Possibly, the POCO F4 was one of the most anticipated phones of 2022. Really all the POCOs (perhaps except the M series) are phones that arouse a lot of expectation, but it is clear that the F series is the one that attracts all eyes. Or it did, since we will talk about the X4 GT that has come out really good.
A few weeks ago we brought you the analysis of the POCO F4 GT, an ultra-powerful mobile focused on enjoying video games to the fullest, but that forgot a bit about that quality/price ratio of this brand.
Now, however, let’s go with the POCO F4 reviewa mobile that changes little compared to last year’s version, but that comes to add a little “spicy” to the current mid-range for 400 euros.
| LITTLE F4 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 6.67″ AMOLED Panel | 2,400 x 1,080 pixel resolution | 120 Hz refreshment | Dolby Vision | 1,300 nits peak |
| Processor | Snapdragon 870 |
| RAM memory | 6 u 8 GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128 o 256 GB UFS 3.1 |
| main chambers | Main 64 Mpx f/1.79 OIS | Wide Angle 8 Mpx | Macro of 2 Mpx |
| Frontal camera | 20 Mpx f/2.45 |
| Drums | 4,500mAh | 67W charging | charger in the box |
| Operating system | Android 12 + MIUI 13 |
| Dimensions and weight | 163.2 x 75.9 x 7.7 mm | 195 grams |
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POCO F4 analysis sections:
Good AMOLED panel with a design as beautiful as it is attractive to fingerprints
The design is possibly one of the biggest changes in this POCO F4 compared to what was seen in the F3. This is very subjective, but the feeling in the hand this generation takes a step back due to both the ergonomics and the material used.
And it’s strange because we have glass on the back and plastic on the sides, but while in last year’s model we had, especially in white, a finish that looked like ceramic and on which fingerprints did not remain, this time we have a glossy finish.
And yes, it does get quite dirty with fingerprints and dust. The sides are also less rounded and, as I say, the feel in the hand is quite different to what we had last year. So if you’re going to switch from one generation to another, it’s definitely something you’ll notice.
What I really like is that Xiaomi keeps placing the buttons in an optimal positionwith the volume and lock (which works as a capacitive sensor) within reach of the thumb without having to do strange maneuvers (Motorola, learn).
And the camera module… well, it’s also obvious that it’s quite different from the F3. As I say, it will depend on the user and his tastes. I think it’s a nice mobile, really, but in the hand, I prefer the F3, without a doubt.
Now if we go to the screen we have the same configuration as last year. Or almost. Is about a 6.67″ AMOLED panel which I like because it makes good use of space thanks to slim frames, a chin that isn’t too wide, and a very small diameter camera hole.
The resolution is FullHD + 2,400 x 1,080 pixels and has a brightness of about 900 nits. Like I say, it’s pretty much the same screen we got on the previous generation, but that’s not a bad thing.
It is a good panel to consume content, it has a 120 Hz refresh rate with a good sensitivity and there are different software options to “calibrate” the color.
The only novelty is that, now, it is compatible with Dolby Vision content, so you will appreciate it if you consume that type of content. If not… then it will give you exactly the same.
It seems to me a very good screen in its price range and, as we saw in the unboxing, you have a plastic in the box in case you want to protect it. It is curious that this time it does not come pre-applied, but well, it is greatly appreciated, as is the case that is also included.
oh! To complete the consumption of multimedia, we have a stereo speaker system that offers good sound even at high volume. The lower one does not have the same power as the upper one (located in the call receiver), but it fulfills its role and, again, it is a good sound system for its price.
The Snapdragon 870 with a MIUI without bugs and a correct autonomy
It’s going to sound weird, but I wanted to get a Snapdragon 870 again. It’s a processor that I really liked and that I think offers not only very good performance, but also power management that we haven’t seen in Qualcomm’s 800 series for… well, for a long time.
in my unit It is accompanied by 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage and the performance with MIUI 13 has been stable.
| LITTLE F4 | realme GT Neo 3 | realme GT Neo 2 | Xiaomi 11T | realme GT2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Snapdragon 870 | Dimensity 8100 | SD 870 | Dimensity 1200- Ultra | Snapdragon 888 |
| Geekbench 5 Single | 984 | 970 points | 1,013 points | 815 points | 1,129 points |
| Geekbench 5 Multi | 3.204 | 4,069 points | 2,989 points | 2,954 points | 3,547 points |
| 3D Mark Wild Life | 4.288 | 25,70 fps | 3,433 points | 20.60fps | 4,238 points | 25.40fps | 4,187 points | 5,947 points | 35.6fps |
| AnTuTu | 662,973 points | 814,708 points | 724,615 points | 605,807 points | 823,738 points |
| PC Mark | 11,657 points | 16,431 points | 14,544 points | 12,199 points | 12,957 points |
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I have left you the performance tests because we always do them, but in the end it is something that does not matter too much to us.
The experience between hardware and software is much more important because last year, with the F3, I had a bug during my weeks of testing the terminal that drained the battery.
It’s a bug that was patched up and then the F3 became a very easily recommendable phone, but this year I haven’t had any issues. MIUI 13 on Android 12 runs smoothlythe mobile does not feel heavy, I have not had any bugs and the experience has been very good.
I have not had the dark mode bug that prevents seeing some apps or Discover correctly and the only thing that bothers me is something that is not an error as such, but a disastrous decision on the part of Xiaomi. And yes, as you can guess… we don’t have proximity sensor.
| LITTLE F4 | realme GT Neo 3 | realme GT Neo 2 | Xiaomi 11T | realme GT2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sequential write | 350 MB / s | 64.12 MB / s | 498.31 MB / s | 61.49 MB / s | 525.28 MB / s |
| sequential read | 817.69 MB / s | 962.69 MB / s | 565.31 MB / s | 1.17 MB / s | 951.54 MB / s |
| random write | 25.92 MB / s | 27.85 MB / s | 32.57 MB / s | 21.79 MB / s | 35.11 MB / s |
| random read | 11.97 MB / s | 11.29 MB / s | 23.44 MB / s | 20 MB / s | 15.19 MB / s |
| memory copy speed | 7.98 GB / s | 12.24 GB / s | 9.32 GB / s | 9.42 GB / s | 10.91 GB / s |
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But well, I already say that the performance is good, the stability has been total during my test week and I am very happy with the phone both in my day to day and in actions such as video games and somewhat heavier apps.
The sustained performance is very good, as we can see in the thermal throttling test, and although I am always a bit of a “pejiguero” with MIUI, the truth is that this generation has not given me reasons.
Beware, there is a lot of bloatware (even Genshin Impact now), but the good thing is that you can uninstall it without hesitation, and there may be bugs in some units.
I say this because, although it hasn’t happened to me, MIUI is sometimes a lottery and is seen in practically every analysis of a Xiaomi, since some of us are doing great and others are terrible… or vice versa.
But hey, let’s move on to autonomy. The battery is 4,500 mAh and has given me about six hours, six and a half hours of screen time per charge.
I think it’s great that, with my use, it gives me those figures since, surely, you can reach seven hours, or more, of screen time.
And something that has improved over the previous generation is the load. From 33 W we go to a 67 W charger that comes in the box and that it is capable of charging 50% in 14 minutes with 100% in 44 minutes.
So, the same user experience as with the POCO F3 currently, but with a load that is higher.
Optical stabilization debuts in the POCO
Since the launch of the brand, POCO has been characterized by good features at the hardware level, good design and good screens. However, cameras were not his forte. And I am sorry to tell you that they are still not, although, yes, this generation has made an effort.
In this generation there are a couple of steps forward and one step back, curiously. If we focus on the main camera, we have a 64-megapixel sensor versus the 48-megapixel sensor of the previous generation.
This is not a very important data per se, but with more megapixels, you can make a bigger crop in the image. However, the biggest change is in stabilization. And it is that, the POCO F4 is the first POCO to feature optical stabilization.
This helps us both in the video and in handheld shots when the light is scarce and, if we go to examples, I think that POCO does it well when the light is perfect, with interesting processing allowing us to get photos that we can use perfectly on networks, for example.
When the light drops, I notice that the white balance pulls the warmer tones a bit and, obviously, there is a lack of detail.
Here Xiaomi continues to do its thing in this range with an aggressive processing in general that affects the photos in all situations, but at night leaves us with very washed-out textures.
Interestingly, in the high ranges such as the Xiaomi 12 or the Xiaomi 12 Pro we have a processing that is great, but that changes completely in the range in which, curiously, a good processing is needed more to cover the deficiencies of the sensor.
But hey, I already say that they are interesting photos for networks and to immortalize any moment. The wide angle, however, I liked a little less, since it is the same 8 Mpx as always with a notable chromatic aberration and a more washed appearance in general with a somewhat increased exposure.
And on the other hand we have a macro that is a clear step back from the 5 Mpx telemacro of the previous generation.
That’s a camera that blows my mind, but here we have a more average one that, well, it achieves results that are not bad for the type of camera that it is, but that, honestly, I do not think you will use.
On the front we have a 20 Mpx camera that behaves correctly. The exposure may not be correct in bright situations, something that is noticeable, above all, in the portrait, but it does not behave badly.
And on video it’s not bad, really. It has good optical stabilization and good focus at 4K. The colors may be exaggerated with very exposed greens and saturated blues, but I think it’s a good video in this range.
It is a remaster of the POCO F3, but it was necessary in the current mid-range
As I say, at the level of cameras we see little steps forward and some backwards and, although in its price range there are phones that take better photos, or at least more consistent between the main lens and wide angle, it defends itself very well.
And that is what characterizes this mobile, which defends itself on all fronts thanks to a software that has not given me problems and a hardware that is what we knew, but that performs super well.
The screen still seems to me to be one of the best in its segmentthe Snapdragon 870 is very efficient and doesn’t overheat and we have a 67W charger included in the box.
Now, being a fairly round phone, you will have to decide if you want this one, with the small changes it brings with respect to the previous generation, or that F3 which is highly, highly recommended today and costs less money (almost 100 euros less right now).
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