1. Still a high-quality processor
The Poco F1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the flagship chip of its time. And even today, it remains a formidable proposition. It might not be able to beat the 855, the 855+ or the 865 that came after it, but by most accounts, it is still better than the 700 series of chips that come in most mid-segment devices. Yes, better than even the Snapdragon 730G that is on the Poco X2. So, well, if you are into high-end tinkering and gaming, the Poco F1 has the hardware to let you do just that. Yes, it plays PUBG and Call of Duty very smoothly indeed even now,
2. Lots of RAM and storage to go around
It is not just the processor that is powerful. It is backed up by some very good RAM and storage combinations. At the time of writing, the Poco F1 was available in 6GB / 128 GB and 8 GB / 256 GB RAM and storage variants. It has support for memory cards as well. Not bad at all and very much at par with – and often better than – anything the competition is offering, which is kind of handy.
3. Android 10, plus MIUI, minus ads
The Poco F1 has surprised us with the number of updates it has received. Almost a year and a half after it released, it has been updated to Android 10 as well as MIUI 11. Considering the limited number of devices running Android 10 in the market even now, that is one heck of an achievement. Also, the version of MIUI 11 running on the Poco F1 comes with Poco’s own touches to it (including an app drawer, by default) and well, no ads at all.
4. A big big battery that charges fast…and can charge faster
The F1 came with a large 4000 mAh battery. And it easily saw off a day and a half of normal usage. What’s more, it charged fast as well. The F1 came with an 18W charger in the box, but it supports 27W charging, so if you invest a little extra in a charger, you could get a phone with a great processor and RAM combination that not only lasts long on a single charge but also gets recharged in a jiffy.
5. A starting price lower than the Poco X2!
We saved the best for last. The Poco F1 at the time of writing was generally available for Rs 16,999 for the 8 GB/ 256 GB variant and Rs 14,999 for the 6 GB/ 128 GB variant. Considering what it brings to the table, that is staggering!
Of course, it is not all roses. The Poco F1’s dual cameras are showing their age and are now more mediocre than good, although they are still good enough for daytime shots. The display too now, while full HD, looks a little washed out in comparison to its newer competitors. And then there is the design, which some might find way too plasticky in this era of gradient glass, even though it is splash resistant. But then there’s all that hardware and software goodness. And THAT price. Yeah, there is a new Poco in town and it is pretty stunning value for money, but the Poco F1 still remains a good option, if you are chasing pure performance!
