Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro Review: This Smartphone is Definitely Worth Your Attention!
Introducing the Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro, the newest addition to the POCO F family and an exciting smartphone from the top segment of the brand. The POCO F5 Pro aims to provide flagship-level features at a more affordable price, making it an attractive option for smartphone enthusiasts on a budget.
One of the standout features of the POCO F5 Pro is its powerful and efficient flagship System-on-a-Chip (SoC) from 2022. With this SoC, the device delivers excellent performance, allowing for smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and seamless gaming experiences. Users can expect a snappy and responsive performance, even when handling resource-intensive tasks.
Its powerful SoC, high-resolution OLED display, versatile camera setup, and sleek design make it a compelling option for those who prioritize performance and value for money. With its competitive features and attractive price point, the POCO F5 Pro is definitely worth putting to the test.
Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro: Video Review
| Specs | Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro |
| Display | 6.67 inches, 1440 x 3200 pixels, AMOLED, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+ |
| CPU | Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 |
| RAM | 8GB, 12GB |
| ROM | 256GB, 512GB |
| Card slot | No |
| OS | Android 13, MIUI 14 for POCO |
| Main Camera | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), |
| Selfie Camera | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| NFC | Yes |
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| Battery | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Charging | 67W wired, 30W wireless |
| Dimensions | 162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in) |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) |
| Colors | Black, White |
Design
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro features a sleek design with a distinctive lattice pattern on the longer sides of the back panel. This design element is exclusive to the black color variant, while the white version has a plain back. The lattice pattern resembles aramid fibers, adding a touch of uniqueness to the device’s appearance.
However, the glossy glass back can be quite slippery, increasing the chances of the phone sliding on uneven surfaces. Additionally, the glass easily collects fingerprints, which can make the POCO F5 Pro look dirty and less appealing.
The smartphone’s frame is made of plastic, which contrasts with the rest of the design. While it might have contributed to reducing production costs, it may not offer the same premium feel as a metal or glass frame.
The arrangement of elements on the phone follows a traditional layout. On the right side, there is a power button with a textured surface for easy identification. Both the power button and the volume rocker are positioned at a convenient height, allowing for easy one-handed use.
The top frame of the POCO F5 Pro houses a secondary microphone, an infrared port for device control, and an additional multimedia speaker.
On the bottom, you’ll find a basic microphone, a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, a multimedia speaker, and a dual SIM tray that supports nano-sized cards (in 5G standby mode). Notably, the left side of the device lacks any buttons or ports, and there is no headphone jack or microSD card slot.
The camera island on the back of the phone is visually appealing, featuring a unique cut on the longer sides. The square-shaped macro camera stands out from the two traditional round camera modules, creating an interesting visual contrast. The LED flash is discreetly placed under a protective glass.
On the front, the POCO F5 Pro boasts a large display with thin and even bezels on each side. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, which, while not the latest generation of glass, provides sufficient durability for a smartphone in this price range.
The front-facing selfie camera is located centrally at the top of the screen and is of modest size, ensuring it doesn’t disrupt the viewing experience.
In terms of durability, the POCO F5 Pro carries an IP53 rating, offering protection against light splashes and moisture. While this is not extraordinary, it provides some peace of mind when it comes to accidental exposure to water or damp environments.
Screen
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro boasts an impressive display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, measuring 6.67 inches diagonally. The display features a WQHD+ resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels and utilizes AMOLED technology. Notably, all edges of the display are flat, contributing to a sleek and modern design.
One of the standout features of the display is its high refresh rate capability of up to 120Hz, providing smooth and fluid animations and transitions. Additionally, the screen offers a 480Hz touch refresh rate, ensuring excellent touch responsiveness. With the display occupying approximately 88% of the front panel, the thin bezels are barely noticeable, enhancing the immersive viewing experience.
The AMOLED technology of the display delivers deep blacks, infinite contrast, and vibrant colors, resulting in a visually stunning experience. The 10-bit panel is calibrated in the color space of the cinema palette (DCI-P3) and supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision technologies, further enhancing color accuracy and dynamic range.
The POCO F5 Pro’s display offers impressive brightness capabilities. It can reach typical screen brightness levels of up to 1,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in bright outdoor conditions. For HDR video content with small bright spots, the display can achieve peak brightness values of up to 1,400 nits, providing enhanced details and contrast.
The ambient light sensor on the device works seamlessly, smoothly transitioning between different brightness levels based on the surrounding environment. This natural adjustment eliminates the need for manual brightness adjustments, as the device intuitively adapts to the lighting conditions without any abrupt changes.
The smartphone also features an Always-on Display feature, offering over 20 display styles to choose from, with customization options available. This feature allows users to conveniently view important information such as time, date, and notifications without fully unlocking the device.
The POCO F5 Pro incorporates an under-screen fingerprint reader, which offers fast and accurate biometric authentication. This placement allows for a seamless unlocking experience, adding to the overall convenience and security of the device.
In terms of screen software, POCO provides additional enhancements for video playback, including color and brightness boosting options. Users can customize screen resolution settings, with the default starting at FHD+, and choose between automatic, 120Hz, or 60Hz refresh rate options based on their preferences and requirements.
Performance
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro, being a mid-range smartphone released in 2023, is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, which was last year’s flagship processor. Manufactured by TSMC using a 4nm process, this processor offers powerful performance. While the clock speed is slightly reduced compared to the original flagship version, it still delivers impressive speed and efficiency. Paired with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the device provides a smooth multitasking experience and ample storage capacity.
The graphics performance of the POCO F5 Pro is also noteworthy, making it capable of handling any game available on the Google Play Store without any issues. Whether it’s popular titles like Call of Duty, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, Diablo Immortal, or Asphalt 9: Legends, the smartphone ensures a constant, smooth gameplay experience. Even demanding games like Genshin Impact can be played flawlessly on this device.
The POCO F5 Pro runs on Android 13 with MIUI 14, specifically adapted for POCO smartphones. The software interface includes an application drawer by default, which may not be everyone’s favorite due to the presence of unnecessary pre-installed applications that occupy storage space. Additionally, some actions may require multiple confirmations, which can be a bit annoying. However, with some customization and the option to disable certain functions, the software becomes more user-friendly.
It’s worth noting that the MIUI version on the POCO F5 Pro is slightly limited compared to the standard MIUI found on other Xiaomi devices. While this may result in some reduced functionality, it also means a more streamlined user experience without excessive bloatware.
Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro: Camera
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro features a capable camera setup that includes the following lenses:
- 64-megapixel 1/2-inch main camera (defaulting to 16 MP photos) with an f/1.8 lens aperture, 0.7 µm single pixel size, PDAF, OIS, and night mode.
- 8-megapixel 1/4-inch ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 lens aperture, 1.12 µm single pixel size, and a 120˚ field of view.
- 2-megapixel dedicated macro camera with an f/2.4 lens aperture.
The main camera, equipped with the OmniVision OV64B40 sensor, takes excellent photos in good lighting conditions. During the day, it captures shots with impressive detail, making it easy to recognize objects in the background. The photos also exhibit a pleasant tonal range and dynamic range. The colors produced by the main camera are quite accurate, offering results that are closer to those produced by flagship competitors.
One slight drawback is the absence of automatic HDR, as HDR mode needs to be manually enabled. This might be surprising considering the advancements in smartphone camera technology.
In low-light conditions, the POCO F5 Pro performs reasonably well, although it may not reach the same level as some high-end devices. There might be a loss of detail in the background in certain scenes, but overall, the camera still delivers decent low-light performance. The smartphone’s main camera also supports 2x digital zoom, and a dedicated switch encourages easy switching between zoom levels.
The POCO F5 Pro supports video recording in resolutions up to 8K at 24 frames per second, allowing users to capture high-quality videos. As for selfies, the device utilizes a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.5 aperture, ensuring satisfactory results for self-portraits.
Battery
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro is equipped with a 5160mAh battery, providing ample power to keep the device running throughout the day. This battery life is considered standard and meets expectations for a device of this caliber.
Furthermore, if the device is primarily used for non-intensive tasks and not heavily focused on gaming, it can even extend its battery life to an additional half day. This means that users who utilize the smartphone for regular activities, such as calls, messaging, and light app usage, can potentially enjoy an extended battery life beyond the usual day of usage.
To facilitate quick charging, the POCO F5 Pro supports 67W wired fast charging, allowing users to rapidly recharge the device when needed. Additionally, the smartphone also supports 30W inductive charging, providing the convenience of wireless charging for those who prefer it.
Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro: Conclusion
The Xiaomi POCO F5 Pro offers a compelling combination of features, performance, and price. It caters to users who seek a mid-range smartphone with strong gaming capabilities, a high-quality display, reliable battery life, and a decent camera setup. For those looking for a device that strikes a balance between performance and affordability, the POCO F5 Pro is worth considering.
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