As you all probably already know by now, the Poco brand is now officially a separate brand on its own. And while we are all no doubt excited to meet the next Pocophone, I've got to say that the Poco X2 isn't as exciting as its predecessor.
First of all, if you're waiting to read about the next flagship killer, stop right here. It's not that. And with that out of the way, let us check it out!
Poco X2? Or Redmi K30?
This is how the Poco X2 looks like from the back:
It looks kind of beautiful. But, at the same time, it shares a lot of similarities with another device that recently came out - the Xiaomi Redmi K30!
If you make an exception for the branding, it looks pretty much the same. At least appearance-wise. What about the specs, then?
- Chipset: Snapdragon 730G
- CPU: Octa-core with 2x Kryo 270 Gold cores and 6x Kryo 470 Silver
- GPU: Adreno 618
- Cameras: Quad setup. 64MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 2MP depth
Selfie: 20MP main, 2MP depth - RAM and storage: 64GB and 6GB, 128GB and 6GB, 256GB and 8GB
- Display: 6.67-inch LCD IPS display at 1080x2400 120Hz (HDR)
- Battery: 4,500 mAh with 27W fast charging
It's basically the same thing. Just maybe without NFC, according to GSM Arena.
Don't get us wrong. These are still some impressive specs that are going to satisfy anyone but the most demanding users. But, it's definitely a far cry from being a flagship.
In fact, some of the specs don't make a whole lot of sense. For example, it uses a 120Hz display but a GPU that you can find on the K20 - which is not exactly known for pushing 120FPS.
The 120Hz display still offers an overall smoother experience while using the phone. However, most games with that GPU aren't even going to give you 60FPS - never mind 120!
Our first impression is that this is more of a K30 rebrand rather than an actual Pocophone. But, then again, that X in the X2 may be there to indicate that it's a different series and that the F series is the one that focuses on providing the flagship experience.
Cameras
The back is made of glass and hosts a quad-camera setup. That's a premium look if we ever saw one. But just because a phone looks expensive, it doesn't mean that it can perform up to the task as well. So, what about the camera?
Night shots definitely look a bit noisy and washed out. But, we believe that the results will be vastly improved with a Gcam mod.
Day-time shots are looking as great as ever. Seems like every mid-range phone that you can get your hands on these days is pretty decent in photographing with good lighting conditions and the Poco X2 is not an exception.
Don't forget that you're also getting an ultra-wide lens along with a macro sensor and a depth sensor and you've got yourself a decent shooter.
At the front, you'll find the main 20MP selfie camera along with a 2MP depth sensor. The S10-like notch will definitely annoy some people. But, we'd say that you get used to it easily enough.
Wrapping Up
As far as we know, the latest flagship-level chipsets are a bit too expensive. So, maybe Poco is no longer able to create a flagship killer.
In total fairness, the 730G is more than powerful enough to provide a smooth user experience. That's what most people are after in the first place. So, not a whole lot of complaints here.
Our expectations were a bit high thanks to the Poco F1 - which is why we feel a bit underwhelmed. But, don't let this fool you into thinking that this is a bad phone, cause it's not - far from it.
Overall, with a big battery, a high-refresh-rate display, a decent chipset with plenty of RAM, and a respectable camera setup, the Poco X2 is a decent deal.
You can find it after February 11 on Flipkart starting at $225 for the cheapest variant and up to $267 for the most expensive one.
The Poco X2 may not be a flagship killer - but it's still hard to go wrong at this price point. We're a bit sad that it's just a rebrand of the K30. But, that doesn't make it worse.
That's all for now. Feel like we forgot something important? Got anything wrong? Then let us and everyone else know about it in the comments section down below!
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