The POCO F5 is the first in India to incorporate the new Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 processor, which, despite its numbering, packs a surprisingly potent punch.
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Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Specs
Allow me to demonstrate. The subject is the recently released Poco F5 in India, fueled by the latest seven plus Gen 2 processor. This four-nanometer TSMC chipset resembles the Agent 2 and features a Cortex X2 Prime Quarter clocked at 2.9 gigahertz, similar to the 8 Gen 1.
Get full specs on this link: POCO F5
Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Benchmarks
Upon closer inspection, the 7 Plus Gen 2 is essentially the 8 Gen 1 with a few minor downgrades. Both processors employ TSMC’s 4-nanometer process, which is reputed to be more thermally efficient than Samsung’s 4-nanometer process, which was utilized in the 8 Gen 1. Although the 8 Gen 1 boasts slightly higher clock speeds and a marginally better GPU, it only holds an advantage in terms of display support and ISP.
Apart from that, there isn’t much disparity between the two. On the other hand, the 7 Plus Gen 2 is a robust processor with excellent benchmarks, which you must witness.
| Processor(CPU) | Geekbench 6 Scores (Single Core) | Geekbench 6 Scores (Multi Core) |
| Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 | 1647 | 4263 |
| Snapdragon 778G+ | 955 | 2715 |
| Snapdragon 888 | 1034 | 3052 |
| Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | 1566 | 3750 |
Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 Thermal
In addition to its impressive performance, the 7 Plus Gen 2 chipset’s most significant advantage is the absence of the thermal concerns that plagued many Agent 1 phone.
There is no excessive throttling on the Poco F5, and I was particularly impressed that the phone remained cool even after 30 minutes of playing Genshin Impact. This could be attributed to the phone’s vapor chamber cooling system, but I believe the credit goes to the processor itself, which is the true hero.
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Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 Performance
Furthermore, the Poco F5 delivers remarkably smooth day-to-day performance, making it feel like a premium device. It’s snappy and fast, and while Genshin Impact doesn’t run as smoothly as it does on flagship phones, it’s still quite good.
Additionally, even though this is a newer chip, games like PUBG New State support higher FPS gameplay and offer a smooth, relatively lag-free experience.
POCO F5 Display
The design and display of this phone are impressive, with the display boasting excellent specifications such as a 120-hertz AMOLED screen with a thousand-nit speed and Dolby Vision. What’s particularly fascinating is that this is a 12-bit display.
The Xiaomi 12 flagships were the first phones to feature 12-bit panels, so having a 12-bit display on a non-flagship phone is quite remarkable. To put it in perspective, 8-bit offers 16 million colors, 10-bit offers 1 billion colors, and 12-bit offers a staggering 68.7 billion colors.
Note that 12-bit color is only available in Dolby Vision encoded videos, and the good news is that this display supports Dolby Vision and is even compatible with apps like Netflix.
While I didn’t notice a significant difference with the Auto HDR feature, which adjusts the HDR effect based on lighting conditions, it’s still an excellent addition. Overall, this display is top-notch.
Design
When it comes to the design of the phone, there are both positives and negatives to consider. On the positive side, the symmetrical bezels on the front make for a beautiful appearance. Additionally, the aluminum frame with the flat design, as well as the phone’s sleek 7.9-millimeter thickness and lightweight 181-gram build, make for an enjoyable in-hand feel.
The phone is even rated IP53 and features two speakers, including one in the frame, which is a plus. Furthermore, the headphone jack makes a comeback in this price range and supports high-res audio. However, there are also some downsides.
The plastic back, while unique in its design, is not everyone’s cup of tea, and the pattern on it can be confusing to some. Also, the side-mounted fingerprint scanner, while fast and efficient, may not be as desirable as an in-display fingerprint scanner in this price range. Finally, this phone does not have a micro USB slot.
Camera Are Old
When it comes to the camera, it’s similar to the Poco F4 and the phone’s photos are decent. While this is primarily a performance-focused device, the camera can capture sharp and well-detailed daytime photos, with some inconsistencies in colors. Night photos are also good, though they may have a slightly warm tone.
However, ultra-wide photos are average and have boosted colors compared to the main lens, with limited dynamic range. The phone supports 4K 30 FPS video recording, but I noticed some focusing issues and a lack of OIS stability.
Overall, the camera is decent, but compared to the Nothing Phone 1, it falls short. Nothing Phone 1’s shots have better colors and dynamic range, as seen in the greens captured.
Battery And Charging
With a bigger 5000 mAh battery, it’s surprising that the charger still remains the same at 67 watts. Nevertheless, the battery life is impressive, as we managed to get a screen-on time of six and a half hours on heavy usage.
The 67-watt charger takes the phone from 5 to 100 percent in just 47 minutes, which is considerably fast.
Connectivity And Updates
When it comes to connectivity, the device supports all the 5G bands required in India. On the software front, it runs MIUI 14 based on Android 13, so it has the latest software.
There is some bloatware, but I only noticed ads in Glance. As for updates, Xiaomi has promised two major updates and three years of security patches.
Its Price?
Firstly, hats off to Qualcomm for delivering a high-performing mid-range chipset after a prolonged duration. The Poco F5 sets itself apart with the impressive 7 Gen 2 chipset, which makes it feel like the Poco F2 we always wished for. While the camera may not be the best in the 30k price range, the remaining specifications are on par with its competitors.
Currently, we are eagerly waiting for the price to be announced. As per sources, it ranges from Rs 29,999 to Rs 34,999. In my opinion, Rs 29,999 is the ideal price point as it would make the 7 plus Gen 2 unbeatable.
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