After Poco F1 was launched, Poco can be said to be idle for almost two years before continuing to release various new products. The F1 and F2 Pro are among the landmark device killers. The F3 is just the Snapdragon 870, which is a premium base/mid -range flagship device. Now in 2022, they are back again with the killer of the flagship device which is the Poco F4 GT.
The Poco F4 GT is not only the killer device of 2022, it is also a "gaming" device with the best value. After weeks of this device arriving at the our lab and having me make it a daily device, in this article I will share my usage experience and help you to know if this device is worth owning?
Specifications And Designs
Little F4 GT
Screen 6.67 ″ AMOLED, FHD+
120Hz, HDR10+
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor (4nm)
1x 3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 chip
3x 2.50 GHz Cortex-A710
4x 1.80 GHz Cortex-A510
Adreno 730 Graphics Chip
RAM 8/12 GB LPDDR5
Internal Capacity 128/256 GB UFS 3.1
64+8+2 Megapixel Main Camera
f/1.8+f/2.2+f/2.4
20 Megapixel Selfie Camera
f/2.4
4700 mAh battery
120W wired charging
SIM/nano SIM Dual Phone
NFC Ada
Audio Jack Missing
Waterproof None
Scanning System Scan the finger on the side
Selling Price RM 2299 (8/128 GB)
RM 2499 (12/256 GB)
A device with a 6.67 ″ screen size for a hand like mine is a ngam size. I still find it easy to operate the device with one hand, easy to access the available buttons as well as comfortable using the device in any position. The Poco F4 GT also has a quality AMOLED panel. It is beautiful, bright and has a pretty deep color with preserved details. The black OLED color on this device is quite captivating and any content with Dolby Vision on Netflix provides an immersive viewing experience, while on YouTube with HDR 10+ support can also give users a variety of soothing content access.
The screen bezel is also quite thin and has an immersive user experience. 120Hz on this device I use the automatic type, meaning in accordance with the content and applications displayed/open. It’s very smooth and fast, without any annoying serious issues.
The Poco F4 GT is also built with a premium build and has the ability to pretend to use a more luxurious device. Every aspect on this device doesn’t feel like a budget device at all. The device is nice on the hand, not too slippery and doesn’t feel weird or awkward for long -term use.
Thankfully the Redmi K50 Gaming is not brought in for the local market, otherwise this Poco F4 GT is indistinguishable. Although only a rebranding, the design of this device does not look at all Redmi. It’s like Black Shark in a more affordable package. On the camera module there is also an RGB light that also serves as a notification light. He looks fierce, but still wants to remain minimalist.
On the right side there is a power button which is also a fingerprint scanner in the middle, then there are four additional buttons - two on the top and two on the bottom. It is a sliding button to activate the physical pop-up shoulder button. This shoulder button really helped me in playing firsts like Asphalt 9 or COD Mobile. It is easy to set as well as comfortable to press without giving an awkward feeling.
On the left there is only a volume button and a SIM card slot. On the device there is a speaker lattice, a microphone hole and an infrared sensor. While below there is another microphone hole and speaker lattice along with a USB-C port.
Usage And Software
If MIUI on Redmi devices has a lot of problems, MIUI on Xiaomi devices changes a bit with MIUI China - MIUI for Poco is a global version of the regular MIUI modified to be friendly with Poco devices. It will run and work according to what you pay for. This means that although the performance is more or less the same as a device priced at almost RM5000, it does not mean that a device priced around RM2000 will have the same capabilities.
MIUI for Poco has the worst problem of all the MIUI I have ever tested. There are many features and functions in it missing, such as the feature of changing the display of open apps from grid to horizontal, incomplete launcher settings feature, messy icon design and unattractive and annoying dark mode.
Many elements in this operating system are similar to regular MIUI, so it's not awkward. Only when there is a feature that wants to be searched but not found and any party whether Xiaomi or Poco or Redmi to not explain which feature A and feature B or feature C is limited to which MIUI and which device.
I'm still having notification issues on this device. Instagram is slow to come in, WhatsApp sometimes hangs and most annoying, there are times I go through problems where the screen goes black or white and remains static with no touchable screen - a disrupted system that tested my patience during last Ramadan.
For me who is familiar with any MIUI, this MIUI for Poco is not the worst tragedy. Only if they can offer the performance and capabilities of simpler and more user -friendly software, I am confident Poco can win the best device. I also know how to turn off ads and want to make the overall usage experience more satisfying, so using the Poco F4 GT around two weeks of use is pretty okay and acceptable.
Bench mark
It has become a trend now to include virtual memory features. The Poco F4 GT that I use is a 12GB RAM model and 256GB Internal Storage, MIUI for Poco can provide 3GB of virtual memory to improve performance. Between 12GB vs 15GB RAM, on this device there is not much difference either whether it is a direct test or a joint test of the cooling fan accessory.
The Poco F4 GT also did not experience severe warm -up issues throughout testing with the benchmark. Even the heat on the device happens only for a moment for every time there is the first session of PUBG Mobile or COD Mobile. Play a light first like Asphalt 9, almost two hours is not a problem.
In the Geekbench 5 and AnTutu benchmark tests it received the following scores;
AnTuTu: 919,369
Geekbench 5: 1246/3554
The score obtained is quite high. However it is for my use. If you have someone who doesn’t like apps running in the background, I’m sure higher scores are no problem. Yet if we don’t look at the score, and look only at the offerings available on this device - the sacrifices that Poco is making for the best performance and value of the device are great.
Telephones And GPS
I expected the Poco device to have problems with the network, as it is a rebranded Redmi device. Still, perhaps because the device is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 rather than a mid -range processing chip - network performance such as mobile data and direct phone calls are no problem. In fact, the use of hotspots is also stable and not as problematic as other Redmi devices.
GPS is also fast and accurate to lock in locations and give intricacies. Using this device has the experience of using a more luxurious device.
Camera
Poco F4 GT this time made me change my face with a shocked reaction. I didn't think the camera's capabilities were great. Great in its own class, which is a device priced around RM2500 and below RM3000. If compared to other devices with the same chip, this Poco F4 GT camera is not the best.
For cameras, like other MIUI devices it will use the MIUI camera app with a built -in intelligence system. AI on MIUI cameras often has inconsistent problems in the selection of color profiles. Yet, when it is so - it is so. This means, when its AI system is becoming smart the result of the image that can be rendered is quite sharp, the colors are good and with the details preserved.
Night mode, ultra wide angle mode, bokeh mode and so on have pretty good and satisfactory results. Selfie cameras are also undeniably quite quality. If you’re wondering, why not just make sure the AI and use HDR mode - in my attempts the result is with more faded colors. Another way is to use manual control mode. But if you want to OOTD or continue to capture and share - the camera of this device will satisfy you.
Battery
What I realized after using some Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 devices, for my own usage like don't turn off data, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC active, many favorite apps are pinned to always run in the background, screen brightness 70%-100%, love to use haptics and vibration, audio is always around 70% -100% as well, and active in video streaming, audio, a bit of first session, a bit of camera and social media-I found the device will last around 4-5 hours SOT. On the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Vivo X80 Pro is the same and the Realme GT2 Pro that our author experienced is the same.
On this Poco F4 GT I regularly receive around 4 hours of SOT for use as stated. However if the use is more disciplined or careful, such as turning on which is necessary and off which is not used, regularly clear the memory and do security checks and so on-SOT 6-7 hours will not be a problem. The Poco F4 GT also supports 120W fast charging, which can reach less than 20 minutes 0% -100%-I have no problem with this 4-5 hour SOT battery.
Audio
At first glance, the Poco F4 GT seems to have high quality stereo speakers. But if fully appreciated, the speakers of this device actually resonate a bit. It focuses on deep bass so other audio details are not so clear. In fact, the audio from the action scenes is either in the video streaming or the first play - every explosion, shot and noise is so unsatisfactory. It’s loud, it resonates, it’s also balanced, but less palatable after every day with it.
Conclusion
The Poco we first knew was as a brand present as a landmark device killer. But since the Poco F3 clearly seems to start focusing on gaming devices, the Poco F4 GT introduced in Malaysia continues to be the most worthwhile gaming device. With a price of less than RM2500, you can own a device with a physical shoulder button, a cooling system, a powerful chip, use a great screen and have a simple, beautiful and sexy design is a worthwhile value.
The Poco F4 GT is this year’s Poco flagship device and it undeniably deserves to be the 2022 flagship device killer.
Every time I am with this device, I have a satisfactory usage experience. The device’s camera can also hold up pretty to what it has to offer. Just a pity, the sacrifice we have to endure is with MIUI For Poco, which is built based on MIUI 13 Android 12 for global. It is not very stable and friendly to global users. Then the audio is a bit bland because only the Redmi speakers are trying to disguise, moreover this device is only a Redmi K50 Gaming.
Other uses on the device are quite good and satisfactory. It matches the price. Where else can you find a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 device with a starting price of RM2299?
Pro
Beautiful, neat and premium device design
The 120Hz screen is fast, beautiful and bright enough
Amazing achievement
Affordable prices for the category
Fast charging which is very helpful
Pretty camera
Cons
The audio is not good, only the basic speakers are amplified and resonate
Weak battery even can charge fast
MIUI for Poco which is not friendly to global users