Poco F6: The Budget-Friendly Beast with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

The Poco F6 costs 450$ for the 512 GB storage and 12 GB RAM variant. It is the first phone to come with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. Performance-wise it is a smooth device. It brings a lot of premium features at a midrange price. It is a great choice for users looking for a powerful and affordable smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The device weighs just 179 grams, making it both sleek and lightweight. Its front glass is protected by the durable Gorilla Glass Victus, providing excellent protection against scratches and drops. However, the frame and back of the device are made of plastic. While an aluminum frame would have been a nice touch, the plastic construction does contribute to the device’s durability. The device is rated IP64, protecting against dust and splashes. It is available in three stylish colors: Black, Green, and Titanium. Despite the plastic frame and back, the device feels premium in the hand, making it a solid choice for those looking for a durable and stylish device.

Display

The Poco F6 has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is a very smooth and responsive display. The screen boasts a resolution of 1220×2712 pixels (1.5K), HDR10+ support, and a peak brightness of 2400 nits. The display, termed “Crystal Res,” delivers vivid colors and smooth visuals. And because of the high peak brightness, the outdoor conditions are pretty bright. It’s different from what you usually see at this price. The high refresh rate makes the interface feel smooth, and the large screen provides an immersive experience for media consumption and gaming.

Performance and Software

This device is equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, offering significant performance improvements over its predecessor. This chipset ensures smooth multitasking and efficient power usage. Although the 8 Gen 3 is slightly behind the 8 Gen 2, it is still a flagship-grade chipset. The phone supports high frame rates in games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty and runs smoothly even in graphically intensive games. It features the ‘POCO ICELOOP System’ for enhanced heat dissipation, which is three times more effective than traditional vapor chamber cooling systems, resulting in consistent performance.

In terms of memory and storage, the device comes in two configurations: 8GB RAM with 256GB storage, and 12GB RAM with 512GB storage. It utilizes LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage technology for faster data access.

It comes with Android 14, and HyperOS. Personality I don’t like Xiaomi’s OS that much. But it has much improved. It has some AI features in the gallery app and all other necessary features. Poco promises 3 major OS Updates and 4 years of Security Updates.

Camera

Rear Cameras: The dual-camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX882) with f/1.59 aperture and OIS, and an 8MP ultra-wide sensor (Sony IMX355). This combination allows for high-quality photos and up to 4K video recording at 60fps. The picture quality from these cameras is decent. It does a balanced job in dynamic range. The ultra-wide is only 8 MP but the quality is good, it so not that distorted as much as expected.

Front Camera: The 20MP front camera (OmniVision OV20B) supports 1080p video recording at 60fps, ideal for clear selfies and video calls.

Battery and Charging

The device is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, providing ample power for a full day of use. It supports 90W fast charging, capable of charging the battery from 2% to 100% in approximately 35 minutes, a significant upgrade from its predecessors. This kind of fast charging is so nice to have.

Connectivity and Other Features

The Poco F6 is equipped with support for a variety of 5G bands, ensuring wide coverage and fast connectivity. Additionally, the device features Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) and Bluetooth 5.4, providing reliable wireless communication. It also boasts an NFC, an under-display fingerprint sensor, and stereo dual speakers with Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos support, delivering clear and immersive sound. The device’s speakers are notably loud and the haptic feedback is of high quality.

Conclusion

The Poco F6 is a feature-packed smartphone that offers great value for money, making it a strong contender in the mid-to-high-end smartphone market. While the cameras may not be on par with those of the Pixel 8a, and the software may not be as clean as that of the Pixel 8a or the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, it is a fast and efficient phone with impressive performance and a quick display, which is rare to see in this mid-range segment. Depending on your priorities, this device could be an affordable flagship for you.