The Poco F5 5G made its debut earlier this month as the first Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 chipset-powered phone. When it comes to discussing the top-performing phones within the Rs 30,000 price range in India, the Poco F5 5G is an essential mention that cannot be overlooked. It is the rebranded version of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo available in the Chinese market.
The 4nm Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2, which has the 1 x 2.91 GHz Cortex-X2, 3 x 2.49 GHz Cortex-A710, 4 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A510, and Adreno 725 GPU configuration, is currently the best chipset for upper mid-range smartphones. Its performance is such that it can defeat Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 phones in benchmark tests. The good thing is that Poco chose the SD7+G2 chip to power the Poco F5. The only other phone that has the same chip is the Realme GT Neo 5 SE, which is only available in the Chinese market at present. Here is our review of the Poco F5 5G to see if it lives up to the hype and delivers on its promise.
Poco F5 5G review: What’s in the box?
Here is a look at what’s packed inside the Poco F5 5G’s retail box:
- Poco F5 5G handset
- 67W charger
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Sim eject tool
- Protective case
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty card
- Safety information
Design and Display
| Dimensions | Display | |
| Size – 161.11 x 74.95 x 7.98mm | 6.67-inch AMOLED display | 93.4% screen-to-body ratio |
| Weight – 181 grams | 1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+) | 5000000:1 contrast ratio |
| IP53 rating | 20:9 aspect ratio | 1920Hz PWM dimming |
| 1200Hz refresh rate | Widevine L1 | |
| Up to 1,000 nits of brightness | Dolby Vision | |
| 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut | HJDR10+ | |
| 12-bit colors | Gorilla Glass 5 |
The Poco F5 5G is a slender and lightweight smartphone, weighing just 181 grams, with a sleek profile measuring a mere 7.98mm in thickness. The Snowstorm White edition of the Poco F5 5G has a 3D ice-flake texture, which makes it appear highly attractive. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to see the blue and black editions in person, they also seem to have a good appeal.
The Poco F5 5G’s flat edges and rear panel are made from polycarbonate material. The right side of the device features a volume rocker and a power key, which doubles as a fingerprint sensor. Moving to the top edge, it features a speaker grille, a microphone, an IR blaster, and yes, a 3.5mm headphone jack! The opposite end has a speaker grille, a USB-C port, a microphone, and a SIM slot. There is no microSD card slot on the device.
The Poco F5 showcases an impressive front design, featuring slim bezels on all sides, with particular emphasis on the bottom bezel, which measures a mere 2.2mm in thickness. The company claims that the F5 offers a 93.4 percent screen-to-body ratio. When it comes to durability, the phone features Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front and IP53-rated protection against dust and water splashes.
Equipped with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, the F5 presents users with an FHD+ resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. The screen brightness can soar up to 1,000 nits, ensuring effortless usability of the phone even in direct sunlight. It is the only smartphone in its segment to support 12-bit colors.
With its Dolby Atmos-tuned dual stereo speakers and support for Widevine L1, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision, the display of the Poco F5 is highly capable for enjoying content on OTT platforms in the best possible quality and offers an excellent gaming experience.
The MIUI 14 offers multiple color schemes for the display, such as Vivid (adjust colors based on content displayed), Saturated (enhanced colors), Standard (constant contrast), and Advanced (choose from options like Original, P3, and sRGB). When it comes to refresh rate, it offers Default and Custom, which have 60Hz or 120Hz options. The Poco F5 fares well in the design and display departments.
Performance and Software
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 | 5,000mAh battery |
| 8GB / 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM | 67W charging |
| 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage | Android 13 OS, MIUI 14 for Poco |
| 7GB of virtual RAM | 3725mm2 VC cooling unit |
The Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 is powerful enough to even outscore the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the CPU performance department. According to Android Authority, which conductd benchmark tests on SD7+G2 chip, there is a noticeable difference in GPU performance between Qualcomm’s mid-range and flagship silicon. Unfortunately, the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 doesn’t deviate from this trend. However, despite its lower capabilities, the GPU of the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 managed to surpass flagship chips from Samsung and Google in terms of performance.
Inside the Poco F5, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chip is joined by up to 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. According to Poco, the F5 comes with LiquidCool Technology 2.0, which is a combination of a large 3725mm² Vapor Chamber and 14 layers of graphite sheets that enhances heat dissipation by 35 percent. The Poco F5 incorporates an X-axis linear motor to elevate the gaming experience, enabling gamers to enjoy seamless gameplay even at the highest settings and achieve 90fps in games such as BGMI and PUBG. Impressively, even after an hour of continuous gaming, the temperature of the Poco F5 remains around 35 degrees.
Featuring a robust 5,000mAh battery, the Poco F5 comes bundled with a convenient 67W charger included in the retail package for rapid charging. Achieving a full charge typically takes approximately 47 to 50 minutes. With its fully charged battery, the Poco F5 can effortlessly endure a day of regular usage.
On the software side, the Poco F5 comes with the Android 13 OS and MIUI 14 for Poco. The device is promised to receive two OS upgrades and three years of security updates. The MIUI experience on the device is quite smooth, but there are a lot of apps that some may find useless. Here is a look at the performance of the F5 on different benchmarking platforms.
Photography and Other Features
| Rear Camera | Other features | |
| 64MP OmniVision OV64B40 primary camera with OIS | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner | IR blaster |
| 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide | Face unlock | 3.5mm audio jack |
| 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1 macro | 5G (n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28/n38/n40/nB41/n77/n78) | Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos |
| Dual-LED flash | Wi-Fi 802.11ac | X-axis linear motor |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | ||
| Front Camera | GPS | |
| 16MP Samsung S5K3P9SP04 camera | USB-C |
In terms of design, the Poco F5’s camera module has a turbine-like look, as shown in the image. Some of the major highlights of the Poco F5 camera system are the inclusion of OIS support, 2x lossless in-sensor zoom, and 7 film camera modes for personalized shots. The camera app offers modes, such as Pro Documents, Video, Photo, Portrait, Night, 64MP, Short Video, Panorama, Vlog, Slow Motion, Time-lapse, AI Watermark, and Long Exposure. The hamburger menu on the camera app has more options, including macro mode.
The main camera on the Poco F5 5G remains unchanged from its predecessor, the Poco F4 5G, featuring a 1/2.0 sensor size and an f/1.8 aperture. However, with an improved ISP, the Poco F5 5G delivers enhanced photography capabilities. It excels at capturing vibrant colors, fine details, and a broad dynamic range in daylight conditions. Additionally, indoor shots taken under ample lighting conditions also turn out impressive. By default, the primary camera shoots at a 16-megapixel resolution. There is a 64MP mode for snapping shots at the highest resolution.
Users can take advantage of the in-sensor zoom feature on the primary camera, enabling them to capture shots with a 2x magnification without sacrificing details. The presence of OIS proves beneficial for maintaining stability and preserving quality when capturing zoomed-in shots. The Photo mode provides access to film camera filters, such as KC64, FC400, V-250, C-50D, H-400, KP-160, and KG200. Here are some of the camera filter samples.
According to the brand’s claims, the Poco F5 delivers commendable performance in low-light situations. Whether using Night Mode or not, there is minimal difference between photos taken in dim-light scenarios. However, it is important to mention that certain shots may exhibit an overly soft appearance due to optimizations implemented in the night mode, potentially impacting the overall clarity and sharpness of the image.
Additionally, the 8-megapixel IMX355 sensor performs decently in well-lit conditions. It captures average-quality ultra-wide shots in low light. The 2-megapixel macro shots are not useful as they lack detail.
Regarding the 16-megapixel front camera of the Poco F5, the images tend to have relatively accurate colors. The edge detection is satisfactory, enabling decent selfie captures during daylight and low-light scenarios, assuming there is an adequate amount of lighting.
In terms of video recording, the Poco F5 is capable of capturing videos with resolutions up to 4K at 30fps. However, the Steady Shot feature, which enhances video stabilization similar to an action camera, is only accessible when shooting at 1080p resolution and 30fps. Videos recorded in low-light conditions or indoor settings with less lighting tend to have some noise.
The other features such as n IR blaster and a 3.5 headphone jack are nice additions to the device. The fingerprint scanner available on the side also works fine as expected.
Verdict
With its impressive features, the Poco F5 proves to be a versatile device that excels in various aspects. It boasts a remarkable display, delivering an excellent visual experience along with dual stereo speakers. The device also offers top-notch performance thanks to the SD7+G2 chip, ensuring smooth and efficient operation. When it comes to gaming, the F5 effectively manages heat, allowing for prolonged gameplay without overheating concerns.
While the cameras may not be exceptional, they still provide decent image quality. Overall, the Poco F5 emerges as a well-rounded smartphone that ticks the right boxes in terms of display, performance, heat management during gaming, battery life, fast charging, camera capabilities, and affordable pricing. What adds to its appeal in the Indian market is the inclusion of a two-year warranty, making it an even more enticing deal for potential buyers.
Within the realm of recently released smartphones, the Poco F5 faces stiff competition from the Motorola Edge 40 and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. Both of these smartphones feature superior water-resistance capabilities. Moreover, the Edge 40 distinguishes itself with its curved-edge display and wireless charging functionality. However, none of these features come close to the Poco F5’s promised performance potential. As a result, the F5 emerges as the undisputed performance king and will maintain its dominance in its price category for a considerable period of time
Variants, Price and Availability
The Poco F5 can be purchased through Flipkart and offline stores in India. It comes in the following variants and color options:
- 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – Rs 29,999 (~$362)
- 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage – Rs 33,999 (~$410)
- Colors: Carbon Black, Snowstorm White, and Electric Blue
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Poco F5 review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Poco.
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