Say hello to the Poco F6, the brand’s heavyweight contender for 2024.
While Poco has launched many impressive smartphones this year, notably the X6 Pro, high expectations are pinned on the F6, because it carries the legacy of the iconic Poco F1.
That’s not all, this is also the first smartphone in India with the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset.
It is also priced incredibly well. The base 8+256GB variant starts at ₹29,999 in India. With launch offers, you can grab it for as low as ₹24,999!
So with all this hype, can the new Poco F6 convince you to ditch those overpriced flagships? Let’s find out.
Poco F6 Performance & Software
The Poco F6 is a performance focused smartphone, especially thanks to the latest
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset.
But, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has raised a lot of questions among smartphone enthusiasts.
Like, is it an overclocked 7+ Gen 3 or an underclocked 8 Gen 3? Also, how does it compare to the 8 Gen 2?
To simplify it, the 8s gen 3 is a souped up 7+ gen 3. Both chips share the same architecture, but the 8s Gen 3 offers higher-frequency cores and a slightly more potent GPU.
In my testing, both chips achieved similar scores in AnTuTu, but the 7+ Gen 3 unexpectedly scored a bit higher. Please watch the video for AnTuTu scores.
This is most likely an optimisation issue specific to the Poco F6, and it could be addressed in future.
On the flipside, the F6 scored an impressive 82.6% GPU stability score on 3D Mark’s Wildlife Extreme stress test. Its CPU stability score of 80% was pretty decent as well.
Benchmarks aside, in real-world usage, the Poco F6 impresses with its gaming abilities.
Call of Duty, for instance, runs at a smooth 120fps without a hitch. Graphically demanding titles like Genshin Impact hold their own with minimal frame drops, even during extended gaming sessions.
However, while gameplay itself was never an issue on the Poco F6, thermal management could have been better. While Poco has put a decently-sized 4800mm2 vapour chamber on the F6, it still tends to run hot.
I performed all the benchmark and gaming tests on this phone in air conditioned rooms, but this phone was far from being cool. In fact, in 3D Mark, it peaked at 49 degrees!
Now sure, the phone did not have any temperature induced performance throttling. Still, heat management is not this phone’s strong point.
On the software front, the F6 is powered by HyperOS built on top of Android 14.
Poco is promising 3 major android updates and 4 years of security updates on this phone which is quite good for this segment but I hope Poco delivers speedy updates.
Anyway, anyone who has used MIUI should feel right at home with HyperOS. However, there will be a learning curve for those used to other Android skins, as Hyper OS does a lot of things differently.
For example, the split notification and quick toggle docks is a design choice I’m not really fond of, and the lack of labels on quick toggles is just very confusing.
Other than that, I would have appreciated it if Poco held back on bloatware a bit on its flagship F6, because frankly, there is a lot of it here. That being said, I had no issues with the fluidity of the software during my day to day use.
Poco F6 Design
The Poco F6 takes a minimalist approach to design. It resembles the F5, but opts for a more subdued aesthetic. This design language is definitely inoffensive and made to appeal to a wider audience.
Notably absent on this phone is the signature Poco camera window, an element that injects some personality into the brand’s other phones. This omission gives the F6 a cleaner look but at the same it also feels a bit generic.
Given its focus on price-to-performance, the Poco F6 opts for a full-plastic construction. While it doesn't have the premium in-hand feel of glass or vegan leather phones, the build quality remains quite decent.
A significant advantage of the plastic build is that the Poco F6 feels quite lightweight, which is a welcome benefit during extended gaming sessions to avoid fatigue.
The design itself blends a flat frame with a subtly curved back panel that enhances grip. Our review unit has a matte black finish with a subtle shimmery texture.
The phone is quite slippery, so Poco does include a silicone case in the box to address this issue.
The rear of the phone is dominated by two large camera lenses, flanked by a big flash ring that bears a resemblance to Vivo's Aura Light. The front of the Poco F6 is visually quite appealing because of its slim bezels.
Poco F6 Display & Utility
The Poco F6 rocks a 6.67-inch AMOLED display and it is a high-quality panel. It has a 120Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, and is HDR & Dolby Vision certified.
Its peak brightness is 2400 nits, while the local high brightness is somewhere around 1200 nits, which makes it very usable in direct sunlight as well.
Out of the box, the display is set to a natural colour profile, which is great for everyday use. But if you prefer colours that pop a bit more, you can adjust the settings to your liking.
Deep blacks and great viewing angles complete the impressive display package, making the F6 a joy to use for streaming movies or battling enemies in games.
The multimedia experience gets an extra bump thanks to the phone's loud stereo speakers. However, music lovers might find themselves wanting a bit more depth in the bass department.
Anyway, beneath this display is an optical fingerprint reader which worked quite well in my experience. You also get an IP64 rating on the F6 for added durability.
Poco has also included an IR Blaster on this smartphone which can be quite helpful if the remote of your TV or air conditioner is out of sight.
Poco F6 Cameras
Please watch the video to see camera samples.
The Poco F6 has a dual rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP sensor and an 8MP ultrawide. The main camera includes the Sony IMX882 sensor which has become fairly common in mid range phones this year.
The good news is that this is the best performing camera yet on a Poco smartphone. Given enough light, the images have a decent amount of detail, the dynamic range is good, and the colours are quite close to natural.
Portrait mode delivers acceptable results, but the lack of a 2x zoom option and some iffy edge detection hold it back.
Night mode photos are devoid of noise, but this phone doesn’t brighten up the photos and tries to maintain the natural look of the scene.
This sensor can shoot videos at up to 4K/60fps. Videos, however, are prone to exposure jumps, even though they have a decent amount of detail.
Coming to the ultrawide camera, it is a decent performer for the price, but I’d recommend using it in natural light for best results.
The selfie camera, however, has the tendency to brighten up your skin, even with enhancements off.
Poco F6 Battery Life
The 5000mAh battery on the Poco F6 provides good endurance. I managed to extract out around 8.5 hours of screen time with mixed use.
But since most people will buy this phone primarily for gaming, your battery performance will vary. Still, this is a phone that won’t die on you quickly.
Also, just like the flagship Xiaomi 14, the Poco F6 supports 90W fast charging, but comes bundled with a 120W fast charger.
You can fully charge its battery from 0 to 100% in approximately 40 minutes.
Poco F6 Review
The Poco F6 is quite a winner in my opinion: not only does it offer more power than you’d ever need, but it also has a dependable main camera, a good display and solid battery life.
Sure, its thermal efficiency could have been better, and HyperOS can use some refinement.
But, starting at ₹29,999, the F6 strikes a smart balance, making minimal compromises. It's an ideal choice for power users who prioritise performance without breaking the bank.
Also watch: Motorola Edge 50 Pro review
