Review of Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro - the most affordable smartphone with Snapdragon 865 - Lifehacker

After the super expensive Mi 10 Xiaomi has released another flagship smartphone - Poco F2 Pro. The novelty costs significantly less, while it has the same hardware. Let's find out how the manufacturer achieved such a price-performance ratio of the device.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Design and ergonomics
• Screen
• Software and performance
• Sound and vibration
• Camera
• Autonomy
• Outcome

Specifications

Design and ergonomics

The front and back sides of the Poco F2 Pro are made of glass. Between them is an aluminum side frame. A distinctive feature of the smartphone is the design of the rear cameras: they are grouped in a protruding puck.

The back is matte and does not collect prints, and its edges are curved for comfort. However, the case is very slippery and it is best to put it in a protective case right away. This will increase the already rather large dimensions of the smartphone, but it can save it if it falls.

The dimensions and weight of the device are among the largest in the class - even the Xiaomi Mi 10 is more compact. The model is clearly not designed for those with small hands.

92.7% of the front side is occupied by a screen without cutouts or holes. I am glad that Xiaomi did not fold its edges: It is not difficult to stick a protective film or glass. There are no false touches on the sides either.

The front camera is hidden in the body and slides out when necessary. The action is accompanied by a backlight and a sound signal, which can be configured or disabled.

The in-screen optical fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate. There is also a face recognition function, but it is hampered by the delay when raising the front camera. Fingerprint unlock is much faster.

In addition to the sliding front camera, there is a 3.5-mm audio jack for headphones on top, as well as an infrared diode for controlling equipment. The bottom end is occupied by the USB Type-C input, a multimedia speaker and a tray for two nano-SIM cards.

Screen

Poco F2 Pro received a 6.67-inch display, made using Super AMOLED technology. The matrix resolution is 2,400 × 1,080 pixels, which in recalculation gives a pixel density of 395 PPI.

However, the real value is lower due to the structure of the Diamond (green diodes are twice as many as red and blue). It is found in almost all organic diode screens (OLED, P ‑ OLED, Super AMOLED), so they are inferior in clarity to IPS ‑ matrices.

The small white print shows looseness, but in most situations it does not interfere with using a smartphone. Also confused by the refresh rate of the screen at 60 Hz - for the flagship in 2020 this is not serious.

Otherwise, we have an excellent display with a huge margin of brightness, maximum viewing angles and contrast, as well as natural color reproduction. In the settings, you can adjust the picture to suit your tastes, activate the dark mode and the DC Dimming function.

Software and performance

Poco F2 Pro runs Android 10 with MIUI 12 shell - we talked about it in separate material. For two weeks, no bugs were found in the firmware, everything functions quickly and smoothly.

This is not least due to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. It includes eight cores made according to the norms of the 7-nanometer process technology with the big. LITTLE: four are at 1.8 GHz, three at 2.42 GHz, and the last is overclocked to 2.84 GHz. This combination reduces power consumption for simple tasks and increases productivity when needed.

Also included in the chipset 5G-modem and video accelerator Adreno 650. You can evaluate the work of the latter in heavy games, for example World of Tanks: Blitz. At maximum graphics settings, the frequency is kept at 60 FPS, sagging slightly only in difficult scenes.

The amount of RAM is 8 GB, which is enough for a dozen programs to run in parallel. Internal storage of 256 GB is also no problem, although the possibility of expansion would not hurt.

Sound and vibration

The new product does not have stereo speakers, but nevertheless it produces surprisingly loud and clear sound. The multimedia speaker at the bottom is equipped with its own amplifier and can compete with some stereo solutions.

There is no need to talk about competition with Xiaomi Mi 10, but against the background Honor 30 Pro + the smartphone holds up well. The models are comparable in volume, with the Honor sounding more voluminous and the Poco F2 Pro having more powerful bass.

The sound in the headphones is also pleasing. The Qualcomm Aqstic codec is responsible for converting and amplifying the signal, in conjunction with the Beyerdynamic DT 1350 we get an even tonal balance and a decent study of all frequencies.

Finally, the smartphone has a really high-quality vibration motor capable of a wide range of tactile responses: from light tapping to powerful vibration.

Camera

The Pocophone F2 Pro has four rear cameras. The standard 64 megapixel module is equipped with high-aperture optics with an aperture of f / 1.9. It is complemented by a 13-megapixel "shirik", a 5-megapixel macro lens and a depth sensor.

During the day, the smartphone makes great shots. The wide-angle camera copes with the task of fitting as many objects into the frame as possible, but the lack of optical zoom is frustrating. In the dark, the device "goes blind", but here the night mode comes to the rescue.

The novelty is the second Xiaomi smartphone after Mi 10 capable of recording 8K video. The frame rate is 30 FPS, while electronic stabilization is not available.

The smartphone also records 4K video with electronic image stabilization.

Autonomy

The Poco F2 Pro has a 4,700 mAh battery. The smartphone can easily withstand a day of active use with web surfing, social networks and instant messengers, as well as photography and viewing Youtube. In the late evening, about 30% of the charge remains. Half an hour of playing World of Tanks: Blitz will drain your battery by 6%.

The included 30W adapter recharges the charge in just an hour. But wireless charging is not supported, since the smartphone is not equipped with an induction coil.

Outcome

Poco F2 Pro is the most affordable Snapdragon 865 smartphone in Russia. For 50 thousand rubles, the user gets uncompromising performance in games and other tasks, decent sound and a large screen.

However, it's not hard to see where Xiaomi has saved. The 60 ‑ hertz display and the lack of a zoom lens are the main disadvantages of the model. Consider this if you are thinking about buying.

Buy

The author thanks Xiaomi for the device provided for testing. The company had no opportunity to influence its outcome.