POCO F6 review: The definitive flagship killer of 2024

POCO’s F collection has at all times been about delivering the very best {hardware} within the mid-range phase, and whereas final yr’s F5 had quite a bit to supply on this space, the model is taking issues to a complete new degree with the introduction of the F6 and F6 Pro. The F6 marks the debut of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in most international markets, delivering flagship-tier efficiency.That’s simply the beginning; the system additionally will get a brand new 120Hz AMOLED panel with elevated decision that now goes as much as 2400 nits in HDR content material, IP64 ingress safety, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, and a brand new digital camera on the again that is considerably higher than what I’ve seen on a POCO telephone to this point.Xiaomi tends to rebrand present units and launch them below the POCO label, and that is no completely different with the F6 — the telephone is similar to the Redmi Turbo 3 that debuted in April, however seeing as how that system is not launching globally, there is not going to be any overlap between the 2.What makes the F6 even higher is the worth; it manages to ship higher {hardware} than a lot of the choices on this class, and does so for lots much less. That alone makes the telephone worthy of a suggestion.POCO F6: Pricing and availability(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)POCO unveiled the F6 and F6 Pro at a launch occasion in Dubai on May 23, and the units are set to go on sale globally within the coming weeks. Both the F6 and F6 Pro are debuting within the U.Okay. and different western markets, and India is getting the usual F6 and never the Pro variant.The POCO F6 is on the market in 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB storage variants, and there’s additionally a 16GB/512GB mannequin that will likely be obtainable in choose areas — that is the model I’m utilizing. All variants of the F6 include LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage modules.What’s notable is the pricing; the 8GB/256GB mannequin of the F6 begins off at simply $339, whereas the 12GB/512GB mannequin is $379. The POCO F6 Pro, in the meantime, prices $449 for the 12GB/256GB mannequin, $499 for the 16GB/512GB version, and $579 for the 16GB/1TB model. POCO launched the POCO Pad alongside the 2 telephones, and it’s a rebranded model of the Redmi Pad Pro with the identical 10000mAh battery, and at $299, it’s also an ideal cut price.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryPOCO F6OSHyperOS 1.0.3.0, Android 14Display6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED, 2712 x 1220, 1200 nits HBM, 2400 nits HDR, Gorilla Glass VictusChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, Adreno 735, 4nmRAM8GB/12GB LPDDR5XStorage256GB/512GB UFS 4.0Rear digital camera 150MP f/1.6 Sony IMX882, PDAF, OIS, 4K at 60fpsRear digital camera 28MP Sony IMX355, wide-angle lensFront digital camera20MP f/2.2Ingress protectionIP64 mud and water resistanceConnectivityWi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, 5G bands, NFC, dual-band GPS SecurityOptical in-screen sensorAudioUSB-C, stereo sound, 24-bit/192kHz, AptX HDBattery5000mAh, 90W turbo chargingDimensions160.5 x 74.5 x 8mm, 179gColorsBlack, Green, TitaniumRow 15 – Cell 0 Row 15 – Cell 1 POCO F6: Design(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)POCO clearly likes to change issues up on the design entrance with each era, and that is the case with the F6 as effectively. The model hasn’t overhauled the whole design, as an alternative making a number of tweaks that permits the F6 to distinguish itself from its predecessor. The largest change is on the again, the place the digital camera modules at the moment are ensconced inside huge rings, just like that of ASUS’s Zenfone 10.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The LED flash module sits to the appropriate of the 2 modules, and it has been equally enlarged. The design feels cohesive in case you’re getting the black shade variant, however in case you go for the inexperienced or titanium colours, the black-accented cameras look misplaced — POCO ought to have color-matched the modules to the again of the telephone.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Having stated that, this is not the ugliest design on a POCO telephone — removed from it. The model has had its share of misses up to now (notably the F5 Pro), and though the F6 is not elegant, it would not come throughout as ostentatious both. What I like concerning the new digital camera modules is that they do not protrude, so there is not an excessive amount of of a wobble when utilizing the telephone on a desk.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)POCO retained the identical polycarbonate again and sides, and once more, that is not a difficulty in any respect. The again has a silky coat that minimizes smudging to an extent, and the matte texture on the edges makes it straightforward to carry and use the telephone. The F6 is significantly mild at 179g, and it has glorious weight distribution.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Although it’s utilizing a plastic chassis, it would not really feel that manner whenever you use the system, and the construct high quality is excellent. The again has a delicate curve alongside the edges the place it meets the mid-frame, and that permits the F6 to nestle into your hand with ease.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There is not a lot in the way in which of branding on the again both; apart from the POCO brand and a 50MP OIS tagline to the appropriate, the telephone is devoid of overt branding. The remainder of the design is fairly customary — the facility and quantity buttons are on the appropriate, the SIM card tray is on the backside subsequent to the USB-C port, and also you get stereo sound that is loads first rate.POCO now affords IP64 mud and water resistance on the F6, and that permits the system to climate the weather a lot better. While you continue to cannot submerge the telephone below water — that is reserved for IP67 and IP68 — it might probably face up to splashes of water from any facet.POCO F6: Display(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The F6 nonetheless has a 6.67-inch panel, however that is the one fixed from final yr. The AMOLED panel now has a better decision of 2712 x 1220, and it will get brighter — it is ready to go as much as 1200 nits in HBM mode, and 2400 nits in HDR content material — and is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)The telephone is about to the Original Colour Pro mode out of the field, and colours aren’t noticeably vibrant — switching to the Vivid mode makes a giant distinction in day by day use. As with all Xiaomi telephones, the display screen refresh is about to auto, and you may want to enter the settings to manually toggle 120Hz. You can change between 60Hz or 120Hz, and there is no possibility to decide on 90Hz. The auto mode does an honest job switching between the 2 refresh charges, however I prefer to have 120Hz enabled on a regular basis.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There’s Widevine L1, and there are not any points taking part in 1080p content material in streaming providers. Xiaomi telephones on the whole do not do an ideal job with Dolby Vision content material, and that’s the case with the POCO F6 as effectively. That stated, the telephone is terrific at gaming, and is ready to play demanding titles at steady framerates. The stereo sound is sweet too; it is not as detailed as high-end units, however it’s greater than ample when streaming content material or informal gaming.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You get the identical set of customization choices as different Xiaomi and POCO telephones, together with always-on kinds, capacity to tweak colours to your preferences, and extras like Reading mode. Like most Xiaomi telephones, the F6 has 1920Hz PWM dimming, and there is an optical module this time. The solely problem is that the module sits a bit too low on the panel, making it awkward to entry when utilizing the telephone one-handed. Other than that, the F6 nails the fundamentals.POCO F6: Performance and battery(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)POCO is betting on the most recent Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 to distinguish the F6 within the mid-range phase, and there’s a lot to love with the platform. You get one Cortex X4 core that goes as much as 3.0GHz, and it’s joined by 4 2.8GHz A720 cores that deal with a bulk of the performance-related duties, and three 2.0GHz A520 cores designed to ship effectivity.The Adreno 735 is attention-grabbing as effectively, and it permits the F6 to be a gaming powerhouse; it is without doubt one of the finest units on this class at gaming. The solely draw back is that it will get noticeably sizzling in marathon gaming classes; the F6 went as much as 46.2 levels Celsius on the again, 45 levels across the sides, and 49.2 levels close to the digital camera modules.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryPOCO F6POCO F6 ProOnePlus 12RPCMark Work 3.0 (Overall)154911583312189PCMark Work 3.0 (Web Browsing)149441526312111PCMark Work 3.0 (Video Editing)769174825548PCMark Work 3.0 (Writing)173271705915752PCMark Work 3.0 (Photo Editing)265843229119074Geekbench 6 (single-core)176214181332Geekbench 6 (multi-core)4608512144753DMark Wild Life Extreme (rating)2947NA36863DMark Wild Life Extreme (FPS)17.65NA22.073DMark Solar Bay (rating)4983NA53303DMark Solar Bay (FPS)18.94NA20.27The upside is that with a stability rating of 97.5% in 3DMark’s Solar Bay stress take a look at, the F6 is the very best out of any mid-range telephone I examined, and that is evident in real-world gaming eventualities as effectively. The telephone would not throttle even with prolonged use, and also you get regular framerates in visually demanding titles. It would not have the sheer energy of the common 8 Gen 3, however within the context of mid-range telephones, it’s a improbable displaying. What’s additionally attention-grabbing is that there is not a lot of a gulf between the F6 and the F6 Pro. The Pro mannequin is powered by final yr’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and is best at gaming, however in real-world utilization eventualities, the F6 manages to carry its personal even in demanding titles. POCO is not shortchanging customers relating to the reminiscence; all variants of the F6 characteristic LPDDR5X RAM modules as customary in addition to UFS 4.0 storage, and that could be a huge deal in its personal proper. The base mannequin has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there is a 12GB/512GB version that is obtainable in most markets. POCO is not bringing the 1TB variant exterior China, and the 16GB/512GB mannequin that I’m utilizing is equally restricted to pick out areas, however on the entire, the F6 has among the finest {hardware} packages on this class.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)That extends to connectivity as effectively, with the system providing Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and a wide variety of AptX codecs, together with AptX HD. It has dual-SIM connectivity and an honest set of 5G bands based mostly on the area, and I did not see any points making calls or accessing mobile networks within the week I used the system.The solely quibble with the {hardware} is that the vibration motor is not fairly nearly as good because the one on the F6 Pro; it’s restricted in its vary, and would not ship granular suggestions. Outside of that, there are not any issues with the F6 by any means.Battery life has been terrific as effectively, and the telephone manages to final a day and a half with ease. I did not see the battery go beneath 15% even on days with heavy use, and like the very best Xiaomi telephones of 2024, there isn’t a battery anxiousness by any means. And with the upgraded 90W charging now obtainable, it takes simply over 40 minutes to cost the F6. Thankfully, POCO continues to bundle a charger within the field.POCO F6: Cameras(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Cameras have by no means been the principle focus for POCO, however that is altering with the F6; the system has a 50MP f/1.6 Sony IMX882 with OIS that takes first rate images in most conditions. The most important digital camera is joined by an 8MP Sony IMX355 wide-angle lens, and on the entrance you get a brand new 20MP f/2.2 digital camera that makes use of OmniVision’s OV20B40.POCO is lastly being smart about auxiliary cameras on the F6, and the telephone would not get the 2MP macro module that is been a mainstay on most Xiaomi telephones during the last three years. Considering the ineffectiveness of that sensor, it is good to see the model not bundling it only for advertising and marketing causes.The digital camera interface itself hasn’t modified, and you will find all the same old toggles and settings in the identical location. What is new, although, is the power to shoot 4K video at 60fps; POCO hobbled this characteristic on its units for the longest time, so it is nice to see that video recording is not a limitation now. You do not get a lot in the way in which of capturing modes or results, however the F6 has all of the fundamentals obtainable, and actually, that is what you may find yourself utilizing anyway.Image 1 of 9(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Coming to sunlight pictures, the F6 has good dynamic vary and shade rendition. You do not miss out on intricate particulars relating to clouds or foliage, and colours are typically correct. POCO’s telephones have a tendency to spice up the distinction a bit, and it makes the resultant images look nice on social media.Where the F6 shines over its predecessors is low-light imagery; the telephone is ready to take detailed pictures at night time, with little to no seen noise ranges. Highlights and shadows are managed effectively, and whereas the publicity is on the conservative facet, you possibly can nonetheless make out a variety of minute element. The telephone does a a lot better job with portrait pictures as effectively, together with these of inanimate objects.The wide-angle lens, then again, is strictly common. It does an honest sufficient job in eventualities with good lighting, however it would not have the identical shade stability as the principle lens, and it has points with focusing and managing noise ranges in low-light.That stated, the F6 is the very best displaying but from POCO, and the telephone manages to ship the same caliber of pictures because the OnePlus 12R, and that is an enormous deal in and of itself.POCO F6: Software(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)There is not a lot to speak about relating to the software program facet of issues. The system comes with HyperOS 1.0.3.0 based mostly on Android 14 out of the field, and whereas POCO makes use of a personalized model of the interface with customized icons, there is not a lot else that is completely different to what you get on Xiaomi telephones.In truth, the software program is similar to MIUI 14, and apart from the cut up notification pane and some under-the-hood modifications, you do not discover something new. The fast toggles nonetheless haven’t got labels, and like all Xiaomi telephones I’ve used this yr, it continues to be annoying. There is a variety of customizability on supply, and options like versatile home windows let you take advantage of out of the interface.(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)What is noticeable is the fluidity of the UI; it’s higher than the MIUI period, and it makes a distinction in day by day use. Outside of that, the interface has the identical advantages — and foibles — as different Xiaomi telephones, together with annoying autostart points and wonky push notifications. The most egregious problem is the sheer quantity of bloatware on the system; most of it may be uninstalled, however the truth that Xiaomi continues to do that is obvious irritating.As for software program updates, the F6 and F6 Pro will get three updates as customary, and whereas that’s lower than the business customary of 4, it’s higher than what POCO assured up to now. But as with different Xiaomi telephones, there is no telling whenever you’ll really get the replace; it is unlikely the telephone will change to Android 15 earlier than the top of the yr.POCO F6: The competitors(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)Nothing’s Phone 2 continues to be an ideal alternative on this class, significantly now that it’s promoting for simply ₹40,999 ($492) in India. The Phone 2 additionally has a elegant OLED panel, highly effective {hardware}, good battery life, and first rate charging tech. Where it wins is the software program; the clear interface with Nothing’s extras give the telephone a definite edge, and also you get two terrific cameras on the again. That stated, the F6 has a bonus relating to worth.The OnePlus 12R can be suggestion; the telephone is quicker in day by day use in addition to gaming, and it has a greater 50MP digital camera on the again together with 100W charging tech. I additionally just like the design of the 12R fairly a bit, and I choose ColorOS to Xiaomi’s software program.POCO F6: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)You should purchase this if:You want a mid-range gaming telephoneYou need a vibrant AMOLEDYou want digital camera on the againYou need all-day battery with ultra-fast chargingYou should not purchase this if:You want clear software program and well timed updatesYou need a good wide-angle lensPOCO did not put a foot improper with the F6. The telephone addresses the shortcomings of its predecessor on the {hardware} facet of issues, and it’s near the F6 Pro in a variety of areas — that is why POCO is not launching the Pro variant in nations like India.If something, I feel the usual mannequin is a a lot better deal than the F6 Pro; you continue to get a variety of the identical options, and it is not quick on energy. The F6 Pro’s most important digital camera is noticeably higher than the usual mannequin, however that is the one space the place it has a definite benefit. Otherwise, the F6 is simply nearly as good, and the worth you are getting with the system is unmatched. Ultimately, that is what makes the F6 such possibility on this class. You’re getting among the finest {hardware} packages round, the digital camera is a major improve from the F5, and whereas the software program wants one other overhaul, it’s fluid. If you want a value-focused gaming telephone that takes good images, the F6 is now my go-to suggestion within the mid-range phase.