Root-Nation always delights its readers with interesting materials. This time, we have an interesting model under review, which was literally presented today – May 23rd. We received it a few weeks ago and already want to share our impressions with you. Meet the new, extremely good mid-range device – POCO F6. Let’s see if it can compete in the niches it features and how well it performs in everyday use.
Positioning and price
As we know, the POCO F6 was announced alongside its older sibling, the POCO F6 Pro. How do they differ? Firstly, in their appearance – they are completely different, as if they are not “related brothers” at all. Additionally, they differ in screen characteristics, chipsets, cameras, and charging power. The Poco F6 Pro runs on the time-tested Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, while the hero of our review received the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. In terms of performance, they are similar, although the 8s is slightly more energy-efficient, while the Gen 2 offers a more powerful graphics processor.
They both feature 6.67-inch OLED displays with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, but the “Pro” version stands out with a fantastic brightness of 4000 nits and higher resolution. The cameras are identical, but the F6 Pro has an additional macro module and can record in 8K format. There are also differences in memory versions, and the “Pro” version has slightly better charging power – 120W, while our regular F6 charges at 90W. You can compare the specifications here.
What can I say, both models look promising. We also got acquainted with the F6 Pro, but this article is dedicated to the regular POCO F6.
The model will be available in green, titanium and black colors. Our version has 512 GB of storage and 12 GB of RAM, which is a good option – undoubtedly, with such a quantity of RAM and storage, the system will work without glitches. There are cheaper version available – 8/256GB.
Regarding prices, we don’t have exact information yet, but we can assume that the cost of both models will not differ significantly from last year’s devices in the POCO F series. That is, we can predict the price of the F6 to be around $600.
Read also: POCO X6 Pro smartphone review: It came to conquer… a niche
POCO F6 specifications
- Operating system: Android 14, HyperOS shell
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) – octa-core (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 and 4×2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 and 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)
- Video card: Adreno 735
- Protection against dust and water: IP64
- Display: 6.67″ AMOLED, 68 billion colors, 120 Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 2400 nits, 1220 × 2712 pixels, ~446 ppi, aspect ratio 20:9, contrast ratio 5000000:1, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
- Memory versions: 8/256 GB, 12/256 GB, 12/512 GB, 16/512 GB, storage type UFS 4.0, without support for memory cards
- Cameras:
- Main unit 50 MP (Sony IMX882), f/1.6, 1/1.95″, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
- Ultra-wide-angle module 8 MP, 1/4.0″, 1.12µm
- Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, 0.8 µm
- Speakers: stereo
- Wireless technologies: 5G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e dual-band, Bluetooth 5.4 (aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LHDC), GPS navigation, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c), NFC
- Battery: 5000mAh, 90W wired charging (PD3.0, QC3+)
- Dimensions: 160.5×74.4×7.8 mm
- Weight: 179 g
Complete set
The standard package includes everything necessary: the phone itself, a tray ejection tool, documentation, a soft-touch case, and a charger. A protective film is already applied to the screen, so there’s no need to worry about the basic safety of the gadget.
Design and composition of elements
I’ll say right away that the phone has an interesting design, modern and fresh. Firstly, it’s slim, with the entire front panel occupied by a screen with very narrow bezels. In the middle, there is an inconspicuous circle – that’s the front camera.
The side bezels are flat, making the phone very comfortable to hold. On the right edge, we see two buttons – volume control and power. The left side is empty, while stereo speakers are located at the top and bottom of the front panel.
The back panel is light blue with small specks of glitter – this designer solution looks nice in the sun. Unfortunately, the material of the body is plastic, both “around the perimeter” and on the back panel. However, there is a positive side – it doesn’t show signs of wear, as most users are concerned about stains and fingerprints.
On the back, there are two large camera modules and an additional circle – which is nothing but a flashlight. On the right side, you can see the brand name inscription and the specifications of the main camera: 50 MP OIS.
And look how beautiful the camera frame looks in the light!
In summary, the design stands out by adhering to modern market trends, with its color and cameras undoubtedly attracting attention. Will everyone like these two elements? Probably not, but I believe it’s better to have a model that stands out among average phones.
Important note: if you have small hands, you may find it difficult to use the phone with one hand, as the screen is elongated and the smartphone itself is large – 160.5×74.4×7.8 mm. However, I haven’t encountered situations where I couldn’t handle it. The main thing is that the POCO F6 doesn’t slip and fits comfortably in the hand. It’s also worth using a case – I know not everyone likes it, especially since we have such a nice phone and hiding it in a case seems like a crime, but the camera modules protrude significantly above the body, which can be dangerous for both the cameras and the gadget itself. So be careful, and you can always buy a transparent case, and then these two problems will be solved on their own.
And finally, the model is dust and water resistant to IP64 standard. This means it’s protected from dust and splashes, but not waterproof, so don’t submerge the device in water.
Read also: POCO X6 5G Review: Future Bestseller?
Display
Another plus we can add to the treasure trove of the POCO F6 is its display. We have a beautiful 6.67-inch AMOLED display that provides vibrant colors, good detail, and screen brightness.
The images are very sharp. The display remains readable under any lighting conditions, as it has a peak brightness of up to 2400 nits. I’ll add that the viewing angles deserve the highest rating, as the images are not distorted in any position.
F6 also have Wet Touch technology, known from Redmi models, i.e. recognition and digital elimination of water droplets on the screen. It works and is useful!
As for the refresh rate, we have the option of adaptive mode 60 Hz / 120 Hz and a fixed rate of 60 or 120 Hz.
Additionally, there is a wide range of screen settings available – light and dark modes, enhanced textures, various color schemes, font selection, the ability to create images using artificial intelligence, diverse themes and wallpapers – both free and paid. There is also a reading mode to make the display similar to an e-book.
Among other things, the smartphone supports the Always On Display feature, which allows information to appear on the screen even in sleep mode, and there are quite a few settings available.
Read also: POCO M6 Pro Review: Functionality For Decent Price
Processor, memory and performance
At the heart of our hero is the octa-core Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, a new processor announced on March 18, 2024. It belongs to the flagship segment and is manufactured using a 4-nanometer process. The processor features a Cortex-X4 core with a clock speed of 3.0 GHz, four Cortex-A720 cores with a clock speed of 2.8 GHz, and three Cortex-A520 cores with a clock speed of 2.0 GHz. As for the graphics, it is equipped with the Adreno 735 GPU, with which the chipset scores up to 1.7 million points in the AnTuTu benchmark.
All this is good, but overall, what’s much more important is how the phone performs. And here, everything is top-notch – apps launch quickly, switching between them happens without any delays. It even seemed to me that the phone executes commands faster than I give them!
Even when performing more demanding tasks, the phone maintains high performance, doesn’t heat up, and doesn’t drain after half an hour of gaming – this ensures comfortable use without unnecessary stress. Moreover, the optimization of Android 14 with HyperOS provides stability and quick response to every user command.
In our test, we had the higher-end version of the F6 with a memory capacity of 12/512 GB (UFS 4.0 and LPDDR5 types of storage). However, the younger versions (8/256 GB, 12/256 GB – we still don’t know exactly which ones will be available for sale) will undoubtedly be just as smooth and agile.
In the version with 12 GB of RAM, this is unlikely to be needed, but there is a feature in the settings to expand the RAM using storage. Available options: 4, 6, or 8 GB, with 6 GB selected by default.
Sound
The POCO F6 is equipped with stereo speakers. Additionally, the latest Bluetooth 5.4 supports codecs such as aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, and LHDC, providing excellent sound quality. Whether you’re listening to music, watching movies, playing games, or having a conversation, the sound will be clear, deep, and loud. Thanks to advanced technologies like Hi-Res Audio, the smartphone delivers rich and adequate sound that will satisfy even the most demanding users. Unfortunately, there is no 3.5mm mini-jack here, but if you connect wireless headphones, you will also have great sound – the highs and bass will become more noticeable.
In the settings, you’ll find audio effects like Dolby Atmos, an equalizer, and even an option for surround sound.
I’ll add that the model offers very thoughtful haptics, with soft vibrations providing pleasant user experiences. And not only in the menu but also in games!
Read also: POCO M5 smartphone review
Unlocking methods
The fingerprint scanner is located right in the screen. I admit that this is the most convenient option – at least for me; I haven’t had any mistaken presses, and unlocking has been quick. If you prefer another option, namely face unlock, you can certainly use it. Even in the dark, the phone recognized me, so there shouldn’t be any problems with that either. I’ll add that the fingerprint scanner can also measure your pulse; you can find this option in the additional settings.
Connection and data transfer
The POCO F6 offers all useful wireless functions and technologies: LTE/5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e. Additionally, NFC support is present, allowing you to make contactless payments. Navigation technologies include GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c).
POCO F6 cameras
The photographic capabilities of our phone are as follows:
- Main module: 50 MP, f/1.6, 1/1.95″, 0.8 µm, PDAF, OIS – Sony IMX882 unit
- Ultra-wide-angle module: 8 MP, 1/4.0″, 1.12 µm
- Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, 0.8 µm
АNow let’s discuss each of them in more detail. I was satisfied with the main camera module; take a look at the captured images – they are of good quality with natural colors, decent detailing, and contrast (I’ll add that I don’t see a noticeable difference in image quality compared to the F6 Pro).
The wide-angle module takes great shots – not inferior to the main camera. Here are some examples, with the wide-angle mode on the right:
I also can’t help but mention the good (for digital, as we don’t have a telephoto lens) zoom. Up to 5x is more or less good; beyond that, the quality noticeably drops, but you can still zoom in and recognize car numbers, signs, or plaques. Here are some examples – 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x:
I was even more surprised by the ability of the main camera to take great close-up shots. For example, the Xiaomi 14 (which, by the way, we have in our editorial office) is not capable of this, as it has a larger focal length. Another point is the portrait mode – it nicely highlights contours and blurs the background, and there were no issues with it.
POCO does a decent job with night shots, considering its price category. However, it’s worth standing still and not breathing. Otherwise, blurry shots may come out.
There’s a night mode that gently illuminates the image; here are some examples, with the night mode on the right:
Selfies on the front camera, in my opinion, turn out pretty good: the skin looks decent, there’s no “vampire effect” where we appear unnaturally pale in the frame. There are correction options that allow, for example, to even out the skin tone, as well as a portrait mode.
Videos recorded during the day have good stabilization and color reproduction. Supported formats include 4K@30/60 fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240 fps. On the other hand, night video lacks stabilization, and the camera often loses focus for a few seconds. However, this isn’t too critical as the quality, saturation, and colors remain at an acceptable level.
Camera settings are understandable, but they might not be useful to everyone. I say this because advanced users who want to improve the quality of their shots are more likely to use them.
Here, we’ll find features such as intelligent tips, toggling automatic night mode, orientation notifications, HEIF format, video stabilization, encoder, HDR10+ option, off-screen recording, geotags, and more. Within the camera itself, standard options are available: Pro, document, video, portrait, night mode, panorama, full 50 MP resolution, slow motion, time-lapse mode, and so on.
Read also: Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G Review: True Flagship
Software
Спрощений процес переходу від MIUI до HyperOS допоможе користувачам Xiaomi легко освоїти нову оболонку. Незвичайність може виявитися лише в окремих деталях, таких як іконки та розташування деяких елементів меню, але загалом інтерфейс залишився майже незмінним.
It’s helpful that HyperOS offers plenty of customization options, particularly concerning the lock screen. There are several available themes, each with its own clock style and Always On indicator. Additionally, a new system-wide font has been introduced. The multi-window interface has been improved, and overall navigation elements have become more intuitive.
In addition to the pre-installed Google apps, the manufacturer offers many proprietary ones. There’s a native gallery, music player, video player, file manager, phone cleaning app, and browser.
Some apps I would call bloatware, meaning unnecessary. Additionally, the apps come with ads and unwanted notifications.
Read also: Redmi Note 13 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G: Review and Comparison
Battery life
The POCO F6 features a 5000 mAh battery, which is a standard capacity for this price segment. The package includes a 90W charger.
I tested the phone thoroughly by playing games, texting, browsing the internet, watching videos, editing videos, and taking photos for several days. The device didn’t overheat and lasted for 1.5 days. I believe this is a good result, thanks to the excellent hardware and components, as well as the decent battery and fast charging, which make the user’s life easier.
In the settings, there are several options that can be useful for optimizing the charging process. For example, there are three battery protection modes: normal, optimized, and limited to 80% for battery health. There are also several charging modes available: high-performance, balanced, power-saving, and ultra-efficient. Additionally, fast charging needs to be activated separately.
The manufacturer claims that the phone charges from 0 to 100% in 35 minutes. We timed it, and it turned out to be 40 minutes. It reached 100% within an hour.
Conclusions
F6 is another mid-range smartphone from POCO that is poised to be a hit. The phone has a lot of potential. It boasts good hardware (plenty of fast memory, a flagship chipset), an interesting design, excellent display, long battery life, and fast charging capabilities. It features a solid camera setup, stereo speakers, and well-optimized software.
Will the POCO F6 rise to the pedestal and surpass other devices? It depends on many factors, and it’s hard to say definitively, but we are confident that the Poco F6 is a great phone that will win the hearts of many users. We don’t know the price at the time of writing this review, but it’s unlikely to be higher than $600. So, it’s not a cheap phone, but it’s very powerful with impressive cameras. And if you’re looking for something more affordable, the POCO X6 and X6 Pro models have already slightly lowered the price, and we highly recommend them!
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