For most young people, buying a smartphone is about a lot more than the device itself. Hardware and software are both important, but it’s the brand and what it represents that Gen Z really connects with.
And Poco is a company which understands that more than most. This has enabled it to quickly establish itself as a go-to brand for tech enthusiasts and young people alike.
Its “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t” philosophy resonates with people around the world, with Poco now active in 98 global markets. The company’s research and development is built upon the feedback of Poco fans, enabling it to produce a range of devices that are tailored to their specific needs.
Many of these focus on performance and affordability, which Poco has identified as key requirements of its fans. Among Gen Z users, the company also understands mobile gaming, online shopping and video streaming to be top priorities.
This approach has led Poco to launch several distinct products, each of which redefines what it means to have a great phone. In particular, there are three mid-range handsets which look and perform just like flagships.
Let’s start with the Poco X5 Pro 5G, which delivers an incredible audio-visual entertainment experience for just £369/€349.99. It’s built on a winning combination of superb visuals and advanced camera capabilities.
Poco
The 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen is just as good as many high-end phones, while dual stereo speakers deliver punchy audio. There’s even a 3.5mm headphone jack if you prefer wired headphones.
Elsewhere, a flagship-level 108MP camera unlocks professional-level photography, combining excellent detail with superb colour accuracy. It also supports 4K video capture, with a range of shooting modes making it easier to create top-quality vlogs and other content.
But none of this would be possible without the Snapdragon® 778G 5G chipset, which strikes the perfect balance between performance and power efficiency. Not only does this ensure all-day battery life from the 5000mAh cell, it also enables fast and effective camera processing.
Overall, the Poco X5 Pro 5G demonstrates just how little you need to pay for a great 5G smartphone.
However, if gaming is your top priority, the Poco F5 series is the way to go. It combines flagship-level performance with high quality displays and professional-grade cameras, yet maintains those mid-range prices.
The Poco F5 delivers a top-tier gaming and photography experience for just £449/€429.99. It’s powered by the Snapdragon® 7+ Gen 2, one of the most powerful chipsets Qualcomm makes. Expect fast, reliable performance in all scenarios, including while gaming.
Poco
Advanced camera processing from the 7+ Gen 2 also ensures you get faster and more reliable photos. The 64MP main lens offers a variety of different features, plus stable 4K video thanks to optical image stabilization.
A great display is crucial for gaming, and that’s exactly what you get here. The 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display means content come to life, especially when combined with Dolby Atmos dual speakers and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
A 5000mAh battery will keep you going all day, while 67W turbo charging gets you from 0-100% in just 46 minutes.
But if you want a phone that’s almost indistinguishable from a flagship, the Poco F5 Pro is the way to go. It’s hard to understand how Poco is selling this for just £559/€579.99.
Even if it were twice the price, these specs wouldn’t look out of place. The Snapdragon® 8+ Gen 1 is Qualcomm’s very best chip from 2022, and alongside advanced liquid cooling, it makes the F5 Pro a potent gaming machine.
The display here is still a vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a silky-smooth 120Hz refresh rate, but this time the resolution is even higher: 3200 x 1440. The detail and clarity are on par with the very best smartphones you can buy.
Poco
Elsewhere, 5160mAh battery will power you through a whole day. It also offers a choice of fast wired or wireless charging methods, making it a reliable companion day and night.
And with a strong triple rear camera system led by a 64MP main sensor, plus the impressive 16Mp selfie lens, the Poco F5 Pro excels in pretty much every area.
But the software experience is consistently strong across all mid-range Poco phones, with the company also supporting them with updates for three full years after release.
The X5 Pro, F5 and F5 Pro encapsulate Poco’s “Everything You Need, Nothing You Don’t” philosophy. The company’s commitment to bringing flagship-level technology to the mid-range segment without increasing prices has benefitted tech enthusiasts around the world. Poco celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2023 with a string of impressive phones. And it looks like there’ll be plenty more exciting releases in 2024 and beyond.