The Poco X4 Pro 5G, a successor to the popular Poco X3 Pro, aims to be a more rounded device than its predecessor, focusing on a combination of performance and features. While it doesn’t tout itself as a "flagship killer" like its predecessor, it still promises to deliver a solid experience for users wanting a capable smartphone under Rs. 20,000. But does it live up to its promise and deliver a compelling package, especially with its close resemblance to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G? Read on to find out in our detailed review.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Pricing and Availability in India
The Poco X4 Pro 5G launched in April 2022 with a starting price of Rs. 18,999. However, as of this review, it’s available on Flipkart for a starting price of Rs. 16,999 for the 6GB + 64GB variant. The prices of the other variants have also dropped, with the 6GB + 128GB variant now costing Rs. 17,999 and the top-end 8GB + 128GB option available for Rs. 19,999.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Design
Available in Poco Yellow, Laser Blue, and Laser Black colors, the Poco X4 Pro 5G clearly targets a younger audience with its design. The phone boasts a striking glass back panel that gives it a premium look befitting a device that retails under Rs. 20,000. The back panel is designed to create intricate patterns when light reflects off it, adding a touch of flair, especially in the yellow variant. However, this also means it’s susceptible to fingerprints and dust, making it a fingerprint magnet and a bit tricky to keep clean.
The X4 Pro 5G ships with a 67W fast charger, a USB Type-A to Type-C cable, manuals, a SIM ejector tool, and a case. The phone is quite tall and heavy, weighing in at 205g, and might not be ideal for those seeking a one-handed experience. The camera module, extending across almost the entire width of the phone, makes it top-heavy, causing fatigue during extended one-handed use. The prominent Poco logo on the back also isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
The device features a matte-finish plastic frame that holds up well against scratches, despite rough handling. The bottom houses a USB Type-C port, SIM tray, speaker grille, and a primary microphone. The top boasts a 3.5mm headphone jack, IR emitter, secondary microphone, and another speaker grille for stereo sound.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Specifications and Software
The Poco X4 Pro 5G features a 6.67-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch sampling rate. Powering the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC, fabricated on a 6nm process. This octa-core SoC boasts a primary CPU clock speed of up to 2.2GHz and utilizes the Adreno 619 GPU. The phone supports UFS 2.2 flash storage. The X4 Pro 5G offers a hybrid dual-SIM tray, enabling the use of two SIM cards or one SIM and a microSD card (up to 1TB).
The Poco X4 Pro 5G packs a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. Connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi ac, GPS/A-GPS, Bluetooth 5.1, and 5G. The device also features an IP53 rating, making it resistant to accidental water splashes.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Performance and Battery Life
While the Poco X4 Pro 5G delivers decent performance in day-to-day use, MIUI 13 could benefit from optimization. Minor stuttering and lag might appear after exiting a demanding app or game, although it’s not a consistent issue. Scrolling through the UI and switching between apps is generally smooth. The phone’s RAM management is commendable, allowing for quick resumption of background apps even after several hours of inactivity.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G provides biometric authentication options—fingerprint sensor and face recognition. The seamlessly integrated fingerprint sensor in the power button works flawlessly every time. However, the tactile feedback from the power and volume buttons isn’t very prominent, with the power button sitting flush with the frame, making it slightly tricky to use. Face recognition works flawlessly during the day but might encounter issues in dim lighting.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G scored 370,960 points in AnTuTu benchmarks, surpassing the Redmi Note 11 Pro+. However, when compared to its predecessor, the Poco X3 Pro, it scores significantly lower—5,43,796 during its review.
In Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests, the X4 Pro 5G achieved scores of 686 and 1,949, respectively. PCMark’s Work 3.0 test yielded a score of 10,509 points. The X4 Pro 5G produced 79fps and 16fps in the GFXBench T-Rex and Car Chase test suites, respectively.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G’s 6.67-inch AMOLED display captivates users with its vibrant colors, making it ideal for content consumption. The display is remarkably bright, ensuring readability even under direct sunlight. However, there’s no support for HDR playback despite Widevine L1 DRM support, which allows for 1080p video streaming.
The stereo speakers on the X4 Pro 5G deliver impressive, loud sound output with Dolby Atmos support and customizable presets.
Gaming performance on the 8GB RAM variant is average. Apex Legends Mobile can run at "Normal" graphics and "Normal" framerate, averaging 30fps, but drops to 26-27fps during battles. Switching to "HD" graphics and "High" framerate strains the device with noticeable frame drops.
BGMI runs smoothly at "Smooth" graphics and "Ultra" frame rate, but switching to "HD" graphics and "High" framerate causes dropped frames. Call of Duty: Mobile performs well at "Very High" settings. Games like Asphalt 9: Legends run smoothly without any hiccups. MIUI’s "Game Turbo" mode allows for pausing notifications during gameplay, recording gameplay, and other features.
The 5,000mAh battery in the Poco X4 Pro 5G delivers impressive battery life, lasting for 20 hours and 58 minutes in the HD video loop test. It easily lasts for over a day of normal usage, including casual gaming, movie watching, and moderate camera use. The included 67W charger efficiently charges the phone from empty to 63 percent in 30 minutes and to 100 percent in 52 minutes.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Cameras
The Poco X4 Pro 5G features a triple rear camera setup comprising a 64-megapixel primary camera with a Samsung ISOCELL GW3 sensor and f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front sits a 16-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.45 aperture. These cameras share similarities with the Redmi Note 11 Pro+, except for the primary camera, which uses a 108-megapixel sensor on the latter.
The camera UI is straightforward, featuring various filters, AI and HDR toggles, and additional shooting modes like 64M, Panorama, Long Exposure, etc. However, the Macro camera toggle is strangely located in a separate menu.
Daylight shots taken at the main camera’s full resolution display better detail compared to pixel-binned images. However, the dynamic range in full-resolution images falls short.
Daylight images are vibrant with popping colors but exhibit a warm tint. Contrast doesn’t quite hit the mark, and details in shadows get crushed. Switching to the ultra-wide camera results in less vibrant photos with diminished detail, showing evident color shifting towards cooler tones.
Macro shots in daytime disappoint with poor detail and an overprocessed look. Portrait mode images, however, are quite decent with satisfactory edge detection.
Low-light photos from all the camera sensors on the Poco X4 Pro 5G fall short. They lack detail and show considerable noise. The phone manages to capture usable images in environments with ample artificial light. Ultra-wide shots in low light are disappointing, appearing murky. However, switching to Night mode enhances detail in objects and shadows, resulting in decent photographs.
Videos shot in daylight with the main rear camera lack proper stabilization. Colors are vivid with heavy contrast, similar to the output in photos. The Poco X4 Pro 5G cannot record in 4K, a limitation shared across devices with this SoC. This is surprising considering lower-priced phones like the Redmi Note 10S can record in 4K. Sadly, there’s no 1080p 60fps option either.
Beauty filters like skin smoothening are enabled by default on the front camera. Daylight selfies are average but lack detail and have noticeable noise even in good lighting. Dynamic range isn’t satisfactory, with photos showcasing overexposed backgrounds. Edge detection in Portrait mode is underwhelming. Selfies captured in low light are also below par.
Poco X4 Pro 5G: Verdict
The Poco X4 Pro 5G presents an attractive design, a plethora of features, and a starting price of Rs. 16,999. Considering its resemblance to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ priced higher, the Poco X4 Pro 5G emerges as a more value-for-money option.
The X4 Pro 5G excels in areas like its AMOLED display, a joy for content consumption, and the stereo speakers that enhance the viewing experience. The battery life and fast charging are additional positives. The Snapdragon 695 5G SoC is a capable processor, but it has limitations in gaming and video recording. The MIUI on this device could use improvements through updates.
If you prioritize top-notch camera performance and high-end gaming, consider the Realme 9 5G Speed Edition, which is just slightly more expensive. Other viable alternatives worth considering include the Vivo T1 and OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite.
Overall, the Poco X4 Pro 5G offers a compelling package for its price point, aiming to satisfy users seeking a well-rounded experience. However, if your priorities align with superior camera or gaming capabilities, other devices might prove a better fit for your needs.
