Is it the Poco X5 5G or Poco X5 5G Pro? Either way, they're both excellent!
Our Verdict
Both the Poco X5 5G and Poco X5 5G Pro are fantastic mobile phones. Each fulfils its purpose wonderfully, with the former being a grand choice for a well rounded device, while the latter is the perfect option for those after a good mobile gaming experience and a luscious camera. It truly is like luxury on a budget.
A cell phone is owned by billions of people globally, and it's very necessary in this day and age. However, the costs of a smartphone may make your eyes weep and your bank account cry when you look at companies like Apple and Samsung. Certain smartphones may cost over £1,000 or $1,000 if purchased entirely, and given the high cost of phone contracts, some consumers would rather own their phone completely in order to have a sim-only plan at a reduced rate.
As it happens, I'm one of these people, and both the expense of living and the lifetime of technology are becoming shorter. To be quite honest, I use an iPhone. After using the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 for over two years, I am now using the iPhone 13. These smartphones are dependable and powerful gadgets. But there are other businesses out there who are prepared and eager to provide you with excellent technology at a very affordable price.
I have the good fortune to own the most recent models from Poco, a firm we at SmartRead adore: the Poco X5 5G and Poco X5 Pro 5G. Simply glance over our reviews of the Poco X4 Pro 5G and F4 GT, please (Seriously). Those immediately indicate to you that Poco is a reputable producer that keeps offering customers opulent goods at discounted costs.
Before I go into what both phones can provide, let me just say that they're both excellent choices for anybody looking for a new smartphone, particularly if you like playing mobile games. Though you can't lose, I still believe it's only fair to provide a comparison since there are certain features of the Pro version that could appeal to you. You may find, however, that the ordinary Poco X5 more than suffices when compared.
Both phones have a clean design, are a pleasure to touch, and look amazing. Despite having somewhat different looks—the Pro model is more straight-edged and looks more like an iPhone—the ordinary model has rounded sides and edges. Although both phones seem light for their size, I find the Poco X5 Pro 5G to be somewhat more comfortable. However, that shouldn't come as a surprise since I'm an iPhone user who is used to this kind of phone's feel.
The Poco X5 5G has more to offer, however, if aesthetics is your first priority and you want a variety of colours. The black Poco X5 Pro looks sleek and businesslike, but I can't help but think the blue version—which is the one I own—is more stylish. Yes, I am aware that internal components are much more important, but there is no denying that some people like phones with a little flair.
Okay, let's look at each device's capacity for battery life before delving into the specifics of what it has to offer. With a 5000mAH (typ) battery, the basic Poco X5 offers a very long-lasting charge. You may use this battery for 20 hours of talk time, 21 hours of movie playback, and 192 hours of music listening when it is fully charged. I don't know about you, but I'm over the iPod era. For this reason, I need a phone that can charge while I listen to music, and the Poco X5 is ideal.
Now, the Pro must be quite great if the normal phone's battery is that excellent, right? You are correct, of course. The Poco X5 Pro's 5000mAh massive battery allows for 28 hours of talk time and 14 days of standby time. That should indicate how much usage you can get out of the gadget before needing to charge, and if you like playing games on the go, the Pro version's longer battery life puts it ahead of the Poco X5 model. On the other hand, the Poco X5 is an excellent choice if you're looking for a moderately priced phone with a large battery for regular usage. Even better, both phones have quick charging speeds, so no matter which one you select, recharging your phone's battery is a simple process when it runs low.
If you play a lot of mobile games, you should be able to handle the smartphone comfortably. The Poco X5 Pro is the obvious victor in this category because of its svelte and elegant design, even if both models are light and pleasant to grip. It won't bother you if you just play for little periods of time, but if you like prolonged gaming sessions, the pro phone's weight will definitely satisfy you.
Both devices have a 6.67" screen with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, therefore in terms of visual quality, they are comparable. If you would like have a screen with a stronger brightness, you may want to have a look at the Poco X5. In my opinion, both phones have excellent displays, and you really can't go wrong with either one. Manufacturers of Android smartphones such as Samsung, Sony, Huawei, and others need to take heed. The screen of a phone for as little as £269/ $269 appears better than phones that cost three times as much.
Naturally, the Poco X5 5G isn't nearly as powerful as its Pro sibling, but it still has a respectable CPU thanks to the Qualcomm Adreno 619 (booyaka, booyaka) GPU and the Snapdragon 695 5G Mobile Platform, which has an Octa-core CUP that can run at up to 2.2GHz. All of it combines to provide a phone that functions efficiently and fast. Indeed, it also handles games nicely. I tested it with a variety of Xbox Game Pass games, Marvel Future Revolution, and Wild Rift.
But the Poco X5 Pro is more potent since it has a Qualcomm Adreno 642L GPU and an Octa-core Snapdragon 778G Mobile Platform CPU that can run at up to 2.4GHz. This phone is among the greatest gaming phones available, in my opinion. Therefore, if playing mobile games is your top priority, this is the smartphone for you. However, the Poco X5 is still a fantastic option.
Whichever phone you choose, the touch controls for games work flawlessly on both. They both respond really quickly, which is fantastic since, let me tell you, some incredibly entertaining games aren't playable on mobile devices because of the displays' poor sensitivity.
It's natural to see that the Pro is currently somewhat ahead of the ordinary phone. Even if that's the entire purpose of a professional phone, the Poco X5 5G is still holding its own next to its sister. It's time to look at the available cameras and step it up a level since the Poco X5 Pro outperforms the competition with its sharp shots.
With the 108MP wide camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro camera, you can capture some amazing images. The 4K features at 30 frames per second allow you to make some amazing films as well. You may still choose 1080p or 720p if you'd like, but 4K will allow you to start vlogging right away, particularly because the back camera has a vlog function in addition to time-lapse and slow motion. Fortunately, the 16MP front camera with 1080p capability allows you to also capture some amazing facial images and videos. Sincerely, I've loved using the Poco X5 Pro to take photos and films; it's far better than my iPhone 13.
Even with its cheap retail price, the Poco X5 5G variant still has some decent camera capabilities. In addition to other features, you get a 48MP triple camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a 13MP front camera. Basically, you get what you would expect from a phone camera, but your photos are wonderfully elevated by the beautiful display of the phone.
I can confidently state that, for £269/$269, the Poco X5 5G is the ideal phone for anyone looking for an opulent, feature-rich phone that is affordable. It is impossible to exaggerate how good the Poco X5 Pro is for people looking for a mobile gaming device, especially for £369/$369, with its outstanding battery life, fast charging times, and GPU that makes any and all mobile games look spectacular. It's taking all of my time from my iPhone and Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and I'm loving it.
Sincerely, both provide excellent value for the money. What you want the phone for is the most important thing to think about. Choose the Poco X5 5G if it will only be used for the essentials, such as viewing movies or listening to music. However, the Poco X5 Pro 5G is what you need if you're looking for a wonderful mobile gaming experience and a great camera.