1. Introduction
- Launch Date: April 2025 (India & Global)
- Price (India): ₹25,999 (6 GB/128 GB), ₹27,999 (8 GB/256 GB)
- Global Pricing: $349 / €329
- Target Audience: Enthusiasts, gamers, binge-watchers seeking flagship-grade speed without spending on flagship models.
Quick Verdict:
The Poco F5 punches well above its price with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC, 120 Hz HDR AMOLED, and stereo speakers—offering flagship-level performance under ₹30K. Just beware of MIUI ads and the lack of OIS on its camera.
2. Unboxing & First Impressions
Box Contents:
- Poco F5 handset (with pre-applied screen protector)
- 33W USB-C charger
- USB-C to USB-C cable
- Transparent silicone case
- SIM ejector tool & paperwork
The packaging feels clean, and it’s great to see a free case and screen protector included by Poco.
First Impressions:
At only ~181 g and 7.7 mm thick, the F5 feels light yet premium—thanks to metal side rails and Gorilla Glass Victus on both sides. The matte back resists fingerprints, and flat edges offer a solid grip.
3. Design & Build Quality
- Materials:
• Front: Gorilla Glass Victus
• Back: Gorilla Glass 5
• Frame: Metal side rails - Dimensions: 163.0 × 76.8 × 7.7 mm; Weight: ~181 g
- Colors: Nordic Blue (matte), Moonlit Blue (glossy), Moonlight Silver
- Port & Button Layout:
• Left: Volume rocker
• Right: Power button + fingerprint sensor
• Bottom: USB-C port, stereo speaker, SIM tray
• Top: Secondary speaker grille + IR blaster
Highlights: Prime build quality feels flagship
Minor drawback: No official IP rating, though splash resistance seems adequate
4. Display
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | 6.67″ FHD+ AMOLED |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz (adaptive) |
| Touch Sampling | 240 Hz |
| Brightness | 1,300 nits peak, 500 nits typical |
| HDR Certification | Dolby Vision, HDR10+ |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass Victus front, Gorilla Glass 5 back |
Real-World Usage:
- Color & Contrast: Vibrant colors, deep blacks, P3 color gamut
- Brightness: Readable under direct sunlight
- Touch Response: 240 Hz ensures buttery smooth UI and gaming
- Content Consumption: OTT apps support Dolby Vision, offering cinematic quality
- Eye Comfort: No noticeable PWM flicker
Verdict: One of the best AMOLED panels under ₹30K
5. Performance & Benchmarks
Hardware Overview
- SoC: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4nm)
• CPU: 1x Cortex-A715 @ 2.96 GHz, 3x Cortex-A715 2.5 GHz, 4x Cortex-A510 1.8 GHz
• GPU: Adreno 725 - RAM/Storage:
• 6/8 GB LPDDR5
• 128/256 GB UFS 3.1
Benchmark Numbers (Approximated averages):
- AnTuTu v10: ~1,080,000
- Geekbench 6: SC 1,400 / MC 4,600
- 3DMark Wild Life: ~3,200
- Throttling Test: Maintains ~92% performance after 15 minutes
Real-World Experience
- Multitasking: Splitting between 20+ apps is seamless; no reloads
- App Load Times: Instant launches from Recent apps
- Thermals: Mild warmth during gaming or 4K streaming
- General Use: Daily tasks like social media, navigation, and messaging are responsive
Performance rivals Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in many aspects
Thermal throttling minimal but present under sustained heavy loads
6. Gaming Experience
The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 delivers flagship-tier performance, and the Poco F5 proves it’s more than capable in gaming.
Games Tested & Results:
| Game | Graphics Settings | Avg. FPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BGMI | HDR + Extreme (60 fps) | ~59 FPS | Ultra-stable, minor heating after 30 min |
| COD Mobile | Very High + Max (60 fps) | ~60 FPS | No frame drops, excellent audio feedback |
| Asphalt 9 | High Quality | ~60 FPS | Smooth gameplay, fast touch response |
| Genshin Impact | High settings | ~55 FPS | Slight frame drops in heavy scenes |
Gaming Features:
- Game Turbo UI: Floating dashboard, temperature monitor, performance modes
- Haptic Feedback: Decent, but not on par with gaming flagships
- Thermals: Back panel warms after 45+ mins, but doesn’t throttle
Verdict: One of the best gaming phones under ₹30K, with sustained high-FPS gameplay and minimal throttling.
7. Software & User Interface
Software Details:
- MIUI 14 for Poco, based on Android 13
- Bloatware: ~10 pre-installed apps (most removable)
- Ads/Promos: Present in places like File Manager, App Installer
- Custom Features:
- Floating Windows
- Always-On Display (limited)
- Sidebar, Split screen
- Memory Extension (Virtual RAM up to 5 GB)
Update Policy:
- 2 Major Android Versions (likely Android 14 & 15)
- 3 Years of Security Patches
Bugs or Issues:
- Rare stutter in animations with “battery saver” on
- Some app permission pop-ups delayed initially
Verdict: MIUI is feature-rich but still needs de-bloating and ad suppression. Power users will love the options, but minimalists might get annoyed.
8. Camera Performance
Camera Setup:
- Rear:
- 64 MP main (Omnivision OV64B, f/1.8, EIS only)
- 8 MP ultra-wide (120°, f/2.2)
- 2 MP macro (f/2.4)
- Front:
- 16 MP selfie (f/2.5)
Sample Use Cases:
| Scenario | Result Summary |
|---|---|
| Daylight | Sharp, colorful, great HDR, slight oversaturation |
| Low Light | Average detail, struggles without night mode |
| Portrait | Excellent edge detection, subject-background separation |
| Ultra-Wide | Acceptable in good light, but noticeable distortion |
| Macro | Mostly gimmicky; requires perfect lighting |
| Selfies | Skin tones decent, beautification aggressive by default |
Video:
- 4K @ 60 FPS: Crisp but no OIS—shaky handheld footage
- 1080p @ 60 FPS: Very stable with EIS, usable for casual vlogging
- Mic Quality: Decent stereo separation, not flagship-grade
Verdict: Camera is good for social media & casual photography, but lack of OIS and weak night mode hold it back from being top-tier.
9. Battery Life & Charging
| Parameter | Real-World Result |
|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5000 mAh |
| Charging Speed | 67W TurboCharge (wired) |
| 0–100% Charging Time | ~44 minutes |
| 0–50% Charging Time | ~18 minutes |
| Screen-on Time (SoT) | 6.5–8 hours (mixed usage) |
| Gaming Drain (1 hr) | ~15–18% |
- Charging Safety: Smart charging, trickle charging, thermal protection built-in
- Idle Battery Drain: Very low overnight (~2–3%)
Verdict: Great battery life with super-fast charging. Easily a one-day phone for power users.
10. Audio & Haptics
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Speakers | Dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos certified |
| Loudness | ~86 dB (very loud), minimal distortion |
| Audio Clarity | Excellent mids, average bass |
| Headphone Jack | No 3.5 mm jack |
| Bluetooth Audio | LDAC, aptX HD, AAC, SBC supported |
| Haptics | Z-axis linear motor – good for typing, decent for gaming |
Verdict: A solid multimedia package. Just bring your own dongle for wired headphones.
11. Connectivity & Network
Connectivity Specs:
- 5G Bands: n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n40/n41/n77/n78 (Confirmed for India)
- SIM: Dual Nano SIM (no microSD)
- Carrier Aggregation: Supported
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- NFC: Yes
- IR Blaster: Yes
- VoNR / VoWiFi: Supported
Verdict: Full-featured modern connectivity, ready for 5G and future-proof.
12. Biometrics & Sensors
| Feature | Performance |
|---|---|
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted, fast & accurate |
| Face Unlock | Works even in low light, ~0.3 s |
| Sensors | All present: gyro, e-compass, proximity, light, accelerometer |
Verdict: Reliable biometrics, even better than some in-display solutions.
13. Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Flagship-grade Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC | No OIS on main camera |
| Bright, vibrant 120 Hz AMOLED with Dolby Vision | Bloatware and MIUI ads present |
| Dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos | Plastic frame (although durable) |
| Great battery life + 67W fast charging | No 3.5 mm headphone jack or SD card slot |
14. Comparison With Competitors
| Phone | SoC | Display | Camera | Charging | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poco F5 | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 | 120 Hz AMOLED, Dolby Vision | 64 MP (No OIS), 4K60 | 67W | ₹25,999 |
| iQOO Neo 7 | Dimensity 8200 | 120 Hz AMOLED | 64 MP OIS | 120W | ₹28,999 |
| Realme Narzo 60 Pro | Dimensity 7050 | 120 Hz Curved AMOLED | 100 MP (no OIS) | 67W | ₹23,999 |
| OnePlus Nord CE 3 | Snapdragon 782G | 120 Hz AMOLED | 50 MP OIS | 80W | ₹26,999 |
Verdict:
- Best for Gaming & Performance: Poco F5
- Best for Camera with OIS: OnePlus Nord CE 3
- Best Charging: iQOO Neo 7
- Best Design (Curved): Narzo 60 Pro
15. Who Should Buy / Who Should Skip
Ideal For:
- Gamers needing high sustained FPS
- Performance-seekers under ₹30K
- Binge watchers (Netflix HDR, stereo sound)
- MIUI customization lovers
Not Ideal For:
- Ultra-wide photography or serious night photography
- Fans of clean UI (ads & bloat in MIUI)
- Those needing SD card storage or headphone jack
16. Final Verdict
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.4 / 5)
The Poco F5 delivers flagship performance in a sub-₹30K package with a buttery AMOLED display, great battery, and smooth gaming.
Trade-offs include no OIS, some MIUI clutter, and lack of ultrawide or expandable storage.
Buy It if performance is your top priority.
Consider if you want better cameras or UI.
Skip if you’re a camera-first or minimalist UI user.
17. FAQs
Q1: Does Poco F5 support 4K at 60 fps?
Yes, the rear camera supports 4K @ 60 fps recording.
Q2: How many Android updates will Poco F5 receive?
Two major Android versions + 3 years of security patches.
Q3: Is the Poco F5 good for gaming?
Absolutely. One of the best gaming phones in this price range.
Q4: Does it have stereo speakers?
Yes, with Dolby Atmos support.
Q5: Can you uninstall MIUI bloatware?
Most of it can be removed or disabled.
Q6: Is the charger included?
Yes, a 67W fast charger is included in the box.
Q7: Does Poco F5 support HDR on Netflix?
Yes, Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are supported on OTT platforms.
Would you consider buying the Poco F5? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
About The Author
