Xiaomi’s POCO: Brand decoding, history and how it differs from Redmi and Mi

If you’re interested in Xiaomi smartphones, you’ve probably noticed that in addition to the usual Redmi and Mi ranges, the company’s range includes devices under the POCO brand. At first glance, it may seem that this is just another sub-brand, but in fact, POCO has a unique history, philosophy and target audience. In this article, we will discuss in detail what POCO means to Xiaomi, how this brand came to be, how it differs from other lines of the company, and why its smartphones often become sales hits despite modest pricing policies.

It’s a long way to argue whether POCO is a separate brand or part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem. POCO is formally positioned as a standalone manufacturer, but in fact it’s closely linked to the parent company, from shared production capacity to software. This ambiguity often misleads users: some view POCO as a “budget version of Xiaomi,” others as an experimental testing ground for new technologies. Let’s get a grip on the truth and myths.

The history of the POCO brand: from experimentation to global success

The POCO brand was officially introduced in August 2018 as a sub-brand of Xiaomi, aimed at technology enthusiasts and gamers. The first model was the POCO F1 (also known as the Pocophone F1), which created a furor thanks to the top Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and priced at half the price of its competitors’ flagships. The idea was simple: offer maximum performance for minimal money, sacrificing some “premium” chips like frameless design or ultra-fast charging.

Interesting fact: initially POCO The company was created as a response to criticism of Xiaomi for too frequent updates to the Redmi and Mi lines, which confused users. POCO It was supposed to be a breathing tube for innovation, a platform where the company could test bold engineering solutions without risking the reputation of major brands. POCO F1 For the first time among the smartphones Xiaomi appeared liquid cooling and IR-blaster (infrared port) in the top segment.

• 📅 2018 year-out POCO F1 (Snapdragon 845, 6/8 GB RAM, price ~$300).
• 🌍 2020 — POCO Becomes an independent brand (formally), but retains ties with Xiaomi.
• 📱 2021 - release POCO F3 with Snapdragon 870 and 120 Hz AMOLED-screen-over ~$350.
• 🔥 2023 — POCO It ranks 3rd in smartphone sales in India, overtaking Samsung.

Today. POCO — It's a full-fledged global brand that competes not only with Redmi, but also with players like Realme or Motorola. POCO It maintains its original mission: to offer the highest value for money without overpaying for a brand, POCO X6 Pro (2026) is powered by a Dimensity processor 8300-Ultra, which does not give the flags to the $800–$1000, but the smartphone itself is 2-3 times cheaper.

POCO vs Redmi vs Mi: What's the difference and who gets what to choose?

The main question that customers are concerned about is: how does POCO differ from Redmi, if both brands are owned by Xiaomi and offer smartphones in the same price range?

• 🔧 POCO — It's a focus on performance and gaming, and you'll find top-end processors, high-frequency screens (120/144 Hz, improved cooling, but often due to camera or design.
• 📸 Redmi is a balance between price and versatility. Cameras are better than the ones you've got. POCO, The design is more modern, but processors are often weaker (e.g. Snapdragon 7).+ Gen 2 instead of Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1).
• 💎 Mi/Xiaomi — premium segment with a focus on design, cameras (with Leica), wireless charging and ecosystem. Prices higher, but also more chips.

Simply put, if you want a smartphone for gaming, video editing or multitasking, look POCO. If photos, appearance and long-term update support are important, choose Redmi or Mi. For clarity, compare the three popular models of 2026:

Note that the POCO X6 Pro is cheaper than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ with a more powerful processor, but loses in the camera. This is the classic POCO trade-off of sacrificing secondary (to the target audience) features for performance.

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If you choose between POCO and Redmi, look for the suffixes in the names: POCO models with the prefix F (for example, F5) are usually more powerful than Redmi with the prefix Note (for example, Note 12).

Firmware and software: how MIUI for POCO differs from standard

One of the key differences between POCO and other Xiaomi brands is the firmware. POCO smartphones run on MIUI for POCO, a modified version of the standard shell.

• 🚀 Less bloatware (pre-installed applications). POCO Many Xiaomi services that duplicate Google features (e.g. Mi Browser or Mi Video) have been removed).
• 🎮 Default gamer mode. There is a separate Game Turbo section in the settings that optimizes performance during games.
• 🔄 More frequent updates for flagship models (e.g, POCO F5 Android 14 was released earlier than some Redmis).
• 🛠️ Unlocked bootloader (on most models) This makes it easier to install custom firmware, such as the Pixel Experience.

However, there are also disadvantages: some functions MIUI into POCO They're not stable, like users. POCO X3 Pro complained about bugs from Always-On Display, which were not solved until a year after release. POCO Xiaomi’s branded chips are often missing, such as:

• 📱 Double applications (cloning of messengers).
• 🔒 Second Space (Separation of Work and Personal Space).
• 🎵 Equilizer with Dolby Atmos support (in some models).

⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use a smartphone POCO In Russia, please note that some models (for example, POCO M6 Pros come with global firmware, which does not support Mi Pay and other regional Xiaomi services. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Why POCO smartphones are cheaper than analogues: analysis of pricing policy

POCO's big deal is price/performance, but how does a brand manage to keep prices so low?

1. Marketing savings: POCO spends little money on advertising, relying on word of mouth and enthusiastic reviews, compared to Samsung or Apple spending up to 30% of the cost of the device on marketing.
2. Simplified design: POCO cases are often made of plastic (even in $400-$500 models) rather than glass or metal. For example, the POCO X5 Pro has a plastic back, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a glass back.
3. No extra chips. No wireless charging, no camera ultrazoom, no premium speakers, but there's something that's important to gamers: a powerful processor and good cooling.
4. Optimization of logistics. POCO is sold in India and China, where production and delivery costs are lower, and many models are introduced in these markets first, and then in Europe.

Another secret is the use of transition processors, such as the POCO F4 got the Snapdragon 870, a simplified version of the Snapdragon 888 that is cheaper to produce but barely inferior in performance. And the POCO X6 Pro uses the Dimensity 8300-Ultra, an overclocked version of the standard Dimensity 8300 that MediaTek supplies to POCO at a special price.

Myths and Realities about POCO: What's True and What's Not

There are a lot of rumors around the POCO brand, and we'll look at the most popular ones.

• ❌ Myth:"POCO — These are just re-labeled Redmi smartphones." ✅ Reality: Although POCO Redmi shares some components (e.g., batteries or camera modules), and their hardware platforms are often developed separately, POCO F5 Redmi Note 12 Turbo is similar in appearance, but have different cooling systems and firmware settings.
• ❌ Myth: Smartphones POCO not receiving updates." ✅ Reality: POCO promise 2 major Android updates and 3–4 year of patch security for flagship models (e.g, POCO F4/F5). It’s smaller than the Google Pixel, but comparable to Samsung in the budget segment.
• ❌ Myth:"POCO It is designed only for games." ✅ Reality: Although POCO He's focused on productivity, and his smartphones are also good for everyday tasks, POCO X5 Snapdragon 695 is great for social media, photography and video.

⚠️ Note: If you see a smartphone POCO price-below $The 200 is most likely a model with a Helio G-processor from MediaTek (e.g., the Helio G-processor, POCO C55). These devices are weaker than even some Redmis and are only suitable for basic tasks. For games or multitasking, choose models with the X or F prefix in the title.

How to choose a smartphone POCO: checklist for the buyer

If you are buying a POCO smartphone, here’s what to look for:

Determine the goal: games (F-series) or everyday tasks (X-series)

Check the firmware version (global or Chinese)

Check the availability of 5G support (not all models of the budget line have it)

Check out the camera reviews (POCO is often weaker than Redmi’s)

Compare prices on the official website and resellers (the difference can be up to 20%)

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Also take into account regional features:

• 🌐 Global version (Global) ROM) — Google Services supports, but may not have Russian in some applications.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese version (China) ROM) — Google without Google, but with advanced features MIUI (For example, Super Wallpapers).
• 🇮🇳 Indian version (India) ROM) — Optimized for local networks (Band 40 support for local networks) 4G), It may have restrictions on imports to other countries.

If you are buying POCO for gaming, pay attention to:

• 🔥 Refrigeration system (in POCO F5 — VC Liquid Cooling, in POCO X6 Pro — IceLoop).
• 🖥️ Screen refresh rate (120 Hz or 144 Hz for smoothness).
• 🔋 Battery capacity (optimally - 5000 mAh and higher).

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POCO smartphones with the Pro index in their name (like the POCO X6 Pro) usually feature the best screens and processors, but their price can approach the premium Redmi Note.If budget is tight, look for models without the Pro - they often offer 80% of the features for 70% of the price.

POCO’s Future: What to Expect from the Brand in 2026–2026

In 2026, POCO will continue to develop two key product lines:

• 📲 POCO F-series – flagship killers with top-end processors (expected) POCO F6 Snapdragon on Snapdragon 8s Gen 3).
• 💰 POCO X-series – budget devices with a focus on performance (for example, POCO X6 Neo with Dimensity 8300-Ultra).

Among the expected innovations:

• 🔄 Longer support for updates (possibly up to 3 versions of Android for flagships).
• 🎮 Collaborating with Black Shark to improve gaming features (e.g. physical triggers in the game) POCO F6).

POCO can also expand its range to include laptops and tablets (similar to RedmiBook), but there are no official announcements yet. If you are planning to buy, it makes sense to wait until the fall of 2026, when the brand’s most exciting new products are usually released.

FAQ: Frequent questions about POCO