Xiaomi’s POCO F5 5G – Global Version for Mobile Phones
Xiaomi’s POCO F5 5G – Global Version for Mobile Phones
Xiaomi’s POCO brand has built a reputation for pairing high-end specs with surprisingly affordable prices. The F5 and F5 Pro are no exception.
Both feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, making media consumption a treat. They also pack in the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform, allowing them to run the most demanding games with ease.
Camera
Back in 2018, Xiaomi’s POCO brand took the smartphone industry by storm with its flagship-level performance for a fraction of the price. The company’s new F5 5G builds upon that success with top-notch specs, an impressive 120Hz AMOLED display, and a powerful processor.
The main camera performs similarly to last year’s F4 with ample detail, rich (if slightly saturated) colours, and a wide dynamic range under good lighting conditions. The 8MP ultra-wide sensor also takes decent photos in tricky and low-light conditions.
On the software side, POCO F5 runs on Android 13-based MIUI 14 out of the box. This is a major improvement over the previous iteration with less bloatware and more user-friendly features.
Battery
The Poco F5 5G packs in a 5,000mAh battery, supports 67W fast charging, and provides an all-day screen-on time. It can also play graphically demanding games at high frame rates without any lag or CPU throttles.
The handset uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset and comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. Moreover, it has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a pixel resolution of FHD+ and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The peak brightness is capped at 1000 nits.
Overall, the Poco F5 is a worthy buy if you want a flagship-grade smartphone experience for less than Rs 30,000. It performs well in synthetic and real-world benchmark apps, has a 12-bit display panel, a powerful processor, stereo speakers, and a solid battery life.
Performance
Xiaomi’s POCO brand has been making smartphones that combine high-end specs with surprisingly affordable prices since 2018. Its F4 was one of the better value for money phones last year and the new F5 looks like a worthy successor. Thanks to a powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset, the phone runs fast and smooth in everyday use. I was able to play games like PUBG Mobile on maxed-out settings without any stuttering.
The battery also impresses. With screen on time at 40%, two email accounts syncing and heavy social media use, the phone managed to last about a day. It charges quickly with the included 67W charger. The only drawback is the software, which can be bloated with ads and microtransactions. But this is typical for MIUI and not a big deal.
Design
Xiaomi’s POCO brand has built a name for itself by marrying high-end specifications with surprisingly affordable prices. The F5 and its Pro counterpart are the latest entries in the ‘F Series’, and both look set to turn heads with their impressive hardware and features.
The base variant comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS Storage 3.1, while the top model has 12GB and 512GB of storage. Both are powered by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4nm) processor and are capable of running the most graphically intense games at full resolution.
Other notable features include a 6.3-inch FHD+ 120Hz display and a 67W fast charging battery. Both phones also come with MIUI 14, which is a bit messier than stock Android but still feels pretty responsive.
Software
The POCO F5 5G is one of the best performing smartphones in its price range. Its Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 chipset blazes through everyday tasks without any lag or slowdown. Its 6.67-inch AMOLED display is incredibly smooth and responsive. With HDR support and a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s great for gaming and watching videos.
The phone also supports a wide range of Bluetooth headphones and features Dolby Atmos. I also found its audio quality to be exceptional, with minimal crackling and distortion at high volume.
The F5 5G runs MIUI 14, Xiaomi’s Android software, which is based on Android 13. It’s not as slick or mature as the Pixel or Galaxy A54, but it’s still usable and customizable. It also gets two years of major OS updates and three years of security patches.