POCO X5: Poco offers smartphones with high-end features at a relatively lower price point compared to other smartphone brands. They come with high-end specs such as powerful processors, large batteries which make them attractive to consumers who value performance. For instance, the X-series from POCO are known for their high-end specs at an affordable price. Models such as X2, X3 Pro and X3 GT have made a huge fan base, particularly in the Asian market. POCO is one of those brands who pioneered the art of “flagship killing”.
Today, we’ll take a closer look at the POCO X5, one of the newest X-Series releases. POCO X5 is a budget smartphone that offers flagship grade features at an affordable price. In this article, we will delve into the unboxing and review experience of the POCO X5, exploring the various aspects that contribute to it and what makes it an enjoyable experience for consumers.
POCO X5: Unboxing
The packaging is the first thing that pops into your head when thinking about unwrapping the POCO X5. It totally sets the tone for the entire experience. It comes in a minimalist POCO signature “Black and Yellow” box with the POCO logo prominently displayed on the front. The packaging is well designed and well made, and it provides adequate protection for the device during shipping.
When opening the box, the first thing that one sees is the device itself. The device’s first impressions are positive, and it reminds me of the nostalgic experience of unboxing my POCO X3 Pro. POCO X5 has got a sleek and stylish design with a premium feel. The device has a slim profile, and it feels light and easy to handle, which adds to the overall enjoyment of the unboxing experience. After getting a glimpse of the device, the next thing is the contents of the box itself. The contents of the box include the following items:
- Charging Cable (USB Type-C 2.0).
- 33W Power Brick.
- User Manuals.
- TPU Protective Case.
- Sim Ejector Tool.
POCO X5: Specifications
Before revealing the experience with this device let’s dive into the specs of the phone. Here are the specs of the new POCO X5. These are the reason why I call it “Affordable Smartphone with Flagship Features”.
POCO X5 Review: Performance
Poco X5 is powered by the tried and tested Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. The Snapdragon 695 is an octa-core processor in a 2+6 configuration (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6×1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver). It is based on an efficient 6nm manufacturing process. It is a powerful mid-range processor capable of handling demanding applications and easy multitasking. The processor also features the Adreno 619 GPU, which provides decent graphics performance and can run games smoothly.
The processor has gained over 400895 points on the Antutu benchmark test and scored over 2088 points on the Geekbench multi-core test. Even the CPU throttling test conducted by GSM Arena has confirmed that the Snapdragon 695 handles sustained load with virtually no decline in performance. I have tried casual gaming and little to moderate multitasking and didn’t face any hiccups. POCO X5 5G has a choice of 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations, expandable up to 11GB or 13GB, thanks to RAM Expansion Technology.
Overall, the processor in the Poco X5 provides a smooth & responsive user experience, making it a popular choice among users who prioritise performance in a mid-range smartphone.
Display
The Poco X5 features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2400 pixels) AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display has a refresh rate of 120Hz, making scrolling and navigating the UI smoother and more responsive. However, you can only choose either 60Hz or 120Hz since the display is not LTPO oriented. The display also has a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits and supports, providing good colour accuracy and contrast for multimedia consumption. Additionally, the Poco X5 features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front to help prevent scratches and damage to the display. It has got excellent contrast and sharpness ratios for excellent visual content consumption. It also features a touch sampling rate clocked at 240Hz. This made scrolling and swiping through apps and social media smooth and fast.
There is no mention of HDR video support. One of the nicest aspects of this display is the adequate level of brightness. With Adaptive brightness turned on, it reached 728 nits. This is rather standard data for a midrange OLED display, which is a good thing. The display is WIdevine L1 approved. It means you can watch Netflix and Amazon video in full HD.
Overall, the Poco X5 display is a key highlight, offering a high refresh rate and image quality for a mid-range smartphone.
Design & Build Quality
POCO X5 features a sleek and modern design that is similar to its predecessor releases in X-series. The larger camera island with the signature POCO logo is the most identifiable. The device has a plastic back with a glossy finish on back. The camera module houses three camera sensors and an LED flash. The device also features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button, which is placed conveniently for easy access.
The Poco X3 Pro boasts a punch-hole display on the front with tiny bezels around the corners. The gadget is available in three different colours: green, black, and blue. The phone is fully packed with some needed features like the 3.5mm jack, IR emitter, and hybrid microSD slot. The fingerprint sensor mounted on lock button is responsive and fast. The Gorilla Glass 3 that protects the display may be a little out of date, but it’s really well calibrated for scratch resistance rather than shatter resistance. The Poco X5 measures 165.9×76.2×8.0mm and weighs 189g which makes it great for people who love carrying light-weight phones. The back panel isn’t extremely grippy, and it does exhibit some smudges, but they are quite negligible than most of the glossy phones released so far.
Overall, the X5 has an acceptable yet functional design for a mid-range smartphone. If you like carrying light phones, this is the phone for you.
Battery & Charging
The POCO X5 has a larger 5,000mAh battery, which is a big improvement over its predecessor. GSM Arena’s tests revealed some encouraging results for the phone. It has managed to accumulate almost 39 hours of phone conversations, and the 21+ hours of video playback (at 60Hz) are even more astounding. Even switching to 120Hz had no effect on the results. According to GSM Arena, the X5 has a decent overall Endurance rating of 106h.
In terms of charging speed, the phone supports 33W fast charging, which allows it to charge from 0 to 100% in just 68 minutes. The charging speeds appear to be adequate for a smartphone in this price range.
Overall, I’m satisfied with the battery drain and also the charging speeds.
Camera
The Poco X5 features a standard 2+1 camera system, which includes a 48MP primary unit, an 8MP ultrawide, and a basic 2MP’macro’ camera. A front-facing 13MP camera provides above-average resolution for selfies. The main sensor a OmniVision OV48B sensor. The utlrawide camera uses an 8MP OmniVision sensor with a 1/4.4″ optical format . The lens are capable of capturing a 118-degree field of view. On front, X5 features a 13 MP Samsung 3L6 sensor for taking selfies.
In my opinion, the images obtained from these are quite good, especially the daytime shots. The details are respectable and on point. However, it was the image noise that caused the reversal. It’s high, and you can see it even at screen magnification, with pixel-peeping making it even more obvious. For an 8MP sensor, the detail is adequate. However, the ultra-wide requires more work and a lot of light to capture a good image. One aspect of these shooters that I liked was their white balance. It is dependable, and the colours are appealing.
When it comes to low light, this phone turns out to be a decent. It managed to shoot images with soft and noisy shadows. The dynamic range and rendering of tonal extremes are both excellent. Some loss of color saturation and distortions of highlights are observed. HDR in low light is quite good and returns some decent results. The selfies camera is also the samein par with the rear mounted sensors. Poco X5 records video up to 1080p at 30fps with any of its cameras.
Given the hardware, the limited resolution, and the phone’s class, you could call it adequate. Details are decent and the colour reproduction is quite good.
Overall, the POCO X5 has a functional camera. Given the phone’s low price, I believe the company took a slight step back to make it more affordable.
MIUI Operating System
POCO X5, unlike X5 Pro coems with MIUI 13 out of the box. 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 X5 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 & Yurong. Follow POCO Community for more amazing review, artciles and info.
