Gabriel ManceauSmartphone SpecialistNovember 24, 2021 at 6:22 pm
Another POCO smartphone? Yes, the manufacturer is in great shape and is offering its POCO M4 Pro 5G at the end of 2021, which is positioned at the entry level with a price around 200 euros. The brand promise: an affordable phone capable of performing all multimedia tasks and even a little gaming. Promise kept? The answer in our full POCO M4 Pro 5G test.
8See the priceRead the conclusionPOCO M4 Pro 5GHere are the technical characteristics of the POCO M4 Pro 5G as it is marketed in France. The most connoisseurs among you will have noticed that the technical sheet is simply identical to that of Xiaomi's Redmi Note 11 which is not (yet?) officially marketed in France.
ContentsPOCO M4 Pro 5G data sheet
Technical specifications
Android OS OS Version 11 Android Overlay MIUI 12.5 Voice Assistant Google AssistantDisplay
Screen size 6.6mScreen type IPS LCDScreen definition 1080 x 2400 pixelsRefresh rate 90HzPixel density 399 DPIHDR screen NoMemory
Internal memory 64 GB, 128 GBPerformance
Processor MediaTek Dimensity 810Engraving fineness 6nmNumber of CPU cores Octa-coreCPU frequency 2.4GHzGPU Mali-G57 MC2RAM 4GB, 6GBBattery
Battery capacity 5000 mAhRemovable battery NoWireless charging NoQuick charging YesQuick charging power 33WCamera
Number of cameras (front & rear) 3Definition of rear sensor(s) 50 Mpx, 8 MpxDefinition of front sensor(s) 16 MpxVideo recording 1080p@30fpsDigital camera stabilizerRear LED flashFront flash NoRear photo lens aperture f/1.8, f/2.2Aperture f/2.5 front photo lensNetwork
Compatible SIM Card(s) Nano-SIM Dual SIM Compatible Yes 5G Compatible Yes VoLTE Compatible YesConnectivity
Wi-Fi 5Bluetooth 5.1NFC YesGPS YesInfrared YesEquipment
Connector Type USB Type-CBiometric Fingerprint Reader YesFace Recognition Sensor 2D Face RecognitionAccelerometer YesGyroscope YesAmbient Light Sensor YesJack Jack YesNumber of Speakers 2Physical Specifications
Height 163.6mmWidth 75.8mmThickness 8.8mmWeight 195gIP certification IP53Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
Head SAR 0.594 W/Kg Trunk SAR 0.999 W/KgIn the POCO M4 Pro 5G box
Classic, but complete, the smartphone box includes:
© Gabriel Manceau for Clubic.Design: POCO blurs the tracks
Yes, the POCO M4 PRO 5G looks like two drops of water to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11, but POCO still wants to add its little personal touch. The one that will make the difference and will identify the brand's phones at a glance. This results in a black rectangle on the back which comes in the extension of the photo module. Visually, it reminds us of a certain Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. At this price level, you guessed it, the comparison stops there.
© Gabriel Manceau for Clubic.The goal? To visually balance the upper part and set the phone apart from its almost twin brother. A tip that is also found on the POCO M3, the test of which you can find here. To the touch, the back of the phone is very pleasant. A grainy sandy texture that does not mark fingerprints at all, but glides easily from the hands.
With a diagonal of 6.6 inches, we are clearly on a large smartphone that the smallest hands will find difficult to handle. On the other hand, its weight remains relatively contained, with 195 grams on the scale. The front face changes slightly compared to the POCO M3, with a front sensor that is now integrated in the form of a punch and no longer a drop of water. A welcome change. Finally, the borders around the screen remain acceptable for an entry-level phone.
Click to enlarge. © Gabriel Manceau for Clubic. Click to enlarge. © Gabriel Manceau for Clubic. Click to enlarge. © Gabriel Manceau for Clubic. Click to enlarge. © Gabriel Manceau for Clubic.On the edges, the configuration is quite classic. The volume control button is well positioned on the right edge, just above the power button which also serves as a fingerprint reader. The latter is also very responsive. The hatch that can accommodate up to two nanoSIMs (5G) or a nanoSIM card and a microSD card (up to 1 TB) is located on the left edge of the POCO M4 Pro 5G.
On the lower edge is the USB-C connector, a 3.5 mm mini-jack socket and a grille for the main speaker. The second "speaker" located above the front camera also benefits from a grid on the upper edge of the phone. We will have the opportunity to come back to this in the audio part of this test.
Screen: it's not lacking in fluidity
© Gabriel Manceau for Clubic.The days when "cheap smartphones" rhymed with "poor screen quality" seem a long way off. For its M4 Pro 5G , POCO logically chose an IPS LCD panel to limit costs. The panel is well calibrated and the colorimetric spectrum covered is very wide. If however your retina is not of the same opinion, you can always go to the display settings to adjust this to your liking.
The 6.6-inch screen benefits from a Full HD+ definition of 2400 x 1080 pixels which gives the POCO M4 Pro 5G a comfortable resolution of 399 pixels per inch. Peak brightness goes up to 450 nits. Nothing incredible, but it is still sufficient in the overwhelming majority of situations. On the other hand, the automatic brightness adjustment sometimes seemed approximate to us. To the point of having to take control manually to increase the brightness of the screen.
POCO highlighting the multimedia and gaming use of its phone, we are not surprised to find a screen with a maximum refresh rate of 90 Hz and a touch sampling rate of up to 240 Hz. What offer a great fluidity in navigation, particularly in web browsing, on social networks and of course in game. A transition found to talk about the performance of the smartphone.
Performance: you can play, but…
POCO has always highlighted the multimedia capabilities of its smartphones. It's not for nothing, the brand's target being above all a young audience on a tight budget. The phone is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G eight-core processor engraved in 6 nanometers, accompanied by 4 or 6 GB of RAM. A convincing duo that allows you to perform all the tasks expected of a smartphone with fluidity.
A word on the theoretical performance of the phone. MediaTek's processor is doing quite well, with performance that the AnTuTu benchmark positions below that of a Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G and its Snapdragon 750G processor, but above the Snapdragon 732G found on the Redmi Note 10 Pro for example.
UFS 2.2 storage makes it quick to install and launch apps, and enough RAM to keep a dozen apps open and get back to them quickly. The POCO M4 Pro 5G therefore presents itself as a reliable companion to comfortably enjoy your favorite applications. But what about games?
We didn't go out of our way to launch one of the most resource-intensive games on the Play Store: Genshin Impact. To our surprise, the game runs pretty well, almost always maintaining 30 frames per second, including in the combat phases. On the other hand, the game will remain with the lowest graphics level "very weak". It is possible to go up a notch, but it will be paid for in terms of fluidity.
If you ask yourself the following question: "can we play on the POCO M4 Pro 5G?" The answer is yes. But at this level of performance, there is no guarantee that the phone will run the (future) more demanding games on the Play Store for a few years. You have been warned.
Interface: the originalities of MIUI
The POCO M4 Pro 5G runs Android 11 with Xiaomi's MIUI 12 interface. The latter has some original features, such as a control center that is reminiscent of that of an apple brand. It also takes some getting used to. Indeed, a downward movement from the upper right corner will display the shortcuts (Wifi, Bluetooth, etc.). The same movement from the upper left care will, on the other hand, display the notifications. It is possible to move from one panel to another by making a horizontal gesture with the finger.
Another originality of MIUI, its drawer of applications classified by category. Very practical to use, it makes it easy to find your games, communication applications, etc. As always, it is of course possible to display all your applications directly on the desktop. Gesture navigation is also offered, but you can always choose to use those good old buttons at the bottom of the screen.
As too often with Xiaomi phones, we regret the large number of pre-installed applications (bloatware). Thus, there are no less than 10 preinstalled games and 10 partner applications, in addition to applications from Xiaomi and Google. That's a lot for a smartphone just out of the box. As always, you can uninstall them, but we would have liked to skip this step. We also note the presence in the applications folders of advertisements suggesting the installation of other applications…
Audio: two speakers, really?
The POCO M4 Pro 5G does display stereo speakers on its technical sheet. Indeed, there is one at the lower edge of the phone and a second located just above the screen. A second speaker that comes in support, but whose power is so ridiculous that it is difficult to be heard. One like the other emphasizes the mediums (the voices) while forgetting everything else.
If you want to enjoy a good audio experience, as often you will have to fall back on wired headphones and its 3.5 mm mini-jack socket which form a convincing duo. Good point, however: sound optimizations such as the audio equalizer are offered once your headphones are connected. Obviously, your wireless headphones will work perfectly thanks to the phone's Bluetooth 5.1.
Network: a faithful traveling companion
Let's go back to basics. Is the POCO M4 Pro 5G a good phone? The answer is yes. The network hook is excellent and the calls are very clear. We recorded a low latency of 33 ms on the Orange network in the Bordeaux region, which places it in a very good average compared to the other smartphones we tested.
The GPS is also formidable. With a devilish accuracy of just 1 meter on the "GPS Test" app, the POCO M4 Pro 5G is an excellent student. We were also able to test it during a few car trips and the mobile never showed signs of weakness. So you can hit the road with confidence, this M4 Pro 5G will be able to get you where you need to go.
Camera: finally an ultra-wide-angle!
Don't be intimidated by its imposing photo module, the POCO M4 Pro 5G is only equipped with two sensors: a wide-angle of 50 megapixels and, for the first time on POCO's "M" range, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor. A second sensor which therefore replaces the sensors dedicated to macro photography and the depth of field of the POCO M3. A smart choice that makes the photo experience more versatile.
The photo application
Very pleasant to use, the photo application is also completely customizable. This involves the ability to display the "More" tab to access the other shooting modes, or choose the "More" panel to display them with a simple upward movement from the bottom of the application. . If the default tabs do not suit you, it is also possible to rearrange them as you see fit.
12 or 50 megapixels?
Thanks to its 50 megapixel sensor, the POCO M4 Pro 5G uses the pixel binning technique to capture brighter photos in 12 megapixels. It is possible to force the 50 megapixel mode, for an ultimately very similar result. If you do not plan to print your photos in large format or crop them, we recommend the "automatic" mode in 12 megapixels.
12 MP wide-angle photo on the left, 50 MP on the right.Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle
The main sensor is capable of taking quite decent photos in good conditions bright. The photo processing clearly saturates the colors to give a little more flavor to the final rendering. The white balance is well adjusted, but we wouldn't have said no to better dynamics to open up the shadows a little more.
Wide-angle photo on the left, ultra-wide-angle on the right.The ultra-wide-angle sensor advantageously replaces the macro sensors as well as the one dedicated to the depth of field. Its angle of 119 degrees is very practical when you lack perspective. Unsurprisingly, the photos taken with the ultra-wide-angle are much darker than on the main lens.
Indoor photos are also an opportunity to see that the white balance is not at all set in the same way on the two sensors. We will therefore be satisfied with this ultra-wide-angle sensor to troubleshoot, but certainly not to take beautiful vacation photos.
POCO M4 Pro 5G: Wide-angle photo on the left, ultra-wide-angle photo on the right.Macro and zoom photo
In the absence of a telephoto sensor, which is completely normal in this price range, you will have to use the digital zoom if you want to see a little further. We will stop at the x2 zoom which already leads to a fairly significant loss of detail.
Wide-angle without zoom on the left, with x2 zoom on the right.We don't miss the macro sensor. That being said, it's impossible to get too close to a subject or you won't be able to focus at all. The parade ? Take a snapshot in 50 megapixels and zoom in to then crop it.
Impossible to take a clear picture by getting closer to the subject.Night photos
On a phone at 229 euros, do not expect miracles on night shots. Unsurprisingly, this is not the strong point of this POCO M4 Pro 5G. The night mode brings much more light, for a more flattering rendering to the eye. Don't bother looking at the details of the image or you'll damage your eyes.
Wide-angle sensor: without night mode on the left, with night mode on the right.On the ultra-wide-angle, night photos are simply to be forgotten. Unfortunately, the night mode is not accessible with this shooting mode.
No night mode with the ultra-wide-angle sensor.Portraits and selfies
Although imperfect, the cropping of portrait mode remains convincing. On the other hand, the white balance panics in this shooting mode. Under lighting with white light, the automatic mode manages skin tone very well. Unfortunately, this is not the case with portrait mode, as you can see below.
The front camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels. This is twice as much as on the POCO M3. The selfies are of good quality, as is the portrait mode which applies (too) uniform software blur. The clipping is however imperfect, as can be seen on the right side of the down jacket.
Selfie without portrait mode on the left, with portrait mode on the right.Video
The POCO M4 Pro 5G is capable of filming up to 1080 at 60 fps. Unfortunately, digital stabilization cannot be activated in this mode. Result: it shakes a lot, as you can see below.
Autonomy
Thanks to its 5000 mAh battery, the low consumption of its processor and its good software optimization, the POCO M4 Pro 5G is able to last for a day and a half in the context of mixed use. If you have a moderate use of your phone, the two days are easily reachable, which positions it in a high average.
The 33W charging block present in the box allows the phone to regain +50% battery in just 30 minutes. It takes about an hour to fully charge it. It's very nice to see an entry-level phone recharge faster than some high-end mobiles (we won't name anyone).
Price and availability
At the time of writing these lines, the POCO M4 Pro 5G is offered in its 4 GB + 64 GB version at 199€ instead of 229€ on the site of the brand. The 6 GB + 128 GB version is offered at €219 instead of €269.
For the same price at POCO, you can acquire the POCO X3 Pro which we also tested. The latter is much more powerful, but also more imposing and does not benefit from 5G compatibility.
POCO M4 Pro 5G: the opinion of Clubic
When counting the points, we can only note the many qualities of this POCO M4 Pro 5G. Admittedly, it is not perfect. But remember that it is sold at the very tight price of 230 euros. For this price, POCO manages to design an everyday smartphone that will suit all users who have a classic use of a telephone.
Whether it's to check your social networks, browse the web, chat with your loved ones or watch streaming videos, the POCO M4 Pro can do it without batting an eyelid. If he is not a gamer at heart, he is powerful enough to run all the games on the Play Store properly. Photographers and music lovers will however go their way.
POCO M4 Pro 5G
8The POCO M4 Pro 5G is a good smartphone with a very good price-performance ratio. It is aimed at users looking for a do-it-all phone that is compatible with the 5G network. All for less than 230 euros.
The most
Cons
Design9
Screen8
Performance8
Software interface7
Camera7
Autonomy8
See the priceDesign9
Screen8
Performance8
Software interface7
Camera7
Autonomy8