Following our hands-on with the F6 Pro, we had the chance to use the Xiaomi Poco F6. These two smartphones have striking similarities, both in terms of size and announced performance. Here are our initial reactions to help you understand the potential trade-offs.
After having had the opportunity to take charge of the Poco F6 and the Poco F6 Pro, just after their official release in France, here are our first impressions. Please note, this is not a test, it will arrive later.
Reminder of the technical sheet and prices
As a reminder, the Poco F6 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a 6.67-inch diagonal Amoled panel which goes up to 120 Hz with Full HD+ definition, a fingerprint sensor under the screen , a 5000 mAh battery and 120 Watt wired charging (but no wireless charging). It is available in three different versions: 8 GB + 256 GB priced at €449.90, 12 GB + 512 GB priced at €499.90, and 16 GB + 1 TB priced at €599.90.
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First of all, we noticed that this Poco F6 was large, but not too large, which made it perfect for enjoying video games and watching video content. We appreciated its Amoled screen, large and bright, very flat and protected by Gorilla Glass Victus.
When it comes to performance, the Poco F6 seems to deliver, which is Poco’s hallmark: a good performance-storage-price ratio. We haven’t had the chance to do a thorough test yet, as the phone arrived in our hands only two hours before the conference, but we can’t wait to see what it has in store.
Simple but effective
The version that we were able to test is the gray version, with a matte plastic rear shell. Although it is not catastrophic and even rather elegant, it remains plastic which leaves no doubt about its nature.
The finishes are good, with two rimmed sensors and a flash, but we noticed that the screen borders are not of the same thickness all around the screen, with a small chin at the bottom. It remains well balanced despite everything.
As far as competition is concerned, the Poco F6 is positioned more alongside the Galaxy A55 or the Redmi, or even the Pixel 8a. This Poco F6 Pro certainly has very good performance thanks to the Qualcomm SoC. In any case, for now, the Poco F6 has left us with a good first impression.
We even noticed that the Poco F6 was a little better equipped than the Poco F6 Pro on certain points, such as screen protection (Gorilla Glass 5 vs Gorilla Glass Victus) and water resistance (IP54 vs IP64) . With very comparable performance, we almost tend to prefer it, knowing that the price difference clearly leans in favor of the F6.
As for the software interface, the Poco F6 is equipped withHyperOS, a very personalized Android interface by Xiaomi. We found the interface to be quite fluid and pleasant to use, with plenty of customization options.
However, we noticed that the interface was also quite busy in bloatware, that is, pre-installed applications and games that can be considered unnecessary. While this isn’t a major issue, it can be a bit frustrating for users looking for a more clean, minimalist interface.
True to the Poco spirit
When we compare the technical sheets between the Poco F5 and F6, we measure the progression between the two generations.
This Poco F6 seems, at first glance, a little more enviable than the F6 Pro. When we look at the technical sheet, the F6 Pro is better. When we add the sales price variable, the F6 stands out. Here, we truly have a smartphone with a good performance-price ratio, faithful to the Poco spirit. The compromise is on the photography side as well as some missing functions (no sufficient protection for waterproofing and no wireless charging).
This F6 is in a competitive market, with Samsung, Xiaomi Redmi, Samsung Galaxy A, OnePlus… opposite. Less powerful, but more balanced smartphones.
Now, we invite you to read our handling of the Poco F6 Pro.
Note: this article was written as part of a press trip to Dubai organized by Xiaomi Poco.
