Smartphone review Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro: crisis version

On July 7, 2020, the Chinese brand Xiaomi presented another high-profile novelty. The Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro Xiaomi smartphone is a synthesis of beautiful lining and powerful filling. The developers have not forgotten either the impressive screen or the quality materials. The smartphone even got its own "flavor". Forcing out competitors in the Indian market, it is an exact copy of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, and this is a significant advantage!

Is the new product worth $ 170? Let's check it now!

Small company history

It seemed quite recently that an unknown company, which was distorted by "Shaomi", then "Xiaomi", appeared on the shelves and immediately captured the ratings. Budgetary, and most importantly, not inferior in aesthetic terms to Apple or Samsung, smartphones flaunted in the hands of every third. However, after 5 years, Xiaomi has grown to such a size that it has already become an "airfield" for young companies.

Here lies the answer to the name - Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro. In 2018, the Poco organization was listed as a sub-brand of Xiaomi and worked with low-cost phones in the Asian market. The Pocophone F1 experiment, which had support for Snapdragon 845 and fast charge function, ended in success. Therefore, in 2020 they declared their independence, and the M2 Pro model is intended to become the "golden ticket" for Poco to the world of wireless networks. Will it fail?

Appearance

If the name of the Poco brand is consonant with the Spanish word "a little / a little", then it is also impossible to say unambiguously about the model. Its dimensions were 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm. The smartphone is uncomfortably massive and weighing 209 grams can cause inconvenience for children and adolescents. In this case, you will have to attend to the presence of a cover, large palms and deep pockets, so that the novelty certainly does not slip to the floor.

Justifying the $ 170 price tag, the Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro is equipped with durable tempered glass on the body and front. Additional protection is provided by Gorilla Glass 5. The side frames, however, are plastic. Therefore, it is they who will have the brunt

Interesting to know! The materials are water-repellent.

The design of the model is minimalistic, that's why it is good! It has the usual rectangular shape with slightly rounded edges. The back panel is decorated with a black block of the main cameras in the upper third, as well as an inconspicuous logo at the bottom.

The unlock buttons and volume rocker can be found on the right side edge. The fingerprint sensor is also located there. The headphone jack has moved to the lower edge (it's good that it exists at all!). The front of the smartphone is limited to a spherical front camera against the background of a frameless display.

Options and colors

Nothing has changed regarding the configuration of Xiaomi products:

• USB cable;
• Charging adapter;
• Coupon and certificates;
• Clip for sim slot (slot consists of 3 compartments - Dual SIM, Nano-SIM and SD card);
• Silicone Case.

Compared to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone, the number of colors has not changed. The brand introduced three of the most popular shades - black, emerald green and blue. Dirt and fingerprints are less visible on them, and they will also perfectly fit into any image.

Specifications

Screen

The huge, almost 7-inch display, which occupies 84.5% of the total area, has become a real salvation and at the same time a dilemma for the Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro smartphone. On the one hand, the LCD has a high resolution of 1080 x 2400 (maximum for phones) with a brightness of 450 nits (or candelas). Here are a number of benefits for fans of games, movies, and photography. The downside is the fast discharge of the device.

Briefly about the pros:

• Saturation adjustment;
• Smart brightness (instant response to changing lighting);
• Reading mode, so as not to spoil your eyesight;
• Screen sensitivity control.

The display is based on a budget IPS matrix, which boasts rich colors, brightness, and high tilt angles, but definitely not power consumption. Among the trump cards of the models, there is also a powerful pixel ratio - 395 ppi and a wide range of colors (HDR10). The characteristics of the M2 Pro are strong in the middle market, although they are still a budget option.

operating system

Thanks to the latest version of the Android 10.0 operating system, the interface has significantly changed. The loading speed has decreased, while the animation now appears with a sliding effect. Widgets and apps literally fill the screen at the first click.

Immediately after turning on, you can start customization. The specialized application "Themes" contains all sorts of themes, colors, icons and widgets. The desktop is also quickly formed into folders, which are assigned a name and a specific color. The settings have become detailed, where the column "Hot keys" is added.

Among the most notorious innovations:

• Activity control (blocks social networks and games for a while);
• Convenient notification curtain for all applications (updated sound library);
• The ability to transfer Wi-Fi data or account data via a QR code;
• Dark theme that can be customized for a specific time of day;
• Enhanced security (linking all photos / documents to the storage, two-step verification).

The picture will be complemented by the author's MIUI 11 shell, released earlier this year.

Performance and memory

The smartphone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor. It is made using a 7-nanometer process technology and uses 8 cores at once. Its peculiarity is improved loading and further optimization of complexly animated games and dimensional applications.

The cores are divided into 2 clusters. The first has a maximum clock speed of 2.3 GHz (Kryo 465 Gold) and is responsible for 3D display and debugged loading of more than 4 applications. This model is perfect for both lovers of simple puzzles and fans of powerful Pubg 9 or WoT. The second cluster took 6 cores with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz (Kryo 465 Silver).

The processor bandwidth reaches 800 MB / s.

Another original feature of the Snapdragon 720G is its extraordinary performance. At the moment, only 30% of chips have this feature.What is its essence? The ability to build processes by complexity and importance to prevent disruptions.

When it comes to memory, the choice is limited. Depending on the price, users can choose combinations: 64/4 GB, 64/6 GB and 128/6 GB. On the one hand, the brand has provided opportunities for those who can get by with a small amount of memory for a lower price, as well as for fans of games. On the other hand, the internal memory is limited to 5 size applications, and here you have to choose.

Autonomy

Xiaomi did not fail with the battery either. The capacity was 5000 mAh. With a value above average (4000 mAh), the smartphone will last 24 hours without recharging. This is when Wi-Fi or data is on. During gameplay, the battery will steadily decrease by 2% every 15-20 minutes. The total amount of time for games is 7 hours. Standby time - 4 days.

The autonomy of Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro is supplemented with the Fast charging function of 33 Volts. Thus, the model confidently holds a charge, and in emergency situations replenishes energy in a short time (up to 60% in 30 minutes).

Camera

Despite the fact that the M2 Pro is a copy of the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the quality of the cameras has dropped by 24 units. Now the main camera is 48 MP, with an aperture of f / 1.8 and a zoom of 26 mm. The presented background photo shows the color rendering capabilities. Brightness and contrast are preserved even in cloudy weather. The fragment with flowers does not ripple, every leaf is visible.

The second lens is 8 MP and has a wide viewing angle of 119 degrees. Suitable for shooting video in 16: 9 format (modes can also be adjusted). With the filing of OS 10, it becomes possible to create a panorama, slow-mo, adjust the HDR saturation, place geotags, etc.

Also, the main camera can record video in 720/1080 / 4K quality with stabilization. This option completely competes with budget special devices and is suitable for study.

Two additional lenses of 5 and 2 MP are auxiliary to adjust the frame and take macro shots. You can see them in action in the following photo. Here weaving is worked out in detail, while the rest of the objects have not lost their color and clarity.

The front camera received - 16 MP. And also many modes, such as shooting "square", full screen mode, live focus, anti-aliasing effects, tone, eye size.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Large screen;
• Beautiful colors, design;
• Lots of features;
• Convenient setting;
• Smart gaming chipset;
• Capacitive battery;
• Large SIM card slot;
• Regular system updates (OS 10);
• Non-marking materials;
• Case included.

• Fragile screen;
• A massive phone, uncomfortable to hold in your hand.

Outcome

Like the April smartphone Redmi Note 9 Pro, this model has collected the most important functions in 2020. Users get a smart processor, a high-quality camera, a large screen and a beautiful design for $ 170. Xiaomi Poco M2 Pro is suitable for almost all age categories. Surely teenagers and young people will like the purchase. The large display, icons and font will appeal to the older generation. However, for children under 10 years old, such a bulky smartphone is not suitable because of its weight.

Let's refer to a real review of the new product (from a foreign site):

Among the Redmi Note series, I find this model to be the most balanced and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The smartphone is large, but it fits comfortably and securely in the hand. It is easier to use and better quality than other models in this category.