Introduction
The affordable Poco range from Xiaomi scarcely requires an introduction. Due to their fantastic value proposition, many models in the family have been enjoying tremendous success. The Poco M4 5G, the fourth generation of the Poco M series, is available for evaluation right now. Poco's current naming convention is a bit confusing, therefore some clarification is required.
In the current Poco M4 lineup, the Poco M4 5G seems to be positioned as the least expensive option. Due to its 6.58-inch 90Hz LCD panel, which is a similar size to that of the Poco M4 Pro 5G, it is probably more akin to that device than the Poco M4 Pro. The Poco M4 5G, however, is inferior than the M4 Pro 5G in virtually other respects.
One more thing to be clear about, and it's really important: the phone we're reviewing today is the global Poco M4 5G. It sports a lower camera arrangement than the earlier Indian version, with a 13MP main camera instead of 50MP and a 5MP selfie camera in place of an 8MP one.
Summary of the Xiaomi Poco M4 5G specifications:
Body: 164.0x76.1x8.9mm, 200g; Gorilla Glass 3 on glass front; plastic on frame and rear; splash-resistant.
6.58-inch IPS LCD, 90Hz, 1080x2400-pixel display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 400ppi.
MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 (7 nm) chip with an octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G57 MC2 graphics processor.
Memory: UFS 2.2; 64GB with 4GB of RAM, 128GB with 6GB of RAM (dedicated slot).
OS/Software: MIUI 13 with Android 12.
Wide (main): 13 MP, PDAF; depth: 2 MP, f/2.4; rear camera.
5 MP, f/2.2, wide-angle, and 1.0 m on the front camera.
Front and rear cameras both record video at a frame rate of 1080p/30.
5000mAh battery; 18W fast charging.
Miscellaneous: Side-mounted fingerprint reader; NFC; infrared port; 3.5mm jack.
Instead of the Dimensity 810 found inside the Poco M4 Pro 5G, MediaTek's Dimensity 700 powers both M4 5G models. It only supports 18W charging instead of 33W, has a single speaker instead of a stereo configuration, lower-resolution main and selfie cameras, and is only rated IP52 rather than IP53. Also left out is the ultrawide camera. The M4 5G is undeniably noticeably inferior.
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Naturally, the price differential between the two should reflect these downgrades. Okay, sort of. A 64GB, 4GB Poco M4 5G starts at roughly INR 13,000 on the Indian market as of this writing, and a Poco M4 Pro 5G costs about INR 13,500. That isn't much of a price difference, and on Amazon UK, the prices are even closer. The prices for the more reduced European version are also not significantly different. This immediately puts the Poco M4 5G in a precarious position. Without further ado, let's see if the Poco M4 5G is a good smartphone worth your attention at first. Prices can change, and there are sometimes promotions.
Unboxing
Let's start with the box and retail bundle as normal. The Poco M4 5G comes packaged in a two-piece, sturdy, bright yellow cardboard box. Ideal for keeping the phone safe while shipment and pretty eye-catching.
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As is customary for Poco, the accessory package is quite comprehensive. A 22.5W Xiaomi charger covers all the essentials. 5V@3A, 9V@2.23A, 12V@1.67A, and 10V@2.25A are the maximum output ratings for it. It is a little bit overspecked for the Poco M4 5G's 18W charging cap. You also receive a USB Type-A to Type-C cable with it. Just a short white cable—nothing spectacular. As is customary with Poco phones, a substantial transparent TPU cover and a thin screen protector are included in the box. Basically, everything you require to immediately begin utilising it with confidence.
