Ever since the Xiaomi offshoot came into existence, it has focused on bringing high-performance devices at an affordable price point. Poco has now refreshed its popular X series with the Poco X5 Pro 5G smartphone, which has been launched at a starting price of Rs 22,999 but coupled with bank offers, buyers can get this device for Rs 20,999. While 2022's Poco X4 Pro was priced slightly lower at Rs 18,999, it also came with a giant camera bump at the back. The Poco X4 Pro, which became a much-loved option in the mid-range segment has a successor now and here's how it fared in my review.
Poco X5 Pro Design, Display, Looks And Build
Poco has not experimented much with the X5 Pro's design and that isn't a bad thing. The Poco X5 Pro has the company's tried and tested flat edges, but a slimmer form factor. The position of the keys and stereo speakers have not changed either. The power button also doubles up as a fingerprint scanner. However, the 3.5mm standard headphone jack has been oddly placed on the top of the smartphone and it sits next to the IR Blaster.
Among the noticeable and welcome changes is the frosty finish at the back instead of the glossy design that was present in the X5 Pro's predecessor, which did a good job of hiding smudges and fingerprints. However, Poco has used plastic and that might be a bummer for some buyers. The flat design may make it somewhat uncomfortable, but the phone's slim design language (7.99mm thick) and lightweight (at 181 grams) are worth noting and compensate for the boxy design. It is quite commendable that Poco has fitted the X5 pro with a hefty 5,000mAh battery and has still managed to keep the thickness below 8mm.
The device sports a 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED panel, which is bright and beautiful. Watching videos and browsing the internet under direct sunlight was legible. The display supports a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz and choosing the default refresh rate will lead to automatic changes that would be based on the kind of content or power being consumed. The screen also has Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support that greatly enhanced the picture quality. The Poco X5 Pro could also stream OTT content in FHD resolution.
Poco X5 Pro Camera
Like most handsets in this price category, the Poco X5 Pro 5G has a triple rear camera setup, which is highlighted by a 108MP Samsung ISOCELL HM2 sensor paired, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP macro camera. However, it was interesting to see the triple rear camera setup placed exactly like the one we have seen in the recently launched Redmi Note 12 Pro series. The slight difference here is Poco's branding placement right next to the camera.
The primary 108MP sensor captures photos in 12MP resolution by default and they were pleasant to look at with enough details and good colour accuracy. I found the HDR on the phone to be a little overboard with saturating the colours. Photos clicked in low light were strictly average. The phone also did a good job of clicking selfies with the 16MP front camera. The selfie shots did not look over-saturated. I also liked how the 2MP macro sensor could take decent pictures of subjects up close. However, it did that successfully only when there was enough light source. The Poco X5 Pro misses out on a dedicated depth sensor and relies on a software-only portrait mode instead.
Poco X5 Pro Battery And Performance
A major high point of the Poco X5 Pro is its hefty 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W wired fast charging. I found the battery backup of the phone exceptionally good and I could use the device for an entire day even when it was charged up to 70 per cent. The battery took roughly 45 minutes to be charged from 0 to 100 per cent. The Poco X5 Pro comes with a dated Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. It is a bit old when the phone is pitted against the likes of the Redmi Note 12 Pro that uses a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset. The phone fared well in terms of gaming and overall performance during my review. The Poco X5 Pro comes in two storage variants: 8GB RAM/256GB storage and 6GB RAM/128GB memory.
The Poco X5 Pro ships with Android 12 out of the box, which is disappointing. The phone is eligible for two Android updates. The phone runs the company's custom MIUI 14 on top, which can also be refined and made simpler.
Poco X5 Pro Final Verdict
The Poco X5 Pro is a good overall performer with a battery life worth mentioning. The Poco X5 Pro is not a cheap phone and it fares well in almost all areas except for low-light photography and runs Android 12 out of the box in 2023, which is a major bummer. For those who want a phone with the latest software, the Redmi Note 12 series is a good choice, but it is slightly pricier than the X5 Pro. Those looking to buy the X5 Pro should look for bank offers and other discounts to get it at a cheaper deal.