POCO X6 Neo Review:
Tech Writers Rating: 8.4/10 (Legacy rating)
PROS
- Slim and lightweight design
- IP54 dust and water resistant
- Impressive AMOLED display
CONS
- Android 13 out of the box
- Battery life could be better
- Some bloatware
VERDICT:
The verdict on the POCO X6 Neo positions it as a standout choice for content consumption within the ₹16,000 range. With its ultra-slim bezels and vibrant AMOLED display, users are treated to an immersive visual experience whether at home or on the move. Its sleek and lightweight design further enhances its appeal for everyday use. However, there are areas where it falls short. The abundance of pre-installed apps can be bothersome, and its battery life falls behind competitors in the same price bracket. Additionally, its performance fails to stand out among the competition. Nevertheless, considering its price, the POCO X6 Neo offers reasonable value unless you’re a power user prioritizing speed and battery life above all else.
POCO recently introduced the POCO X6 series, which includes the POCO X6 5G and POCO X6 Pro 5G, generating considerable excitement. Now, the POCO X6 Neo enters the Indian market priced at ₹15,999, challenging the fierce competition in the sub-₹20,000 segment. Equipped with the 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, an AMOLED display, and a 108MP primary camera, POCO has made significant strides in enhancing the visual experience by reducing bezels. However, contenders like the Lava Storm 5G, Motorola G54, and Realme 11x pose formidable challenges. Stay tuned for a comprehensive review to determine if the POCO X6 Neo is a compelling option in this competitive landscape.
POCO X6 Neo Review: Slim and lightweight build
The POCO X6 Neo boasts exceptional design considering its price point. Despite its plastic construction, the phone exudes an impressive aesthetic appeal. With a slim profile measuring 7.69 mm, it exudes a sleek and sophisticated look. Moreover, weighing just 175 g, the POCO X6 Neo offers remarkable lightweightness, enhancing comfort during usage. Its rounded corners ensure a pleasant grip without digging into the palms. As an added bonus, the retail package includes a premium-looking black case, adding to the overall appeal of the device.
Opting to forego a case for the POCO X6 Neo may prove to be a choice many won’t regret, as its appearance is undeniably eye-catching. In my review, I received the Martian Orange color variant, featuring a rear panel adorned with a marble gradient effect that glistens under light, producing a captivating ripple-like pattern. While this vibrant hue may not appeal to everyone, the Black and Blue variants offer a more subdued aesthetic for those seeking a toned-down look.
Both the rear panel and frame sport a matte finish, effectively preventing fingerprints and smudges from detracting from the phone’s appearance. The distinctive large rectangular camera module, a signature of POCO devices, adds character, though it could have a more striking impact with a contrasting color or a simple black design. Embedded within the power button is a capacitive fingerprint sensor renowned for its swift and accurate performance.
One of the most striking features of the phone is its exceptionally slim bezels, among the narrowest I’ve encountered in this budget range. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, providing added durability, while the phone boasts an IP54 dust and water resistance rating. This IP rating is a valuable quality-of-life addition at this price point, ensuring peace of mind for long-term usage.
POCO X6 Neo Review: Impressive AMOLED Screen
The POCO X6 Neo stands out as a powerhouse for content consumption, boasting a spacious 6.67-inch AMOLED display— a rarity in its price bracket. Coupled with its slender bezels, as discussed earlier, it offers users an exceptional viewing experience. Notably, competing smartphones like the Lava Storm 5G and Moto G54 sport IPS LCD displays, giving the POCO X6 Neo a distinct advantage in this aspect.
With Full HD+ resolution, the display of the POCO X6 Neo offers crisp visuals at an impressive price point. While the colors tend to lean towards oversaturation, it’s not overly distracting. Supporting over one billion colors and a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, it proves to be a capable display within its price range. Moreover, the display’s 120 Hz refresh rate ensures smooth navigation through the UI.
The display boasts a rated peak brightness of 1,000 nits in HBM (High Brightness Mode), and in testing, it consistently reached around 935-940 nits, closely aligning with the advertised figures. Additionally, with a 2160 Hz instant touch sampling rate, gaming experiences are enhanced as touches are registered swiftly.
While HDR support is absent, a typical occurrence in this price range, the POCO X6 Neo compensates with Widevine L1 support, enabling HD content streaming on various platforms. Overall, it boasts one of the finest displays available for smartphones priced under ₹16,000, making it a delight for users who prioritize content consumption on their devices.
How does the performance of the POCO X6 Neo stack up?
The POCO X6 Neo runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, coupled with either 8 or 12 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128 or 256 GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Graphics processing is handled by the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. In terms of performance, I found it to be fairly average for its price range, competing evenly with its counterparts.
Starting with benchmark results, the POCO X6 Neo achieves a score of 458,608 in AnTuTu v10, aligning closely with the Lava Storm 5G, which shares the same processor. However, the Moto G54, equipped with the Dimensity 7020, slightly outperforms the X6 Neo. In GeekBench, the POCO X6 Neo scores 756 in the Single Core test and 1961 in the Multi Core test, trailing behind both the Lava Storm and the Moto G54. The most significant difference is observed in the PCMark Work benchmark, which evaluates the phone’s performance with typical home user tasks. Here, the POCO X6 Neo achieves a score of only 10,726.
In GPU benchmarks, the POCO X6 Neo closely rivals the Lava Storm 5G in 3D Mark Wild Life. However, its GFXBench scores generally fall noticeably lower. Nonetheless, the device maintains impressive raw performance even under intensive usage, with minimal throttling observed. Notably, during the CPU Throttling Test, no throttling was detected even after running for 15 minutes, showcasing its commendable endurance.
Smooth Performance
Considering its price of ₹16,000, the POCO X6 Neo delivers remarkably smooth performance in real-world usage. I experienced no lag or stutter while using it, and gaming at Medium graphics settings in games like BGMI or Call of Duty: Mobile was seamless. While it may not offer mind-blowing performance, it certainly provides sufficient capability for its price point. In comparison to similarly priced competitors we’ve tested, it holds its ground without being outclassed.
Regarding the user interface, the phone comes with MIUI 14 layered over Android 13. It’s worth noting that POCO could have opted to include Android 14 out of the box, especially considering that many recent phones come pre-installed with this version. MIUI also comes with a fair amount of bloatware, ranging from apps like Opera and Netflix to PhonePe. Additionally, there are around 8 pre-installed games, which can be somewhat bothersome to remove during the setup process.
How do the cameras perform?
The POCO X6 Neo features a dual-camera setup, led by a 108 MP Samsung ISOCELL HM6 primary sensor. Accompanying it is a 2 MP depth camera. For selfies, there’s a 16 MP front-facing camera. Both the rear and front cameras can capture 1080p video at 30 fps.
Let’s begin by discussing the daylight camera performance. The POCO X6 Neo captures decent photos with ample detail and vibrant colors. However, the dynamic range can be inconsistent, with highlights occasionally appearing slightly overblown. Close-up shots are satisfactory, although they may appear slightly soft on occasion.
Portrait photos exhibit mediocre quality on the POCO X6 Neo, as the edge detection is not optimal and detail retention leaves room for improvement. Moreover, in harsh lighting conditions, the phone tends to overexpose the entire photo.
Portrait photos exhibit mediocre quality on the POCO X6 Neo, as the edge detection is not optimal and detail retention leaves room for improvement. Moreover, in harsh lighting conditions, the phone tends to overexpose the entire photo.
Selfie pictures turn out well in daylight, but their quality deteriorates rapidly in low-light settings. Similarly, low-light photos captured by the primary camera exhibit noticeable noise and reduced sharpness.
OCO X6 Neo Review: Average Battery Life
The POCO X6 Neo comes equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 33 W fast charging. For light to moderate users, the phone can easily last throughout the day. However, heavy usage, such as extensive gaming or prolonged camera usage, may require recharging by evening. In comparison, the Motorola G54 offers significantly longer battery life thanks to its massive 6,000 mAh cell.
Should you make the purchase?
Is the POCO X6 Neo worth buying? Despite its impressive features like slim bezels and a vibrant AMOLED display, alongside its lightweight build, it falls short in certain aspects. The presence of bloatware can be bothersome, and the battery life doesn’t excel compared to other options in the same price range. Additionally, its performance doesn’t stand out when compared to competitors.
However, considering its price point, the POCO X6 Neo still offers reasonable value. It may not be the best choice for power users prioritizing performance and battery life. Alternatives like the Motorola Moto G54 provide better battery longevity, while the Realme 11x offers a superior camera experience. Ultimately, the decision depends on your specific preferences and priorities.
