Poco X6 Pro is a Budget-Friendly Gaming Powerhouse That Looks the Part

An entire family of Pocos arrived at our door all at once, and this is the best of the bunch: the X6 Pro. The newest X Pro has a strong Mediatek CPU, a vivid OLED display, and rapid charging. It also runs Xiaomi’s brand-new HyperOS on top of Android 14.

To try to clear up another case of probable misunderstanding caused by Xiaomi’s problematic name and availability methods, we’ll note that the Poco X6 Pro’s specifications are extremely similar to the Redmi K70E, which is only available in China. Of course, the Pro shares some DNA with the non-Pro X6, and bits and pieces are shared with this or that member of the Redmi Note 13 squad (which includes a few).

Returning to the Poco X6 Pro, we have a 6.67-inch OLED display with up to 1,200nits of brightness (1,800 in some situations), Dolby Vision support, and higher-than-average resolution. One obvious difference between the Poco and its Chinese Redmi counterpart is battery capacity, with the X6 Pro-rated at 5,000mAh vs the K70E’s 5,500mAh.

The camera system isn’t particularly exciting, but we’re still hoping to be pleasantly pleased by the generally average technology. A 64MP main camera is accompanied by a modest 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro sidekick; if the primary can achieve 2x zoom with any degree of success, it may be a decent showing.

Price when reviewed: €364.58 | Check price at Amazon

KEY FEATURES

This is the first phone we’ve examined that uses MediaTek’s Dimensity 8300 Ultra processor. It is a very capable chip, and if you’re looking for a low-cost gaming device, it outperforms the majority of its competitors. It’s similar to MIUI, but it’s more polished and up-to-date. An amazing OLED panel with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and high brightness output, along with dual speakers, creates a fantastic gaming and entertainment consumption experience.

POCO X6 PRO UNBOXING

The X6 Pro comes in a standard black and yellow cardboard box. Aside from the phone, you receive a soft silicone protective cover, a 67W charger, and a USB-A-to-C connection.

CAMERA

The Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro has a powerful 64MP OmniVision sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a feature previously found on the Poco F series. The ultra-wide-angle camera uses an 8 MP OmniVision sensor. The selfie camera maintains its 16 MP OmniVision sensor.

While the camera hardware improvement appears to be encouraging, the processor choice may have an impact on total image processing performance. Qualcomm CPUs often outperform MediaTek rivals in terms of image processing capability.

In the daytime, the Poco X6 Pro takes stunning photos with a wide dynamic range and vibrant colors, while some images may appear brighter than they are. The ultra-wide-angle camera captures vibrant colors but compromises clarity, making it unsuitable for larger monitors. Portraits have superior sharpness, color reproduction, and backdrop separation.

The OIS-equipped main camera performs well in low-light conditions, however, it frequently creates a distinct red hue in photographs. The ultra-wide-angle camera suffers in low light and can be improved with software updates.

Selfies have consistent color representation and dynamic range, although they may lack clarity on closer scrutiny. Video recording at 4K/30fps is generally stable, however movement may cause focus difficulties. The sound quality in videos is outstanding, and the selfie camera provides consistent stabilization at 1080p/30fps and 1080p/60fps.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

Xiaomi’s Poco X6 Pro measures 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 millimeters and weighs 189 grams. It is slightly smaller than the Note 13 Pro 5G, yet it remains a huge smartphone. The design has a more rounded rear, giving it a less angular look. One notable feature is the protruding cameras, which protrude only 2.3mm from the back and allow the gadget to sit flat on a surface without wobble.

The front features a centered punch-hole notch, and the display edges measure 2mm on the left, right, and top, resulting in an outstanding screen-to-body ratio. The chin is slightly larger, with a 3mm black border. The fingerprint sensor is built into the display, allowing for efficient unlocking with a success rate of about 9 out of 10 attempts. Facial recognition is also available and runs smoothly. However, there is no notification LED, and the always-on display lasts only 10 seconds, which may frustrate customers who rely significantly on notifications. The Poco X6 Pro’s rear has silver branding, including the CE mark and 5G lettering, as well as a camera module with a clear plastic construction that spans its width. Despite its plastic construction, the smartphone seems manageable and less angular in hand than its predecessor.

However, there are certain drawbacks, such as the restricted length of the always-on display, the lack of a 3.5mm headphone connector, and the inability to expand RAM. Overall, the Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro is a well-built mid-range smartphone with an inconspicuous appearance.

The Xiaomi Poco X6 Pro features an AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712 x 1220 pixels. With a spacious size of 6.67 inches, users get a razor-sharp visual experience with an excellent pixel density of 446 pixels per inch. The display’s refresh rate is impressive at 120Hz, providing smooth and fluid interactions that may be adjusted automatically or set permanently to 60Hz based on user preference.

Poco highlights the 2160Hz touch sampling rate as a notable feature, which is especially enticing to gamers, however, its influence may not be immediately apparent to other users. The display brightness is highly adjustable, ranging from 2 to 860 lux in manual mode and up to 1640 lux in automatic mode, ensuring good readability even in bright sunshine. Furthermore, sensitive users may benefit from the addition of 1920 Hz PWM dimming for reduced eye strain, even if it is not explicitly mentioned in the marketing brochures.

In terms of protection, the Poco X6 Pro’s display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which ensures scratch resistance and moderate impacts. The touchscreen responds quickly and accurately to all user inputs, contributing to a consistent user experience.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The X6 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8300-Ultra, a Mediatek chip designed on a 4nm process that appears to be proprietary to the X6 Pro and its Redmi K70E counterpart. The SoC includes an octa-core CPU with four large Cortex-A715 cores (1×3.35GHz + 3×3.20GHz) and four Cortex-A510 cores (4×2.20GHz). The GPU is Mali-G615 MC6. Memory options for the X6 Pro are 8GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB (as with our review unit).

As is typically the case with Xiaomi phones that we acquire early, the Poco X6 Pro refused to perform our entire suite of benchmarks. With specifications like those listed above, it’s no surprise that the Poco X6 Pro dominates benchmarks among similarly priced handsets. Only a Pixel 7a may have anything to say under single-core CPU pressure, but that’s it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Our review of the Poco X6 Pro reveals a device that excels at offering outstanding gaming performance, demonstrating that premium gaming experiences do not have to be prohibitively expensive. The smartphone easily handles demanding games, rivaling more expensive models without compromise.

However, in terms of adaptability, the X6 Pro falls short of its competition. Its camera capabilities, in particular, lag below those of Samsung’s A series and Honor’s newest Magic6 Lite. As a result, while the gadget impresses as a gaming powerhouse, it may disappoint people who value photography skills.

Buy it if...

• Great display: sharp, and bright, with a high refresh rate and Dolby Vision support.
• Charging speed near the top of the class.
• HyperOS introduces some exciting new features to liven up the old MIUI.
• Outstanding performance in the market segment.
• Excellent results from the main camera in good light, particularly at night.

Don't buy it if...

• The shiny black back is a fingerprint nightmare.
• IP54 is good, but several competitors offer superior dust and water protection.
• Video stabilization isn’t fantastic, and the 8MP ultrawide lacks the pixels needed for 4K filming.