When we were offered to review the new POCO X6 Pro 5G, we swore to ourselves, as iPhone users, that we would avoid comparisons with Apple devices as much as possible. We tried to give it the respect it deserves, but Xiaomi insisted on pulling in a different direction. How does that make sense? We will explain soon.
Either way, this is perhaps the most interesting smartphone in the mid-range device market today, which certainly meets the definition that satisfies a large share of consumers - "full value for the price".
In fact, POCO, a great series of intermediate devices from Xiaomi, has for years met this definition, and this year, too, it has no intention of breaking out of the mold.
vice versa.
guitar pick
Processor:
eight cores Dimensity 8300-Ultra (4nm) high frequency up to 3.35GHz
Screen:
6.67 inch Flow AMOLED
Operating system:
Android 14, Xiaomi HyperOS
Processor memory:
12GB LPDDR5x type RAM
Water and dust resistance:
IP54
Battery:
5,000 mAh
Design and screen
In terms of design, Xiaomi played it safe and didn't get smart, with a flat screen and slightly rounded edges - as simple as it is excellent.
The X6 Pro 5G got a matte metallic look, but it's actually made entirely of plastic (which feels durable, it should be noted), and weighs only 190 grams.
The power/lock button and the volume buttons are both located on the right side of the device.
On the back of the device you will find three huge camera lenses and a flash that received a design similar to the cameras themselves.
The device also received a stereophonic speaker array, up and down.
While most devices on the market, even in the mid-range series, line up in terms of their resistance to water and dust, Xiaomi chose to put less emphasis on this and only comply with the IP54 standard.
The device shouldn't be damaged by a few drops of rain, but we wouldn't recommend it.
POCO X6 Pro 5G - one of the most generous packages on the market, photo: Israel Hayom
What really sets Xiaomi apart over the years is generosity.
In the box you will find a 67W charger with a double USB-C port, a sticker already placed on the screen and a black silicone cover.
This package is not self-evident, and at the very least it will cost you around NIS 200.
The X6 Pro comes with a 6.7-inch Flow AMOLED CrystalRes screen, with an amazing resolution that does not put any device in the world to shame - 1.5K.
It boasts an almost bezel-less panel, with only a minimal camera notch at the top of the screen, and has received a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 coating, so the screen should be quite resistant to scratches and minor impacts.
The display is bright and produces up to 1,800 nits - which will allow comfortable use even in direct sunlight.
The refresh rate of the screen, which supports HDR10, can be adjusted between 60 and 120 Hz automatically (more economical on the battery) or a fixed 120 Hz for those who really must.
If you're a gamer, you'll be happy to know that there's also an amazing touch sample rate.
The default is 480Hz, but it can be boosted to 2160Hz using the phone's built-in Game Turbo mode.
The device comes with a fingerprint reader at the bottom of the screen, but in our opinion it is placed too low, which creates an unpleasant feeling and requires several attempts to open the device.
But what makes up for it is the option to work with facial recognition that works just amazing.
POCO X6 Pro 5G - safe and unintelligent design, photo: Israel Hayom
Hardware and software
Xiaomi made an excellent choice when it incorporated the MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra processor.
It is very powerful, and its graphic results can compete with many processors on the market.
During our testing, we didn't encounter any problems, even when we challenged it with heavy multitasking, thanks to a huge memory volume of 12 GB (which can even be expanded at the expense of the device's storage volume).
It is one of the first devices to come with Xiaomi's new operating system pre-installed.
At the same time, it immediately became clear that HyperOS is almost identical to MIUI (the operating system that Xiaomi devices have come with so far).
These are mostly aesthetic changes, which is nice, but not something that changes for better or worse the experience of using the device.
Remember the opening?
So here we go back to it.
Much of the features and display are very reminiscent of Apple's successful iOS operating system, even more so than Android.
From the control center, through the update center to the general use of the device.
There is nothing wrong with that, and to Xiaomi's credit, the new HyperOS, at least in our eyes, felt much more comfortable than Android.
POCO X6 Pro 5G - we tried to avoid comparing it to the iPhone, we didn't really succeed, photo: Xiaomi
The photography setup
In smartphone reviews, the photography category will usually be at the top of the article, because there is nothing to do - it is a trump card.
However, here, as with most smartphones in this price range, this is not the case.
Don't get me wrong, the new POCO's camera setup is great, but it's not why you'll want to buy this device.
The front camera, which has a 16-megapixel sensor with an f/2.4 aperture key, incorporates AI scene recognition technology that will help you create creative and professional selfies.
You can shoot video up to p1080 at 60 fps.
And how does that translate into words?
We were satisfied with some pictures, but to reach a desired result we needed several attempts.
Some of the images came out pixelated or excessively blurred, and this is due to the fact that this camera comes with a fixed focus, so you need to stand still to get the best results.
POCO X6 Pro 5G - a very respectable camera setup for an intermediate device, photo: Xiaomi
In the rear camera setup, Xiaomi combined three lenses: the main one - 64 megapixels with an aperture key of 1.79, the secondary one - 8 megapixels with an extremely wide angle and an aperture key of 2.2.
And a last camera - a macro with 2 megapixels and a 2.4 aperture key, which seems to have been pushed in all the intermediate devices to forcefully create a triple photo array.
The main camera is very satisfying and manages to take pictures with a lot of details, realistic colors and an HDR effect that looks more natural than few devices on the market.
Portrait mode also works wonderfully, with several options for blurring the background, even after the photo is taken.
We always liked the 2x zoom option, and here POCO did an excellent job.
Although it is not a separate lens but only high-quality automatic image cropping, but nothing to say - it works great.
The photos taken with the main camera look good, with a lot of detail, and the color balance is just great.
The night photography on the main camera was also a pleasant surprise, and the sensor met the difficult challenges we set for it.
It exposes well and rarely exhibits any motion blur.
In video shooting, you can reach up to 4K at 30 fps, and the lens includes an OIS image stabilizer.
The videos look good, the audio is great, and the image stabilization works well in motion.
At the same time, while walking there are unpleasant vibrations, as well as at night.
POCO X6 Pro 5G - a battery that will last a whole day, photo: Israel Hayom
battery
The Poco X6 Pro has a 5,000 mAh battery, which is good enough to keep you from worrying about a charger during the workday.
In the package you will find a 67W fast charger, which will charge your phone from 0 to 100 percent in about 45 minutes.
If you have a long day ahead of you and you need a quick boost to continue it - the fast charger will get you up to 50 percent in just 18 minutes.
conclusions
Poco X6 Pro 5G is an excellent phone at a price of less than NIS 2,000.
It will satisfy most people and even be too much for them.
True, it is not perfect, it is made of plastic and tries to be an iPhone, but if we tell the truth - it is an excellent attempt.
It has a great screen, the appearance of a premium device, a powerful processor, a very respectable main camera, fast charging and a new operating system - all this makes it particularly interesting and affordable.
Price: from NIS 1,949 Can be obtained on the website of the Hamilton importer and at the official resellers.
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