Poco M5s: The Latest Budget-Friendly Smartphone from Xiaomi’s Sub-brand

The Poco M5s is the latest addition to Xiaomi’s sub-brand’s lineup of budget-friendly smartphones. As a successor to the popular Poco M3, the M5s promises improved performance, better cameras, and a larger battery in a more compact design. But does it live up to its predecessor’s success? Let’s dive into our comprehensive review to find out.

Design and Display

The Poco M5s boasts a stunning 6.43-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. The screen is quite vibrant, offering excellent color accuracy and good brightness levels for indoor use. However, it may struggle in extremely bright environments.

The device’s design is largely similar to the Poco M3, featuring a plastic back with a textured finish that provides a comfortable grip. The phone is available in three colors: Power Black, Cool Blue, and Poco Yellow.

Performance

Under the hood, the Poco M5s is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 processor, which offers a significant boost in performance compared to its predecessor. Paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD card), this budget-friendly device handles everyday tasks with ease.

In our testing, the Poco M5s performed well in benchmarking tests, showcasing impressive results for a phone in this price range. However, more demanding applications like gaming or video editing may still require some patience due to the phone’s limitations.

Camera

The Poco M5s features a triple-camera setup on its rear, consisting of a 50-megapixel primary sensor (f/1.8 aperture), an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens (f/2.2 aperture), and a 2-megapixel macro lens (f/2.4 aperture). The phone also boasts a 13-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.45 aperture.

While the cameras are not spectacular, they deliver decent results in good lighting conditions. However, low-light photography may struggle due to the absence of optical image stabilization and larger sensors.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Poco M5s is its massive 5000mAh battery, which provides an impressive battery life that lasts up to two days on a single charge. The phone also supports fast charging (18W), allowing you to quickly top up your battery when needed.

Software and Security

The Poco M5s runs MIUI 13 based on Android 11 out of the box, offering a clean and intuitive interface with plenty of features. However, users may notice some bloatware and advertisements in the form of MIUI apps.

For added security, the phone features a fingerprint sensor embedded within its power button, as well as facial recognition via the front-facing camera.

Conclusion

The Poco M5s is an excellent budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive performance, a vibrant display, and a massive battery. While it may not be perfect in terms of camera quality or software optimization, this device delivers a lot of value for its price.

If you’re looking for a reliable phone for everyday use without breaking the bank, the Poco M5s is definitely worth considering. Its competitive pricing starts at just $149 (base model), making it an attractive option for those seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with impressive specs.

Technical Specifications:

  • Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
  • RAM: Up to 6GB
  • Storage: Up to 128GB (expandable via microSD card)
  • Display: 6.43-inch AMOLED, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2408 pixels)
  • Battery Life: Up to two days on a single charge (5000mAh battery with fast charging support)
  • Camera: Triple-camera setup (50MP primary sensor + 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens + 2MP macro lens), 13MP front-facing camera
  • Software: MIUI 13 based on Android 11