Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Review: Affordable Flagship Smartphone

The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is a game-changer in the world of affordable flagship smartphones. With a price tag that's significantly lower than its competitors, it's no wonder this phone has been making waves.

The Pocophone F1 boasts an impressive 6.1-inch Full HD+ display, making it perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or simply enjoying your favorite games. Its 12-megapixel rear camera is also a standout feature, capable of capturing stunning photos and videos.

One of the F1's most notable features is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, which provides lightning-fast performance and seamless multitasking. This means you can switch between apps, play games, and stream content without any lag or slowdown.

The Pocophone F1 has a 6.18" IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen screen with an aspect ratio of 18.7:9 and a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. The display also has a wide notch at the top.

The phone's body is made of polycarbonate, which is not the most premium material but should fare better when dropped. The finish of the dark grey version mimics metal quite well.

The Pocophone F1 features a thin aluminum frame, with the power and volume buttons placed on the right side. The buttons are a little thin for comfort, but they are crisp, responsive, and easy to reach.

The all-versions section gives us a rundown of the phone's connectivity features. The phone supports GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies.

The phone's 2G bands include GSM 850, 900, 1800, and 1900. It also has 3G bands such as HSDPA 850, 900, 1900, and 2100.

Here's a breakdown of the phone's 4G bands: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, and 41.

In terms of speed, the phone can reach HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps and LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps.

The phone's platform is Android 8.1 (Oreo), which is upgradable to Android 10, with MIUI 12.

On a similar theme: Samsung Galaxy A6 / A6+

The POCOphone F1's design is rather generic, but that's not entirely surprising given its price range. It doesn't quite live up to the standards set by its competitors, and even some cheaper alternatives.

The back of the device is made of polycarbonate, which might give it a cheap feel. However, it's not shoddy or flimsy, and the finish on the dark grey version does a good job of mimicking metal.

The phone's plastic back should fare better when dropped, but it will scratch and wear faster than glass. This might be a trade-off worth considering, depending on your priorities.

If you want a fancier design, the Armored Edition model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is worth a look. It comes with a Kevlar fabric back that feels sturdy and has extra grip.

The power and volume buttons are placed on the right side, and they're crisp and responsive. However, they might be a bit thin for comfort.

The round fingerprint sensor on the back is easily reachable, which is a plus. The phone's design is not particularly compact, and it's about the same size and weight as the OnePlus 6.

The Pocophone F1 has a robust hardware setup that's impressive for its price. The phone runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) SoC, paired with an Adreno 630 GPU for smooth graphics rendering.

This powerful processor is available in three memory-storage combinations: 6GB/64GB, 8GB/128GB, and 8GB/256GB. All three versions feature the same Snapdragon 845 processor, making them a great option for those who want flagship power without breaking the bank.

One of the notable features of the Pocophone F1 is its LiquidCool system, which helps keep the CPU cool and running smoothly. This is especially important for heavy users who plan to push the phone's performance to the limit.

The phone's battery is also a highlight, with a large 4,000mAh unit that should easily last a full day, and potentially two, depending on usage. The battery can be quickly charged with the bundled 9V/2A charger, which supports Quick Charge 3.

Here are the key specs:

The phone's display features a 6.18" IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with an 18.7:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels. The display also has a wide notch at the top and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3.

The display on the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is a 5.99-inch IPS LCD screen with a high resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels, making pixels unnoticeable at 416dpi.

Colors are nice and punchy, but the screen doesn't have OLED, which would have provided better contrast rates and viewing angles. Outdoors, text can be a bit smudgy at full brightness.

The screen's oleophobic coating is a bit of a letdown, as it's prone to smudges. However, you can wake up the screen by double tapping it, which is a convenient feature.

The Pocophone F1 is a speed demon, thanks to its top-of-the-line internals. It's fast, smooth, and handles graphics-intensive games with ease.

The POCOphone F1 has a 5.99-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2246 pixels (18:9), making pixels nearly unnoticeable.

Its pixel density is 416dpi, which is high enough to ensure crisp visuals.

Colors on the display are nice and punchy, but OLED would've provided better contrast rates and viewing angles.

The screen's oleophobic coating is a bit of a letdown, as it's prone to smudges.

The phone's glass can get smudgy as soon as you take it out of the box.

The Pocophone F1 is a speed demon, and it shows in its performance. With top-of-the-line internals, using the F1 is a delight, as it's fast and very smooth with no lag or jankiness.

Playing graphics-intensive games is a breeze on the F1, with no issues encountered. In AnTuTu, the model with 6GB of RAM hit scores in the 240,000 to 260,000 range, which is on par with or above many 2018 flagships.

The Pocophone F1 has a dual rear camera setup, featuring a 12MP main sensor with a 1/2.55" sensor size, f/1.9 aperture, and 1.4μm pixel size.

This camera is based on Sony's Exmor RS IMX363 sensor and includes dual pixel Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) for fast and accurate focusing.

The secondary camera acts as a depth sensor with 5MP, f/2.0 aperture, and 1.12μm pixel size, and is paired with a dual-LED flash for better low-light performance.

The camera also features HDR and panorama options, allowing you to capture stunning images with a wide dynamic range.

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Video recording is possible in 2160p@60fps, 1080p@60fps (gyro-EIS), or 1080p@960fps mode, making it great for capturing smooth and stabilized footage.

The camera app also includes a manual mode, which allows you to adjust white balance, shutter speed, and ISO, giving you more creative control over your shots.

A software update in January 2019 added 960fps slow-motion video recording and night mode, further enhancing the camera's capabilities.

The front camera features a 20MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture and 0.9μm pixel size, and includes HDR software and analytic capabilities for improved image quality.

Selfie software includes AI Beautify 4.0 and precise bokeh effects, making it great for taking stunning selfies.

Pictures can be taken in JPEG or RAW format, with RAW in DNG format available on the Open Camera application and Google Camera Ports.

The Pocophone F1 has some impressive memory options. It comes with internal storage options of 256 GB/8 GB RAM or 64/128 GB with 6 GB RAM.

One of the great things about the Pocophone F1 is its expandable memory. You can add up to 256 GB of storage using a microSD card, which is super convenient for storing all your photos, videos, and apps.

Keep in mind that using a microSD card will take up the second SIM slot, so you'll need to decide whether to prioritize memory or dual SIM functionality.

The Pocophone F1's battery is a powerhouse, boasting a 4000 mAh Li-Po battery that can keep you going all day long.

The battery is 18 W "Quick Charge 3.0" type, developed by Qualcomm, which means it can recharge your phone much faster than standard USB ports.

The Pocophone F1 comes with internal storage options of 256 GB/8 GB RAM or 64/128 GB with 6 GB RAM.

You can expand the memory of the Pocophone F1 through a microSD card up to 256 GB, but this will use up the second SIM slot.

The internal storage options are 256 GB/8 GB RAM and 64/128 GB with 6 GB RAM.

The Pocophone F1 runs on MIUI 11 based on Android 10, and since March 2020, it's upgradable to a stable version of Android 10. This means you'll get the latest security patches and features.

There's a very active software modding community for the Pocophone F1, which is great news for users who want to customize their phone.

The phone initially had screen bleeding issues and an oversensitive screen on some international versions. However, a software update in February 2019 fixed the Widevine L3 certification issue, allowing users to play DRM-protected content without restrictions.

Some users reported that the display on their units suffers from screen retention, which can be temporarily fixed by turning off the display for a few seconds and then turning it on again.

The Pocophone F1 runs on MIUI 11 based on Android 10, and since March 2020, the software is upgradable to a stable version of Android 10.

There's a very active software modding community for the Poco F1, which means you can install aftermarket custom ROMs or operating systems if you want to.

The POCOphone F1 initially runs Android 8.1 Oreo, with Xiaomi’s proprietary UI layer, MIUI 9.6, and a POCO Launcher on top.

The POCO Launcher is designed to make the phone look more like stock Android, similar to what Oxygen OS on OnePlus attempts.

MIUI is a feature-rich skin that has garnered a lot of fans for its practical features, and Xiaomi has promised to deliver the Android Pie update for the POCOphone F1 before the end of the year.

One issue we ran into is that the notifications icons don't show up at all in the status bar, although this can be fixed with a software update.

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Early copies of the phone had screen bleeding issues.

Some users of the international version of the phone reported issues related to an oversensitive screen.

The phone initially had a software issue that prevented users from playing DRM-protected content, but a software update in February 2019 resolved this issue by upgrading the Widevine certification to L1.

The phone's display can play HDR videos from the YouTube app, but this can cause videos to look washed out and darker compared to non-HDR videos.

Screen retention is a problem on some units, even after replacing the display with a new one.

Turning off the display for a few seconds and then turning it back on can temporarily solve the screen retention issue.

The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 received very positive reviews from media outlets, with many describing it as a flagship smartphone at a bargain price. One of the standout features of the phone is its camera, which was even praised by MKBHD in a blind smartphone camera test in 2018.

The phone's battery life was also a major plus, with a score of 91 from DxOMark, placing it in between the iPhone 8 and the Google Pixel. However, it's worth noting that the phone's built-in speakers were not the best and some users may not like the MIUI software.

In terms of competition, the Pocophone F1 goes up against some tough opponents, including the OnePlus 6, HONOR 10, ASUS ZenFone 5Z, and HONOR Play. Here are some key specs to compare:

The Pocophone F1's price point of around 21,000 rupees (~300$) for the 6GB/64GB model is a major selling point, but it's worth considering these other options to see which one best fits your needs.

The Pocophone F1 received very positive reviews, with media outlets describing it as a flagship smartphone at a bargain price.

One of the standout features of the Pocophone F1 was its camera, which was praised for its quality. The phone was even the runner-up of MKBHD's blind smartphone camera test in 2018.

The Pocophone F1 also received a score of 91 from DxOMark, placing it in between the iPhone 8 and the Google Pixel. This is a testament to the phone's impressive camera capabilities.

However, not all aspects of the phone were equally well-received. GSMarena noted that the built-in speakers were not the best and that some may not like MIUI.

Here are some key statistics about the Pocophone F1's reception:

The POCOphone F1 is priced very competitively, with the 6GB/64GB model starting at 21,000 rupees (~300$). This is a significant advantage in a market where prices can add up quickly.

One of the main competitors to the POCOphone F1 is the OnePlus 6, which starts at 35,000 rupees (~$500). The OnePlus 6 has a sleeker design, a better screen, and a better camera, making it a strong contender.

The HONOR 10 is another competitor to consider, with a starting price of 33,000 rupees (~470). It comes with a similar processor, more base storage, and a nicer camera, but its design might not be to everyone's taste.

The ASUS ZenFone 5Z is also in the running, with a starting price of 30,000 rupees (~430). It has a great design and offers excellent audio performance, but its battery life is smaller than some of the other options.

Finally, the HONOR Play is a budget-friendly option, with a starting price of 20,000 rupees (~$285). It features GPU Turbo technology for improved gaming performance and has a slightly better design than some of the other options.

Here's a quick comparison of some of the main competitors:

The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is a great phone for those on a tight budget, offering incredible performance and battery life at an unbeatable price.

It's hard to beat the POCOphone F1 for the money if you care primarily about having the best performance.

The phone's performance-to-price ratio is exceptional, making it a compelling option for those who want a fast phone that will stay fast for several years.

The POCOphone F1's battery life is also a major plus, keeping you going all day.

The phone's design is uninspiring, but the more expensive Kevlar model might change your mind.

The cameras on the POCOphone F1 are inconsistent at best.

If you have a little leeway in your budget, you might want to consider trying out some of the other phones mentioned.

The POCOphone F1 is a good phone, but not necessarily a must-have, unless you're on a tight budget.

Xiaomi's decision to create a sub-brand like POCO might become clearer over time, as they work to differentiate their product lines.