| 6.67" 120Hz AMOLED display | MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chip | Up to 12GB RAM/256GB storage | 108MP+2MP rear cameras |
| 16MP front camera | 5,000mAh battery, 33W charging | MIUI 14 based on Android 13 | Martian Orange colour |
Bloatware present
Older Android
No ultra-wide camera
POCO recently unveiled its POCO X6 series, including the POCO X6 and the POCO X6 Pro. Both these models earned high praise in our reviews for offering strong specs and solid performance at attractive prices.
Now, POCO has introduced the latest addition to the X6 family in India—the POCO X6 Neo 5G. Let's take a closer look at how it performs and whether it's a good pick for you.
Starting at ₹15,999, the POCO X6 Neo throws its hat in the ring of the fiercely competitive sub-₹20,000 category, aiming to stand out among the stiff competition.
The POCO X6 Neo is not just another budget-friendly phone you can easily overlook. - It's slim, light, and feels premium in the hand. I also like the sleek black case it comes with right out of the box.
But what really catches your eye is the colour. POCO is calling it Martian Orange, but to me, it looks more like peach than orange. Regardless, it's absolutely one of the best colours I've laid eyes on in a while. And if you're not into the whole intergalactic fruit look, no worries—there are more down-to-earth colours like black and blue.
The back is all plastic but it doesn't feel cheap in the hand and its features a gradient effect that plays with the light and ripples across the surface. And thanks to its matte finish, you can say goodbye to constantly wiping away fingerprints.
POCO's signature large rectangular camera bump adds a distinctive look, though it does make the phone rock a bit when you set it down. The fingerprint sensor is integrated into the power button— it was quick and reliable every time I used it.
Flipping to the front, the POCO X6 Neo sports impressively thin bezels that are a rare sight in this price bracket. It also comes with Gorilla Glass 5 upfront and an IP54 rating, so it's tough enough to handle some wear and tear.
The display is where the POCO X6 Neo really shines for anyone into binge-watching or gaming. It boasts a big 6.67-inch screen that's all AMOLED, making those LCD screens on other phones look kinda pale in comparison.
Everything's super sharp and clear thanks to its 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, and with a 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling through your feeds or zipping around the phone's menus is super smooth.
When it comes to performance, the X6 Neo features the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chip inside, teamed up with up to 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Now, I know there are more powerful chips on the block, but for all your daily stuff, the X6 Neo gets the job done.
It ticks along nicely, whether I'm browsing the web or switching between apps. I was also able to play games like BGMI at medium graphics without any dropped frame rates.
On the software front - the X6 Neo runs MIUI 14 over Android 13. So, you are not getting the latest Android 14 here, which is a bit of a letdown.
For the most part, MIUI is pretty smooth to use, but it comes with plenty of pre-installed apps. Some of this stuff you can uninstall, although you can't completely escape it.
The Poco X6 5G features a dual camera setup at the back with a 108MP main shooter with 3X lossless in sensor zoom and a 2MP sensor for depth, plus a decent 16MP sensor for selfies.
Honestly, the photos from the main camera are way clearer and more detailed than you'd expect at this price. The colours look vibrant but the highlights could have been handled better.
Portrait mode shots look great, though edge detection can be hit or miss. Low-light photography gets a boost from the night mode, and while selfies could be sharper in less-than-ideal lighting, they look pretty good when the light is right.
Battery life is solid, with the 5,000mAh battery comfortably getting me through the day with light to moderate usage. However, power users, especially gamers, might find themselves reaching for the charger before bedtime. It also supports 33W fast charging, and it'll have you back up to full in just over an hour and a half.
Now, onto the crucial question: Should you go for the Poco X6 Neo 5G? Well, the straightforward answer is yes! It's not only one of the most stylish phones you can grab for under ₹16,000, but it's also great for enjoying your favourite content and handles everyday tasks with ease.
It's not without its flaws, though: it runs on the older Android 13, comes packed with a fair amount of bloatware, and it's not the go-to for heavy-duty tasks. However, if you're weighing its value for money, it's tough to beat what the Poco X6 Neo 5G offers.
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