Smartphones

Poco X4 Pro 5G : test / review

Published on: 01-03-2022 / Modified: 11-12-2022
Poco markets three series of telephones each time with a letter to indicate which product range it is. The M range is to be considered as the entry level, the X range as the mid-range and the F range as the top of the range. Each of these ranges is then divided into a normal model and a pro version. I am going to test the Poco X4 Pro today, so we are in the mid-range at Poco with a pro version which is usually more muscular than the normal version but at the time of this writing, the normal version n doesn't exist yet.

The Poco X4 Pro succeeds the Poco X3 Pro which had a huge success last year, this X3 Pro offered an absolutely incredible price / performance ratio and this phone was able to seduce a more public wider than the gamer audience that Poco had originally targeted. So I had to test this Poco X4 Pro and I ordered it on Goboo in presale for 249€.

Launch offer

The Poco X4 Pro will be marketed at a price of 279€ but on the occasion of the launch, Goboo is selling it at 249€. Goboo is an official representative of Poco/Xiaomi in Europe, they are based in Spain and therefore offer a 2 year warranty and free return within 14 days. To enjoy it like me, here is the link:
Poco X4 Pro at Goboo (limited quantity, so don't delay too much)

Manufacturer web site:

https://po.co

Site where I have bought the Poco X4 Pro:
https://s.zbanx.com/...

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.

Price Poco X4 Pro

The list below shows the prices for the Poco X4 Pro from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.

The above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!

Timeline

02/28/2022: purchase of the Poco X5 Pro 5G on Goboo.com in presale
03/11/2022: I received the phone, the test can begin

Why this phone?

I've bought just about every Poco model released since 2020, but the only point of comparison with the Poco X4 Pro is its predecessor. This phone is always ranked in the top 10 of the best phones I have tested, while other more expensive candidates have measured up to it without being able to surpass it. Poco has so far managed to deliver great value for money without alienating a more mainstream audience. The challenge to dethrone the X3 Pro will be difficult to meet because this new Poco X4 Pro changes the performance slider downwards, it will be necessary to look for the difference on other factors.

The Poco X4 Pro will therefore be less powerful than the previous model, the battery will be slightly smaller, the memory will also be a little slower, so one might wonder why one should orient oneself to the Poco X4 Pro? I will try to provide the answer in the article but I see some answers in its technical sheet.

The Poco x4 Pro has an Amoled screen against an IPS LCD with the previous model, the photo sensor increases to 108 million pixels and although this is not proof of quality, the quality photo could also be better. We must also add 5G, faster charging, probably better autonomy because the CPU will be less greedy. Here are a few points where this new Poco x4 Pro could stand out.

Unpacking

The box of the Poco X4 Pro is identical to what I have seen on the brand's other models. The box is black and yellow, it contains the phone, a transparent soft silicone protection, a manual, a needle for the sim drawer, a 67W charger and its USB cable. This time, no stickers to decorate your phone.

First configuration

The Poco X4 Pro runs on MIUI 13, so the setup procedure is exactly the same as the brand's other phones. With Poco, you do not have to go through the Xiaomi cloud registration screens but on the other hand the phone will offer you to activate dynamic wallpapers which will have the effect of sharing data with the Taboola advertising platform. You have the right to refuse.

Finish

I often say that Xiaomi is a champion of recycling because they manage to share many components between their different phones and by bringing some variations to justify the creation of a new model. They didn't get too tired for this Poco X4 Pro because this phone is a Redmi Note 11 Pro with some small differences. The format (size/weight) is the same as the Redmi Note 11 Pro, the Poco is distinguished by a more dominant photo block on the back and a color effect on the back which does not exist on the Redmi.

After trying several types of integration for the photo block, Poco seems to settle on a format with a large rectangular block that occupies the entire width. This was already the case with the latest models in the M range, but as this phone uses a Samsung 108 million pixel sensor which takes up space, this sensor adds a second level to the rectangular block. This was also the case on the Redmi Note 11 Pro except that there the rectangular block does not exist.

The back is made of plastic and glass with a light effect depending on the tilt of the phone. Poco has yet to find its go-to style for this part of the phone because each model is different. I prefer phones with a more restrained approach but that's a matter of taste. The black version I bought is probably the most neutral, the light effect is more visible on the yellow version.

Below we find one of the two speakers, the USB C port and the SIM drawer which has a compact format with the possibility of inserting a SIM card in front / back mode, it can accommodate a memory card in the location below.

Above we find the second speaker, an audio output jack, an infrared transmitter and a sound sensor.

On the right side we find the usual volume and ignition buttons, the ignition button also serves as a fingerprint sensor. The position of these buttons is in the right place as on the other models of the brand.

The screen occupies 87% of the available space, which is above average. The bezels are a little thinner than most phones in this price range, and the selfie snapper is quite thin.

As I wrote above, this Poco X4 Pro is a clone of the Redmi Note 11 Pro but I find that it has a less premium side than the Redmi but that's a very staff. On the other hand, the format which imitates the lines of the iPhones works as well as with the Redmi.

Specifications

The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone. I tested the 6Gb / 128 Gb version of the Poco X4 Pro. You will find all the technical characteristics of this one in the screenshots below.

I noted the following:
- wcn3990 wifi chip, I tested it many times with good results
- screen identical to Redmi Note 11 Pro
- 6Gb of base ram
- Widevine L1 support for HD streaming

CPU / GPU Performance

The Poco X4 Pro runs on a Qualcomm architecture with a Snapdragon 695 CPU (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Realme 9 Pro, Motorola Moto G71 5G or the Oppo A96 5G). It is also equipped with an Adreno 619 GPU which will place this phone in the mid-range but I would even say the top of the mid-range because this level of performance is going to give it a high level of comfort. You won't find many apps that will put this phone in trouble. The wifi, 5G, GPS, Bluetooth performance should be similar to the other phones mentioned in this paragraph as they all use the same components. It is therefore not on the technical part that you will be able to distinguish these different phones.

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

I got a score of 329303 with this phone, that's significantly less than what I got with the Poco X3 Pro. Why? I suppose that the performance of the X3 Pro was too high for this price segment and that ultimately, except for a limited audience, this extra performance is not of much use. Choosing a less efficient CPU / GPU should have a positive impact on battery life, which is arguably a more important criterion than raw performance.

Gaming

To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.

Poco phones have always exploited the performance niche to distinguish themselves from the Xiaomi brand, but this new X4 Pro detaches itself from this positioning by offering less power than the previous model. Is it a problem? Not really because as you can see, the gaming experience with PUBG Mobile in HD is good and you should be able to play any game. For very demanding games you will probably have to lower the level of graphics without for you have to make big sacrifices.

Network performance

The Poco X4 Pro covers all the frequencies used in Europe, it covers 13 frequencies in 5G and despite this opulence, the Redmi Note 11 Pro covers one more frequency (n66). For 4G it's the same, the Redmi Note 11 Pro supports 3 more frequencies: B13 700, B32 1500, B66 1600/2100. This shouldn't be a problem in Europe, but remember to check the frequencies used by your service provider.

Signal 4G (from December 2020)

I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.

To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them.

Overview of the phones tested with this methodology

While retrieving network data from Poco X4 Pro, I was a little surprised by the result because the network performance was worse than that of Redmi Note 11 Pro while these two phones are identical. The explanation is actually very simple, the Redmi Note 11 Pro I tested was a 4G version that uses another type of modem.

I performed 562 measurements to assess the mobile network sensitivity of this phone and I obtained an above average result. I got an average signal of -94.01 dBm with the phone and -92.06 dBm with the probe, so the difference is quite small. The Redmi Note 11 Pro 4G had obtained a better signal by even doing better than the probe. We should not worry about it, this result still classifies the Poco X4 Pro in the high average.

Download/Upload speed

To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.

Wifi signal

The Poco X4 Pro uses the same wifi chip as in many other phones I've tested and I've almost always had good results with this chip. I will however temper my enthusiasm with this phone because even if the result obtained is not bad, it is a little below the average of other phones using the same hardware. I got an average signal of -17 dBm near the router and -65 dBm at a distance. I also noticed that even being close to the router, the phone forced the switch to the 5Ghz frequency. This is not a problem in itself because the speed in 5Ghz is higher. The 2.4Ghz signal quality was worse even near the router, something I hadn't noticed on other phones using the same hardware.

Download/Upload speed

To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.

GPS performance

To test the accuracy of the GPS signal, I use two positioning applications to evaluate the difference between the actual position and the position indicated by the phone. This test is done outdoors with nothing to obstruct the signal. An accuracy level of up to 3 meters can easily be corrected by an application (e.g. Google Maps).

I got an accuracy level at 3 meters, it's a fairly typical result for Qualcomm chips but this signal was not necessarily very stable, it fluctuated between 3 and 5 meters . This level of inaccuracy must be able to be partially compensated by your GPS application, especially for route guidance.

Battery range

To test battery life I developed an application that measures the battery level minute by minute until the battery is empty. This application consumes about ten percent of the phone's resources and I do a test with 100 brightness. This test aims to reproduce a contemplative use of a phone (e.g. surfing the internet, reading articles, spending time on social networks). These results are not valid for intensive gaming/streaming use.

The Poco X4 Pro has 67W fast charging that charges the phone from 0-100% in just over an hour. This charging is not linear, the charging speed slows down very sharply after 80%. It takes 12 minutes to reach 20% battery, 42 minutes for 80% but the last 20 percent requires almost 30 minutes.

I got a battery life of 643 minutes with the screen brightness at 100% and 1361 minutes with the screen at 50%. That's pretty much average battery life for mid-range phones and you should be able to achieve 2-3 days of battery life with normal use. The consumption of the screen is quite linear, the autonomy is halved if you switch the brightness to 100%. I see in the graph that the phone has opted for 20% power saving mode, usually the phone asks me.

Energy performance
With the CPU at 100%, I get a consumption of 4.4W and -1A
With the GPU at 100%, I get a consumption of 2.3W and -0.49A
With the NPU (int8) at 100%, I get a consumption of 1.8W and -0.39A
With the NPU (fp16) at 100%, I obtain a consumption of 2.5W and -0.6A
By cutting all the processes, I have an estimated consumption of 0.6W for the screen ( black background).

I don't yet have enough perspective on energy performance tests to compare them, it will probably take me a few months to collect enough data.

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.

Hardware

The Poco X4 Pro uses the 108MP Samsung S5KHM2 sensor as its main sensor. It is a sensor that I have already had the opportunity to test on several phones such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro or the Redmi Note 10 Pro. This sensor is a good mid-range sensor, it is capable of producing good photos for this price range but don't let the pixel count fool you as other sensors do better with fewer pixels. I also noticed that the RAW mode was not activated.

For the ultra-wide-angle sensor, the Poco X4 Pro uses the popular Sony IMX 355 that I've tested many times in other phones. Although this type of sensor cannot produce excellent quality photos, this one does better than the others.

Photo quality

Photo quality (indoor/studio)

The studio test is carried out under the same conditions so that the results can be compared on an equal basis. I calibrate my lighting for each test to obtain the same brightness and colour temperature. This test is a preliminary analysis of the technical qualities of a camera. Most phones fail this test, so you should also read the results of the other tests in the following paragraphs.

Samsung S5KHM2 / 108 million pixels

I took the photo above in manual mode to show that this photo sensor is perfectly capable of taking well-exposed photos ( I even went a bit too far with the exposure). Other studio shots are underexposed like most phones I test, so that's not the point to judge the qualities of this camera. I could copy/paste the tests I wrote for the Redmi Note 10 Pro and 11 Pro as it's the same camera, the only difference may be in the colder color processing on the Poco and 11 Pro. The sharpness is good even if I see too much of a line and digital noise above 100%.

In this photo, I see that the exposure is much better when the dominance of white is less present, it's like the camera wanted to protect itself from overexposure. The sharpness in the center is good, you can perfectly read the text at the bottom of the Canadian banknote, the sharpness remains good on the periphery as well, even if I note a small decrease. The color temperature and saturation seem good to me, I will check this point with the technical test that will follow.

The Samsung S5KHM2 is a good mid-range sensor, it doesn't have any major flaws, it sometimes makes the wrong auto level choices when the light is very strong but in the together it produces good photos.

Sony IMX 355 / 8 million pixels

Sensors of this type let in less light, so the image is more dark. The distortion is also visible but this kind of sensor is not designed to take pictures with subjects so close to the lens. The sharpness is much worse than on the Samsung sensor but the colors are more faithful (despite the underexposure). The color is one of the strengths of this sensor, I have already tested it in many other phones and it is a constant in each test.

It's the same with this photo, less light and less sharpness. The text on the Canadian banknote is barely legible, the edges are smooth, and the sharpness degrades even more at the periphery. All this is "normal" for this kind of sensor, there is nothing extraordinary here.

Photo: technical test

I was inspired by industrial technical tests to create my own technical test to evaluate the technical quality of a camera. This test is an objective assessment of a camera's ability to render a scene correctly.

I test the following elements:
- centre sharpness, peripheral sharpness
- colour fidelity based on 24 reference colours
- level of chromatic aberration
- dynamic range (ability to capture dark and light areas without loss)
- distortion

The technical evaluation may differ from the subjective evaluation as the feeling of a photo will be influenced by the processing provided by each manufacturer.

Samsung S5KHM2 / 108 million pixels

Outdoor photo quality

Samsung S5KHM2 main sensor / 108 million pixels

I tested this sensor on several other phones like the Redmi Note 11 Pro or the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It is a mid-range sensor which is capable of delivering good quality photos when the conditions are good as in these photos. This sensor produces good sharpness, a little too warm colorimetry and is average for the dynamic range. The 108 million pixel mode doesn't add much in terms of sharpness and since the RAW mode isn't available, it won't give you more freedom for photo processing with Photoshop.

This phone is compatible with the Gcam application and I took the opportunity to make comparison photos to see if Gcam could improve the photos. The answer is yes. You can compare the following photo with the first one in this paragraph:

The sky is bluer, the blue of the water is less artificial, and the sharpness is slightly better. Gcam combines multiple photos with an efficient HDR mode that helps recover more information from the photos. This mechanism works well for static photos but for moving objects you will get motion blur faster. Color balance is also better with Gcam.

As I wrote above, this sensor is a mid-range sensor, it produces above-average quality photos but in this price range, I find that the Samsung GW3 (Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite) and the Sony IMX 682 (Poco X3 Pro) do better.

Photos taken with Samsung S5KHM2 and default photo app:

Photos taken with Samsung S5KHM2 and GCAM:

Sony IMX 355 / 8 Megapixel secondary sensor

I have tested this sensor in many phones and even though such a sensor is not capable of competing with the main sensor in terms of photo quality, it nevertheless has undeniable qualities in terms of colorimetry and dynamic range. It is one of the best ultra wide angle sensors. Its biggest flaw is the lack of sharpness (especially on the periphery) and the effect of angle distortion.

Test photo / night

Not yet available / tested

Video quality

Stabilisation

The Poco X4 Pro is powerful enough to stabilize videos but it fails to fully absorb the vibrations caused by my footsteps. The video as a whole is quite watchable, but I've tested phones with better stabilization.

Video normale conditions

The Poco X4 Pro is capable of filming in 1080 30 FPS, this is a regression compared to the previous model which was capable of filming in 4k. The difference in resolution will be especially noticeable if you watch your videos on a screen with a resolution higher than 1080p. Although the video is of acceptable quality, I find that the too hot colorimetry of this sensor is even more visible on the video, the accentuation of the sharpness also. The focusing speed is good and I don't see too many exposure jumps. The zoom is on the other hand unusable, the quality degrades too quickly.

Video low light

Not yet available / tested

External audio quality

This test is intended to give you an overview of the volume and sound quality during calls and when listening to music through the external speakers.

Music on external speakers
The Poco X4 Pro produces good quality sound that is quite comparable to what is found in this price range, I do not observe any difference with other phones such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro for example. The bass sounds lack a bit of depth and the treble lacks a bit of finesse, but in this price range that's normal. The volume is average.

Calls on external speakers
The sound level with the listening speaker for calls is not very high, it is a little below average. The sound, however, is of good quality. With the external speaker, the sound volume is above average and the sound is a bit too high-pitched.

Audio quality (headphones)

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.

I was a little surprised by the sound of the Poco X4 Pro, I usually test phones with the volume at 100% and here I had to quickly remove my headphones for my first test because the volume was so strong. I don't think I've tested a phone with such a loud volume, I don't know if it's intentional at Poco or if it's a failure in the settings, but this level of sound on the headphone jack is out of the ordinary. This sound power causes sound distortion but not as much as I imagined. I actually measure a distortion and a difference in the frequencies but the amplitude of these differences is not very high. I also noticed something unusual about the crosstalk, it was significantly higher than on all other phones tested. The stereo sound is therefore not well defined, it tends to scatter on both sides.

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.

Colorimetry

The Poco X4 Pro is set to "saturated color" mode by default and while this makes the colors appear more vibrant, the colorimetry is not correct. To obtain a realistic rendering of your screen, you must switch to "standard" mode. With the standard mode, the colorimetry is almost perfect with a dE of 1.67. Xiaomi really masters its screens because this Poco X4 Pro is a mid-range phone that offers the colorimetry of a high-end phone.

Brightness / Contrast

I measured a brightness of 661 cd/m² in "sun" mode, it's the same as on the Redmi Note 11 Pro because it's the same screen. With this level of brightness, you will be able to use this phone in direct sunlight.

The contrast is infinite thanks to the use of amoled technology, the blacks are therefore truly black and your images will therefore have better depth than with an IPS screen. This screen also has a frequency of 120hz (by default 60hz) which will give you perfect fluidity. Viewing angles are also excellent, you can look at the screen from the side without losing image quality.

Biometry

The Poco X4 Pro uses a fingerprint sensor located on the power button like the Redmi Note 11 Pro and this sensor works very well, I think Xiaomi has found the best solution for their phones because I find it difficult to return to something else on other phones.

Operating system

The Poco X4 Pro runs on MIUI 13 and therefore basically resumes the operation of Redmi and Xiaomi. I quite like MIUI because this interface is much richer than the standard Android interface, but this interface is often criticized for the presence of unwanted ads and applications. I know some people are genuinely allergic to it, it's never been too much of a problem for me, I've never been inundated with advertisements.

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested

Accessories Poco X4 Pro

Compare Poco X4 Pro with the others

Test / Review conclusion

The Poco brand had returned to the market in 2020 positioning itself very strongly on performance and in just a few months it had managed to position a phone in all price ranges by offering the best performance for each segment. Poco had probably done its job a little too well because the difference in performance with the competition was sometimes really very significant and this Poco X4 Pro seems to want to calm things down because it is less powerful than its predecessor the Poco X3 Pro. A less powerful Poco? Yes and that's not the only regression but I bet a majority of buyers won't see the difference. The Poco X4 Pro is a different phone, you have to see it as a Redmi Note 11 Pro that has disguised itself as Poco.

The Poco X4 Pro is a good mid-range phone, it doesn't have any major weaknesses but it won't stand out dramatically either. This phone will probably appeal less to gamers, but for others, the performance will be more than enough for everyday use and even for most games.

The Poco X4 Pro has good network sensitivity, good wifi sensitivity with good download speed, so it has everything you need to ensure comfortable use daily. The battery also offers good autonomy and fast charging at 67W is still quite rare in this price range.

For the photo part, the Poco X4 Pro uses the same sensors as the Redmi Note 11 Pro, Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Plus 5G. No novelties on this side but this sensor delivers good results and in this price range, it is undoubtedly positioned among the best. Only certain Sony sensors or the Samsung GW3 produce better photos, but the phones that use them are often more expensive. I regret, however, that it is not possible to film in 4k because this phone should in theory be able to do so.

This Poco X4 Pro ticks a lot of boxes to meet the expectations of a fairly large audience wanting to buy a phone for less than €300. It does not revolutionize the world because it takes almost all the characteristics of other phones from the Xiaomi group, but to find something equivalent in other brands, you have to pay more. Poco has therefore somewhat lost its price/performance approach for gamers, this phone is aimed more at a wider audience.

Strengths

Screen quality
Finish (better integrated photo unit)
Good battery life
67W fast charge
Photo quality
Very powerful sound through headphones

Weaknesses

Average GPS accuracy
Average call volume
Video limited to 1080p
Sound distortion at full volume

Alternatives to this product

Not yet available / tested