Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro Test: 5G for only $ 500
"The Poco F2 Pro offers a lot of performance and 5G support at an affordable price, but the camera can't keep up with the best."
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Competitive price of $ 500
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Top processor and 5G
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OLED screen looks great
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Long battery life
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Entertaining macro camera mode
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Import in the USA only
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Camera disappointed
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No water resistance
The Poco F2 Pro with a Snapdragon 865 processor, 5 G, 8 GB RAM and a 64 megapixel camera module with three lenses is very tempting.
But wait, haven't you heard of Poco? I can't blame you. The company, which is part of the Xiaomi empire, made headlines in August 2018 for the first time with the Pocophone F1, a competent smartphone with excellent technical data and a low price.
Poco has released several devices since then, but none has nearly matched the appeal of the original – until now. The F2 Pro seems to have everything we liked about the Pocophone F1. But can it still not only compete with other flagship hardware, but also with the new inexpensive, desirable smartphones?
design
The Poco F2 Pro is similar in size to the OnePlus 8 Pro and has the same aluminum and Gorilla Glass 5 construction, but with a slightly smaller 6.67-inch AMOLED screen on the front. A motorized selfie camera keeps the viewing area free of interruptions. However, this setting means a high total weight of 219 grams. There is also no IP protection class for water or dust resistance.
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This problem has affected the OnePlus 7T and the similarities don't end there. Like the OnePlus phone, the reversing camera is located in a circular module with four sensors, while the flash unit is located outside. I like the etched ring that runs around the camera module and strikes through the flash. It gives a certain character to the back of the phone, as does the curved X-like pattern on the surface of the module.
The rear glass has a matt surface. It can be seen here in the usual Cyber Gray color, but striking purple and blue models are also available. Though not overly reflective, it still attracts a lot of fingerprints, and I'm disappointed to see that it has already scratched an inch long. This is a surprise as it has spent most of the time at home due to restricted restrictions, not in bags or pockets. However, Poco contains a transparent silicone sleeve in the packaging.
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On the side there is an on / off switch and a volume rocker that are easy to find and press. However, the on / off switch can use a different texture to match its bright red color. There is a built-in fingerprint sensor with an excellent placement because my thumb is connected to it almost every time without having to search for it or stretch it. It is reliable and gives a pleasant vibration when activated, but it is not particularly fast. The motorized camera works for the face release, but only after the screen has been wiped up by the lock. So it is not faster than the fingerprint sensor.
I don't think the Poco F2 Pro is stunning, but the circular camera module makes it stand out from many other phones available today, and that's a good thing. At 8.9 mm it is bulky, which, together with the relatively high weight, means that it never feels slim, but is comfortable to hold. Enthusiastic smartphone fans will see that the Poco F2 Pro looks identical inside and out to the less common Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro.
camera
Let's look at the technical data before we go any further. The main camera has 64 megapixels with an aperture of 1: 1.9, while the wide angle has 13 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 2.4. There is a 5 megapixel macro camera and a 2 megapixel depth camera. The motorized selfie camera has 20 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 2.2.
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Photo quality is reasonable, but not as good as it should be for these specifications. Photos cannot have dynamic range, and the camera does not enjoy challenging lighting situations, indicating that the exposure levels are off. The results are variable and this inconsistency is frustrating. For every recording I liked, there were two that had to be edited before they could be released.
I like the macro function. Often these modes are hit or miss with inferior focus and quality, but the Poco F2 Pro focuses well with limited prompts, and the 5-megapixel sensor means the results are high enough to be shared. Portrait mode provides good edge detection, but is affected by the main camera's different exposure and dynamic range problems. I really like the selfie camera because portrait mode effectively blurs the background.
Poco F2 Pro macro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Poco F2 Pro macro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Poco F2 Pro macro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Poco F2 Pro macro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The price of the Poco F2 Pro reflects the attention paid to camera tuning. It's decent, but can't keep up with OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro.
screen
You'll see a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED screen with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 and a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels, as well as support for HDR10 Plus. It contradicts a significant trend in the industry by not having a significant curve on the sides. The Poco F2 Pro has a flat screen with only a slight curvature of the glass on the sides, which does not affect the display or the displayed image.
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By default, the screen has a cool palette, but is filled with details. A good example of this is the BMW M3 CSL video on the always beautifully recorded YouTube channel from Carfection. The silver-gray metallic color of the car takes on a strong, highly metallic hue compared to the less harsh silver that appears on the screen of the iPhone 11 Pro. The deep sun in this special video is autumnal on the iPhone and brighter but less atmospheric on the Poco F2 Pro.
If you look at the display settings, you can set the color palette to warm or cold and even adjust the gamut yourself. I was completely satisfied with the default setting despite the overall coolness.
None of this is a criticism, and I like the Poco F2 Pro's screen, which looks much better than you'd expect for a $ 500 smartphone. However, the audio is a little disappointing. The sound comes almost exclusively from a single speaker on the bottom of the phone, with only a small fill coming from the speaker above the screen.
The Poco F2 Pro has a 3.5mm headphone jack and the sound quality is very good.
software
The software is Android 10 with MIUI 11 at the top of my Poco F2 Pro. After recently reviewing the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro and finding some software problems, I approached the F2 Pro with some concern, but in true MIUI form, it's a lot better here than the Mi 10 Pro. Why MIUI's performance differs from phone to phone remains a mystery, even if it is technically quite similar.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Yes, the software experience on the Poco F2 Pro is solid. It is reliable and stable, and notifications are always delivered and even appear on the surrounding screen when the phone is locked. It may sound silly to highlight them as positive, but anything can happen with MIUI. The Poco F2 Pro didn't frustrate me.
MIUI's aesthetics are appealing, with a simple layout and design that differs from the look of Android on Google Pixel, but not annoying. The notification shadow, gesture control, app drawer, and settings screen are very similar to those used elsewhere in the best versions of Android. The overall speed is good too.
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However, it is not perfect. Edge detection is poor, even though the screen does not have a strong curve. Palm rejection is the main problem, and simply holding the phone down sometimes prevents the keyboard from recognizing input. I don't like the many additional apps and features that MIUI adds, like the security center, the additional browser, and the system cleaner. In addition, eBay, WPS Office and LinkedIn apps do not have to be preinstalled.
Power and battery
The Poco F2 Pro has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor with 6 GB or 8 GB RAM, depending on the model purchased. My test model had 6 GB of RAM. I played Asphalt 9 Legends without any problems and enjoyed the shooter 1945, which highlighted the pleasant haptic feedback of the F2 Pro. Here are the benchmark results:
Geekbench 5: 3325 Multi Core / 910 Single Core
3DMark Sling Shot Extreme: 6,618 (volcano)
The results are almost identical to those of the OnePlus 8, which has the same processor and improves on the Samsung Galaxy S20 with Exynos technology. Given the price difference between these three phones, the Poco F2 Pro makes sense if you want a casual phone instead of photography.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The 4,700 mAh battery has serious legs and is even more a friend of the player. Although my phone was largely connected to Wi-Fi, it still had to deal with social media, apps, video calls, photos, videos, and some games. Nevertheless, most days end with more than 50% remaining time.
A 30 W quick charger is included. After 20 minutes, the phone rose from 3% to 41% and fully charged in almost an hour and 10 minutes. That is an excellent charging performance.
Price, guarantee and availability
The Poco F2 Pro is available in two different versions, a 6 GB / 128 GB model and an 8 GB / 256 GB configuration. The 6 GB / 128 GB Poco F2 Pro can be bought in the U.S. through an importer like Gearbest, where it costs $ 499. In the UK, the higher specification phone is officially available through Xiaomi's online store for £ 549 or about $ 689.
The guarantee depends on where you buy the phone. Some importers provide a guarantee. Therefore, check this before buying. In the UK, Xiaomi grants a two-year warranty on its devices, which covers the Poco F2 Pro and protects against manufacturing defects.
Our opinion
Outside of the very reasonable price, there is a lot to do for the Poco F2 Pro. The long battery life, fast charging, attractive screen and strong overall performance make it an enticing offer. However, the camera is inconsistent and the software needs to be improved in some areas.
Is there a better alternative?
The Poco F2 Pro's close rivals include the UK's $ 700/600 OnePlus 8 and $ 700/549 Motorola Edge. If you haven't opted for Android, consider Apple iPhone 11 for $ 700. The OnePlus 8 is hard to ignore as it has a similarly excellent screen and fast processor, combined with a better camera and better software.
We also recommend taking a look at two of the cheapest and most powerful smartphones currently available – the Apple iPhone SE and the Google Pixel 3a. Both cost $ 399 and are very powerful. The Pixel 3a camera is truly outstanding, and the overall performance and design of the iPhone SE make it a winner. The Poco F2 Pro offers an excellent price-performance ratio, but is not as sophisticated as one of these recommended smartphones.
It is important to note that the Poco F2 Pro is identical to the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro, which is not widely used outside of China and, unlike the F2 Pro, may not have the same access to Google Play if you use it for international use acquire.
How long it will take?
The Poco F2 Pro is not waterproof and has no durable body. The scope of delivery includes a case that I can recommend if you want to avoid the scratches that my test device has already picked up. Xiaomi updates MIUI regularly, and MIUI 12 is expected to be available sometime in the future, but it will take longer for Android version updates to become available.
Due to the excellent technical data, the Poco F2 Pro should remain fast and powerful for several years, and it also has 5G. While 5G isn't widely used at the moment, it will be in the future, and the Poco F2 Pro is a great way to get next-generation connectivity now.
Should you buy it
No, you should buy the OnePlus 8 instead if you're looking for a powerful, affordable smartphone that's easy to buy. This is mainly due to the software experience that is great with the OnePlus and the camera setup. Apart from that, the Poco F2 is a very good value if you are looking for something else due to its long battery life, strong processor and attractive screen.
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