POCO M6 Pro 5G (128 GB) (6 GB RAM) (Power Black)

Impressive design and economical pricing. Poco M6 Pro 5G (8GB/256GB) is an impressively cost effective phone using an Octacore 2.2 GHz Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. Usage journey is summarised below for other users to optimise it for higher performance, battery efficiency & nil bloatware experience.Its a clear equivalent of Redmi 12 5G except NFC. I saw many users write about it having ads and bloatware, issues with battery drain, etc. These issues can be resolved to a great extent as I did.As soon as it was put on the network, it downloaded Xiaomi HyperOS1.0.1.0 UMWINXM, ANDROID 14. The update was 4.4GB, took some time but the OS is as smooth as MIUI 14/ Android 13.Battery drain can be simply reduced by using the Battery saver mode. Further, you require to fine tune on background apps and disable ads, remove recommendations to reduce irritation. Camera is decent. Processor performance is good, no lagging. However, the famous quickball has been removed. For those interested to still want it on the device, the apk has to be installed additionally. For me, I like that wonderful feature as it was a life saver in older Poco/ Redmi/ Mi phones when the Menu/ Home/ Back navigation panel failed. With Quickball, my Redmi 3s is still working perfectly since last 7.5+ years. So, I did load the quickball version 15.0.1.0.1 and being tested.POCO phones are always the beta for ‘go to market’ followed by the equivalent redmi versions. I have been using POCO (F1, C3, M3) user for many years, are truely worth the money, good hardware.Many came with a 6000mAh battery but this one has 5000mAh battery. The charger is fast (22.5W) but I prefer to slow charge the battery at night with a 5V/ 0.7A or 1A charger to improve the battery life, reduce the risk of battery bulging. It also reduces the risk of load on charger circuit due to lower charging current and no heat-up (Li-ion does not like heat, hence slow charging is safest), so battery and peripheral components remains safe and long lasting. The box came with its own transparent back-cover but I preferred a thicker back cover.Has a single Loudspeaker, hence lower audio volume. But the Screen is bright, even 30% is good for normal use.The most important feature of Xiaomi is the backup and restore, making the new phone have the exact look of your old Xiaomi phone in less than 5 minutes, some apps may not get backed-up.Finally, Amazon delivery was on time. Its just 4 days of testing and as of know I am satisfied.Update after a week of use- Though the download speed is good, the phone does not show 5G (JIO SIM) on its display (it shows 4G+). This is an important part to resolve, probably a patch may be necessary if at all this is a bug, since the service provider detects it as a 5G phone but the phone itself shows 4G+. Requesting Xiaomi to validate my finding and close this accordingly.When the same SIM is put in another phone (Samsung/ IPhone), it shows 5G clearly. So this is an issue to be resolved by XIAOMI to prove that it is genuinely a 5G phone.No heating issue noticed after a week of use now.UPDATE 2:We can force the network setting to 5G through developer options as ‘NR’ in Set preferred network type. But the battery drains drastically, hence avoid that. So the phone is obviously 5G when network setting is forced. Obviously all may not want to touch developer mode, so best to leave it as 5G/LTE in normal network settings. If XIAOMI patches to augment the setting as NR only in addition to common settings, it can show up 5G on the display, but at the cost of high battery consumption.UPDATE 3 (16 April 2024):The legendary Xiaomi Quickball (apk version 15.0.1.0.1) has been tested and found to be working satisfactorily. Post hardening of HyperOS, the phone is almost AD free. Google loaded its own ‘Messages’ apk which will take control of the inbuilt default ‘Messaging’ app I have kept the Messaging app as default for messages as I dont want to use messages app of google for privacy control. Battery being 5000mAH, is found to be lasting for 2 days with mobile data ‘ON’. A 6000mAH battery would have been better as found on many earlier POCO phones. Quality of hardware is very good and performing. With the new HyperOS 1.0.2.0 loaded, 2 years of formal updates makes it a an economical phone with good features. Reminding all that ads-free performance can only be achieved after hardening through developer mode. I havent used memory boost function, I dont think I will require it with a 8GB (uses LPDDR5) memory. Only if needed, I will configure it. I have also installed a 128 GB memory card, which virtually reduces internal memory usage.UPDATE 4 (18 April 2024):A bug is identified on HyperOS. When Wifi calling is ON and Wifi is connected with a stable network, outgoing calls cannot be made. Incoming calls also do not get through. I have tested this multiple times. Xiaomi has to immediately act and fix this bug. Upon putting WiFi calling OFF, the phone resumes normally. This problem did not exist on earlier MIUI used by me.Except this new bug identified and therefore stopping Wifi calling (actually stopping wifi calling has improved the battery life, so I dont mind not having this feature as JIO network does not have issues in our area and around), POCO M6 Pro 5G is a decent value for money. Most positives, smaller negatives for a phone in 11-12k range. Surely, Xiaomi should action it with a patch immediately.UPDATE 5.. Only for MIUI phone users, wont work for other phones (18 May 2024):When POCO M6 Pro is fully configured, take its backup using Additional Settings–> Backup and restore. A backup file is generated in MIUI folder under AllBackup–> Backups–> Filename with backup date. Simply copy that file and move it to your old Mi/ Redmi/ POCO phone (min. Android 10) in exacly the same folder. Then restore that file. While it will replicate the phone, you will get the benefit of the new look Control Centre. The old MIUI Control Centre will be replaced by the new HyperOS Control Centre with no change to Android Version or security patch. I liked this look and have retained the new HyperOS Control Center in my old POCO C3, which is a backup of the new phone (in case of exercising Disaster Recovery option). Its like the old Car in a new shell. Havent had any issue on that since last 15 days of using the HyperOS Control Centre in the old POCO C3. Others can enjoy too.UPDATE 6.. For 6 GB/ 128 GB Version (31 July 2024):I have also bought the 6 GB/ 128 GB variant. Having hardened the HyperOS, this phone is almost a stock android like with nil bloatware. The usage time has increased since the memory utilisation has reduced and with it, the battery lasts slightly longer as compared to the 8 GB/ 256 GB variant. You would notice that Xiaomi has released the Poco M6 plus and Redmi 13 5g variant last month using the same processor by little overclocking (they call it accelarated or AE) to 2.3 GHz instead of 2.2 GHz, adding a 120 Hz display and 108 MP camera, etc with 35% higher price for 6GB/ 128GB. Well, I am contented with the M6Pro 5g’s price to performance since frying the CPU may reduce its life.Regards….. AD

Value for Money 5G Smartphone. The Poco M6 Pro 5G is a remarkable addition to the mid-range smartphone market, delivering impressive performance and features that cater to both casual users and tech enthusiasts alike.At first glance, its modern design is eye-catching, featuring a vibrant display that brings everything to life with stunning clarity. The 6.79-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and an immersive viewing experience, whether you’re streaming videos or playing games.Powered by a robust Snapdragon processor, the Poco M6 Pro 5G handles multitasking with ease, making it perfect for gaming and running multiple apps simultaneously. The 5G capability ensures that you’re future-proofed for faster internet speeds, allowing for seamless streaming and downloading.One of the standout features is its impressive camera system. The dual rear camera setup, including a 50MP primary sensor, captures stunning photos with vibrant colors and excellent detail, even in low light. The 8MP front camera is perfect for selfies and video calls, ensuring you always look your best.Battery life is another strong point, with a substantial 5000mAh battery that easily lasts a full day of heavy usage. Plus, the fast charging feature ensures you’re back up and running quickly, minimizing downtime.Overall, the Poco M6 Pro 5G offers exceptional value for money, combining performance, camera quality, and battery life in a stylish package. Whether you’re a gamer, a photography enthusiast, or simply looking for a reliable smartphone, the Poco M6 Pro 5G is definitely worth considering!