship Xiaomi 12 line to land in the next few months too. 

So expect loads of Xiaomi headlines around this time. Of all its sub-brands, Pocophone is arguably its lesser-known, but the Poco X3 NFC dominated our list of the best cheap phones for ages (and is still there now) so it's worth paying attention to these new devices.

There's 100 minutes to go until the event kicks off, according to the YouTube premiere. 

If you're a big smartphone fan, you should know that the Realme GT 2 event at MWC just wrapped up, and you can read our full news coverage here.

You know what else from Xiaomi is arriving at MWC 2022?

Cyberdog.

CyberDog is a robot dog that Xiaomi showed off in August 2021 - it went on sale in China, but we haven't heard about it going on sale anywhere else.

Xiaomi has confirmed the dog will be displayed at its MWC stand where people will be able to see it - and pet it maybe? Who knows.

We'll see if we can pet the (cyber) dog at MWC, and see how it reacts when we do.

We're getting closer to the Poco launch, but we should point out that it's not the only event going on. At exactly the same time, Honor is hosting a launch for its Magic 4 phones.

These are expected to be top-end devices, so they won't rival the new Pocos at all, other than that they'll both be vying for your attention in 45 minutes.

If you want to check out the Honor stream, it's on YouTube here, but we won't be live blogging that one.

With 20 minutes to go, Poco's live stream has switched from a placeholder to a sizzle-reel of trailers and adverts for the new phones. 

So you can get a good glimpse if you check it out now.

There are only five minutes to go until the event starts - the adverts have ended, and we're left with a screen just saying it 'Will Start Soon!'.

And we're live!

Poco's GM, Kevin Qui, is on stage talking us through the last year for the brand, including the six phones it launched in 2021 (Poco F3, F3 GT, X3 Pro, M3 Pro 5G, X3 GT and M4 Pro 5G).

Apparently, the brand sold nearly 23 million mobiles which is a pretty big number for just six devices, and 11.6 million were for just the X3 Pro and X3 GT. Apparently the former was the biggest-seller of all though.

Audio's a little out of sync for the live stream though.

Qui is detailing why the Poco X3 Pro was so popular.

That's pretty important since the X4 Pro 5G is its successor - it's the first device of the launch event, and the company is calling it the 'all-around ace'.

Angus Ng is discussing the Poco X4 Pro 5G, starting with its design - it's an eye-catching mobile to say the least.

There's a gigantic rear block on the back like the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra (though no rear screen like on that flagship) as well as a laser-beam-looking light reflection pattern. There's black, yellow and blue versions, and we're very curious to see how this looks in person.

The edges look flat, not curved like on most mobiles, and this is an annoying design trend that brands like Vivo and Xiaomi are embracing, following on from Apple which enacted it in the iPhone 12 line.

The X4 Pro has a glass rear though, which is surprisingly premium.

We're hearing about the X4 Pro 5G's display.

It's an AMOLED panel, a big jump up from the X3 Pro's LCD, with a 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution.

This is the first X-series phone with AMOLED which is a big jump for budget phones, and it should make colors bold and will improve the contrast too. Max brightness is 1200 nits too which is nice and bright.

Oh, the screen is 6.67-inches, same as last year's, and it's Xiaomi's favorite screen size seemingly, since half its phones use that size.

There's a small punch-hole for the front-facing camera center-top. It's also got a touch input rate of 360Hz. 

The phone sounds impressive so far.

The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G has a 108MP main camera - that's very high-res, and it's the first Pocophone device with such a high-res camera. Saying that, Xiaomi has loads of budget devices with this sensor resolution.

Ng is talking about why 108MP is useful - it's a marketing pitch we've heard before, though it's worth pointing out that 'high res' isn't the same as 'good quality' and we'll need to test out the phone to see just how good it is.

This uses pixel-binning, where the camera combines pixels to take better shots. So you won't be snapping loads of 108MP snaps, and since it's 9-in-1 binning, you'll get 12MP resulting snaps instead.

We've heard about the other two cameras.

Firstly, a 2MP macro - we'd ignore this, 2MP snappers are rarely worth talking about.

The 8MP ultra-wide camera could be useful in certain situations, and this type of lens is always popular in phones.

Lots of the camera modes have been detailed including kaleidoscope, slow-mo, long exposure, time-lapse and 'Movie filters' or basically automatic color grading.

It looks like lots of people have been joining this live blog since the event kicked off - thanks for joining. Just for clarification, we're looking at the Poco 4 Pro 5G first.

We've just moved onto battery. This is a 5,000mAh power pack - nice and big - which Poco says will last for two days between charges.

Charging is 67W, which is nice and fast. Budget phones generally don't get powering this quick, and we love to see it.

Poco is using 'anime episode' as a way of measuring charging. Apparently, in 22 minutes, the device will power up to 70%. We're not sure if this factors in the battery used by watching anime or not.

Oh, and this 67W charger will be included in the box.

The chipset here is the Snapdragon 695.

We haven't seen this used in too many phones, so we don't know how well it works in process, but Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600-series processors aren't always amazing.

Poco knows this apparently, because Ng has explicitly said not to read into the name, and that the 695 is a top chipset. That's a big claim, and we'll need to test it to be sure.

The phone has 5G too. But you could probably tell that already. It's in the name.

RAM here goes up to 8GB, while storage goes up to 256GB. There's also expandable storage up to 1TB.

There's also RAM expansion (where you temporarily turn storage into RAM) which gets you up to 11GB RAM, which should be useful for power-users.

The new Poco phone uses MIUI 13, a Xiaomi-made Android fork based on Android 12, and all the features being discussed at this launch event are the same as were discussed at the Redmi Note 11 launch last month.

Redmi phones, being built by Xiaomi, also use MIUI.

MIUI 13 has smart battery balance to increase battery life, liquid storage (to enhance storage space) and improved security.

Oh, and a few quality of life features have been mentioned:

• NFC
• Headphone jack
• IR blaster

Sounds like the X4 Pro 5G presentation is wrapping up.

Here's the full specs list for the Poco X4 Pro 5G - the price has been discussed too.

It starts with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage for €299 (about $460, £250, AU$460).

Or you can pay €349 for 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, which converts to about $390, £290 or AU$540. Those are some great prices for this phone, but we'll have to see how much it costs in our regions without relying on Euro conversions.

It launches March 2 in loads of countries. 

Right, now we're moving onto the Poco M4 Pro. Its slogan is 'maximize your fun' apparently.

Turns out the Poco M4 Pro has an AMOLED display too - that's even more surprising than the X4 Pro 5G getting it, since Poco's M series is more affordable than its X devices.

The display is 6.43 inches across and has a 90Hz refresh rate, so it's not quite as good as the X4 Pro in all ways, but it still sounds decent.

Onto the design again - it basically looks like the X4 Pro but without the laser design.

It comes in yellow, blue and black, and we prefer the former.

Ng is discussing how light and thin these phones are, compared to their predecessors and other Poco phones. But it's worth pointing out that Pocophone devices are often quite chunky, so these new phones could just be 'normal' sized.

We've jumped straight into battery - 5,000mAh - and charging - 33W. The charger comes in the box.

The main camera is a 64MP one, joined by an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro camera.

Similar to the X4 Pro 5G then, but sans the 108MP main snapper. There's also a 16MP front-facing camera, which sounds the same as in the other Poco.

The chipset is the MediaTek Helio G96.

We can't say we're the biggest fans of Helio chipsets, as they're usually reserved for low-end phones, and MediaTek's Dimensity line of processors are far better.

There's 8GB RAM here which can be forced up to 11GB like in the X4 Pro 5G, and there's also storage up to 256GB, which apparently hasn't been seen in an M-series Pocophone device before. That can go up to 1TB with a microSD card.

Here's the one-sheet again.

For 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM you pay €219, which is about $250, £180 and AU$340, and for 8GB / 256GB it's €269, converting to around $300, £220 and AU$420.

Again, very good prices, and it'll go on sale on March 2. We should point out that Pocophones don't sell in the US though, so don't get your hopes up if you live there.

Kevin Qiu is coming back on stage with "a surprise for you all".

Oh, that 'surprise' is just a little bit of money off if you buy the phones on launch day, March 2. That's nice, but we were expecting the surprise to be a Poco smartwatch or tablet. Never mind.

And that's it, the Xiaomi Poco launch has wrapped up. 

News embargo has lifted, so for a full round-up of what launched, check out our news story here.

We mentioned that a Honor launch was running concurrently to the Pocophone one, right? 

Well, you can see our full coverage on the Honor Magic 4 and Magic 4 Pro here. Their prices were announced, so we know that they're in no way competitors to the Poco devices, as super-premium mobiles.

Through the Poco X4 Pro 5G presentation, the device was constantly compared to its predecessor, the Poco X3 Pro.

It seems that the X3 Pro is Poco's most popular smartphone so far, but we should point out that it's not actually our highest-rated. We gave it four stars in our full review, compared to four and a half in our Poco X3 NFC review.

Saying that, it seems that Poco has brought lots of our favorite features of the NFC to the X4 Pro 5G, so we might not see an X4 NFC down the line.

People who have followed along with TechRadar live blogs before, you might be familiar with our style of intermittently sharing analyses on these pages after our event.

That might be a little different right now though, since the Poco launch was just one of many amidst the busy MWC period.

Case in point: Oppo's keynotes conference is about to kick off. We're not too sure what to expect from this, since the company unveiled its Find X5 line recently.

We'll be covering all this and you can find out what happens by heading over to our primary MWC 2022 live blog here.

Things are starting to slow down on the old Xiaomi news front, so this will likely be our last post in this live blog.

Thanks for following along, and we'll certainly be bringing you news on the new phones when they arrive in our mail box.

If you're still in the mood for smartphones, remember our main MWC live blog is running here, and we're posting news stories and analyses all the time.

Two-minute review

Like the Poco M3 Pro 5G before it, the Poco M4 Pro 5G is a budget handset from Xiaomi that aims to squeeze the maximum amount of value out of not much money: £219 / AU$450 (around $300) and upwards, to be exact.

For a lot of people, cost is the first and most important consideration when it comes to picking a smartphone, and when it comes to affordability the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G definitely delivers.

In return for your cash you get a decent-looking smartphone with a big, bright screen. While performance isn't spectacular (and not much of an improvement over its immediate predecessor), the handset will do everything you need it to do with the minimum of fuss (and with plenty of time between battery charges as well). For some, that might be all they need to know.

Dig a little deeper though, and you can see where Xiaomi has made its savings. The camera setup on the Poco M4 Pro 5G isn't fantastic, and you're also missing out on extras like Wi-Fi 6, waterproofing and wireless charging. It's really a question of what your priorities are and how much you're willing to spend on your next smartphone.

Xiaomi's MIUI isn't one of our favorite takes on Android, though that's more of a personal point of view than an objective assessment – there's just a bit too much bloat and extraneous flotsam for our tastes, though it's fair to say that the software is very customizable. You do at least get the bonus of 5G with this phone, so you're all set for the next-gen connectivity revolution.

If you're shopping for the best budget phone, then the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G has to be in the conversation at some point. However, with middling performance and only satisfactory camera quality, it's really the low price of the phone, the display, and the battery life that sells it the most.

In terms of direct competitors, the £170 / $200 / AU$299 Moto G31, the £229 /$279 (around AU$365) Samsung Galaxy A32 5G and the £199 / $299.99 /AU$449 Nokia G50 are also worth weighing up, and the Poco M4 Pro 5G certainly stands up well against them.

However, you don't have to spend all that much more cash to get improvements like an OLED screen and a superior camera setup.

Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G price and availability

• Prices start at £219 / AU$450 (around $300)
• Available via Amazon
• Not on sale in the US

The Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G is available to buy now in the UK, although it's not particularly widely available. Perhaps the best place to pick it up is Amazon, where you can find the version with 64GB of storage for £219, and the 128GB edition for £239, SIM-free and unlocked.

It's a similar story in Australia, where not many places stock it, but it can be found from around AU$450.

As usual with Xiaomi phones, you can't easily pick up the device in the US - some stores stock an international model, but this won't work on all carriers. In China, the handset is known as the Redmi Note 11.

Design

• Stylish plastic chassis
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Not fully waterproof

With its shiny, two-tone back and oversized camera bump, the Poco M4 Pro 5G offers more flamboyance in terms of its design than a lot of other handsets at the same price – though we can imagine the rather large Poco logo putting some people off. It's all plastic of course, but it's nicely done plastic, and it feels comfortably snug in the hand.

The measurements you need to know about are 163.6 x 75.8 x 8.8mm (6.44 x 2.98 x 0.35 inches) – dimensions largely dictated by the 6.6-inch screen – and the phone tips the scales at 195g (that's 6.88 ounces). It feels pleasingly light, and isn't going to significantly weigh down your pocket or your bag.

We had the black version sent to us for our review, but you can also pick up this phone in yellow or blue as well, options which are a bit more eye-catching. This is perhaps not the handset to go for if you want something understated and minimal, but it's refreshing to see a smartphone that isn't just following the same old template over and over again.

All the physical buttons are on the right as you look at the phone: a volume rocker and a power button. As is common with cheaper handsets, the fingerprint sensor is built into the power button rather than the display – we prefer it the other way round, but you might think differently (and it's not a huge issue in any case).

Charging and data transfer is handled via USB-C, and Xiaomi has even found room for a 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom edge of the Poco M4 Pro 5G. You wouldn't expect full waterproofing on a phone at this price, and indeed you don't get it, with the phone having an IP53 rating for dust and splash protection.

Display

• 6.6-inch IPS LCD
• 1080 x 2400 resolution
• Three color modes

With the Poco M4 Pro 5G we have a perfectly serviceable 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen, running at a resolution of 1080 x 2400 (making for a 20:9 aspect ratio). The 90Hz refresh rate is now the new baseline for smartphones, even ones down at the budget end of the market, and the scrolling and motion is pleasingly fluid.

While the display can't match the deep contrast and vivid brightness that an OLED panel can offer, it's fine for what you're paying, with the brightness ramped up. Colors pop and details are sharp and crisp – and if you don't like the default appearance then there are two other modes to pick from (as well as a color wheel that lets you set the color temperature manually as needed, from warm to cool).

The bezels around the display are nice and slim, although the bottom chin is a little bigger than the rest. The only interruption to the screen is a circular cut-out up at the top, which houses the selfie camera.

Camera

• Dual-lens 50MP+8MP rear camera
• Ultra-wide option
• Built-in night mode does okay

The dual-lens 50MP+8MP rear camera fitted to the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G isn't going to win any best-in-class awards, and while it's not terrible, it's certainly one of the weaker parts of the package as a whole. That's not to say the phone can't take some really good pictures, because it can, but they don't always stand up to scrutiny (especially in low light).

You get an ultra-wide lens, which can come in handy for spectacular landscape shots, but there's no optical zoom here, and the digital zoom is predictably rough around the edges. On the front, there's a fairly standard 16MP snapper, which gets okay pictures but not much more than that.

Quickly browse through a gallery of snaps taken on the Poco M4 Pro 5G and you'll most likely be impressed: color reproduction and contrast is good, brightness is well balanced (even more so with HDR enabled), and images are snapped in an instant. If you're wanting some eye-catching pictures for social media, this phone can do the business – especially outdoors in decent light.

However, start to scrutinize photos taken by the phone more closely, and finer details become fuzzy, with colors occasionally washed out. At lower light levels, there's a substantial amount of noise, although the built-in night mode can make a difference. You can still get some usable snaps, but smartphone cameras a little higher up the price spectrum can do a significantly better job in the dark.

We don't want to be too down on the camera capabilities of the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G, because you can capture very good images (and 1080p, 30fps video) in the right conditions. Like many of the other features here, it's about what you would expect from the price.

Camera samples

Specs and performance

• MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor
• Up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage
• 5G support

The MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset fitted inside the Poco M4 Pro 5G doesn't offer much of a performance upgrade over the MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 that we saw in the Poco M3 Pro 5G last year, but it's still going to do everything you need it to do on Android – including running games that are on the demanding side.

Along with the processor you're looking at 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (a microSD card slot is available for adding more storage space if you need it).

We'd definitely recommend going for the latter of those two options, but of course that does push the price up slightly. This is one of the areas where you can see where Xiaomi has cut costs, as the Geekbench scores of 572 (single-core), 1,567 (multi-core) and 1,593 (OpenCL) testify.

There is some slight lag on occasion when it comes to switching between apps and jumping around menus, but not so much that it spoils the user experience to any great degree. If you're looking to pay a fraction of the price of the top-tier flagship smartphones on the market, then you have to expect some compromises.

The phone comes with Android 11 on board, with Xiaomi's MIUI interface wrapped around it. It's not our favorite Android skin, and there's a little bit too much bloat here for our liking, like the inserted advert that pops up whenever you install something from the Google Play Store. Xiaomi phones have their strengths, but software isn't one of them.

5G isn't yet standard on every smartphone, but we're pretty close to that point. If the next-gen connection technology has rolled out in your area, then the Poco M4 Pro 5G will be able to get connected to it, as the device's name suggests. In short, you get plenty for your money with this phone.

Battery life

• Up to two days of life
• Large 5,000mAh battery
• 33W wired charging

The 5,000mAh battery in the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G reaches the standard one day of use with ease, and if you're not constantly streaming videos, playing games and using GPS navigation then a couple of days of use is possible.

For most of the days during our testing, the battery level was still above 50% in the evening after a full charge in the morning.

That's one of the advantages of a budget phone of course, with a less demanding screen and more pedestrian specs – it doesn't draw as much power. An hour of video streaming knocks around 9% off the battery (at maximum brightness and a low volume level), so you can expect about 11-12 hours overall.

There's no wireless charging here – and indeed you wouldn't expect it at this price – but the 33W wired charging speed is respectable enough, and means you won't be waiting around too long to juice up the handset (about an hour or so from zero).

Should you buy the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: January 2022

Xiaomi has a history of launching impressive budget phones under its Poco brand, and the newly announced Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G looks to be no exception.

This successor to the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G has a 6.6-inch 1080 x 2400 screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a mid-range MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset, a big 5,000mAh battery, and 33W charging.

That chipset and charging speed are both an upgrade on its predecessor, as is the camera, which now includes a 50MP main snapper, an 8MP ultra-wide one, and a 16MP front-facing one.

• These are the best Xiaomi phones
• Everything you need to know about Xiaomi phones
• Read our full Xiaomi Mi 11 review

Elsewhere, the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G has 4GB or 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, a microSD card slot, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, dual speakers, a 3.5mm headphone port, and of course 5G.

Available in Poco Yellow, Power Black, or Cool Blue (with a large black panel extending out from the camera block in all cases), the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G starts at 229 euros (around $265 / £195 / AU$360) for a 4GB / 64GB model.

It rises to 249 euros (roughly $290 / £210 / AU$390) for a 6GB / 128GB one, with the price dropping by 30 euros (approximately $35 / £25 / AU$45) in both cases if you buy if between November 11 and November 13 from AliExpress.

There’s no word on UK pricing at the time of writing, but with the phone landing in Western Europe we’d expect the UK would be included. However, there’s no word on US or Australian availability.

Analysis: could this take the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC’s cheap phone crown?

The Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC currently sits at the top of our best cheap phone chart, so could the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 5G dislodge it?

We’ll have to put it through a full review to be sure, but on paper it sounds generally promising, offering specs that are almost as good at a price that might be even lower, and with the addition of 5G.

Then again, the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G only achieved 3.5 stars in our review, with us noting particular issues with the camera and software, so it remains to be seen whether those will be solved here.

But at the very least the Poco M4 Pro 5G has different lenses, trading a 48MP main, 2MP macro, 2MP depth and 8MP front-facing, for a 50MP main, 8MP ultra-wide and 16MP front-facing. On paper then it seems like Xiaomi might have wisely gone for quality over quantity here, so that bodes well.

• The Xiaomi 12 is on the way

The new Poco F2 Pro which came into existence just a couple of weeks ago is now set for the launch next week. It looks like Poco has confirmed the launch of Poco F2 Pro officially for the Spanish market and sent out the invites.

The Poco F2 will be unveiled on May 12 in Spain, according to a report from 91mobiles. The report also reveals many more details of the device including the price, storage options, and colours of the Poco F2 Pro. 

The Poco F2 Pro will come in four colour options - white, blue, grey, and purple. These are the same colours that the Redmi K30 Pro comes in China, which gives us a little hint that the Poco F2 Pro will be rebadged Redmi K30 Pro for the global market, as suggested previously. 

Poco F2 Pro expected price

The Poco F2 Pro is suggested to be priced at EUR 570, which is approximately Rs 46,800 for the 128GB variant. There is no word on the other variants as of now.

The Poco F2 Pro was already listed at a Chinese retailer a few days back. The listing stated a notch-less “true full screen” display, which is an indication that it will have a pop-up selfie camera instead of a punch-hole. As per the listing, the Poco F2 Pro is expected to feature a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution. 

The listing also said the device will feature “most powerful chipset” alongside a Snapdragon logo, implying that it will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 chipset. In China, the Redmi K30 Pro also brought UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5 RAM, along with 5G support. 

If the listing details and the current report turn out to be true, then the Poco F2 Pro will be same as the Redmi K30 Pro. 

Also, one thing we can clearly notice is that there is no mention of the vanilla Poco F2. C Manmohan from Poco India has gone on record to confirm that the Poco F2 will not be a rebranded Redmi K30 Pro in India. 

• Poco X2 review
• Unannounced Poco F2 Pro is already listed at a Chinese retailer

Xiaomi is a name not widely known in the western world, at least beyond those well-versed in the consumer techscape. The firm has built a reputation for making attractive, powerful devices at rock-bottom prices, earning a commanding position in the Indian and Chinese markets, particularly over the past five years.

It's now going even deeper on this path, as now Xiaomi has brought an even-cheaper handset, the Pocophone F1.

Packing the kind of specification not seen at this sort of price since the original OnePlus One, the Pocophone F1 features many of the internals of handsets selling for £1000/$1000/AU$1,500, but for a lot less.

That specifically means a Snapdragon 845 chipset, 64GB or 128GB of storage, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery, along with a dual-lens camera. Given it's starting at £309 (roughly $390, AU$555) but selling for £349 (around $440, AU$630) in the UK on Amazon, the question remains on how it can be created for such a low price.

Pocophone F1 release date and price

• Out now in the UK
• Starts at £309 (roughly $390, AU$555)

The Pocophone F1’s price starts at £309 (roughly $390, AU$555) directly from Xiaomi, with prices rising depending on the configuration and retailer chosen.

There are four variants, with the three main ones being as follows - 6GB of RAM with 64GB of storage, 6GB of RAM with 128GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage.

An ‘Armoured Edition’ also exists, packing 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage but trading the polycarbonate build for solid Kevlar, but this isn’t available yet for purchase in the UK. Nor, for that matter, is the normal 8GB of RAM model.

Xiaomi phones are not yet directly on sale in the US, and the firm has also yet to officially expand to Australia.

Minimalist, durable design

• Plain but sturdy design
• Armoured Edition offers more durability

One thing is for sure about the Pocophone F1 - it doesn't feel like a piece of precision-engineering. 

While the likes of Honor and Nokia are doing all they can to bring glass and metal all-screen designs to lower price brackets, Xiaomi is forging a different path.

The Pocophone, like the original Oneplus One, is a plastic creation. That isn’t to say that it feels cheap (indeed it feels durable and dependable), but it lacks the spirit of more premium designs. It is almost utilitarian in its minimalism, so those who like to express themselves through their phones will want to invest in a skin or a case.

The front of the phone houses the 6.18 inch, 18.7:9 aspect ratio display, which is bordered by a sizable notch at the top. This houses the infrared face sensor (fast, but not secure) and a 20MP f/2.0 selfie camera.

There's also a thick chin at the bottom, which means the Pocophone F1 isn’t designed to compete with the bigger flagships on every point.

Our review model came in a matte polycarbonate painted navy blue, other models come in red or ‘Kevlar’, the latter offering extra durability.

In short, this isn’t one for the fashionistas and glitterati of the world, however for the power user - or those who value longevity in their handsets - the design will be a breath of fresh air.

It is a harrowing experience watching a beloved £1000/$1000 glass sandwich tumble in slow motion towards an unforgiving pavement. Plastic handles such impacts far better than these harder materials. Saying this, it won’t conduct heat as well as metal devices, meaning overheating could be an issue a few years down the line.

The Armoured Edition of course feels better than the polycarbonate variants. The good thing about it is that it's not slippery or fragile, so you don't need to put a case on the back like glass phones such as the OnePlus 6, Honor 10 or the Asus Zenfone 5Z.

Its look isn't the most intriguing part of the phone, but in practice it is a welcome balance between form and function. In fact, if you are a fan of older Motorola designs with textured backs then the Armoured Edition in particular will feel right at home in the hand.

This is a phone with a design all of its own, totally unique in the market at the moment, taking trends that are a few years old at this point and updating them for the modern age.

Pleasingly, the camera bump on the rear is kept to a minimum, and the easy-to-find fingerprint reader works both quickly and reliably.

At 182g in weight and 8.8mm thick, in combination with the larger screen, this isn’t a device for easy one-handed use. But this is a design that incorporates a large battery and a headphone jack, so it's sure to please many for that reason.

Display

• 6.18-inch 1080 x 2246 screen
• Can get bright, but auto brightness is erratic

The Pocophone F1 features a 6.18-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2246) display, coated with Gorilla Glass 3. Though this isn’t the newest version, it does come with its own strengths. Previous versions, such as 3, were more resistant to scratches, meaning that while less shatterproof this will survive a trip in a pocket full of coins a little better.

This is another in the long trend of manufacturers mostly abandoning the 2K dreams of several years ago. Instead, Full HD+ panels have appeared with a vengeance, offering lower pixel density but with important trade-offs in improved battery endurance and better overall performance.

Needless to say, the screen can reach both very dim and very bright levels, however the auto brightness is quite erratic. 

Color reproduction was a little cool for our tastes, but the MIUI software has ample screen tuning abilities built in. We switched to the ‘warm’ preset, which improved things considerably.

The tall 18.7:9 screen may not be the newest trend on the market anymore, however it makes for an immersive viewing experience on the Pocophone F1.

The only real improvement could have been found by trading up to an OLED screen, but that would have entailed a rise in cost. This isn’t a screen which breaks boundaries for the price point, however it is certainly good enough.

One surprising issue, which was difficult to replicate, is a slightly odd touch problem. Occasionally, and especially when using the home screen, taps seemed to register in the wrong place, often opening the wrong app. This was irritating, and will hopefully be solved in a future software update.

A veritable beast of a handset

• High-end specs and vapor cooling
• Consistently strong performance

Typically, the rule of mid-range handsets is that they come with mid-range processors. These might be scraped together from the offcuts of yesteryear, but offer enough power and flexibility to get the job done.

The Pocophone F1 turns this logic on its head, packing the top-tier Snapdragon chipset of its launch, the 845, into its plastic shell.

Paired with between 6 and 8 gigabytes of RAM, and a generous storage allocation, this is all that the Pocophone F1 needs to fly - and fly it does.

Whether nipping through the MIUI operating system, or powering up the latest game, nothing will cause it to break a sweat. This device is a love letter to the power user who demands more of their device and who doesn’t care so much about looks and fashion.

There are still a few differences between this and the big boys however. The Pocophone F1 doesn’t come with a specially optimized touch layer like the iPhone XS, or a high refresh rate screen like the Razer Phone 2, and the slightly poorer thermal dissipation properties of the polycarbonate body means that longer gaming sessions can get it hot and flustered.

That isn’t to say that it ever throttles however, as some (primarily Huawei) devices occasionally do when the going gets tough. A vapor-cooling chamber built in helps to keep the device going even when tasked with powerful apps, in a rare example of marketing fluff actually holding a little truth.

The technology, which Xiaomi calls ‘LiquidCool’, uses dedicated copper pipes that are looped around the inside of the phone.

The contained water is circulated, turning to vapor in the hottest parts, then turning once more to water in the cooler parts, dissipating the heat uniformly across the body as it changes back.

This is becoming standard as many mobile devices become more powerful and the demands placed upon them increase, however it is a welcome inclusion regardless.

With the chipset used, and Xiaomi’s general commitment to long-term software updates for all of its devices (especially high profile ones), we are relatively confident that this will prove to be more future-proof than many competing mid-range options (at least for the near future).

Worthy of mention too is the fingerprint sensor (among the very fastest we have tested) and the face unlock feature. Utilizing an infrared blaster, this works well both in the dark and in bright sunlight, even if it isn’t secure enough to challenge the fingerprint sensor as a safe way of protecting data.

Fluid user experience

• Runs Android 8 with an update to Android 9 planned
• MIUI interface is heavy but largely inoffensive

No Chinese phone manufacturer is complete without its own heavy-handed interpretation of the core Android experience. Oppo has ColorOS, Huawei uses EMUI in all of its handsets, and Xiaomi has opted for MIUI.

The supposed difference of this fork is that it works mainly from consumer feedback. The company has a dedicated forum which it works from when developing new software versions.

Upon opening the box and powering up the review device, we were greeted with an update to the much anticipated MIUI 10, based off of Android 8.1 Oreo but containing a number of new features too numerous to list.

If you are familiar with iOS, you will be immediately familiar with this, as it’s something of a clone. From the system apps (especially the camera) to the settings menu, the similarity is striking.

There are also influences from Samsung, pulled from the darkest days of its TouchWiz excesses. ‘Nature’ effects abound in MIUI, ensuring a particularly heavy day of notifications can leave the impression that your flat has sprung a leak.

The Pocophone F1 has a slightly different software situation to other Xiaomi devices however, including a few similarities with the Pixel 3 launcher, but it is mostly pleasant to use.

Although the settings menu is an ungodly mess of abandoned half-options, there are at least a great many features available. Figuring out how to put the device on silent is a task best described as Sisyphean (well, nearly impossible to complete), which can be an issue for those who keep their phones on their desk in the office.

However, the option to record calls is welcome and the ability to amend screenshots on the fly is useful when the situation arises.

For the technology purist, this is the kind of user experience which brings heart palpitations and more than a little unease. For the standard user however, no matter their operating system of choice, this is a relatively inoffensive way to experience Android.

Xiaomi has also announced that the Pocophone F1 will receive Android 9 Pie, which will be welcome when it arrives.

Battery life

• Big 4,000mAh battery
• Easily lasts a day of heavy use, may stretch to two with light use

With a 4,000mAh battery, our expectations were high for the endurance of the Pocophone F1, and luckily these were mostly met.

Starting with standby time, this was among the most impressive features. Likely due to some judicious RAM management in the background, along with aggressive software surveillance of rogue apps, we saw the Pocophone battery drop an average of 3% across the course of a night while unplugged.

Into the daytime, waking up at 06:30, reading on the commute while streaming music over Bluetooth, receiving hundreds of messages and emails throughout the day, followed by the same commute in reverse, a little gaming and a TV show later, by 6pm we reached 75% and by midnight we were regularly on 40%.

This is a strong showing overall. Lighter users should easily be able to coax two days out of the handset, while power users should always be able to make it through a full day.

Running our TechRadar battery test (streaming a 90-minute video at full resolution over WiFi), we saw the battery drop from 100% to 88%, again an inspiring showing.

While many handsets that are significantly more expensive fail to make it through even a light day, this kind of performance is really what everyone should be aiming for - props to Xiaomi.

Camera

• Dual-lens rear camera can take decent pictures
• AI scene recognition often leads to unnatural colors
• No OIS

The Pocophone F1, on paper, boasts some serious camera chops - with a 12MP f/1.9 main rear camera and a 5MP f/2.0 depth sensing second sensor for portrait mode, along with a 20MP front-facing sensor.

One notable omission though which would have been a significant help is optical image stabilization (OIS), which makes a real difference in low light situations.

Jumping into the camera app, as mentioned before it is clear where ‘creative inspiration’ was taken, as this is almost a complete clone of the iPhone equivalent.

Users can swipe left and right for ‘Square’ mode, ‘Panorama’ mode, ‘Portrait’ mode and more. There is even a stab at a ‘Pro’ mode, allowing adjustments to shutter speed, white balance and more.

Auto HDR is also on by default, springing into life when the device deems it necessary. This is judged by the onboard ‘AI’, which is essentially just advanced scene recognition.

In certain situations it can make a positive difference, however it boosted colors a little too much for our liking in most scenes tested. Greens in particular became an awful shade of nuclear astro turf, so this is an area which needs some work.

On the whole however, shot to shot times are quick and the unit is capable of capturing some very nice images. Detail retention is solid, sharpness isn’t overdone and the dynamic range is more than adequate in most cases.

For low light, the situation changes, as the camera can’t drop shutter speeds significantly, due to the omission of OIS, so it's certainly not as impressive.

Regardless, this is a snapper which will be good enough for most people, most of the time, and is certainly one of the finest examples available at this price point.

Camera Samples

Verdict

The Pocophone F1 is a lot more exciting than you might expect for the price. Though it packs a plastic build and a utilitarian design, it houses a powerhouse processor and an eye-catching price tag.

While many smartphones being released now struggle to find their own identity, as manufacturers use the same reference designs and internals, the Pocophone F1 has a strong identity of its own.

Beyond this, it is also an astonishingly well-rounded smartphone for the price point. The chipset is powerful enough to handle anything thrown at it, it has ample RAM and storage, along with excellent battery life. The cameras on the front and back are solid performers, and the display is bright and colorful.

The MIUI software is heavy-handed, but this won’t trouble the average user, and while there are a few quirks and bugs to be negotiated, there are also a number of nice quality-of-life additions.

Who's this for?

The Pocophone F1 is for anyone who wants flagship specs on a much lower budget, particularly if you don't mind a slightly awkward interface and that it comes from a brand which - for many - will be almost unknown. It's also a good choice if you particularly value strong battery life.

Should you buy it?

In all, there isn’t a better bargain to be had at this end of the market, and this is an easy recommendation from us.

Indeed, the only major let-down of the Pocophone F1 is its limited availability. Although it is now available in much of Europe, it isn’t sold in the US or in many other territories, leaving importing as the only option, with all of the problems that entails.

It's worth noting that you're not getting premium design in any way, but for the cost-savvy user who wants solid performance throughout this is a very good choice.

First reviewed: January 2019

Competition

Although the Pocophone F1 is arguably the strongest handset at this price point, it isn’t without competition. The likes of Honor and Nokia are selling less powerful handsets that nonetheless each come with their own set of strengths.

Examples of these can be found below, as can the OnePlus 6T - a pricier but still excellent value flagship.

Honor Play

The Honor Play retails at £100 less than the Pocophone F1 in the UK. For this, it offers a metal build, a Kirin 970 chipset, a 6.3-inch 1080 x 2340 display and a 3,750mAh battery.

Although not quite as powerful as the Pocophone F1, it has the advantage of Huawei’s established presence in the UK market and correspondingly more comprehensive repair service coverage. For those with a smaller budget, this might be a slightly stronger option.

Read our full Honor Play review

Nokia 7.1

The Nokia 7.1 is priced similarly to the Pocophone F1 in the UK. It features a 5.84-inch screen, a stylish glass and metal build, a powerful dual-lens camera and a stock version of Android.

However, it uses only a Snapdragon 636 chipset, which is adequate for a mid-range phone but isn’t in the same league as the Snapdragon 845, making this a worse choice for power users.

Read our full Nokia 7.1 review

OnePlus 6T

The Oneplus 6T is the darling of the power user on a budget. Featuring a nicer build, an OLED screen and more bells and whistles than a trainyard, it is a stronger device in almost every regard than the Pocophone F1.

Its Achilles’ heel however, is its price. Though far cheaper than, say, an iPhone XS, it is a fair chunk more expensive than the Pocophone F1, and this alone could rule it out of many users’ purchasing process.

Read our full OnePlus 6T review