A month ago we came away impressed with our first brush with the POCO X5 Pro, POCO’s top of the line device for the Indian market that delivers solid value at its sub Rs 25,000 price tag. The X5 5G is the follow up and aims to provide an option for value seekers who don’t mind skipping some features for a more competitive price point under Rs 20,000. POCO has carved a niche in India built on dependable performance at an affordable price point. Does the X5 walk the talk on this pitch?
Sleek and edgy
Clunky smartphones are a thing of the past. That’s a good thing. The X5 might pack a heavy duty battery but POCO manages to keep the heft under 190 gm. It’s under 8mm thick and feels really good in your hands. We like the clean lines, the design language stays in the same zone as the pricier POCO X5 Pro. This device comes in three colours including our favourite – the Wildcat Blue. We checked out the more sedate Jaguar Black with its matte black finish that lends it a premium appeal despite the plastics. The camera module blends in seamlessly in this shade of black.
Solid performer
The key ingredient for POCO’s cult following is device performance. There are two key elements that are part of the X5 offering. The first is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor that teams up with either 6GB of RAM or 8GB of RAM. The device comes in two variants – 6GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB. We tested the top-end version and it notched up a score of 2048 in our Geekbench (multi-core) benchmark test. This is enough firepower for most average users and occasional gamers. We wish the device came with less bloatware and pre-installed apps. The 5000 mAh battery is geared to last a whole day even with extensive media usage. There’s a 33W fast charger in the box that powers the device in about an hour; a ‘great to have’ feature at this price.
Immersive appeal
The other ingredient is the display. The X5 comes with an FHD+ Super AMOLED display. The 6.67-inch (2400 x 1080 pixels / 394 PPI) peaks at 1200 nits. The highlight is the 120Hz refresh rate that adds to its immersive appeal. This is easily one of the best displays in the segment and also offers great visibility under direct sunlight.
Wrap up
One of the key differences between the pricier X5 Pro and this device is the camera. While the X5 Pro is powered by a 108MP primary lens, this one features a 48MP lens. The triple rear cam also includes an 8MP Ultra-wide lens and 2MP macro sensor. There’s also a 13MP selfie cam in the mix. The camera combines multiple capture modes including Night mode and AI scene detection. Camera performance is good in optimal light but lowlight performance is average even with Night mode. It’s similar to most players in this segment. Lowlight photography is one of the differentiators for higher priced devices.
The POCO X5 scores on the key features that matter for buyers at this price point. It’s elegantly designed, offers an immersive display backed with a robust battery and is a dependable performer even if you push it slightly over the edge.
The POCO X5 costs Rs 18,999 (6GB/128GB) / Rs20,999 (8GB/256GB) and comes in Supernova Green, Wildcat Blue and Jaguar Black
