At the beginning of the year, POCO introduced two devices from the X series (X6 and X6 Pro) and a new model from the M series – M6 Pro. Today, the promising newcomer POCO M6 Pro has landed in our hands for testing.
What can the new POCO product offer us? Firstly, it’s an affordable price – approximately $300 for the 12/512 GB version, as well as an AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a powerful processor, and fast charging. Sounds good, let’s see if M6 Pro lives up to expectations. The only thing it lacks is 5G, but let’s be honest, it’s not a necessity for everyone in our market at the moment.
Read also: Xiaomi 13T Smartphone Review
POCO M6 Pro technical specifications
- Screen: 6.67″ AMOLED DotDisplay, 2400×1080 pixel resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Processor: MediaTek G99 Ultra, 6 nm
- Video card: Mali-G57 MC2
- Operating system: Android 13 with MIUI, Android 14 with HyperOS – expected
Permanent memory: 256/512 GB - RAM: 8/12 GB
- SIM: nanoSIM + nanoSIM + microSD, expandable with microSD cards up to 1 TB
- Connectors: mini-Jack 3.5 mm, USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG
- Cameras:
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- Main: 64 megapixels ƒ/1.79, 25 mm (width), 1/2.0″, 0.7 μm, PDAF, OIS
- Ultra-wide-angle module: 8 megapixels ƒ/2.2
- Macro: 2 megapixels ƒ/2.4
- Video recording: 1080p@30/60fps
- Front-facing: 16 megapixels ƒ/2.45
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- Battery: 5000 mAh
- Protection standards: IP54
- Charging: 67W, 100% in 44 min
- Connectivity: 4G LTE, hybrid Dual SIM, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Wi-Fi 5 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, infrared port, FM radio
- Navigation: Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, BDS
- Sound: two speakers, Hi-Res Audio, Dolby Atmos
- Dimensions: 161×75×8 mm
- Weight: 179 g
- Available colors: purple, blue, black
Package contents
By purchasing the POCO M6 Pro, you’ll get a complete set of accessories that will make using the new smartphone a true pleasure. That’s right, we have everything (well, except maybe wired headphones, but we know that the quality of such headphones is not the best): a sturdy case to protect the back panel, a pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, and a 67W charger.
So, there’s no need to buy a case or an adapter to get the most out of the POCO M6 Pro – the manufacturer has taken care of user comfort, and that’s the first advantage of the model in question. In addition, a protective film is already applied to the screen.
Design of POCO M6 Pro
We received the new model in a beautiful purple color. However, keep in mind that you can choose other colors as well, such as black or blue. Each option is interesting, but the purple shade looks great and, in my opinion, is suitable for both men and women.
The design of the POCO M6 Pro is very interesting. On one hand, we have classic solutions, “trendy” in this price range – flat bezels (plastic, as it is an affordable model, but probably with some addition of metal, as they feel solid), a neat round cutout for the front camera. On the other hand, the back panel surprises with its cameras, a division of the “back,” but let’s go through everything step by step. The downside is the plastic casing, but keep in mind that we are dealing with a budget model, not a flagship.
The front side of the POCO is classic – a 6.67-inch display occupies almost the entire surface, and the bezels around it are barely noticeable. I consider this a plus, as it looks aesthetic and has a practical solution – more content fits on the screen.
On the right side, there is a power button and volume controls. The SIM card slot is located on the left side of the smartphone, and at the top, there is a 3.5mm mini-jack – apparently, wired headphones still exist and perform well.
The most interesting element, of course, is the rear panel – we have two large camera modules that externally resemble iPhones, but the “bumps” are larger, and not everyone may like this. It’s advisable not to use the phone without a case, as fingerprints are visible, unfortunately.
I liked the idea of the manufacturer to divide the back into two parts (depending on the viewing angle, the panel changes color, becoming either gray or purple) – it certainly looks more interesting than a monochromatic back without any additions.
Read also: Realme C67 4G review: stereo sound, IP54 and battery life
Ergonomics
For me, the smartphone is huge; it took time to get used to its size. As you understand, using it with one hand was not possible for me. However, I don’t consider this a downside because everyone has different hand sizes. Moreover, such a large screen is convenient for consuming various types of content. POCO M6 Pro weighs only 179 g – very lightweight, and the hand doesn’t get tired. Besides, it is very thin.
I have no complaints about the design – each element is thoughtfully crafted to the smallest detail.
Additionally, it comes with IP54 protection, which means the device is protected from dust and is resistant to water splashes (although it’s not advisable to intentionally immerse it in water).
POCO M6 Pro display
The smartphone is equipped with a 6.67″ AMOLED DotDisplay screen protected by tempered Gorilla Glass 5. The resolution is 2400×1080 pixels, and the maximum refresh rate is 120 Hz. Each image is legible, fonts are too, no graininess, everything is very smooth.
Let’s clarify regarding the refresh rate – in the settings, there’s a default option that adjusts the frequency based on the content, but for battery saving, you can choose 60 Hz, and, of course, there’s an option for “always 120 Hz”.
Color reproduction is at a good level – colors are vivid, saturated, and black tones are satisfactory. The viewing angles are wide.
You can also customize the color gamut to your liking, choose a theme, font, etc. There is an Always On display option.
Under any conditions, the screen remained readable; I only occasionally had to adjust the screen brightness to the maximum level (maximum – about 1100 nits, which is not too much; readability may be a challenge in the summer).
The display supports 1920 Hz PWM at low brightness levels, which is intended to reduce eye strain for people with increased sensitivity.
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Performance and equipment
At the heart of the POCO M6 Pro is the 8-core MediaTek G99 Ultra chipset, designed for mid-range smartphones. It is manufactured using a 6nm process and features eight processor cores: two ARM Cortex-A76 cores with a clock speed of up to 2.2 GHz and six ARM Cortex-A55 cores with a clock speed of up to 2 GHz. The graphics are handled by the Mali G57 MC2 GPU.
The smartphone comes with 12 GB of RAM (LPDDR4X) and 512 GB of storage (UFS 2.2), which is great for a price of about $300! There is also an 8/256 GB version that costs less than $260.
You can find the benchmark results below:
However, I believe it’s better to share my real experience using it. I played games, and the phone didn’t overheat; multitasking was also not a problem for the POCO M6 Pro – switching between apps was smooth. POCO is indeed a fast and nimble smartphone for any tasks.
It’s worth mentioning that the gadget allows for expanding the RAM by 4, 6, or 8 GB through the use of internal storage (Memory Extension 3.0). Thanks to this feature, users can customize the device’s performance, ensuring smooth switching between various tasks.
Overall, the POCO M6 Pro boasts hardware that stands out for its fast performance. Whether you’re browsing the internet, using social media, watching videos, or taking photos, everything runs smoothly without any delays. Even when launching modern games, the smartphone performs admirably, handling demanding games on high graphic settings.
Unlocking methods
The fingerprint scanner is located at the bottom of the display. The M6 Pro unlocks instantly, and I didn’t experience any errors. Face recognition is also available and works well, but I didn’t use this method as the fingerprint scanner is a faster and more reliable option.
Wireless technologies
Supported communication standards include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is also available, and for navigation, it supports Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, and BDS. While there is no 5G, the LTE networks provide excellent speeds, and the absence of 5G is not a noticeable issue.
Sound
We have stereo speakers, with one located at the bottom and the other at the top, providing powerful and clear sound. POCO M6 Pro supports advanced Dolby Atmos technology, creating an immersive sound experience.
There is also an equalizer and various ready-made sound presets.
Read also: POCO M5 smartphone review: a budget phone in a world where everything is getting more expensive
POCO M6 Pro cameras
POCO M6 Pro is equipped with three cameras. The main camera features a 64 MP resolution and an OmniVision OV64B sensor with image stabilization. The second one is a wide-angle camera with an 8 MP resolution. It lacks autofocus, so it cannot capture macro shots. For macro photography, there is a separate 2 MP macro camera, although, as we know, such cameras may have limited utility.
The main block with OIS provides good image quality in well-lit conditions. Each element in the frame stands out with decent detailing and a dynamic range.
The wide-angle module slightly lags in quality (the dynamic range is not very good, noticeable noise), but if you need to capture more space, it will do.
Macro – it is a sensor that can be useful for photographing small objects, such as flowers, dew, etc. However, to get decent shots, you will have to be patient (it’s challenging to get a sharp image, and there is digital noise present). Honestly speaking, macro sensors are rarely used, especially on budget models.
The main camera of the POCO M6 Pro performs quite well in low-light conditions. The level of detail is high, although, unfortunately, there is some noise present as well. Overall, dark areas are well illuminated, and light sources are well retained.
That being said, the night mode doesn’t add anything significant – I’ll add examples so you can compare.
The Poco M6 Pro supports video recording with a resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 30/60 frames per second. Unfortunately, the absence of 4K recording is a significant limitation. Nevertheless, the ability to shoot at a speed of 60 frames per second is a nice bonus. The video quality, however, is not high; you can judge for yourself (the first one at 30 frames per second, the second at 60 frames per second).
I liked the selfies in good lighting; the facial details look natural, and the colors are subdued and pleasant. On the other hand, if the lighting is artificial or you take photos at night, unfortunately, the quality will deteriorate. You can also record videos with a resolution of 1080p at 30/60fps.
The camera app is straightforward but has its peculiarities. Firstly, the main operation of switching modes works by swiping from side to side, and you can also tap on the modes you see to switch directly to them. Swiping up and down does not work for switching between the front and rear cameras; you can only do this using the switch near the shutter. There is also a dropdown menu with additional options, including the macro mode, which clearly does not deserve a place in the main carousel of modes. Next to the dropdown arrow, there is a flash mode switch, HDR switch, and Google Lens shortcut.
There is a Pro mode where you can set any parameters you want. You can use the main and wide-angle cameras, adjust white balance, focus, shutter, and ISO. As expected, there are also many additional modes, including long exposure with its own set of various settings – moving crowd, neon trails, oil painting, light painting, starry sky, star trails.
Read also: Poco F4 GT Review: It’s Not Only About Gaming
Software
Let’s start with the fact that the POCO M6 Pro SHOULD run on Android 14 with the HyperOS overlay. However, our test device operated on MIUI 14 based on Android 13. In Xiaomi’s press materials, it promises that the update to HyperOS will be released “as soon as possible,” whatever that means. For now, we have nothing else to do but explore the familiar MIUI 14 environment.
I’ll list some strengths of the system that I personally noticed:
1. Fast performance of every system component (including seamless multitasking and switching between applications)
2. Intuitive placement of components and ease of use
3. Improved battery support features
4. Well-thought-out security solutions for user protection – Google Play Protect, notification modes, parental controls, an enhanced privacy dashboard with additional functions
5. System customization options tailored to your needs
A drawback for me was the large number of pre-installed applications, such as games and stores, which had to be manually removed. However, POCO is not the first to have this intrusive feature. The stock “Cleaner” tool is also somewhat outdated, but it’s still necessary for system performance optimization.
POCO M6 Pro battery life
The smartphone features a standard 5000 mAh battery for this price range. In my opinion, a significant advantage in this case is that the package includes a 67W power charger.
The phone charges from 25% to 100% in 35 minutes. Even leaving the phone connected for just 10 minutes will give you a 20% boost – not bad. You can quickly charge the POCO, even if you have a short time at home. I’m glad that for this price, we get fast charging, as it provides several advantages. The manufacturer claims that it takes 44 minutes for a full phone charge, and as you can see, these results are close to reality.
As for the battery life, the phone lasted for a very long time, up to 2 days with moderate usage. I watched YouTube, played games a bit, actively used messengers and email, wrote mini-texts in notes, and took photos. Overall, if you are a demanding user and spend more time in front of the screen, I think you will be satisfied too, as the M6 Pro will easily last a day. Additionally, we have fast charging, which can significantly recharge the smartphone even in just 10 minutes.
Additionally, in the settings, you will find advanced features that can extend the battery life of the new device – these include battery saver mode and ultra battery saver mode. A useful feature is the “system prompt,” where the program advises you on what you can change in your workflow to optimize battery performance – for example, enabling dark mode, clearing memory, turning off haptic feedback, etc.
Read also: POCO M4 Pro 5G review: mid-ranger with 90 Hz and stereo
Conclusion
POCO M6 Pro is a good smartphone that will remain relevant for years to come. Of course, the competition in the market is enormous, and the model is not without its flaws. However, it has left a positive impression, especially considering its price.
I can recommend this new model to people who value a quality display, fast charging, long battery life, a responsive operating system, decent build quality, an interesting design, good sound (they even haven’t forgotten the 3.5mm audio jack), sufficient storage, and, of course, an affordable price.
What was lacking? The cameras could have been better, but for this price, they are still decent. There’s no 5G, although in this price segment, you can find alternatives that support 5G networks. However, this might not be important for everyone. The test model was running on Android 13, but an update to Android 14 with the new HyperOS will be released soon. Other than that, everything is great!
To be objective, I’ll list other devices that you might want to consider when choosing a new phone in this price category. These could include: Honor Magic5 Lite 5G, Moto G84 5G, Moto G54, POCO X5 5G, Samsung Galaxy A34 5G, realme 11 5G, Infinix Note 30 Pro, and others.
- HONOR Magic5 Lite review
- Motorola Moto G84 5G review
- Motorola Moto G54 Power 5G review
- Samsung Galaxy A34 5G review
- Infinix NOTE 30 Pro review
Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, but at a price of about $260, the POCO M6 Pro looks quite interesting.
Advantages of POCO M6 Pro
- Reasonable price
- 5000 mAh battery with 67W charging, charger included, long battery life
- High-quality AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz
- Under-screen fingerprint scanner
- Protection class IP54
- Interesting design
- 3.5 mm mini-jack, FM radio, stereo speakers
- MicroSD card slot
Disadvantages of POCO M6 Pro
- The lack of 5G
- Plastic in the body
- Mediocre cameras
- No 4K video recording
Thank you so much for this Julia, I was curious about this phone and its camera performances in particular and your review really helped.
A big hug to you and all Ukrainian people
❤️