Why buy a smartphone Xiaomi POCO: analysis of all the pros and pitfalls

Xiaomi’s POCO sub-brand appeared in 2018 as a response to a market demand: users needed powerful smartphones for the price of budget models. Today, the POCO line is a separate direction with its own philosophy, which is often compared to Redmi, but they have fundamentally different tasks. If Redmi is focused on the balance of price and characteristics for the mass buyer, then POCO is betting on performance, gaming capabilities and aggressive price-quality ratio.

Many people mistakenly think that POCO is just a “overclocked” version of Redmi with a different logo. In fact, the difference is deeper: it uses other cooling strategies, optimized firmware (MIUI for POCO), and in recent models even unique chips appear (for example, MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ in POCO F6 Pro). But why overpay for POCO, if you can take Redmi with similar characteristics? Let’s see where the choice in favor of POCO is justified and where it will be a waste of money.

Spoiler: If you want a smartphone solely for social media and calling, POCO is not your option, but if you play Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile sometimes, shoot TikTok videos, or just like hardware with power margins, read on.

POCO vs Redmi: What is the difference?

At first glance, the POCO X6 Pro and Redmi K70 may seem like twins: the same processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), similar screens and even design. But the key difference lies in the firmware and cooling system. POCO uses the proprietary MIUI for POCO shell, where unnecessary Xiaomi services (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) are removed, and game optimizations are added, such as Game Turbo 6.0 mode, which blocks notifications and allocates maximum resources for the game.

The second thing is thermal management, and in POCO, you often find solutions like:

  • 🔥 Liquid cooling with copper tube (for example, in the POCO F5 Pro radiator area is 30% larger than in the analogues of Redmi).
  • ❄️ Graphite pads between the chipset and the case for better heat removal.
  • 🎮 Additional temperature sensors that prevent trottling (resetting frequencies) during long gaming sessions.

In tests, the POCO F6 Pro heats up to 42°C after an hour of playing Genshin Impact at maximum settings, while the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in the same conditions reaches 48°C. The difference of 6 degrees may seem small, but in practice this means that POCO keeps a high FPS longer and less often reduces the brightness of the screen due to overheating.

📊 Which smartphone brand do you prefer?
Xiaomi (including POCO)
Samsung
Apple
Another Chinese brand
Never mind.

2.Who are POCO smartphones designed for?

POCO is not a generic line. It's tailored to specific use cases, and if your tasks don't make it to this list, it doesn't make sense to overpay. Let's take 3 key audiences:

🎮 Gamers and streamers

  • 🕹️ POCO F6 Pro and POCO X6 Pro equipped with screens with refresh rate of 120 Hz and support for Dolby Vision, which is critical for dynamic games.
  • 🔋 Batteries from 5000 mAh with fast charging 120W (into POCO F5) Allows you to play 6-8 hours without recharging.
  • 🎧 Bluetooth 5.3 and aptX Adaptive support for wireless headphones without sound delay.

📸 Content Makers and Tiktokers

  • 🎥 The cells in POCO It is often borrowed from Xiaomi flagships (for example, from the, POCO F5 Pro received the main module 64 MP Xiaomi 13T).
  • 🎬 Pro Video Mode with Support LOG-profile and manual settings (exposure, ISO, white-colour).
  • 🔊 Stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos for high-quality sound in rollers.

💰 Savvy buyers who want a "flagship for half price"

  • 📉 POCO It often offers past-generation chipsets (e.g. Snapdragon 8).+ Gen 1 inches POCO F5) at the price of medium-budget smartphones.
  • 🛡️ The case is made of Gorilla Glass 5 and aluminum frame (while Redmi often has plastic).
  • 🔄 Android Updates Guaranteed for 2-3 Years (longer than most budget brands).

⚠️ Warning: If you need a smartphone for business or long-term autonomy (e.g. for travel), POCO — Because of the powerful hardware and high-frequency screens, they consume more power than Redmi models with similar batteries.

3. Hidden POCO chips that aren't talked about in reviews

The manufacturer doesn't advertise some features, but they can be decisive when choosing. Here's what you get as a gift with POCO:

🔧 Mode "Ultra Battery Saver"

Unlike standard power saving, this mode turns off all background processes except calls and SMS, and allows you to last 5% of the charge up to 12 hours (tested on the POCO X5 Pro).

Settings → Battery → Battery modes → Ultra Battery Saver

🔒 Hidden menu for developers (not like Android)

POCO adds additional settings to fine-tune the performance. To open:

  1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
  2. Slip 7 times on the MIUI version.
  3. Return to Settings → Additional → Special Opportunities.
  4. Activate POCO Labs (not available on all models)

Here you can disable FPS restriction in games, enable Driver Version GPU for better graphics, or even overclock the processor (but this will shorten battery life).

What happens if you turn on the processor overclocking in POCO Labs?
In some models (for example, POCO F4 GT) You can increase the frequency of the nuclei on 5–10%. That gives you an increase in 10–15 FPS In games, but it causes overheating and battery drain, and the manufacturer doesn't recommend using this feature all the time.—> 📡 Improved Wi-Fi module and 5G V POCO Often installed antennas with support 4×4 MIMO and wifi 6E, This is a stable signal, even in densely populated areas, POCO F6 Pro in tests shows the loading speed on 20% higher than the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ in the same conditions. POCO F6 Pro Redmi Note 13 Pro+ Max. Wi-Fi speed. 6 (Mbit/s) 1800 1500 Support 5G-range n1/n3/n5/n7/n8/n28/n41/n77/n78 n1/n3/n5/n8/n28/n41/n78 Duration of play on a single charge (Genshin Impact, 60 FPS) 5 smack 20 mine 4 smack 10 Time of full charge (120W) 19 mine 21 mine 4. Cons POCO: What do you want to close your eyes to? There are no perfect smartphones. POCO exception. Here are 3 major compromises that you will have to make: 📏 Dimensions and weights due to cooling systems and large batteries POCO It's often thicker and heavier than the competition, POCO X6 The Pro weighs 209g at 8.9mm thick, while the Samsung Galaxy A54 — 202 g at 8.2 mm The difference seems small, but with prolonged use, the hand gets tired faster. 📷 Photo processing software, although cameras in POCO They're good on paper, and image processing algorithms are often inferior to flagships like Xiaomi or Samsung. POCO F5 Night shots are more noisy, and portrait mode sometimes "eats" hair on the boundaries of the mask. 🔄 PO Updates POCO It gets updates longer than Redmi, but less often than flagship Xiaomi, POCO F4 GT It came out with Android 12 and got only one major update to Android 13, while Xiaomi 12 Pro has already upgraded to Android 14. ⚠️ Note: If you are planning to use POCO For more than 2-3 years, be prepared for the fact that new versions of Android may not come out. Check the update policy for a particular model on the official website before buying. 5. POCO - What's your job? POCO It's divided into several series, and each one solves its own problems. Here's a quick guide: Series For Who? Model Examples (2023-2026) Average price (Russia, June 2026) POCO F Gamers, hardware enthusiasts" POCO F6 Pro, POCO F5 35 000 – 50 000 ₽ POCO X Price/Quality Balance, Content Makers POCO X6 Pro, POCO X5 Pro 25 000 – 35 000 ₽ POCO M Budgetary tasks, spare phone POCO M6 Pro, POCO M5 15 000 – 20 000 ₽ POCO C Minimalists, Senior Users POCO C55, POCO C40 10 000 – 15 000 ₽ If you need a smartphone for games, take it. POCO F6 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and screen 2K+ 120 Hz. It's better to shoot a video. POCO X6 Pro with optics from Xiaomi 13. And if the budget is limited, but you want a "delicious" AMOLED-screen - look closely POCO X5 Make sure the model supports yours 5G-ranges|Check the availability of an official guarantee in Russia|Compare weight and dimensions to your current smartphone|Assessing the real autonomy (do not believe the advertising figures)|View camera tests in low light conditions

6.POCO in 2026: Should we expect new models?

If you're not in a hurry to buy, it makes sense to wait for the announcements in the fall of 2026.

  • 🆕 POCO F7 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and screen LTPO 1-120 Hz (adaptive refresh rate).
  • 📱 POCO X7 Pro with 200 MP camera (sensor from Redmi) K70 Pro).
  • 🔋 POCO M7 Pro with a battery of 6000 mAh and charging 67W.

However, if you need a smartphone right now, the current POCO F6 Pro and POCO X6 Pro models remain relevant and will not be inferior to the latest in most respects. The main thing is not to overpay for newly released devices: after 2-3 months after the release, POCO prices usually fall by 10-15%.

💡

Before buying, check the price on the official website of Xiaomi and at major retailers (Svyaznoy, M. Video, Wildberries). Often in the first batches of smartphones are sold more expensive than a month after the start of sales.

7 Where to Buy POCO: Official and Unofficial Channels

In Russia, POCOs are sold through several channels, but not all of them are reliable.

✅ Official sources (guarantee 12-24 months):

  • 🏬 Salons of the Messenger and MegaFon (often there are promotions with gifts).
  • 🌐 Official website mi.com/ru (delivery 3–7 days).
  • 🛒 Wildberries and Ozon (only with sellers marked "Official Partner Xiaomi").

⚠️ Informal sources (risks):

  • 📦 AliExpress – prices are lower by 20-30%, but there is no guarantee in Russian.
  • 🏢 Pawn shops and “gray” stores – a high probability to run into a fake or a device with a lock on the Internet IMEI.
  • 🤝 Resellers in Telegram – often sell phones with unoriginal batteries.

⚠️ Note: When buying on AliExpress, check that the Global Version is listed (not China) ROM). Chinese firmware does not support Google Services and Russian language out of the box.

💡

Buy POCO only from official sellers, if you are interested in warranty, Russian firmware and 5G support in Russian networks.

FAQ: Frequent questions about POCO

🔹 Why? POCO cheaper than Redmi with the same characteristics?
POCO saves on marketing (less advertising), packaging (simple accessories-free boxes) and service centers (using Xiaomi infrastructure), and POCO often installs past-generation chipsets, which are cheaper but still powerful.
🔹 Can I stitch it? POCO pure Android?
Yes, but with reservations. Most models support custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, but you need to unlock the bootloader. Xiaomi doesn't officially recommend that you lose your warranty. Instructions for unlocking: 1. Enable debugging by bootloader. USB 2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: fastboot oem unlock 3. Confirm unlock in the phone menu. ⚠️ After unlocking, all data will be reset!
🔹 What? POCO better for Poks (PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile, Free Fire)?
For maximum FPS, take the POCO F6 Pro (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 + 12GB of RAM). If the budget is limited, the POCO X6 Pro (Dimensity 8300-Ultra) will give 90 FPS to PUBG at medium graphics settings. Remember to turn Game Turbo mode on in the settings!
🔹 Do you support? POCO wireless?
Only flagship models: POCO F6 Pro (30W), POCO F5 Pro (30W). In the budget series (X, M, C) wireless charging is not.
🔹 How to check POCO Originality before purchase?
Methods: Check the IMEI on imei.info — the model must match the box. Type in the phone number ##4636## and check the model information. Compare the serial number on the box and in the settings (Settings → Phone → General information). If the seller refuses to show the box or phone when it is turned on, this is a reason to be alert.