The Xiaomi Poco F6 represents a significant step forward in the mid-range smartphone market, combining cutting-edge technology with an accessible price point. Building on the success of its predecessors, the Poco F6 is designed to cater to a wide range of users from mobile gamers to photography enthusiasts offering powerful performance and an impressive feature set. The Xiaomi Poco F6 is an impressive mid-range smartphone that stands out with its strong performance, vibrant display, and advanced camera system.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Design and Display

    The Poco F6 features a sleek design with a glass front and a polycarbonate back, measuring 160.5 x 74.4 x 7.8 mm and weighing just 179 g. It comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, offering a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive brightness of 2400 nits. This makes it perfect for media consumption, gaming, and productivity, offering bright and sharp visuals under any lighting conditions.

    The Poco F6 is a device that, while not groundbreaking in design, is practical and functional. Made entirely from plastic, it offers a comfortable feel in the hand—lightweight and easy to grip without being overly slippery. Plastic has its merits, especially in reducing weight and enhancing grip, making the Poco F6 a user-friendly option for everyday use. Despite its unassuming design, the material choices contribute to a device that's durable and pleasant to handle, even if it doesn't immediately stand out in a crowd.

    The display of the Poco F6 holds up well even under the bright British summer sun, maintaining good visibility despite the occasional strong glare. While there are more expensive devices that handle this better thanks to advanced coatings and higher brightness levels the F6 performs admirably in challenging lighting conditions. Its screen remains usable and clear, offering a satisfying viewing experience without the need for premium features.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Performance

    Under the hood, the Poco F6 is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, with a CPU configuration that includes a Cortex-X4 core clocked at 3.0GHz. Paired with the Adreno 735 GPU, the device delivers smooth and efficient performance, handling gaming and multitasking with ease. It comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and storage options include 256GB or 512GB, though it does not support external storage expansion.

    As expected with such a robust setup, the Poco F6 handles demanding games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Genshin Impact effortlessly, delivering high frame rates without any hiccups. The device’s interface is smooth and responsive, making for a seamless user experience. This performance is further validated by benchmark tests, where the Poco F6 stands tall among powerful contenders. It achieved an impressive single-core score of 1963 and a multi-core score of 4952, positioning it on par with devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the flagship chipset from 2023.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Camera

    The camera setup on the Poco F6 is impressive for its category. It features a triple rear camera system with a 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX882), an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The main camera offers optical image stabilization (OIS) and can record videos up to 4K at 60fps. On the front, it has a 20MP camera capable of recording 1080p videos at 60fps, making it ideal for selfies and video calls.

    The Pro version includes an extra 2-megapixel macro camera, which offers limited practical use. However, its main camera is equipped with a larger sensor that significantly improves performance in low-light conditions. Additionally, the Pro features a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for clearer selfies and video calls. While the Pro delivers slightly sharper images, the F6 excels in producing more natural and accurate colors. Both models are capable of recording high-quality 4K videos, but only the Pro supports 24 frames per second, giving your videos a more cinematic appearance.

    The Poco F6 is capable of recording 4K video at 60fps using its rear primary camera, delivering high levels of detail. However, if you're seeking stable footage with optical image stabilization (OIS), you'll need to switch to 1080p at 30fps. While 4K videos capture plenty of detail, the colors and shadows tend to be slightly muted. The panning is smooth, but stabilization falters if you attempt to walk or run during filming. In contrast, shooting at 1080p 30fps provides more reliable stabilization. The primary camera performs admirably in low-light settings, though some noise is present. The ultra-wide camera, which also records at 1080p 30fps, struggles more, particularly in daylight, where videos often show noise and darker shadows.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Battery and Charging

    The device is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery, which should provide ample power for a full day of use. It supports 90W fast charging, allowing you to charge from 2% to 100% in just about 35 minutes, which is incredibly convenient for users on the go.

    Regarding battery life, the Poco F6 excelled in our testing. It lasted an impressive 21 hours during our HD video loop test, which is a strong performance for a device in this category. In everyday use, the phone consistently delivered more than a day and a half of battery life. Even with a mix of gaming, streaming YouTube and Netflix, GPS navigation, and using the camera, I still managed to get around 6 hours of screen-on time. When the battery does run low, the 90W fast charging capability can fully recharge the phone from 0% to 100% in approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Connectivity and Features

    The Poco F6 supports a wide range of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and USB Type-C. It also includes an infrared sensor and stereo dual speakers with Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos support. However, it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack, which might be a downside for some users.

    The device comes equipped with the full suite of HyperOS features, plus a selection of pre-installed apps. Fortunately, it avoids the inclusion of Hot apps or Hot games, and you can remove all the pre-loaded games and apps if desired. In addition to the standard HyperOS capabilities, the phone offers several AI enhancements, such as AI Gesture Control, AI Image Expansion, AI Eraser Pro, AI Bokeh, AI Noise Cancellation, AI Network and Connectivity, and Wildboost 3.0.

Xiaomi Poco F6: Price and Availability

    The Xiaomi Poco F6 is priced competitively, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers. The exact price can vary depending on the region and retailer, but it generally falls within the mid-range smartphone category about 380 usd. For those looking to purchase the Poco F6, it is available through various online platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Xiaomi’s official website. Additionally, you can find it in physical electronics stores and authorized Xiaomi retailers. Checking multiple sources can help ensure you get the best deal.

Is The Xiaomi Poco F6 Worth Buying in 2024 ?

    The Xiaomi Poco F6 offers a compelling package for those looking for a high-performance smartphone with a great display, solid camera setup, and fast charging capabilities at a competitive price point. Its minor drawbacks, like the absence of a headphone jack, are outweighed by its numerous strengths, making it a strong contender in the mid-range market.