Xiaomi‘s affordable sub-brand, Poco, will impress again with its highly anticipated F series. Known for its flagship killer reputation, the Poco F series has evolved significantly since the debut of the Poco F1. The latest models, the Poco F6 and F6 Pro, now fall into the upper-midrange category, reflecting changes in the price bracket and market expectations.
A noteworthy detail is that the Poco F6 is essentially a rebranded Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 3. Despite the different names, both models share identical specifications and features. For consistency, we will refer to the handset as the Poco F6 throughout this review.
The Poco F6 series remains true to its core values, offering high-end features and powerful hardware at competitive prices. The vanilla F6, in particular, stands out as the more affordable option while delivering a similar user experience to its Pro counterpart.
One of the standout features of the Poco F6 is its bright 6.67-inch OLED panel, which supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and boasts a QHD resolution. While such panels are not uncommon in this price range, Xiaomi has ensured no compromises.
Xiaomi Poco F6 Specifications:
- Body: 160.5×74.5×8.0mm, 179g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back; IP64, dust and water resistant.
- Display: 6.67″ AMOLED, 68 billion colours, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 500 nits (typical), 1200 nits (HBM), 2400 nits (peak), 1220x2712px resolution, 20.01:9 aspect ratio, 446ppi.
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm): Octa-core (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4×2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A520); Adreno 735.
- Memory: 256GB with 8GB RAM, 512GB with 12GB RAM, UFS 4.0.
- OS/Software: Android 14, HyperOS
- Rear Camera: 50 MP main camera with f/1.6 aperture, 1/1.95″, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS; 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
- Front Camera: 20 MP with f/2.2 aperture.
- Video Capture: Rear: 4K at 30/60fps, 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS; Front: 1080p at 30/60fps.
- Battery: 5000mAh; 90W wired charging, PD3.0, 2-100% in 35 minutes (advertised).
- Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, Infrared port.
- Miscellaneous: Under-display optical fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, virtual proximity sensing.
At the heart of the Poco F6 is the brand-new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. Unlike previous iterations based on older SoCs, this chipset is designed from the ground up to deliver near-flagship performance. The device also comes with UFS 4.0 memory as standard, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
The Poco F6 also sees improvements in the camera department. A modern 50MP main camera with a wide f/1.6 aperture and optical stabilization replaces the older 64MP sensor. The selfie camera has been upgraded to 20MP, although the 8MP ultra-wide camera remains unchanged.
While the Poco F6 Pro boasts 120W charging, the Poco F6 offers a robust 90W charging solution, a significant upgrade from the previous generation’s 67W. This increase in charging power promises a notable improvement in real-world usage.
Unboxing the Xiaomi Poco F6:
The Poco F6 comes in a standard packaging box, including user manuals, a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging and data transfer, and a 90W charging brick. Additionally, Xiaomi includes a dark grey silicone case for extra protection.
In summary, the Poco F6 series upholds its tradition of offering high-end features at a competitive price. With impressive display technology, powerful hardware, and improved camera capabilities, the Poco F6 and F6 Pro are poised to be strong contenders in the upper-midrange smartphone market.
