Poco F6 Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Budget Flagship

Smartphone market is more competitive than ever with plenty of great options at every price point. This is great for consumers but tough for marketers. With so many phones available and people holding on to their devices longer, global sales have been declining for years.

Marketers are finding it harder to convince people to buy new phones which is why the reasons for upgrading often seem less important than before.

Enter Poco F6, a phone in “flagship killer” category. Priced at £449, it’s similar to Poco F6 Pro but has key differences in camera and processor. These differences are small, making it hard to justify choosing one over the other.

While that may pose a challenge for marketers, it’s a win for consumers. So, does Poco F6 stand out enough to be worth buying?

• Poco F6 packs a powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor making it one of the strongest phones in its price range.
• It also supports fast 90W charging, letting you fully charge phone in just 30 minutes with included charger.
• Even though it’s a mid-range phone it comes with tough Gorilla Glass Victus for extra protection.

Poco F6 Specification

📶 Network	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
📏 Body	Dimensions: 160.5 x 74.5 x 8 mm Weight: 179 g Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back IP64 dust & water resistant
📱 SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
📺 Display	6.67″ AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision Resolution: 1220 x 2712 pixels Gorilla Glass Victus
⚙️ Platform	Android 14, HyperOS Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) Octa-core CPU Adreno 735 GPU
💾 Memory	No card slot 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM (UFS 4.0)
📸 Main Camera	50 MP (wide) + 8 MP (ultrawide) Video: 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps
🤳 Selfie Camera	20 MP (wide) Video: 1080p@60fps
🔊 Sound	Stereo speakers, No 3.5mm jack Hi-Res & wireless audio
📡 Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, Infrared, USB Type-C
🔍 Sensors	Fingerprint (under display), accelerometer, gyro, compass
🔋 Battery	5000 mAh, 90W fast charging (2-100% in 35 min)
🎨 Colors	Black, Green, Titanium
💵 Price	₹ 24,999 / $ 342.99 / £ 275.00 / € 319.11
🕑 Battery Life	10 hours 36 minutes (active use)

Poco F6 Design

• Generic plastic design
• IP64 dust and water resistance
• Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection

Poco F6 has a simple, plastic build that feels good in hand, being neither too heavy nor too slippery. While its design is nothing unique, it’s functional and durable. Mint green model looks appealing and unlike many other phones, it avoids excessive branding, featuring only small ‘Poco’ logo and ’50MP OIS’ badge.

Rear camera setup includes two large circles for sensors which are much bigger than actual cameras, along with a rare ring flash for better lighting.

Phone has a USB-C port for charging but no 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming common. It also has IP64 dust and water resistance so it can handle a rain shower, though it’s not waterproof.

Fingerprint sensor is under the display and works well and the front-firing speakers provide good audio quality for videos and music.

Design of Poco F6 is basic but sturdy offering solid build quality for a mid-range device.

Poco F6 Screen

• 6.67-inch OLED display
• HDR10+ support
• 120Hz refresh rate

Poco F6 comes with 6.67-inch OLED screen offering a sharp 1080p+ resolution, HDR10+ for vibrant content and a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth performance. Screen is bright enough for outdoor use, though some pricier phones handle sunlight better.

While Full HD+ resolution isn’t groundbreaking, it’s perfectly fine for this screen size and high screen-to-body ratio makes it comfortable for one-handed use.

HDR content looks great, with rich but not overly saturated, colors. You can also adjust the display settings to your preference. 120Hz refresh rate ensures a smooth experience, though it’s not as advanced as some high-end models that offer more battery-saving options.

Screen is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus, known for its strong scratch and drop resistance, making device more durable.

Poco F6 Camera

• 50MP main camera (f/1.6)
• 8MP ultrawide
• 20MP selfie camera

Poco F6 has a solid 50MP main camera with a wide aperture (f/1.6), similar to F6 Pro but with a smaller sensor which may affect low-light performance slightly. However, in most conditions, photo quality is very similar, providing good detail and natural sharpness.

Colors can sometimes be hit or miss, especially with the AI mode on where green shades (like grass) can appear overly bright. 8MP ultrawide camera works well in good lighting but struggles in low light. Ring flash is a helpful feature for night portraits, giving extra brightness.

F6 lacks a macro sensor but that’s not a big deal since those are often not very useful. Video recording is decent with good color and detail, though some noise is noticeable.

20MP selfie camera produces good results but can struggle with highlights and tends to overdo beauty filter which can be turned off for more natural-looking shots.

Poco F6 Performance

• Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
• Up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage

Poco is known for delivering strong performance in mid-range phones and Poco F6 continues that tradition. Powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage, phone handles tasks with ease.

F6 runs efficiently whether you’re using the phone for regular work or playing games like Fortnite, PUBG, or Genshin Impact. It is among the most powerful mid-range phones on the market, scoring nearly as well as flagship-level devices in benchmarks.

Poco F6 provides great performance for its budget even though it’s not nearly as good as high-end phones like Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 15 Pro.

Poco F6 Software

• Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS
• iOS-inspired features
• Can be frustrating to use

Poco F6 runs on Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS which is heavily customized and similar to their previous MIUI system. While it adds some interesting features, experience can feel cluttered and complex.

One example is the split control system: swiping down from the right gives you an iOS-like control center, while swiping from the left brings notifications that can only be cleared by swiping right. These changes might feel confusing or annoying if you’re used to standard Android.

Software works but it may not be the best choice for users who prefer a clean and simple interface.

Poco F6 Battery Life

• 5000mAh battery
• Average all-day battery life
• Full charge in 30 minutes

Poco F6 has a 5000mAh battery and efficient software that helps manage power use. However, battery life is just average. On a typical day with moderate use—GPS, messaging, calls, and some gaming—battery was down to 22% by 7 pm, meaning it should last a day but you might need a quick top-up.

Thankfully, 90W charger can fully charge phone in just 30 minutes which is convenient if you need a quick recharge.

Poco F6 Pros and Cons

✅Pros	❌Cons
✅ Great OLED display	❌ Battery life could be better
⚡ Fast performance (Snapdragon 8s)	📸 Weak ultrawide camera
⚡ Quick charging	📱 Software-based proximity sensor
🎵 Good stereo speakers	❌
📷 Excellent main camera	❌

• Tecno Camon 30 Premier Review: A Budget-Friendly Beauty
• Sony Xperia 10 VI Review: More Than Meets the Eye
• Sony Xperia 1 VI Review: A Familiar Face, But Is It Still Relevant?

Conclusion

At £449, Poco F6 offers good value with plenty of storage, a powerful processor, decent cameras and a solid screen. However, overall user experience falls short. The software can be frustrating, battery life is average and design is fairly generic. While it’s a capable phone, you might find better options in the mid-range market if you’re looking for a better camera, longer battery life or a smoother experience.