Flagship killing smartphones are a new breed of devices that only some companies are dare to offer. POCO is one among those brands. Mobiles from POCO aim to provide a similar level of performance and user experience as more expensive devices, while remaining accessible to a wider range of consumers. One of the most notable examples of a flagship killing smartphones include the POCO F1, POCO X3, and POCO F3. These devices feature powerful processors, high-resolution displays, fast charging capabilities, and impressive cameras. All these features are available at a fraction of the cost of flagship devices from other brands.
Unboxing: Nostalgia Revisited
- POCO F5 smartphone.
- Type C Charging cable.
- 67W power adapter.
- User Manuals
- TPU Case and Sim Ejector
Overall, the experience of unboxing this amazing device was truly satisfying and left me excited to explore all of its features and capabilities. I am confident that this device will provide a seamless and enjoyable user experience for both personal and professional use. The sleek design and materials used in the construction of this device also add to its appeal and make it a pleasure to hold and use. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and the unboxing experience.
Let’s dive more deeply into the review of the specs and features of this device to see how it performs in real-world usage scenarios.
POCO F5 Review: Design
The POCO F5 comes with a sleek and trendy design. The color options complement the overall design aspects of the phone. The F5 is available in three color variants: electric blue, stormy white, and carbon black. I personally got the chance to try the electric blue variant, and the design looks absolutely stunning. The back panel reminds me of the blue sky with its gradient finish, and the color pops out really well. The stormy white variant also looks elegant and sophisticated, while the carbon black variant gives off a bold and edgy look. The color options provide users with a range of choices to suit their personal style.
Furthermore, the rear panel is now made of plastic rather than glass, however, the frame is composed of aluminum. These changes have helped POCO keep the price of the device low, making it an affordable option. Despite having a glossy finish, the F5’s hindquarters didn’t catch any major scratches even after several rounds of rough handling during my everyday usage. The high-quality paint job and sturdy construction of the F5 ensured that it remained in pristine condition throughout the daily usage.
Apart from design, one thing that really caught my eye is the presence of the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Unlike, other brands, POCO has retained this feature in their latest smartphone models. It is a relief for users who prefer wired headphones over wireless ones. Additionally, the placement of the headphone jack on the top of the phone makes it easily accessible and convenient to use. The volume rocker and lock button on the right were perfectly placed and easily accessible.
Overall, design wise, POCO F5 is does not possess over the top flagship range design. It’s right on point, more practical and perfect for daily usage.
POCO F5 Review: Performance
POCO F5 comes with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 under its hood. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 improves upon previous generations of mobile processors with its cutting-edge design and increased performance. It is built using the cutting-edge 4nm manufacturing process. It is known for its high transistor density and energy efficiency. This new architecture enables Qualcomm to pack more transistors into a smaller area. Therefore, resulting in significant performance improvements and reduced power consumption compared to previous generations. Apart from the processor, POCO will let you choose from a variation of 8GB or 12 GB RAM with UFS 3.1 storage. This combination will allow you to enjoy instant app launches, seamless multitasking, and immersive gaming.
Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 boasts a powerful combination of the Kryo 7 CPU and Adreno 725 GPU, offering a significant boost in performance for both processing and graphics. The Kryo CPU features an octa-core design. The architecture includes a 1 core Cortex-X2 clocked at 2910 MHz, 3 cores Cortex-A710 at 2490 MHz, and 4 cores Cortex-A510 at 1800 MHz. This design ensures that the processor can effectively handle both heavy workloads and everyday tasks, while maintaining optimal power efficiency.
On the other hand, Adreno 725 GPU, is designed for stunning graphics and immersive gaming experiences. It features an enhanced architecture that provides up to a 40% performance improvement compared to its predecessor. It enables smooth and responsive gameplay even in the most demanding titles.
Overall, in terms of performance aspect, POCO F5 doesn’t have a single issue or drawback. 7+ Gen 2 has made F5 take a quantum leap against its competitors.
POCO F5 Review: Display
One of the standout features of the POCO F5 is its smooth and responsive display. With a high refresh rate clocked at 120 Hz and a quick touch response rating up to 480 Hz. As a result, scrolling through apps and playing games feels incredibly smooth and natural. The display is also bright and vibrant, making it a pleasure to use for browsing social media, watching videos, or working on documents.
Additionally, the F5 features an AMOLED panel with 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution on its front. The display is large and has a high resolution, providing users with an immersive viewing experience that is perfect for streaming movies or playing graphic-intensive games. The screen is also protected by durable Gorilla Glass 5 , ensuring that it can withstand accidental drops and scratches.
On top of all these, POCO F5 comes with Dolby vision enhancement. Dolby Vision is a video format with a high dynamic range (HDR) developed by Dolby Laboratories. It improves video image quality by giving a wider colour gamut, greater contrast ratio, and brighter highlights. It is intended to provide viewers with a more immersive watching experience.
Overall, the display is stunning and an absolute delight to watch.
POCO F5 Review: Camera
The POCO F5 offers a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front, it has a 16-megapixel sensor housed inside the punch hole. The camera setup of the F5 allows users to capture stunning photos with great detail and clarity. I tried out the camera in various lighting conditions, and the phone aced the test with flying colors during the mornings. I said it because the camera did wonders when enough light was passed through the sensor. In the morning setting, the camera setup was able to capture stunning details and colors, producing sharp and vivid images that were a delight to look at.
However, the camera struggled a bit in low-light conditions, resulting in slightly grainy and blurry photos. I did miss having the bokeh portrait mode, as many phones in this price segment offer the feature. The front camera is also capable of taking high-quality selfies and video calls. Overall, the camera on this phone is decent for everyday use, but it may not be the best option for those who prioritize photography. Nevertheless, it still offers good value for its price range.
When it comes to video recording, the phone’s camera can capture up to 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. Additionally, it has built-in stabilization technology to ensure smooth footage even when moving, which is impressive for a mid-range device. For many, camera is one of the deciding factor when choosing a phone and this is where F5 didn’t passed with flying colors. However, considering the price point it is offered, POCO did a great job giving us a decent camera.
Overall, the phone is a great option for those who want a reliable device with decent camera capabilities without breaking the bank.
POCO F5 Battery & Charging Speeds
The POCO F5 is a smartphone that is built to last, thanks to its long-lasting battery and fast charging capabilities. F5 comes with a good Li-Po 5000 mAh battery. With its large battery capacity, this device can easily last an entire day on a single charge, even with heavy use.
The POCO F5 also features fast charging technology. POCO F5 comes with a 67W turbo charging brick included in the box. It means that you can quickly recharge your smartphone and get back to using it without having to wait around for hours. It took an astonishing 40 minutes for me to fill up the juice require to last a full day. This is especially useful when you’re on the go and don’t have a lot of time to wait for your device to charge.
Another great aspect of the POCO F5’s battery and charging capabilities is its battery optimization features. This smartphone has a number of settings that allow you to conserve battery life, such as a power-saving mode and the ability to limit background activity. This means that you can use your device for longer periods of time without having to worry about running out of battery.
Overall, POCO F5 is a reliable and convenient smartphone that you can count on to last throughout the day.
POCO F5 Review: MIUI
F5 comes with MIUI 14 out of the box. Poco has promised two years of Android updates and three years of security updates. In other word, F5 will let you go up to MIUI 16. It is a highly customizable and feature-rich operating system. Users can customize the appearance of the device by changing the theme, icons, wallpapers, and fonts. MIUI is designed to optimize system performance and reduce power consumption by limiting background activity, optimizing app launch times, and providing a number of battery-saving features. You may not like the amount of bloatware that comes pre-installed on this devices. However, POCO has provided a clear path to uninstall most of them which I really liked the most about MIUI for POCO.
Along with the bloatware, MIUI on this phone is fully packed with essential features such as RAM Extension, AOD, Security APP, Extended Battery Saver, and Super Wallpapers. Along with the given RAM, you can also choose to allocate 2GB or 5GB extended RAM. Game Turbo is also present for the gaming enthusiasts.
Overall, MIUI is fully packed with pros and cons. However, after using it for over a period of 5 years, I can say that MIUI is improving and getting better over the time.
Final Words
Overall, the Poco F5 is an excellent mid-range smartphone that offers great value for money. Its powerful processor, high refresh rate display, and large battery make it an attractive option for users who prioritize performance and battery life. If you are looking for a smartphone under budget that is capable of running as your daily driver, then look no further, this phone is totally for you.
Special shout out to POCO Community for helping me to do this review article. Especially to Zhang. Follow POCO Community for more amazing review, articles and info.
Discussion about this post