The Xiaomi Poco M6 5G presents itself as a promising budget-friendly smartphone, offering a balance of features and performance for its price point. Here’s a detailed look at the device:
Design and Display
The Poco M6 5G features a dual-tone design typical of the Poco lineup, highlighted by a rectangular camera bar housing two camera rings and an LED flash. The Orion Blue color variant stands out with a gradient finish that catches the light, although it is prone to fingerprints and smudges. The phone lacks an IP rating, so it’s best to avoid exposing it to water and dust. Its flat edges and 195g weight make it comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.
The 6.74-inch LCD display offers HD+ resolution with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the screen provides decent color balance and brightness for outdoor visibility, the overall viewing experience is average, reflecting the phone’s budget nature. The single mono speaker is loud but lacks crispness, and the side-mounted fingerprint scanner is reliable.
Cameras
The Poco M6 5G is equipped with a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor, along with a 5MP front camera. Daylight photos are acceptable but lack detail and sharpness, with colors appearing oversaturated. Low-light and indoor shots suffer from noise, which night mode can partially mitigate at the cost of stability. Selfies are average, with some issues in clarity and skin tone accuracy. Overall, the camera setup is competent for a budget device but doesn’t excel in any area.
Performance and Software
Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, the Poco M6 5G performs well for its class. The device comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD. It runs on Android 13-based MIUI 14, which includes a significant amount of bloatware and ads. This can be managed by manually removing unwanted apps and tweaking settings.
Performance-wise, the device handles everyday tasks like browsing and social media efficiently. The 90Hz refresh rate is not consistently applied, which can make the phone feel less smooth. Gaming performance is decent for casual games, but not suited for high-end gaming.
Battery Life
The Poco M6 5G features a 5000mAh battery, supporting 18W fast charging. However, it comes with a 10W charger in the box, leading to longer charging times. Using a compatible 18W charger reduces the full charge time to around 90 minutes. The battery life is robust, easily lasting a day with moderate use. It scored 9 hours and 35 minutes on the PC Mark battery test.
Verdict
The Poco M6 5G is a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers, offering good performance, battery life, and a decent display. However, the extensive bloatware, average camera performance, and lack of an IP rating are drawbacks. For those looking for a reliable daily driver without breaking the bank, the Poco M6 5G is worth considering.