Last week, Poco officially took wraps off the Poco F4 5G. Though it is a flagship smartphone for the brand, it can be called a flagship killer.
The meaning of ‘flagship killer’ has changed over the years. But one thing has remained constant and that’s the presence of a high-end chip.
The Poco F4 5G not only has a powerful SoC but also comes with other features that are found on premium smartphones. All of these are clubbed in a single package that costs half of the average flagship smartphone price.
With that being said, let’s check out the reasons why the Poco F4 5G deserves the ‘flagship killer title.
The Chipset Underneath
The term flagship killer is usually associated with mid-range smartphones featuring the latest high-end chipset. The Poco F4 5G does not house the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or its advanced version Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Instead, it is run by a Snapdragon 870.
Despite being powered by a year-old Qualcomm chip, the Poco F4 5G can be still called a ‘flagship killer’. That’s because the Snapdragon 870 underneath it is more reliable than Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
The two-gen-old Qualcomm SoC offers better thermal efficiency. Hence, it is capable of providing sustained performance by consuming less energy. This makes the chip better than its poorly built successors.
On the Poco F4 5G, the Snapdragon 870 is paired with LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and liquid cooling technology consisting of a 3112mm² vapor chamber and a 7-layer graphite coverage.
Multimedia Experience
The Poco F4 5G comes with one of the best displays in its segment. The device sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ Samsung E4 AMOLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC, and 1300 nits peak brightness.
It is one of the few smartphones on the market to carry support for Dolby Vision. The only other handset in the segment with this feature is Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G.
The screen is paired with dual stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, which make up for the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone also has support for Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.
The aforementioned set of features is well-suited for consuming content on a mobile device. Additionally, thanks to the high-end chip, the gaming experience should be also phenomenal.
Lackluster Camera
Generally, flagship killer smartphones are known for housing lackluster cameras. That’s the case with the Poco F4 5G as well, at least on paper.
The handset sports a triple camera system on the rear. The setup includes an OIS-assisted 64MP Omnivision OV64B primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide unit, and a 2MP macro snapper. On the front, there’s a 20MP shooter for selfies and video calls.
Only the rear cameras are capable of recording 4K videos, while the front one is limited to shooting in 1080p. The last year’s Poco F3 5G at least has an incredible 5MP telemacro camera going for it but the Poco F4 5G has no such special feature.
All the Essentials
The Poco F4 5G comes with all the essentials. It arrives with useful features like a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, an IR blaster, an x-axis linear vibration motor, an IP53 rating for splash resistance, and NFC for contactless payments.
Further, the device offers 5G connectivity with support for multiple bands. In addition to WiFi 6, there’s also Bluetooth 5.2 and dual-frequency GNSS.
Finally, it is backed by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 67W fast wired charging. The required charger, cable, a silicone case, and a USB Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter are included in the retail box, unlike the actual flagship smartphones.
Sweet Pricing
What makes the Poco F4 5G a flagship killer is its price. Despite offering flagship-level features, it carries a price tag of mid-range smartphones.
In Europe, the Poco F4 5G is €50 costlier than the Poco F3 5G when it debuted last year. Whereas, in India, the phone is actually ₹2,000 cheaper than the Mi 11X 5G (Poco F3 5G for the region) from 2021. In every region, the brand is additionally offering discounts, which bring down the price even lower.
This is how much the Poco F4 5G retails for.
- 6GB + 128GB – €399 / ₹27,999
- 8GB + 128GB – NA / ₹29,999
- 8GB + 256GB – €449 / NA
- 12GB + 256GB – NA / ₹33,999
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