The Poco models are ideal for anyone looking for a powerful smartphone without aiming for high-end. This X6 Pro 5G continues the brand's tradition, but with some compromises.
Summary
The Poco brand doesn't necessarily appeal to everyone. It comes from the extensive catalog of the Chinese giant Xiaomi. Launched in 2018 with the Pocophone, then simply renamed Poco, the company has since followed the same strategy: offering high-performance smartphones at affordable prices aimed at a more young audience.
For the 2024 class, the policy remains the same. And the new model in the series, the Poco Asus with its ROG Phone or Nubia with its RedMagic. He even introduced Xiaomi's new HyperOS software overlay, which has since been used on the Xiaomi 14, which was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. But for the asking price, which officially starts at 349 euros, the Poco X6 Pro 5G cannot be good in all areas. The brand had to make compromises in other technical aspects, which somewhat limits its versatility. We were able to test this X6 Pro 5G in its most advanced version, 12-512 GB (419 euros), for several weeks. Here is our verdict.
© Poco
|
|
Poco X6 Pro 5G: a fingerprint magnet
Poco has remained quite clever when it comes to the design of its device. At least for the version we had in our hands. The black plastic used for the back is very shiny, slippery and, above all, catches all sorts of fingerprints. After just a few minutes of use – and it must be stressed – with clean hands – the back of the device had lost its shiny and flattering appearance. Luckily, the brand offers a transparent and flexible plastic case in the box that allows you to quickly cover the device. Even if a little comfort and visual pleasure are lost as a result, the workmanship proves to be exemplary.
Still on the back we find a fairly classic rectangular photo island that houses the three available lenses together with the LED flash to perfect the symmetry of the whole thing.
The Poco X6 Pro has very flat edges, also made of plastic. They are very comfortable to hold, even when used for long periods of time. The keys are well positioned on the right edge and fit perfectly under the fingers. The jack socket has disappeared on the top (it remains in place on the cheaper X6 version). At the bottom of the device there is a speaker, the tray for two SIM cards and the inevitable USB-C port.
The device is IP68 certified and can withstand immersion in water and dust. Good to see for this price. Note that the X6 Pro is available in two plastic colors (black and gray), but also in yellow vegan leather, which is synonymous with the brand.
© Poco
Poco X6 Pro 5G: a convincing screen
Even if Poco maintains a relatively low price on this model, the brand has not given up on the screen. Phew! We therefore benefit from a beautiful 6.67-inch Amoled panel with a resolution of 2712 x 1200 pixels at a resolution of 446 ppi, which is astonishing in this price range. Aimed at a gaming audience, this screen also offers a dynamic refresh rate of 60 to 120 Hz.
Poco doesn't strive for extremes when it comes to brightness. The panel climbs to 1200 nits and peaks at 1800 nits, which is more than enough for everyday use. Even in bright sunlight, we had no trouble reading the display on the screen. What's even more annoying, however, is the panel's anti-reflective treatment. If he does his job well, he'll be happy about all the fingerprints. Gosh, Poco should provide a wipe in the box.
Poco X6 Pro 5G: Peak performance
Technical worksheet
| Screen size | 6.67 inches |
| Screen definition | 1220×2712 pixels |
| Screen technology | Oled |
| Refresh rate | 60-120Hz |
| SoC | MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra |
| R.A.M. | 12GB |
| storage | 512GB |
| Photo sensors (back) | 64 + 8 + 2 Mpx |
| Photo sensor (selfie) | 16MP |
| Video | Up to 4K at 30 fps |
| WiFi/Bluetooth | 6 / 5.4 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under the screen |
| face recognition | Yes |
| battery | 5000mAh |
| system | Android 14 |
| Dimensions | 160.4 x 74.3 x 8.25mm |
| Weight | 186g |
To animate its device, Poco turned not to Qualcomm (at least for this model, since the Poco X6 has an American Snapdragon 7 Gen 2), but to MediaTek. With the X6 Pro we benefit from a particularly efficient Dimensity 8300-Ultra SoC, as we were able to determine from the various benchmarks we subjected the device to. Combined with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, this SoC delivers results close to those of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the flagship processor for high-end smartphones of 2023. The result is very good performance with resource-saving operation. intensive apps, exemplary fluidity of the HyperOS interface and of course very good in-game performance.
With our reference title Genshin Impact, we had no problems playing with a high level of detail and a frequency of 60 frames per second.
By the way, note that Poco provides a software environment for gaming with the Game Turbo application in HyperOS. Here it is possible to apply certain parameters to optimize gaming conditions (free up memory, increase WiFi flow with Xiaomi routers, etc.).
Real comfort served by a good screen. Asphalt 9 also has liquid. A real treat for the eyes and fingers. Gamers will be thrilled. Finally, please note that the heating on this device can be controlled very well. Poco has refined heat dissipation.
Poco X6 Pro 5G: Bloatware galore
In this Poco It applies in addition to Android 14. Poco promises three years of software updates (enough to see a priori up to Android 17) and four years of security updates.
MIUI regulars won't be disoriented. With a top section divided into two parts, for example showing notifications on one side and quick actions on the other, we quickly regain our reflexes. HyperOS seemed a little smoother but less confusing than MIUI. We also appreciated the ease of the unit's storage space.
Less regrettably, however, we lament the plethora of third-party applications that come installed with the system by default. A mess of games, but also apps that are not always desirable for shopping, streaming, etc. In the end, more than twenty applications occupy the device… The result of this abundance is regular annoyance with notifications and advertising. Therefore, before using the smartphone, you should think about uninstalling everything that seems unnecessary to you, otherwise you risk flooding the notification area with all kinds of alerts.
Poco X6 Pro 5G: barely passable photos
If Poco has focused on the processor and screen in the model, other elements of the smartphone suffer from this investment. This particularly applies to the photography sector. The brand has opted for a trio of relatively simple sensors. So we find a wide angle of 64 Mpx (f/1.7), an ultra wide angle of 8 Mpx (f/2.2) and an anecdotal macro sensor of 2 Mpx (f/2.4). There is a 16 Mpx (f/2.4) selfie camera in the cutout at the top of the screen.
© Poco
During the day, the wide-angle module delivers suitable shots, as long as they are not displayed on a very large screen. The images lack sharpness and details. The colors are not always true to the original, with a slight tendency towards yellow. The exposure is also not particularly good and can vary greatly from shot to shot under the same lighting conditions.
The camera interface offers direct access to an x2 zoom (not an optical telephoto lens here, but a simple digital zoom), which delivers slightly more correct images. We benefit from a little more detail and the colors appear more natural. At 2x magnification, details fade and smoothing becomes more apparent. The device offers an expansion to x10, but then nothing is usable.
The ultra wide angle with its 8 Mpx sensor couldn't be more comfortable. We regret the lack of details and the very random colorimetry. The image can be misleading on a small screen, but when enlarged, all the imperfections are cruelly revealed.
The Poco X6 Pro is unruly in portrait mode. Sometimes it is difficult to manage cropping and apply a correct bokeh effect. Often you have to try it several times to achieve a usable result.
As expected, things don't improve at night. Regardless of whether you activate night mode (with longer exposure time) or not, the camera really struggles. The image usually appears blurry. In fact, details are easily lost. Light sources no longer look like blocks of pixels. The ultra wide angle is completely in the dark.
As we can see, the Poco X6 Pro 5G is not equipped at all well enough to produce good photos. However, if you want to post pictures on social media or occasionally use it to capture a scene, this may be sufficient.
Finally, on the video side, the Poco X6 Pro can produce 4K sequences at 30 frames per second. If you want more precision (up to 60 frames per second), you have to make do with Full HD (1080p). The optical stabilization seems to be quite effective.
Poco X6 Pro 5G: autonomy and fast charging available
This is one of the good surprises that this Poco X6 Pro has in store for us. It comes with a 5000mAh battery as standard, but expect the MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra and HyperOS duo to work well together. The device keeps the length. In our PC Mark test (which simulates multiple uses with the screen on), this Poco lasted just over 12 hours. It is very pleasant. In other words, under normal use, it can last more than a day and a half without using the charging case. Hardcore players who draw on reserves a little quicker can expect just over a day of autonomy.
As for charging, it is pleasing to see that the Poco X6 Pro comes with a charger, bucking the trend that prevails among high-end models. And not just any model, because we still benefit from a 67 W model. Thanks to this, fast charging is possible. Wait a little less than an hour for the battery to fully charge. In half an hour we regenerate a little more than 50% of the battery, more than enough for a day.
Poco X6 Pro 5G: Should you choose Poco's powerful, affordable smartphone?
Poco X6 Pro 5G 12-512GB
Without a doubt, this Poco X6 Pro meets the needs of users looking for performance to perform complex tasks on their smartphone and especially to play. In this respect, the configuration chosen by the manufacturer does not disappoint at all. Especially since this powerful engine is supported by a very pleasant screen and a design that, although not the most original, has the advantage of being comfortable and relatively discreet. However, we can point out some shadows on the board. First, the proliferation of third-party applications that are very invasive if you are not careful. Then a disappointing photo section that spoils the fun a little. If you pay attention to the photo, you will inevitably be disappointed. However, if the device's main purpose is to satisfy your passion for gaming in all circumstances, this Poco is an excellent offer.