what you should Know
- POCO introduced two new budget smartphones from the M series.
- The POCO M5s is the more expensive of the duo, retailing at a starting price of €210.
- The regular M5 is cheaper, starting at €190 with a few compromises.
POCO has started offering decent-spec gaming phones at low prices in recent years after initially focusing on the mid-range segment, and its latest pair in the M range continues that tradition.
The Xiaomi sub-brand today announced the POCO M5 and POCO M5s, a duo with powerful enough specs that fit the bill if you’re into gaming and vlogging. Both devices have their respective use cases, though POCO has cut some corners for each model to serve those purposes. Both phones will be available in Europe from September 6 with a starting price of €210 for the M5s and €190 for the regular model. However, unlike its predecessors, neither device supports 5G.
The more expensive POCO model in the new series comes with an older chipset, MediaTek’s Helio G95. The processor is paired with up to 6GB of RAM, which can be expanded up to 8GB via a virtual RAM expansion feature. The M5s also has up to 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card slot up to 1TB.
It has a 6.43-inch FullHD+ AMOLED display protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a DotDrop design (a common marketing term for a water drop). However, unlike the standard model, which has a refresh rate of up to 90Hz, its screen does not have the ability to refresh smoothly.
What the phone lacks in terms of display, it makes up for with decent cameras. Its main shooter is a 64MP sensor that can record 4K video. Completing the quad camera setup is an 8MP ultra-wide camera and two 2MP macro/depth sensors. Selfies are handled by a 13MP front unit.
The M5s is essentially a rebranded Redmi Note 10S that was launched last year with similar specs. It packs a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. The device also features an IP53 rating for limited dust ingress protection, multi-function NFC, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The POCO M5, on the other hand, offers a better experience if you care about performance. It is powered by a 6nm based MediaTek Helio G99 SoC coupled with up to 6GB of RAM which is also expandable up to 8GB via virtual RAM. It comes with up to 128GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 1TB.
It features a 6.58-inch FullHD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate. Depending on what you’re watching, the screen can also switch between different refresh rates (30Hz, 60Hz and 90Hz). In addition, the screen has 500 nits of brightness, so you won’t have to squint when looking at the phone in direct sunlight.
Like the M5s, the regular variant packs a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. However, inside the box, it comes with a 22.5W charger.
The phone also has decent camera specs, with no 4K video recording capability. It features a 50MP main sensor and two 2MP depth/macro sensors. There is a 5MP selfie shooter on the front.
In terms of design, the POCO M5 has a faux leather fabric on the back panel that prevents fingerprint smudges. It has an overall design with a flat edge that comes in black, green and yellow. Meanwhile, the M5s has a gradient back that comes in grey, white and blue color options.
POCO hasn’t said whether its latest contenders for the best Android phones under $300 are coming to the United States, but given its history of leapfrogging the US market, it’s a safe bet that they won’t. However, stay tuned for our upcoming review for a more in-depth look at both devices.