Poco's F-series has always been about flagship-class speed at a lower price, and the Poco F5 continued that tradition when it launched in India in May 2023. It was the first phone with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, a chip derived from the 8+ Gen 1 flagship, and it started at Rs 29,999 for 8 GB and 256 GB.
In everyday use and gaming the 7+ Gen 2 performs close to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, with good efficiency and thermals. The 6.67-inch flat AMOLED runs at 120 Hz with 12-bit colour and Dolby Vision. Weighing about 181 g, it is unusually light for a 5,000 mAh phone, and it keeps the headphone jack and IR blaster. The 64 MP main camera has OIS and produces decent photos, but camera quality is clearly secondary to speed.
At launch it went up against the OnePlus Nord 3, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro, the Realme GT Neo 3 and the Samsung Galaxy A54. The Nord 3 had a better main camera and the Galaxy A54 longer updates, but the F5 delivered more performance per rupee than any of them.
Key specifications
| Launch price (India) | Rs 29,999 (base variant) |
|---|---|
| India launch | May 2023 |
| Segment | Upper mid-range |
| Display | 6.67-inch, AMOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 |
| RAM | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Expandable storage | No |
| Rear cameras | 64 MP main + 8 MP ultrawide + 2 MP macro |
| Front camera | 16 MP |
| Battery | 5000 mAh |
| Charging | 67W wired |
| Software at launch | Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| 5G | Yes |
| Water/dust rating | IP53 |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Weight | 181 g |
| Colours | Carbon Black, Snowstorm White, Electric Blue |
What we like
- Near-flagship Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 performance
- Light 181 g design
- Headphone jack and IR blaster
- Good 120 Hz AMOLED
What could be better
- Average camera system
- Plastic frame feels less premium
- Only IP53
Who should buy it
Performance-focused buyers who want flagship-class gaming speed for around Rs 30,000.
Specifications and price are as at the India launch (May 2023). Prices change after launch – check current prices before buying.