A few weeks ago, the POCO 5 was lacking in several areas. These included the speed of charging and the camera. The POCO M5s is a more expensive version that fills these gaps and offers a remarkable overall performance.
The POCO M5s is a significantly more expensive version of its less expensive sibling. This is mainly due to the difference in design. This is basically a rebranded Redmi Note 10S that was launched in Europe and Asia early last year. It doesn’t come with the faux leather of the Redmi Note 10S. POCO M5Instead, they chose a matte polycarbonate back with metallic finish and a plastic frame due to their budget positioning. The camera design shows Xiaomi’s influence, despite POCO declaring that it is independent from its parent company.
Since then, POCO has produced a number of budget phones. Poco F1The POCO M5s was launched in 2018. It is a close product to the original device. It offers all the high-end specifications you need at a very affordable price. Will its build quality and aesthetics be enough to propel POCO to the top in the budget segment? We’ll find out through this review.
POCO M5s – Price and availability
The POCO M5s comes in three colors: white, grey, and blue. There are three memory options available for the phone. The 4GB/64GB configuration is priced at €209, the 4GB/128GB at €229, and the 6GB/128GB at €249.
The UK has limited color options and memory configurations. The POCO M5s is only available in grey, with the 4GB/128GB costing £189. Meanwhile, the 4GB/128GB configuration retails for £209. The device is not yet available in India. However, it is being rumored that it will launch there in November.
What’s great about POCO M5s?
Xiaomi’s constant design innovations are worth mentioning. Although the POCOM5s is not as stylish as other Xiaomi-centric phones it still retains the same core principles that make the POCOM lineup attractive to budget-conscious customers. The phone’s gradient back design is revived, making it trendy again.
The POCO M5s is made of plastic and does not have glass back. This phone is undoubtedly one of my favorite budget phones. It’s stunning in matte, especially in blue. The dual-tone finish adds an elegant touch to the aesthetics.
POCO is also credited for including features in M5s that many modern smartphones lack, such as microSD card slots and a 3.5mm headset jack.
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The POCO MC5 also has a disadvantage in the audio department. Its phone comes out on top with dual stereo speakers, which improve the listening experience. Contrary to the POCO M5, which only has one speaker, it may disappoint those who watch their favorite Netflix series with headphones.
POCO M5s has an IP53 rating to protect against splashes, which is uncommon for a handset this low-priced. It is still better than nothing.
POCO did an outstanding job tuning the M5s’ display and design to feel premium, despite its low price.
The M5s has an AMOLED panel, which is a great option for budget phones. The display is smaller than that of the M5, at 6.43 inches. It makes up for the lack of screen size with vivid colors, excellent contrast and accurate saturation.
Because it has 700 nits of brightness, the screen can be seen clearly even in direct sunlight. POCO claims that the display brightness can reach up to 1100 nits. The screen’s only problem is its lack of HDR support. However, you shouldn’t expect too much from a phone this low-cost.
Despite a MediaTek Helio G95 processor, the POCO M5s is still able to perform in daily use. I had very few issues with navigation, other than some minor stutters. Launching a game is a different story. I’ll share my experience with that later.
As many of the others, best cheap Android phonesThe POCO M5s has a 5,000mAh battery. This seems to be the minimum budget option. The battery life of the phone is impressive. It can last for the entire day, with enough juice to last you through the night. My experience was that I could get eight hours of screen time with moderate usage such as phone calls, social networking, and web browsing.
Your mileage may vary. When you stream Netflix or play heavy games, your battery can last as long as five hours.
Its fast charging speeds are another feature of the POCO M5s. The phone was charged from 0 to 100% in just one hour and fifteen minutes. Additionally, a 30-minute charge will provide about 60% of the battery’s potential, which should suffice for a full day of usage.
| Category | POCO M5s |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 12 (MIUI 13) |
| Display | 6.43 inches, FHD+, AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G95 (12 nm) |
| RAM | 6GB (or 4GB for some markets). |
| Storage | 128GB (64GB for some markets). |
| Rear Camera 1 | 64MP wide angle, f/1.8 |
| Rear Camera 2 | 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 118 degrees |
| Rear Camera 3 | 2MP macro sensor, f/2.4 |
| Rear Camera 4 | 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4 |
| Front Camera | 13MP wide angle, f/2.4 |
| Battery & Charging | 5000mAh, 33W |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. 4G NFC, Bluetooth 5. |
| Security | Fingerprint (side-mounted), facial recognition, PIN |
| Colors | Gray, Blue, and White |
| Dimensions | 160.5 x 74.5x 8.3mm |
| Weight | 178.8g |
The rest of the POCOM5s are a significant upgrade over previous models, but POCO has kept to its standard camera array. The setup includes a 64MP main camera, an 8MP wide shooter, and a two-megapixel macro sensor.
The image quality of the phone is great in bright daylight. Images have natural looking photos with the right amount and contrast. There are enough details even in dark areas. You can also see the phone’s decent HDR performance by the way it balances shadows with highlights.
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The addition of an ultrawide camera to the POCO M5s is another thing that impressed me about it. This is something I miss from the M5. It takes decent images in low light situations, but its dynamic range is limited.
The macro photos of the POCO 5s are amazing. You can get close to what you are shooting from a reasonable distance with the 2MP depth sensor. POCO clearly tries to make these photos look good by doing a lot more post-processing. The result is some very quirky photos.
POCO M5s camera samples
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The 13MP front camera takes decent photos with good details and minimal filtering. The phone is capable to capture 4K videos at 30fps. This is rare for a low-end phone.
POCO M5s: What’s wrong?
Although the POCO M5s outperforms the M5 in nearly every aspect, its lack of high refresh rates is one of its weaknesses. Other POCO budget models like the Poco X3 have started to offer 120Hz refresh rates. For example, the POCO M5 has a screen refresh rate at 90Hz. These phones have IPS LCDs instead of the high-quality AMOLEDs found in the M5s. A high-resolution AMOLED panel for the budget segment is possible but not yet.
Although the Helio G95 chipset costs the same as the Helio G99, it has its own downsides. They are basically the same chipsets except for the Helio G99’s faster clock speed. You can expect slightly lower performance when using the M5s, particularly in games.
The POCOM5s can’t deliver pure performance with the graphics turned up. PUBG Mobile runs just fine with graphics turned up. However, the phone heats up quite a bit. It crashes every time I open the game. This is why I would recommend keeping it to light games.
The POCO 5G Support, poor low-light camera quality and buggy software all take their toll on the M5s.
Like most Xiaomi phones, POCO’s new budget model is subject to in-UI advertisements. This is what makes the software experience a notch less.
The M5s’ low-light performance is poor, with noise levels increasing a little. They can however be fixed by some post-processing. The low dynamic range of indoor shots makes it difficult to see details in dark areas.
A drawback is the inability to support 5G, even though the POCO M4 PRO came with a model that supports 5G. However, if your needs are not the latest in wireless connectivity, the POCOM5s might be a better choice.
POCO M5s – Competition
There are many great options for budget-minded POCO M5s. The Moto G Power (2022).The closest thing is the M5s, which boasts a 6.5 inch display at a refresh speed of 90Hz and a resolution of only 720×1600. The M5s is $120 cheaper than this, but it sacrifices 4K video recording and fast charging speeds.
The OnePlus Nord N20 5GAnother great option if you are in search of a budget 5G phone is the Nokia N8. The phone costs $300 and features an AMOLED screen with a low refresh rate. However, it has a smaller 4,500mAh battery and 33W fast charge speed.
Samsung Galaxy A23 5G, a great option for Samsung fans, is a good choice. It offers a complete experience, without having to break the bank. It is priced at the same as the Nord N20 and can refresh at 120Hz. It is powered by the Snapdragon 695 SoC and 8GB RAM.
POCO M5s – Should you buy it
It is a good idea to buy it if you are…
- A vivid display with great contrast is what you love.
- A long-lasting battery that can be charged quickly is what you want.
- You want a phone that looks premium without breaking the bank.
- If you are looking for an ultra-wide option in a camera, it is possible to do so on a tight budget.
It is not a good idea to buy it if…
- You are looking for a smooth 90Hz refresh rate on your screen.
- A stellar performance is required in low-light conditions.
- You will need 5G connectivity if you have a limited budget.
The POCO M5s smartphone is an excellent value for money, which shows that Xiaomi’s sub-brand wants to raise the bar in the budget category. This phone is well-rounded and offers decent performance for everyday use.
This phone is designed for those who place high quality display and processing power above all else. It is unlike other phones and shows POCO’s willingness not to compromise on design quality or polish.
Great value for money
With its attractive design and solid build quality, the Poco M5s has to be one of your best entry-level smartphones. This phone is designed for people who place the highest value on display quality and camera.
