The Poco F5 Pro was officially launched today and we've actually been using it for the past week. Every time a Poco device is launched in Malaysia, many ask if their legacy as an affordable flagship device continues the way the Poco F1 changed the smartphone landscape five years ago.
The short answer is that it's still good to buy Poco. But the longer answer is that it depends on how much patience you have with hereditary bugs and what quality you are willing to sacrifice to have this affordable device.
SPECIFICATIONS
Poco F5 Pro
6.67″ AMOLED screen
WQHD+, 120Hz, Dolby Vision
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.0 GHz Cortex X2 chip
3 X 2.5 GHz Cortex A710
4 X 1.8 GHz Cortex A510
Adreno 730 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB LPDDR5
Internal Storage 256GB UFS 3.1
Main Camera 64MP f/1.79 OIS (Wide Angle)
8MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
2MP f/2.4 (Macro)
8K 24p
Selfie Camera 16 Megapixel f/2.45
5160 mAh battery
67W wired charging
30W wireless charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM nano / 5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP53
Scan System Under-screen fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM 2099 (8/256GB)
RM 2199 (12/256GB)
RM 2399 (12/512GB)
SCREEN
The 6.67″ screen is of the AMOLED type with WQHD+ resolution and 120Hz support. It is not of the LTPO type so the refresh rate cannot go down to 1Hz like on real flagship devices. It is also of the flat type so there is no issue of content overflowing to the side. Gorilla Glass 5 is used to ensure that the screen does not shatter if dropped. The F5 Pro is also Poco's first device with a WQHD+ resolution that provides a pixel density of 526PPI.
What makes this screen interesting is that there is Dolby Vision content support. If you subscribe to Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar and Apple TV+, you can enjoy the Dolby Vision content of these streaming services on the F5 Pro.
The description and viewing angle of the screen is satisfactory. Under bright sunlight the text on the screen is still clearly visible. Screen scrolling also looks smooth especially in 120Hz mode. The color reproduction is also satisfactory without the banding issue which is when the gradient color shows uneven lines. Every touch can also be detected by the screen quite well.
FINGERPRINT SCANNER
The fingerprint scanner is built under the screen at a position that we feel is a little low and the size of the scan area is relatively small. It would be nice if it was placed an inch higher as it makes it easier to scan fingers when the device is held in one hand. The scan is fast and the device is unlocked in an instant. There is a face scanning system but it doesn't work well in dark conditions. The fingerprint scanner also has a secondary function as a pulse scanner when needed.
DESIGN
The design of the F5 Pro is actually recycled from the Redmi K60 which was launched in China at the end of 2022. The device was never officially marketed in Malaysia. This is a common thing that Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco do in Malaysia. The back panel is made of glass with curved sides. We were not given information on whether Gorilla Glass 5 is also used on this panel.
The surface of this back panel is quite smooth but does not trap dirt easily on the model we reviewed. The size of the device does not feel too large and is still comfortable to use with one hand. The whole body is surrounded by a metal frame that makes the body strong. Doesn't feel like it flexes easily when pressed.
The audio and power buttons are placed on the right side and are made of metal. Its position is quite ergonomic and does not hurt the fingers when pressed. At the top there is one of two speaker grills and also an infrared emitter. A nano dual SIM tray, USB-C charging port and secondary speaker grille are located at the bottom.
The camera bump for the three lenses on the back is large but not very tall. It is still lower when compared to that found on the Magic5 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max. The design of this hump is quite strange because it has a silver colored metal side. Three camera lenses are arranged vertically.
Because of the camera hump, the device cannot be placed flat on a table. So we recommend using the free silicone frame to prevent the metal panel on the bump from getting scratched and make the device easier to lay flat on the table.
Despite being equipped with a battery with a capacity of 5160 mAh, the body of the F5 Pro is not that thick. Thinner when compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max which has a much smaller battery. It also does not feel heavy in the hand. All the components and design elements we typed above are included in a body that passes the IP53 water splash proof standard. The device cannot be submerged in a pool so don't be mistaken by the IP68 standard anyway.
USAGE AND SOFTWARE – MIUI 14 For Poco
The MIUI 14 for Poco operating system with Android 13 is the same as the Xiaomi 13 Pro that was reviewed a few weeks ago, only with a Poco touch. There are no drastic changes compared to MIUI 13 in terms of looks but there are improvements in features.
The MIUI 14 Poco interface is minimalistic and looks neat. It looks more and more like the original Android 13. Everything is smooth with the application can be launched quickly. Some additional features included also make it easier to use such as one-handed mode, in-screen pulse scanner, Second Space and Floating Window.
The most interesting additional feature for us is the Memory Extension which adds up to 7GB of memory virtually. Owners can add 3GB, 5GB, a7GB of memory or just turn it off if they feel 12GB is not enough for daily use. Another classic feature that is still maintained is the infrared emitter. We still use it at home because we can control the TV, fan, lights and air conditioner without the need for an app.
During the week of use, we have not noticed any really serious issues. There are just some weird bugs going on. For example, the device does not provide notifications received until the screen is unlocked. If you misplace the device, it cannot be detected using Find My Device. The device seems to turn off WiFi when left on for too long. There are a few other issues but we put them in the Telephony and GPS section as they are more relevant below.
BENCHMARK – Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip is currently no longer a flagship chip because it has been overtaken by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Although it has been more than 8 months since it was launched, it can still be categorized as a powerful chip. This is paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 memory and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage.
We performed the usual benchmark tests which are Geekbench 6, and Antutu 3D. Xiaomi released devices still block the installation of 3D Mark. Therefore only two tests can be done at this time. The test results are as below. We compare it to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips (Xiaomi 13 Pro, S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11), Dimensity 9200 (Vivo X90) and Apple A16 (iPhone 14 Pro Max).
Geekbench 6
Poco F5 Pro – 1868/5272
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1868/5272
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1922/5017
OnePlus 11 – 1495/4805
Vivo X90 – 1668/4000
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 2524/6317
Antutu 3D
Poco F5 Pro – 1,049,997
Xiaomi 13 Pro – 1,252,296
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 1,171,384
OnePlus 11 – 1,104,135
Vivo X90 – 1,147,029
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 974,941
Wild Life Extreme
Poco F5 Pro – None
Xiaomi 13 Pro – None
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra – 3247
OnePlus 11 – 3712
Vivo X90 – 3176
Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max – 3373
The score recorded was not disappointing although not the highest recorded this year. Various social media applications, web browsers, and streaming can be run without any problems. With 12GB of RAM memory many applications can be launched simultaneously without any being closed to save memory. The first performance is also satisfactory. UFS 3.1 storage allows applications and startups to launch quickly.
The majority of games can be run at high graphics settings and resolutions. COD Mobile, Diablo Immortal and Asphalt 9 are all playable at high graphics settings and stable frame rates. The device only gets a little warm after a long initial session due to the large cooling vapor chamber. Early adopters won't complain if they want to use the F5 Pro as their Android “portable console”.
TELEPHONY And GPS
The 5G network can be used well complete with VoLTE and VoWiFi if your telco supports it. Two nano SIMs can be used simultaneously in the tray located at the bottom of the device. The phone call was clear. But there is a strange issue happening while commenting where we are not able to receive SMS. This makes the process of activating WhatsApp and Grab difficult. We don't know what went wrong here. Previously we reviewed MIUI 14 devices and this issue did not exist.
Another strange thing is that the phone goes into "sleep" mode randomly. There was one day we forgot where the F5 Pro was placed. We keep using Find My Device but the system doesn't detect it at all. When the device is found later, it continues to ring and notifications come in non-stop right after the device is unlocked. This is a bug we've had on MIUI 12. Why it's reappearing we don't have the answer.
WiFi and GPS performance is good. The location can be tracked in the Waze and Google Maps applications quickly. WiFi is fast but as we mentioned above it seems to be disconnected by MIUI when the device is inactive for a long period of time.
CAMERA
The tri-camera system on the back consists of a 64MP wide-angle lens with OIS, 8MP ultra-wide-angle and 2MP macro. The main camera configuration is just normal. On the front, a 16MP sensor is used. Here it is clear that Poco made cost savings because only the main camera has a large sensor with OIS.
The MIUI 14 camera is standard with features such as 64MP mode, panorama, object deletion, clone and cinematic video mode. Our expectations are not that high as the configuration is not as good as the Xiaomi 12T Pro which is equipped with a better 200MP sensor.
The camera capabilities are just average with the shots through the main camera being quite satisfactory even if not sharp enough. Color reproduction is also slightly yellowish. The performance of this camera is actually a little disappointing for a sensor equipped with OIS. Night mode is just plain simple. It can be seen that the image is less sharp and there is a little noticeable noise.
The ultra-wide angle lens produces good pictures in good light situations only. In a dark environment the image looks less sharp because there is no OIS. The longer the exposure in night mode, the less satisfactory the resulting image. We recommend using night mode on wide angle lenses only.
Zoom performance is once again average. It is capable of zooming up to 10X only digitally. A good move actually because we feel the quality of telephoto photography is satisfactory up to 2X zoom only. At 10X digital zoom level, the image is not sharp enough. Not broken but we don't think it's suitable for printing in a photo shop.
BATTERY
The 5160 mAh battery allows the F5 Pro to last all day. On average at the end of the day the device still has around 20% battery charge. The average SOT is 7-8 hours and can operate up to 20 hours on moderate use. Satisfactory battery life for a device with a flagship chip. Recharging the battery takes about an hour via 67W wired charging with the charger included with purchase. There is also 30W charging support for those who need it.
AUDIO
Audio from stereo speakers is aided by Dolby Atmos support. Both speakers fire to the sides to provide a balanced audio experience. Currently Xiaomi, Black Shark and Poco are manufacturers that consistently offer speakers that shoot to the side to offer a good audio experience on their output devices. The resulting audio is satisfyingly loud.
Here is what is received in the box with purchase.
1x Poco F5 Pro.
1x Silicone frame.
1x 67W Charger.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM Pin.
CONCLUSION
Poco F5 Pro is the most affordable Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 device in the Malaysian market right now. The performance and the device in running the main application and high graphics are still very satisfactory on the F5 Pro. Another strength is its long-lasting battery with fast enough charging support. For those who are looking for an almost flagship device at an affordable price, this is what they are looking for, there are only a few shortcomings that need to be known first.
First is that the camera performance is more like a mid-range device. Only wide-angle lenses can capture images with consistent quality. The software we felt was disappointing due to the presence of ads, pop-up screens and many fat applications installed. We are also facing issues with not being able to use the SMS service until some apps cannot be activated. If you can forgive this shortcoming, the F5 Pro is a must-buy device with a retail price starting at RM2099 apiece.
Pro
120Hz screen with Dolby Vision.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is quite powerful.
The amount of RAM that can reach 19GB virtual.
Excellent battery life with a 67W charger.
IP53 splash proof.
Affordable price for this specification.
Cons
The software is full of fat apps, ads and pop ups.
Average camera performance.
The finish and build materials feel a little cheap.