Xiaomi Poco F5 5G Dual 256GB 8GB RAM Factory Unlocked (GSM Only | No CDMA - not Compatible with Verizon/Sprint) Global - Blue

Product Information

Ultimately, like the Poco F5 Pro, the Poco F5 is something of a mid-range specialist, offering a strong media and gaming-focused experience for decent money. If your priorities lie elsewhere – flagship-level design, clean software, or a genuinely good camera, say – there are plenty of better options for similar or even less money. The 16Mp snapper is totally fine. A little warm with no alarmingly obvious “beauty” effects going on, which could either be a blessing or a curse, but it’s entirely useable. Thanks to its modern chipset, the POCO F5's performance is beyond reproach, and I am able to play PUBG Mobile on maxed-out settings with no annoying stutter. Titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile also deliver a fluid experience, with the frame rate set to 60 fps. Stutters are inevitable on occasion, though. One way in which it’s actually gotten a little worse, however, is with a touch sampling rate of 240Hz rather than the Poco F4’s 360Hz. For the vast majority of users, this won’t be remotely consequential. But given that Poco often courts the gaming crowd and bigs up the gaming performance of its phones, it’s not a particularly good look, at least on paper.

The other colours, however, look much more traditional, and that’s great for options, as we actually really like the overall design and build of the Poco F5.Paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, this model really is a very well specced mid-ranger. There are 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB variants out there in some markets, but they’re not being sold in the UK. A lot of smartphone photography is handled by software magic these days, but whether that’s going on here or not, pictures just look oddly processed or noisy in my view. Natural light obviously helps a lot, but you can still pinch into your shots to see textures like animal fur, rough terrain, or leaves on trees look subpar and unrealistic. The Xiaomi Poco F5 5G boasts an impressive technical sheet that makes its competitors tremble. Its 6.67-inch flat Amoled display occupies 93% of the front panel and benefits from a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, compatible with HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats. This is in addition to a Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels), infinite contrast thanks to OLED technology and a very low response time (44 ms), which translates into incredible fluidity when playing games or using applications. The panel's brightness doesn't disappoint either: its maximum brightness of 1000 nits ensures comfortable reading even in bright sunshine. Power at the Top of its Range The POCO F5 is a step up from its predecessor in some ways, but it also has some flaws. Sure, the main sensor gets the job done, but the auxiliary sensors are an afterthought. The software is better out of the box than the previous POCO phone. It is more user-friendly and has fewer bugs. However, there are still loads of unwanted apps that can be annoying.

Here on the Poco F5 Pro you get MIUI 14 on top of Android 13, but there’s little meaningful difference to last year’s version. It’s fine, but you can get a cleaner and ultimately better experience for similar or less money, including the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion and any of Google’s more affordable Pixel phones. Battery lifeThis isn’t the fastest affordable Xiaomi phone when it comes time to recharge, with a 67W wired charge in the box. Together with that larger cell, it leads to the phone getting from 0 to 69% in 30 minutes, and to a full charge in around 56 minutes. That’s still not bad, but bear in mind that the Redmi Note 12 Pro Plus gives you a 120W charger and a full charge in 30 minutes. Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Gyroscope Sensor, Accelerometer (G-Sensor), Fingerprint Sensor, Infrared Sensor

You can watch the launch on the Poco Global YouTube channel from 1300 BST. But what do we know so far about the specs of these new phones? Naturally, if you keep the screen to its default FHD+/60Hz settings, you’ll get much better mileage, probably edging towards true two-day usage. But unless you’re going camping, the former scenario is more likely. If you're looking for a phone that can handle even the most demanding games, the POCO F5 is a great option.

The Poco F5 has a 4,520mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. Meanwhile the Poco F5 Pro has a slightly larger 4,870mAh battery with the same fast charging support. Game Turbo attempts to auto-detect any games you install and lets a pull-out overlay sit unassumingly at the side of the screen as you play.