POCO M6 Full Review 2024

POCO M6 Review: A Budget 5G Smartphone With Impressive Features but Room for Improvement

The POCO M6 5G positions itself as a solid contender in the affordable smartphone market, boasting features like a capable camera system, large battery, and sleek design—all for a budget-friendly price. However, it comes with some limitations that might make potential buyers think twice, especially if they have specific performance needs. This review will delve into the details of the POCO M6's strengths and weaknesses, from its display and camera capabilities to battery life and overall performance.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the POCO M6 offers a premium feel with its modern design elements. The device sports a glass back with a dual-camera setup neatly aligned within two large camera rings, accompanied by an LED flash. Its plastic frame is sturdy yet lightweight, and the phone also features a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which proves to be quick and reliable for unlocking the device​ (Einfoldtech)​ (91mobiles).

The 6.71-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate is surrounded by slim bezels, and the punch-hole camera adds a touch of modernity to the front design. While the 550 nits brightness is decent enough for indoor and outdoor viewing, the LCD panel slightly limits the viewing angles compared to AMOLED displays seen in pricier models. However, the inclusion of Widevine L1 certification means you can enjoy streaming content in Full HD resolution​ (91mobiles).

Display Performance

The 90Hz refresh rate enhances the fluidity of scrolling and light gaming, offering a smooth experience even at this budget price point. However, being an LCD panel, the color accuracy and contrast are not as vibrant as AMOLED screens, but they are still satisfactory for a budget device. Watching videos or browsing social media remains a pleasant experience, though the viewing angles could be better due to the inherent limitations of LCD technology​ (91mobiles).

Camera Capabilities

The POCO M6 features a 50MP primary camera coupled with a 2MP depth sensor, which excels in capturing well-detailed images during daylight conditions. The camera's HDR support enhances dynamic range, and colors come out fairly accurate without being oversaturated. When shooting in favorable lighting, the POCO M6 delivers sharp images with excellent detail. However, the portrait mode struggles with edge detection, often blurring out parts of the subject that should remain sharp​ (Smartprix)​ (91mobiles).

The 8MP front-facing camera is decent but not extraordinary, capturing clear selfies with good skin tones and acceptable detail. However, low-light performance for both cameras leaves much to be desired, and the images tend to lose sharpness and become grainy. For casual photography, the camera setup is more than adequate, but enthusiasts might feel the need for better low-light performance and more advanced features​ (Einfoldtech).

Performance and Software

The POCO M6 is powered by the Dimensity 6100+ chipset, which, when paired with 8GB of RAM, ensures smooth day-to-day performance. For casual tasks like browsing, social media, and streaming, the POCO M6 performs admirably. However, when it comes to heavier tasks like gaming or video editing, the chipset starts to show its limitations, often struggling to keep up. Games like Call of Duty Mobile can run, but not without occasional stuttering, and performance under intense loads is less than ideal​ (Smartprix).

Running MIUI 14 based on Android 13, the POCO M6 offers a range of customization options, though the interface is bloated with pre-installed apps like Amazon, Netflix, and Snapchat. These can be uninstalled to free up space, but their initial presence can feel cluttered. POCO promises two years of software updates and three years of security patches, which provides some assurance of longevity for the device. Still, the heavy presence of bloatware might put off some users​ (Smartprix)​ (91mobiles).

Battery Life and Charging

One of the standout features of the POCO M6 is its 5,000mAh battery, which can easily last an entire day with light to moderate usage. For users who spend most of their time browsing the web, sending messages, and making calls, this battery life is more than sufficient. However, heavy users, especially gamers or those who stream content for extended periods, might find themselves needing a charge by the end of the day​ (91mobiles).

Charging, unfortunately, is not as impressive. Despite supporting 18W fast charging, the included 10W charger takes more than three hours to fully charge the device. This slow charging speed can be frustrating, particularly when many competitors offer faster charging times. To benefit from quicker charging, users would need to purchase an additional adapter​ (Smartprix).

Additional Features

The POCO M6 has a few additional features that enhance the overall user experience. It includes an IR blaster, which allows users to control household appliances like TVs and air conditioners. Additionally, the device supports dual SIM functionality, although using a microSD card requires sacrificing the second SIM slot​ (Einfoldtech)​ (91mobiles).

The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is quick and responsive, while facial recognition adds another layer of convenience for unlocking the phone. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack will be appreciated by those who still prefer wired audio, and the stereo speaker setup delivers decent sound quality for the price​ (Einfoldtech)​ (91mobiles).

Verdict

The POCO M6 is a strong contender in the budget smartphone market, offering a well-rounded package at a low price. It shines in areas such as battery life, display quality, and camera performance under good lighting conditions. However, it falls short in gaming performance, charging speed, and low-light photography. For users who need a budget-friendly 5G smartphone for basic tasks and occasional photography, the POCO M6 is a great choice. However, for those who prioritize gaming, fast charging, and a more powerful camera setup, there are better alternatives in the same price range​