Poco has kicked off the new year with a bang, introducing the high-performance Poco X6 5G and Poco X6 Pro 5G in India. While I haven’t experienced the distinctive yellow color variant of a Poco phone before, I was fortunate to receive the Poco Yellow version of the X6 Pro this time. I have used the Poco X5 Pro and the Poco X3 Pro (owned it) in the past, and now here I am reviewing the Poco X6 Pro.
The Poco X6 Pro indeed excels in performance, positioning itself on par with flagship-level smartphones, particularly when you explore its impressive specs sheet. In practicality, too, the X6 Pro stands out as an almost flawless device. For those who don’t know, the X6 Pro is a tweaked version of the Redmi K70e, which is exclusively available in the Chinese market.
The Poco X6 Pro 5G is the first smartphone to come equipped with the Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset in the global market. In addition, it is also the first phone to ship with the HyperOS onboard in the global market. To top it off, the gaming-friendly phone comes with an OLED panel with slim bezels around. Now, let’s take a closer look at the review to analyse its key features and overall performance.
Poco X6 Pro 5G review: What’s in the box?
Here is a list of items that are included in the retail package of the Poco X6 Pro 5G:
- Poco X6 Pro 5G handset
- 67W fast charger
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Protective case
- SIM ejector tool
- Safety Information
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
Design and Display
| Dimensions | Display | |
| Size: 160.45 x 74.34mm | 6.67-inch AMOLED display | DCI-P3 color gamut |
| Thickness: 8.25mm (plastic) / 8.35mm (vegan leather) | Resolution: 2712 x 1220 pixels (1.5K) | 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio |
| Weight:186 grams (plastic) / 190g (vegan leather) | Pixel density: 446pi | Dolby Vision, HDR |
| IP54 rating | Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| 480Hz touch sampling rate | ||
| 1920Hz PWM dimming | ||
| Peak brightness: 1800 nits |
The Poco X6 Pro 5G review unit that I have has a striking dual-tone finish. The back panel features smooth yet textured yellow vegan leather, contrasting with the sleek black camera island. Despite the textured finish, the rear shell offers a secure grip. The durable plastic camera island prominently displays the “Poco” brand with a subtle patterned backdrop, alongside “64MP OIS” on the right and three cameras with an LED flash in the remaining area. Thanks to the rectangular camera module, the phone doesn’t wobble when placed flat on a surface.
The X6 Pro’s plastic frame houses a volume rocker and a vibrant yellow power button on the right side. The left side is bare, while the top edge features a speaker, an IR blaster, and a microphone. The bottom edge houses a hybrid SIM slot, another microphone, a USB-C port, and a speaker grille. Thankfully, the X6 Pro’s IP54 dust and water resistance rating means it can survive a downpour. Measuring 8.35mm thick and weighing 190 grams, the X6 Pro feels comfortable in hand.
The Poco X6 Pro’s front is dominated by a stunning 6.67-inch OLED panel shielded by durable Gorilla Glass 5. Supporting Dolby Vision, HDR, and a peak brightness of 180 nits, the display delivers an exceptional viewing experience. The 1.5K resolution, 68 billion colors, and smooth 120Hz refresh rate further enhance visuals, whether you’re watching shows or playing games. The loudspeakers also impress with their clear and powerful sound. For even richer detail in shadows and highlights, users can activate Pro HDR within the Gallery app.
Performance and Software
| MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra | 5,000mAh battery |
| 8GB / 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM | 67W charging |
| 256GB / 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage | Android 14 OS, HyperOS |
| 6GB of virtual RAM | 5,000mm² vapor chamber cooling unit |
The Poco X6 Pro 5G is designed to deliver exceptional performance for a non-flagship phone, and it lives up to its promise thanks to the inclusion of the Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset. This chipset, MediaTek’s latest offering built on a 4nm architecture, ensures reliable performance free from lags and stutters, whether you are gaming or using the phone for everyday tasks. I can say that it is the only mid-range phone available on the market with flagship-grade LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. My review unit has 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of built-in storage. The device came preinstalled with the December 2023 security update.
The Redmi K70e features a 5,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging support. The Poco X6 Pro, on the other hand, has a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging. These are the only major differences between the two phones. The 67W fast charger took around 50 minutes for the phone to go from 0 to 100 percent. As far as battery life is concerned, it can easily last for 1.5 days with typical use.
I enjoyed extended gaming sessions (around an hour each) on the Poco X6 Pro, playing demanding titles like Call of Duty: Shadow Fight 4, Mortal Kombat, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9, all at the highest graphics settings. The device warmed slightly but remained comfortably within acceptable limits (under 45 degrees Celsius), though room for improvement in heat dissipation remains, despite the company’s touted flagship-level 5,000mm² unit. The x-axis linear motor and dual stereo speakers further accentuate the gaming experience.
Poco X6 Pro impresses in the software department as it ships with the latest Android 14, which is layered with all-new HyperOS instead of MIUI. Apart from the user experience, Poco promises decent software support, including three years of Android OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
The HyperOS experience might feel familiar to MIUI users while introducing innovative elements. Most notably, HyperOS sports a redesigned Control Center for intuitive access to settings. The lockscreen also receives welcome upgrades, showcasing diverse designs with unique clock styles and matching Always on Display options. Other noteworthy features include an enhanced multi-window interface, the all-new MiSans font, new fingerprint scanning animations, hidden apps, AI object detection, and more. However, the bloatware presence can’t be ignored. While most pre-installed apps can be uninstalled, a cleaner app drawer out of the box would’ve been ideal.
Shown above is how the Poco X6 Pro 5G performed in the AnTuTu, Geekbench, and CPU Throttle benchmark tests:
Photography and Other Features
| Rear Camera | Other features | |
| 64MP OmniVision OV64B main camera | In-display fingerprint scanner | IR blaster |
| 8MP OV08D10 | Face unlock | USB-C |
| 2MP macro | Wi-Fi 802.11ac | X-axis linear motor |
| Bluetooth 5.4 | Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos | |
| 5G (n1/n2/n3/n5/n7/n8/n20/n28 /n38/n40/n41/n66/n77/n78) | Flicker sensor | |
| Front Camera | GPS | |
| 16MP OV16A1Q selfie camera | NFC |
Given the Poco X6 Pro 5G’s primary focus on performance, photography might not be its primary strength. Nevertheless, the device has a respectable primary camera equipped with an OIS-enabled 64-megapixel OV64B lens, a camera sensor found on some flagship phones as well. Accompanying this is an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. For selfies, the phone is equipped with a 16-megapixel front camera. While the primary camera performs well in capturing quality shots, it’s worth noting that the performance of the other cameras may not be as outstanding. The camera app offers photography modes such as Pro, Documents, Video, Photo, Portrait, Night, 64MP mode, Panorama, Short Film, Slow Motion (up to 1080p / 960fps), Time-lapse, AI Watermark, Long Exposure, and more.
In well-lit conditions, the Poco X6 Pro stands out by delivering impressive results with vibrant color reproduction and a dynamic range that is deemed acceptable. The main camera’s 2x in-sensor zoom feature produces decent outcomes with preserved details. The device does well in subject detection and blur effects when using the Portrait mode, albeit lacking a zoom selector. In low-light situations, the camera performs adequately, although with a slight reduction in details. The night mode, while effective in reducing light glare, doesn’t bring about significant improvements in overall image quality.
The 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera occasionally deviates in color reproduction compared to the main camera, but the dynamic range remains satisfactory. In low-light conditions, it manages to deliver acceptable results. To access the macro mode, users are required to tap the small arrow in the camera app or swipe down in the viewfinder to reveal various options, including flash, aspect ratio, HDR, gridlines, AI camera, voice shutter, motion tracking focus, assist cam, teleprompter, video resolution, frame rate, Steady Video (OIS), and macro mode. The 16-megapixel front camera performs in well-lit conditions, and it offers filters and HDR support. However, I did not like the fact that it automatically beautified the selfie shots.
For video recording, the Poco X6 Pro 5G provides OIS support when shooting at 30fps in 1080p resolution. Additional video options include 720p (30fps), 1080p (30fps/60fps), and 4K (24fps/30fps) modes, with EIS support stepping in when OIS is not available. The ultra-wide camera can capture 1080p videos at 30fps. While videos recorded using the main camera are acceptable, it’s important to note that the performance tends to be less impressive in low-light conditions.
Regarding other features of the Poco X6 Pro 5G, the x-axis linear motor stands out for its strength, accuracy, and responsiveness, notably enhancing the gaming experience and overall system usage. The IR blaster and in-screen fingerprint sensor perform reliably and as expected, further contributing to the device’s overall functionality.
Verdict
The Poco X6 Pro 5G delivers top-tier performance in a non-flagship package, thanks to its powerful Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset, LPDDR5x RAM, UFS 4.0 storage, a smooth 120Hz OLED display with an impressive screen-to-body ratio, and an appealing design. Its snappy performance, coupled with in-game vibrations and immersive audio, make it a gamer’s paradise. The primary camera shines, and the new HyperOS overlay on Android 14 adds fresh customization options along with extended software support, which is the icing on the cake. While some bloatware lingers and the auxiliary cameras could be better, these are minor gripes. For sheer performance at a wallet-friendly price, the Poco X6 Pro 5G is a compelling choice.
Variants, Price and Availability
In India, the Poco X6 Pro 5G is available for:
- 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage: Rs 26,999 (~$325)
- 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage: Rs 28,999 (~$350)
- Colors: Poco Yellow, Racing Grey, Spectre Black
- Offers: Rs 2,000 off on HDFC / ICICI / SBI bank credit card, debit card transactions
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Poco X6 Pro 5G review are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Poco.
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