Poco F5 Pro: Is it the Best Value Flagship Smartphone of 2023?
Poco started as a flagship killer device, but after a few years, things seem to go down due to mediocre hardware choices. But with the arrival of the Poco F5 Pro, they seem to be back at their roots. The stunning mobile phone has a 64MP OIS camera, fast wired and wireless charging, and a solid 2022 flagship chipset.
So, at a very affordable price, Poco F5 Pro seems like a good choice, but we all know corners are cut to fit the budget. So, let’s see how it performs in our thorough testing.
Let’s Inspect!
Summary
Pros
- Unbelievable Price
- Top-notch processor
- Great Cameras
- Beautiful AMOLED Screen
- Big Battery with Super-Fast Charging
Cons
- Weak Gorilla Glass
- Only IP53 Waterproof Rating
Poco F5 Pro – Price
The price is one of the main selling points of the Poco F5 Pro. It starts at 449$, which is simply incredible and an unbelievable price considering the specifications and 2023 market value. If the performance is excellent, the mobile can easily outplay Samsung Galaxy S23, OnePlus 10, and Xiaomi 13 series.
Poco F5 Pro – Unboxing
Unboxing has always been the same since the very first generation. It comes in a similar black and yellow box with all the usual accessories. Firstly, you will find a box with some paper and a silicon cover. Lifting the box will reveal the mobile phone, and underneath, you will have the charger and wires. It has been the same since Poco F1 in 2018. It feels great, but companies should focus on innovating and bringing better boxes for their mobile phones.
Technical Specifications
- Body: Gorilla Glass 5 Front, Glass Back, and Plastic Frame
- Weight: 204 grams
- Screen: 6.67-inch AMOLED Display with 1440×3200 pixel density.
- Processor: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Memory: 8GB+256GB, 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB
- OS: Android 12 topped with MIUI 14 skin
- Rear Cameras: Main Camera 64MP f/1.8, Ultra-Wide 8MP f/2.2, Macro 2MP f/2.4
- Front Camera: 16MP f/2.5
- Battery: 5160mAh battery with 67W wired and 30W wireless charging
- Speakers: Stereo Speakers
- Sensors: Under Display Fingerprint Scanner, Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity Sensor, GPS
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11, Bluetooth5.3, NFC, 5G
Design and Construction
POCO F5 Pro is a beautiful phone; it was initially released under the name Redmi K60 in the Chinese market, so some of you might be familiar with the design. The phone has Gorilla Glass 5 on top, a glass back, and a plastic frame.
In terms of design, we have a plain glass with trademark POCO branding on the phone’s left side. Moreover, there are three cameras in a vertical orientation covered with beautiful glass with colored sides.
Both the power and volume rocker are on the left, just like the way we have seen in every popular smartphone. On top, we have the mic, speaker, and an IR blaster to use the mobile as the remote. We have the usual speaker, mic, and charging port combo at the bottom. Like every smartphone, we don’t have a headphone jack.
I really love the way the mobile feels in my hand. It is big and bulky, but due to round edges, Poco F5 Pro feels great in hands and does not feel bulkier even with a case.
Poco F5 Pro – Display
The display is the most essential part of a mobile phone. Poco F5 Pro has a beautiful 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120HZ refresh rate. It is not a small or low-end screen. It has a crazy high resolution and refresh rate, making it a great gaming phone.
Overall, I would rate it as a decent display because of its not-so-good colors and viewing angles. But one thing is it has resolution control so you can reduce when you are lightly using the phone to reduce battery consumption.
Poco F5 Pro – Camera
Like any flagship, Poco F5 Pro also has a solid triple camera setup. It has a massive 64MP main camera, 8MP Ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro lens. In addition to high-resolution, wide aperture, and large sensors, the AI-based processor also plays a vital role in enhancing the camera quality.
If we look at the pictures F5 Pro is not much behind the latest Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7. If we look at the side-by-side pictures, there are more details in the S23 shot, but the image from this phone is not much different.
Video performance through the primary camera is also a positive for the mobile phone. It shot in 8K, but I would not recommend that as it takes a lot of space. The OIS struggles a bit during the night. Other than that, everything is nice.
The ultra-wide camera is also good. The details, colors, and exposure are on point. The only thing I want to be changed in F5 Pro is the macro lens. It is a useless addition, as we all know that a high-resolution primary camera can take better macro shots. So, changing it with a telephoto lens is a wise choice.
Performance and User Experience
Talk about performance Poco F5 Pro has a powerful chipset. It is capable and has excellent heat dissipation abilities that keep the mobile phone cool even after extensive gaming. You will not notice any throttling and can use the mobile phone to its full potential.
The MIUI 14 on F5 Pro is very similar to the one we have on Xiaomi 13. It is highly customizable, has plenty of unique ideas, and provides a great user experience. But some things need to be fixed, like the bloatware. The phone comes packed with many pre-installed apps taking up a massive amount of space and RAM. Some of them can be uninstalled, but many are permanent, which takes up your essential storage. Moreover, another great thing about F5 Pro is, Poco has promised three years of software updates.
Poco F5 Pro – Battery
The battery is another solid aspect of the F5 Pro. Firstly, it has a 5160mAh battery topped with very fast 67W charging and 30W wireless charging. The numbers are extraordinary; it takes only 15 minutes to reach 50%. Moreover, it is the first time a Poco phone has arrived with wireless charging, which is a good prospect for the future of these cell phones.
Drawbacks
- No e-Sim Support
- IP53 Water Resistant
- Not the best Gorilla Glass Protection
Conclusion
That’s all about Poco F5 Pro. This is the best choice if you are looking for a flagship phone at almost half the price. The specs are nearly as good as Samsung Galaxy S23 and Xiaomi 13, but the price is almost of their price.
Learn more about the device in our YouTube video.
