Each year, it feels like phones are offering less and less in terms of meaningful upgrades. Many companies even remove features in new models. However, Poco stands out, especially with their F series. They keep pushing the boundaries of what an affordable flagship phone can do. After being impressed with the F5 Pro last year, I was eager to try the Poco F6 to see if it could amaze me even more.
Similar to last year, the unboxing experience is something I wish more major companies would adopt. Poco not only includes a case with their phones, including their flagships, but also packages both the charging cable and power brick, so users don’t have to spend extra to get the full experience of their phone after purchasing it. This year’s charger is a blazing-fast 90W, but I was unable to use it due to it being an EU-style plug.
Looking at the phone itself, I was pleased to see that Poco once again provided a review unit that is not the typical bland black. The F6 we received was a shade of green, which I like to call Sage Green, although Poco simply calls it green. Buyers can also opt for black or a premium-looking gold colour that Poco calls Titanium.
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While I have mixed feelings about the phone being primarily made of plastic, I appreciate not having to worry about the back glass shattering unexpectedly. The matte finish also means fingerprints on both the front and back of my phone are a thing of the past. However, I would have preferred aluminum sides over plastic, especially for a model aimed at competing with flagships. That said, I am generally gentle with my phones, so I don’t see durability as a significant concern.
One design aspect others have commented on is the large camera lenses on the back. While they remind me a bit of the Asus Zenfone 10 and don’t bother me much, I have heard some complaints that they make the phone look unattractive. Your opinion may vary.
This year’s cameras include a 50MP main shooter with OIS and f/1.59 aperture and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The 2MP macro camera found on previous Poco models has been dropped. I wasn’t upset to see it go, as I rarely used it. A zoom lens would have been nicer to compete with other flagship phones.