POCO F2

Xiaomi’s Poco F2 is an upgraded version of the Poco F1. The phone features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution. The display is nearly bezel-less with only a noticeable chin at the bottom. It runs on the Android v9.0 (Pie) OS with an octa-core (2.84 GHz, Single core, Kryo 485 + 2.42 GHz, Tri core, Kryo 485 + 1.8 GHz, quad-core) Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. It has three storage variants – 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage, 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage, and 10GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

The phone sports a triple camera setting at the back (16MP + 8MP + 5MP) along with a 13MP selfie camera. It packs a 4100mAh battery. Sensors on the phone include Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Fingerprint Sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, and Gyroscope.

In India, the price of Poco F2 is around Rs. 26,990. As of now, it comes in two colors – Black and Bumblebee (yellow & black).

The design of the Poco F2 keeps with contemporary trends. It sports a neat and elegant design with a big screen that is practically bezel-less except for the little chin below. The phone fits pretty snug in hand and is perfect for one-hand usage. It has a polycarbonate body with a glossy finish that imparts a premium look to the phone. However, it’d be nice if you’d get a glass/metal body after paying such a significant amount. 

While the volume buttons and power button lie on the right side of the body, the dual SIM slot lies on the left. The real panel houses the triple camera setup aligned vertically. The Fingerprint Sensor also rests on the back. The bottom portion houses a 3.5mm headphone jack, a micro USB port, and a speaker grille.

Xiaomi’s Poco F2 flaunts a 6.3-inch IPS LCD screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and a pixel density of 409 PPI. It has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The screen looks vibrant – while the colors look well-balanced and vivid, the text and icons appear sharp and crisp. Also, the viewing angles are decent. Sometimes, the text and images may look pixelated – since the pixel density isn’t too high. Outdoor legibility is good enough. However, you might face difficulties in viewing the display content on bright sunny days. 

The good thing about the screen is that it has a Corning Gorilla Glass protection to protect it from accidental drops and scratches. Unfortunately, there’s no IP certification, which means it is not water/dust resistant.

Thanks to the inclusion of the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, the Poco F2 promises a stellar performance. While performing everyday tasks like calling, texting, video streaming, etc., on the phone is a breeze, you won’t see any signs of lagging or sluggishness even while multitasking. As for heavy-duty games like Asphalt, Call of Duty, and PUBG, the phone seems to handle them very well, without getting heated up or showing any frame rate drops.

When it comes to software, the Poco F2’s OS seems much optimized and smooth as compared to Poco F1. You get all the standard functions and settings. Apart from minor bloatware, the phone offers a clean interface.

Just like many other mid-range budget phones, the Poco F2, too, sports a triple-camera module. It has a 16MP primary sensor, an 8MP secondary sensor, and a 5MP ultra-wide sensor. The camera packs numerous useful features like Digital Zoom, Auto Flash, HDR, and Face detection.

In favorable light conditions, the camera can capture some fantastic shots with just the right amount of detail. The color reproduction is nearly accurate. Overall, the photos look pretty vivid. However, in low-light settings, camera performance isn’t impressive. Captured images end up looking grainy and out of focus. The photos lack detail and depict a significant amount of noise.

As for the 13MP selfie camera, the performance is quite similar to that of the rear cameras. Although the images captured in well-lit settings look good, the low-light shots are utterly disappointing. However, if there is sufficient light, you may be able to capture some decent selfies for your social media feed.

The Poco F2 has a massive 4100mAh non-removable battery. Given the screen size, the battery capacity should be enough to suffice for an entire day on a single charge. It has fast charging support that can power up your phone from zero to a hundred percent in less than 90 minutes. While the battery can last a full day for lightweight to moderate usage, the charge will drop faster than usual when used for performing power-hungry tasks like gaming, video streaming, and binge-watching. 

Connectivity options on the phone include WiFi 802.11, b/g/n, Mobile Hotspot, GPS with A-GPS and GLONASS, Bluetooth v5.0, FM Radio, USB Type-C port, and 2G/3G/4G support.

It feels like Xiaomi has designed the Poco F2 to make up for all the drawbacks and lackings of the Poco F1. The phone is definitely an upgrade over the earlier version and is loaded with a ton of great features that make it a good buy on a budget.