Poco X5 5G: 3 reasons to buy, 3 reasons to skip

The Poco X5 5G is one of the latest smartphones to launch in the crowded sub-Rs 20,000 price segment. Starting at a price of Rs 18,999, the Poco X5 is definitely not for those who are looking to buy a true-blue flagship smartphone. However, for what its worth, the Poco X5 does happen to be a dependable device that ticks most of the core fundamentals that you’d need in a mid-range smartphone. But as they say, not all smartphones are made perfect, and so, the Poco X5 is also not a perfect device, meaning, along with its pros, it also has some cons.

So, have you set your eyes on the latest Poco X5 5G and are planning to purchase one? Well, before you make an informed decision, make sure you read this piece as we list out 3 reasons why you should buy the Poco X5 5G and 3 reasons why you should skip it.

Poco X5 5G: 3 reasons to buy

1. Relatively slim design despite a big battery

The Poco X5 5G is a big smartphone, and it comes with a relatively large 5,000mAh battery under the hood. However, despite having a large battery, one would imagine the Poco X5 to be a cumbersome device to hold and operate. The short answer is no. In fact, for a phone of its size with a 6.7” display, it only weighs 189 grams and has a thickness of just 8mm. Plus, the way the rear panel slightly curves around the corners makes for a comfortable grip. Not to forget, the rear texture of the phone is silky smooth to the touch. Finally, I’d also tell you that we received the green colour of the phone for review, and I have to tell you, the colour and finish look mesmerising in person. This is easily one of the best sea green finishes that you can get on any smartphone across price segments.

2. Good gaming performance for the price

The Poco X5 5G is powered by the Snapdragon 695 SoC, which, unlike the Dimensity 920 SoC inside the iQOO Z7, limits the phone's video recording capabilities to 1080p. But, nonetheless, when it comes to the phone’s performance, the Snapdragon 695 is easily one of the best-optimised chips that you can find on a mid-range smartphone. So, of course, the general performance of the phone is good, but what is really impressive is the fact that even if you’re playing a graphics-intensive game such as Call of Duty: Mobile or Asphalt 9, the Poco X5 will run these games without any major hiccups. Of course, I am not saying that this is an all-out gaming smartphone, or it can run a Genshin Impact. But, for what it's worth, if you’re a casual gamer or even a little more than that, you won’t be disappointed with the Poco X5’s performance.

3. A gorgeous 120Hz sAMOLED display

The Poco X5 has a 6.67” FHD+ Super AMOLED display up front that refreshes at 120Hz. And yes, this is a gorgeous panel that Poco has fitted on this smartphone and it absolutely shines beyond the specifications. First things first, there’s no support for HDR10 video playback, but otherwise, all the core fundamentals that you’d need for a good display are present on the Poco X5’s panel. There’s Widevine L1 support, which means you can play full-HD content. In terms of colour reproduction, the tuning of the panel is excellent courtesy of DCI-P3's wide colour gamut. Apart from this, the display on the Poco X5 has great contrast along with inky blacks, and not to forget, the audio is Hi-Res certified, which means, despite having a single speaker, the overall multimedia experience that you get on the Poco X5 is very good.

Poco X5 5G: 3 reasons to skip

1. MIUI 13 atop Android 12

While the software performance of the Poco X5 5G is good overall, the main problem here is the fact that the software version itself is old. You see, it is not about a phone being a high-end one or a low-end one, or in this case, a mid-range one. It should always be that whenever a new phone is launched, it should feature the latest available software, which currently is Android 13. This means that shipping the Poco X5 with Android 12 software, which was originally launched in 2021, does not cut it in 2023. Funny enough, the Poco X5 Pro, the higher-priced version of the X5, comes with MIUI 14 software based on Android 13. So, why not the Poco X5?

2. Just a decent camera

Smartphone cameras have evolved over time, and in 2023, barring entry-level smartphones, it is really hard to find a high-end smartphone or in this case, a mid-range smartphone, that can really go wrong when it comes to still photography. Similarly, when it comes to clicking photos in a variety of lighting conditions, the Poco X5 delivers for the most part. However, if you’re looking for a complete camera experience, or say, you are someone who fancies a lot of video recording, in that case, I’d suggest you increase your budget and start looking elsewhere. Because, when it comes to taking stills, one can make do with the Poco X5. However, when it comes to video recording, there’s still some room for improvement.

3. Poco X5 Pro is a threat

Honestly, the Poco X5 is genuinely a good device for its price. That said, its closest competitor that can give it a run for its money is not even from a rival brand, but its own Pro variant. You see, normally you have a vanilla model of a phone that’s priced for a certain amount, and then there’s a Pro variant, that’s usually priced higher. In Poco X5’s case, while its pricing is good, the pricing of the Poco X5 Pro is even better. And if you have the option to raise your budget by a bit, then the Poco X5 Pro becomes an instant recommendation over the Poco X5. For the extra money, you’re actually getting a better screen, i.e. a 10-Bit AMOLED display, the faster and more efficient Snapdragon 778G chip under the hood, faster 67W charging and a higher resolution 108MP primary rear camera.