The Poco F6 is Poco's new affordable flagship that reminds me of the Poco F1, the once-beloved flagship killer. Many premium mid-range devices take the Poco F1 as an example that offers solid specifications at an affordable price. This Poco F6 trust me when I say it is the rebirth of a more advanced flagship device killer.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
Screen 6.67″ AMOLED, 1.5K WQHD+, 120Hz,
Dolby Vision, 4000 nits, Gorilla Glass Victus
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor (4nm)
1x 3.0 GHz Cortex-X4
4x 2.8 GHz Cortex-A720
3x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A520
Adreno 735 Graphics Chip
RAM 8/12 GB LPDDR5X
8 GB Virtual
256/512 GB UFS 4.0 storage
Primary Camera 50MP IMX 882, f/1.59, OIS (Wide Angle)
8MP (Ultra Wide Angle)
Front Camera 20MP, f/2.2
5000mAh battery
90W Xiaomi HyperCharge (Wired)
5G Dual-SIM Sim/Telephony
Dolby Atmos Stereo Speaker Audio
WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth WiFi 6, Yes, Bluetooth 5.4,
Infrared Yes
IP64 Waterproof
Under Screen Fingerprint Scanning System
Selling price
RM1,799 (8/256GB)
RM1,999 (12/512 GB)
If you look at the specifications of the Poco F6 and compare it to the F6 Pro, you will wonder why the F6 is loaded with more premium features than the more expensive model? This is probably because Poco wants to attract people to buy this device. The screen is AMOLED 120Hz with Dolby Vision and Gorilla Victus, the chip used is the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, 50MP camera, IP64 protection, and 90W fast charging.
In terms of design, I also still feel strange with Poco's decision because this F6 model seems more suitable for professionals due to its minimalist design compared to the patterned F6 Pro. There is no doubt that the design of this device looks similar to many other devices in the same class, which are two large camera bumps with LED flash on the side. Flat screens also look attractive and comfortable to use compared to those that use curved screens.
Others on this device look very good such as the Titanium color which looks luxurious, the buttons are nice to press, still has an infrared transmitter, and in the hand it seems to be holding a medium-sized flagship device because it is not too big. The Poco F6 really looks like a killer flagship device.
SCREEN
I was satisfied with this 6.67-inch AMOLED 120Hz Dolby Vision screen with 1.5K resolution. During my time using this device in Dubai, the screen under the scorching sun can be clearly seen if I turn on the Sunrise mode. Dolby Vision colors displayed when watching Netflix are also quite sharp and provide a satisfying experience. The 120Hz mode is also great and fast despite not being an LTPO panel.
The screen also has additional modes such as AI Image Engine to make images and videos look more beautiful. Using this device for reading, gaming and social media is also comfortable and does not cause any problems.
BIOMETRIC
The biometric system is quite slow because it still uses optical sensors. My sweaty fingers often fail but faster is face-based unlocking as it is now powered by artificial intelligence.
USAGE – XIAOMI HYPEROS FOR POCO FULL OF ADS
Xiaomi really listens to user complaints. When Xiaomi devices are full of ads, they reduce it on Redmi's flagship device. Then when Redmi became the best selling category they changed and made Poco the most advertised device. The advertisement on Xiaomi HyperOS for Poco F6 is terrible because the device which is actually already free of fat apps is loaded with a lot of junk and useless apps.
The use of Xiaomi HyperOS on the Poco F6 is more or less the same as other Xiaomi and Redmi devices. Despite the absence of Poco HyperOS branding, Xiaomi still provides almost all the same features and functions. For example AI Eraser and AI Expansion features can be used with other AI features will be provided in future updates. In fact, Poco F6 also has special AI features for gesture control over the air like a Jedi knight or can also see usage points for smarter features.
Using the Poco F6 is like using a Redmi Note 13 Pro+ device because the selling price is about the same and will bring about the same usage experience. The only difference is in the initial performance, battery and camera capabilities. For the Poco F6, I think it's a good device as a first flagship device before spending more on a premium flagship device.
Another thing I'm trashing, yes it's a bit harsh here because in prime mode even though ads have been turned off it still shows unskippable ads with almost full screen when accessing Game Turbo in vertical prime. Currently there is no way to turn it off easily.
PERFORMANCE AND BENCHMARKS
On paper, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is inferior to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 but has more efficient and powerful processing power and GPU. Competitors in the same category that I can compare are the Infinix GT 20 Pro with the Dimensity 8200 Ultimate chip and the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with the Dimensity 7200 Ultra chip. I also attached the scores for Xiaomi 14 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), and OnePlus 12R (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) to show the difference in performance of the Snapdragon 8 series chips used.
In my use for a few weeks, it's true that the Poco F6 is a fast device. Even on stage during the launch, Poco showed approximately the same score achieved by the OnePlus 12 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. For the Poco G6 after several tests were carried out here is what was obtained in each benchmark application;
Antutu 3D
Poco F6 – 1,331,937
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 933,015
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ – 757,180
OnePlus 12R – 1,431,444
Xiaomi 14 – 1,773,520
Geekbench 6
Poco F6 – 1685/4776
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 1244/3516
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ – 1127/2658
OnePlus 12R – 1081/4204
Xiaomi 14 – 1741/6313
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Poco F6 – 3094/18.53 FPS
Infinix GT 20 Pro – 1736/10.40 FPS
Redmi Note 13 Pro+ – Unable to test
OnePlus 12R – 3712
Xiaomi 14 – 4499
Playing first with this device is actually quite interesting. Call of Duty Mobile and Marvel Snap can be played for hours without the device heating up or lagging. It's just that the battery life becomes inconsistent every time it's played.
CAMERA
It is clear here that Poco also wants to be Nothing because it only provides two rear cameras that really work without any gimmicky cameras. The main 50MP sensor and 8MP ultra-wide angle are enough for me to take pictures in Dubai atmosphere. Night and portrait modes are a bit weak on this device but otherwise, the Poco F6 offers acceptable photography capabilities.
A night portrait mode that looks like a vintage filter.
A 1x mod that does its best to preserve detail.
A near neat selfie portrait mode with good colors.
Ultra wide angle night mode which looks good but is actually inconsistent.
Auto mode in the daytime which is very satisfactory.
Fast focus when open and keep shooting because the main subject is still clear.
Good auto mode when you have a good light source.
Another good example of focus ability, as this photo was taken while walking.
I have not included a video recording sample on this device because it is often problematic. Because of the very hot weather in Dubai, every time I record a video there will be a notification that the application is stopped due to extreme heat. All I can say is that the video capabilities are like Poco F5 again, still not satisfactory.
AUDIO
Dolby Atmos stereo speakers are used on the Poco F6. Balanced sound but inconsistent voice level depending on the type of content. Sometimes at the 50% setting, the video is louder than the audio and sometimes the same file plays the audio louder than the video.
BATTERY AND CHARGING
Poco F6 uses a 5000mAh capacity battery with 90W fast charging. My balanced use between home and social media gives me around 6 hours SOT while really heavy use around 8 hours SOT. The hibernation mode on Xiaomi HyperOS allows the Poco F6 to last around 2 extra hours on 1% battery is a feature I really appreciate. The charging duration from 1% to 100% is around 40 minutes which is fast enough for daily use.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX?
Poco still provides a complete package for every purchase, namely;
1x Poco F6 in your choice of color.
1x Dull black protective frame.
1x USB-A to USB-C Cable.
1x USB-A 90W Charger.
1x Handbook and safety.
CONCLUSION
If the Xiaomi HyperOS used on this Poco doesn't have any ads, I can say the Poco F6 is a perfect affordable flagship device. However for affordable sales, it seems that this style of advertising is a must for all just as watching ad-free YouTube now requires payment.
I can also say Poco F6 is for those who value performance, while Redmi Note 13 Pro+ is a more balanced device. I would also suggest people to buy this phone because Poco provides software updates for 3+4 years, otherwise I would suggest people to buy Infinix GT 20 Pro which is much cheaper but has solid performance – only update support is 2 years.
PRO
Beautiful screen, bright and fast.
Fairly balanced audio.
Long-lasting battery and supports fast charging.
IP64 protection is a nice upgrade over IP54.
50MP camera which is good in daylight.
CONS
The screen has no LTPO and the highest brightness mode is not automatic.
The camera is not very good in low light.
Xiaomi HyperOS on Poco is full of annoying ads.
The sales price makes people confused to buy Poco or Redmi.