Poco F5 5G4 reasons to buy, 1 to skip

By Aman RashidThe F-Series smartphones from the house of Poco have been delivering exceptional value-for-money devices over the years. With powerful hardware, impressive software, and feature-rich experiences, all packaged at a relatively affordable price — these devices have been catering to a wide range of needs and budgets. It all started with the OG Poco F1 — that smartphone was a groundbreaking success as it brought global success for the Poco brand in 2018. Fast forward to 2023, the recently released Poco F5 5G has been making waves in the smartphone market with its great features and sub-Rs 30,000 price-point.

So, if you’re considering a new smartphone at a budget of around Rs 30,000, let us give you 4 reasons why the Poco F5 5G should be at the top of your wishlist and 1 reason why you should skip it.

1. Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2Unleashing Power

The Poco F5 5G boasts the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, a powerful chipset that easily outperforms its predecessor, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. With Qualcomm’s Kryo CPU cores and increased clock speeds, the device delivers instant app launches, seamless multitasking, and immersive gaming experiences. The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 competes with, and even surpasses, several high-end flagship chips, including the former flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. And for those who don’t know, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is basically an underclocked Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, so you see where the performance chops are coming from. Long story short, with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 at the helm, the Poco F5 can not only emulate flagship-grade performance but actually deliver it.

2. Immersive Display and Audio Experience

The recently released Poco devices have been sporting great-quality displays across price segments and the Poco F5 is no exception. The device features a large, vibrant, and crisp 1080p AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, providing an immersive viewing experience for media consumption, gaming, and browsing content. Add the Dolby Vision certification, and users can enjoy a cinematic experience with stunning visuals and vibrant colours. Moreover, the 120 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and seamless transitions between apps. The display also reaches an impressive 1000 nits peak brightness, which is pretty decent for a mid-range smartphone.

Apart from the vibrant display, the Poco F5 also supports Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio, enhancing the overall viewing experience with exceptional sound quality. This combination of features makes the POCO F5 a superb choice for entertainment enthusiasts who want to enjoy movies and shows with good picture and audio quality. Moreover, unlike most flagships, the device retains the 3.5 mm headphone jack, catering to audio enthusiasts who prefer wired headphones without the need for adapters or additional accessories.

3. Impressive Battery Life and Fast Charging

The Poco F5 stands out with its outstanding battery and charging capabilities. Equipped with a relatively large 5,000 mAh battery, it can easily last a full day of medium to heavy usage. Moreover, its 67W fast charging technology enables a full charge in about 40 minutes, making it one of the fastest-charging mid-range smartphones available. Now, Poco has prioritised battery optimisation through software enhancements in the latest version of MIUI. So, pair these optimisations with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chip under the hood and the result is a long-lasting battery life with solid performance.

4. Affordable, Yet Flagship-Worthy

Flagship smartphones often come with a hefty price tag due to their high-end components and premium features. However, the Poco F5, with everything that’s on offer provides a flagship-grade smartphone experience without breaking the bank. In fact, the Poco F5 sets a new standard for budget-friendly high-performing smartphones. With its powerful Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset, affordability, impressive battery life, fast charging capabilities, immersive display, and superior audio quality, the POCO F5 is a compelling choice for anyone in the market for a new device.

However, not all things are perfect in this world. So, there’s one little catch why you would want to skip the Poco F5.

Poco F51 reason to skip

â€èThe Poco F5 features a 64MP primary sensor paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro sensor, with a 16MP selfie shooter on the front. While the rear cameras can shoot videos at 4K/30fps and 1080p/60fps, the performance itself isn’t satisfactory. Yes, when it comes to clicking photos, the 64MP primary camera does a pretty decent job. But, the video performance here definitely needs to improve. Additionally, the 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and 2MP macro shooter click subpar photos at best.

Overall, the Poco F5 is primarily a performance-driven smartphone, and it delivers above and beyond when it comes to the phone’s multimedia capabilities, gaming capabilities or even endurance chops. But, if the camera is kind of your high priority on a budget of around Rs 30,000, we’d suggest checking out the Pixel 6a.