Not everyone is down with Poco phones powered by Dimensity. If you are one of them. We have good news. Not wanting a Dimensity powered device does not mean you have missed out on affordable devices with flagship specs because the Poco F6 series is here. As usual, there are two models: there’s the Poco F6 Pro and the Poco F6. Granted they aren’t quite as affordable as the M or X series but with the F series, you are getting flagship specs.
Poco F6 Pro
The Poco F6 Pro is powered by the last-gen flagship chip the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In case you don’t know, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the last of the flagship chips from Qualcomm that support 32-bit apps. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a 64-bit-only chipset. So I guess it is a good thing for users who are still using apps that have not been updated in ages (especially those defunct but still useful apps).
The new Poco F6 Pro also benefits from fast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage, offering up to 16 GB + 1 TB in its top configuration. The device further boasts LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with IceLoop System, the the 4th-generation LiquidCool technology features an expansive 5000 mm² of stainless steel, making it the making it the largest IceLoop system. This latest cooling claims to be 3 times cooling improvement over traditional VC.
The device runs on Xiaomi HyperOS and benefits from WildBoost Optimization 3.0 which should enhance your mobile gaming experience. In the AI department, it touts a suit of AIGC, including AI Expansion, AI Subtitles, AI Album Search, AI Magic Erase Pro, and AI Portrait.
The F6 Pro is outfitted with a 120 Hz 6.67” WQHD+ Flow DotDisplay. It is an AMOLED item rocking 4,000 nits peak brightness, a Pro HDR display, a wet touch display, and an in-screen fingerprint sensor that, wait for it, supports heart rate monitoring. I don’t believe we have seen or heard an in-screen heart monitor before. So I guess this is the first?
Anyhoo, in imaging, this newest flagship from Poco is rocking a 50 MP triple camera with OIS, featuring a main camera with 50 MP Light Fusion 800 1/1.55” image sensor, f1.6 aperture, 2.0 um Super Pixel, Dual Native ISO Fusion Max, 6P Lens, and OIS. It is complemented by an 8 MP 119° f2.2 ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP f2.4 macro camera. Rounding up the imaging is a 16 MP front camera that features a brand-new RAW domain algorithm.
The device also shines in the position department. It has a high-precision GNSS position featuring AI-based smart satellite selection that minimizes multi-path positioning errors, and 25% higher positioning precision in urban areas and canyons.
It has a dual-wing antenna design – powered by the metal frame body which increases antenna coverage by 170% and up to 39% signal strength.
The Poco F6 Pro is equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery that supports 120 W HyperCharge. Charging and battery management are handled by the Poco Surge P2 charging chip and Surge G1 battery chip which, together with software level Battery Health 3.0, smart charging at night, and more, ensuring charging safety and longevity of the battery.
There is also a Hibernation mode that lets the device go on standby for 2 hours or make 30-minute phone calls on just 1% battery. Damn. Every time I write about an Android phone, it makes me feel like Apple is subpar. Sorry. Given Apple’s resources, there is no way it cannot be better than any Android device. Seriously, Apple really has to up their game.
Other highlights include Dolby Atmos support, stereo dual speakers, an x-axis linear vibration motor, an IR blaster, a multifunctional NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7, AI face unlock (in addition to fingerprint unlock), and a premium design with ultra slim bezels and a metal frame, a smooth quad-curved glass back with a large rectangular, glass camera module with gold ring on the camera and flash (subtle but lovely!)
Poco F6
The Poco F6 is the lesser version of the Pro but it is no slouch either. It benefits from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 which touts on-device generative AI features. It also gets the fastest memories there are, namely, LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0, and is also blessed with WildBoost Optimization 3.0, powered by Xiaomi HyperOS and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, for enhanced gaming performance.
Like the Pro, the Poco F6 is cooled by LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with IceLoop System, the 4th-generation LiquidCool technology with an expansive 5000mm² of stainless steel—resulting in 3x cooling improvement over traditional VC. In addition, it touts intelligent temperature control, 8 temp sensors for real-time temperature monitoring, and high-efficiency heat-dissipating graphite.
The new Poco F6 is equipped with a 120 Hz 6.67” 1.5K CrystalRes Flow AMOLED with Corning Gorilla Victus. This display has hardware-level low-blue light professionally tuned for better eye protection.
It supports smart Always On Display (AOD). This feature works with the AON camera that periodically activates to detect the user’s face and if detected AOD is then turned on.
The device also has smart lock detection in which it monitors user presence, auto locks the screen when the user is not present—if the phone is unlocked, that is. Meanwhile, a smart rotating screen feature detects the orientation of the user’s face and intelligently changes the screen orientation accordingly. This is perfect for times when you are lying on your side on the couch or bed.
On the imaging aspect, it features a main camera with a 50 MP Sony IMX882 sensor camera with OIS, f/1.59 ultra-large aperture, 1.6 um large pixel (4-in-1), and 6p lens, and an 8 MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide camera, and a Halo flash (ring light style flash). Over on the front is a 20 MP OV20B 1/4” sensor, f2.2, 4p lens front camera with AON.
The device supports Poco AI air gestures for controlling the Poco phone through simple gestures without touching the screen.
The new Poco F6 is also outfitted with a 5,000 mAh but its charging wattage tops out at 90 W. Like the Pro, software enhancements like anti-burn protection, long charge protection (80% to delay battery aging), heavy load smart charging, battery health 3.0, smart charging at night, et cetera to ensure battery longevity.
Poco has a long-life battery promise cell capacity retention rate of 90% or more after 1000 cycles. Again, Apple could learn a thing or two from these Android phone makers.
Speaking of battery, the Poco F6 further features smart boost chips that extend low-temperature endurance allowing it to watch 13 hours of YT videos at -15°C (5 Fahrenheit). I believe this feature is to address poor battery life in extreme cold weather.
The device also has a thing called smart performance scheduling which, through AI frequency modulation, AI thread management, and frame-rate stabilization, improves energy efficiency in multitasking scenarios. Gamers will be glad to know that this device is rocking Instant Game Control which speeds up in-game response with AI tech and Super Resolution Rendering for clear, realistic gaming graphics (currently only support Genshin Impact).
Also like its slightly higher-end sibling, it rocks a suite of AIGC features and the Hibernation mode. However, the Hibernation mode on this device is a tad different. The smartphone can operate on standby for 2.5 hours and make a 33-minute call when at 1% battery life.
Other highlights include an IP64 rating, SGS 5 stars drop resistance certification, IR blaster, in-screen fingerprint sensor, AI face unlock, dual speakers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Hi-Res Wireless Audio, and a sleek aesthetic with an all-around equal curved back panel with four curved edges, and ultra-narrow bezels.
Pricing and Availability
The new Poco F6 Series is available globally at special introductory pricing via Aliexpress with the Poco F6 Pro starting at US$489 and the Poco F6 starting at US$347.22.
Images: Poco.
