Poco M6 Pro Launched in Kenya – A Game-Changer in Budget Smartphone
After days of teasing the Poco M6 Pro, the wait is finally over, and Xiaomi, which owns Poco, has launched the phone at a very competitive price in kenya.
For a while, Poco disappeared from the Kenyan market. Now, they are back with the Poco C75 and the Poco M6 Pro, but in this blog, we will focus on the M6 Pro, which has a competitive edge over its competitors.
Key features of the Poco M6 Pro
The Poco M6 Pro offers strong specifications for everyday use. Interestingly, it is essentially the same phone as the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G, the main difference being the rear camera. While the Redmi Note 13 Pro features a 200MP camera, the M6 Pro includes a 64MP camera. Everything else is identical between the two devices.
Display
The phone has a 6.67-inch display with a resolution of 1080 by 2400 and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. It’s an AMOLED screen, so the viewing experience should be immersive with contrasty colors.
The display refreshes at 120Hz, and it can dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 120Hz and 60Hz to save power. However, you can also set it manually to either 120Hz or 60Hz.
Its peak brightness is 1300 nits, which is fairly bright and can be used under direct sunlight. For gamers, its touch sampling rate is 2160Hz, enhancing sensitivity as you play.
If you're concerned about using your smartphone at night and experiencing headaches, there's no need to worry. Poco has incorporated a 1920Hz Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) feature, which reduces screen flicker. This helps to minimize eye strain during nighttime phone usage.
One thing I appreciate about Poco is the slim bezels of the phone, which contribute to an impressive screen-to-body ratio of 88.9 percent, providing an immersive viewing experience.
Processor
The Poco M6 Pro is equipped with a customized version of the Mediatek Helio G99 processor, referred to as the G99 Ultra. When searching for the G99 Ultra, you may not find any results, as Xiaomi has added the "Ultra" designation to signify that they have tailored the chipset specifically for the Poco M6 Pro, enhancing its performance.
The G99 Ultra is suitable for everyday tasks, thanks to its efficient 6nm chipset that helps save power. It can handle both lightweight and heavy games effectively, although you may experience lower frame rates with more demanding titles.
On the storage front, it comes with two variants 8GB RAM 256GB and 12GB RAM 512GB, the 8GB RAM 256GB variant should be enough for most people, but if you do heavy multi-tasking and take a lot of pictures and videos you should go for the 12GB RAM 512GB.
If you want to expand the RAM for the 8GB variant, it can be increased to 16GB. For the 12GB RAM variant, it can be expanded to 24GB while keeping apps running.
Battery
The battery of the M6 Pro is the standard 5000mAh and should last you an entire day depending on your usage. Poco claims up to 9+ hours of video chat, 17+ hours of online video streaming, and 8 hours of gaming.
With charging, the phone supports up to 67W fast charging, capable of powering up from 0 to 100% in just 44 minutes. The best part? A charger is included in the box!
Camera
The camera features a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens with a 118-degree field of view, and a 2MP macro lens. Based on the photos I've seen, the 64MP main camera produces high-quality images with excellent shadows and highlights.
It is a highly capable camera, especially since it includes both Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).
At the front, there is a 16MP selfie shooter, you can play around with the filters and film frames to get the most out of the selfie camera.
Unfortunately, both the front and the back camera cannot shoot videos in 4k resolution, videos are cut at 1080p 30/60 fps.
Software
Poco is a sub-brand of Xiaomi, which means that Poco devices utilize Xiaomi’s Hyper OS. This operating system is built from the ground up and is highly optimized.
I can confirm its efficiency, as I'm currently using the Redmi Note 13 Pro. The animations are smooth, and the interface is less cluttered, which is also true for the Poco M6 Pro.
Upon powering it on, you'll notice that it runs MIUI 14, which is based on Android 13. An update to Android 14, layered with Hyper OS 1, will be available soon. Users can expect 3 years of major OS updates and 5 years of security patches.
Design and Build
The Poco M6 Pro has an impressive build quality. Its boxy design resembles that of an iPhone, and it feels lightweight in hand, much like the Redmi Note 13 Pro.
At the top, there is a secondary speaker, a secondary microphone, and an IR blaster for controlling electronic appliances. At the bottom, you find a primary speaker, a microphone, and a Type-C port.
The phone features an IP54 rating, which provides protection against dust and water splashes. Its frame is made of plastic. On the left side, there is a SIM tray that supports dual SIM cards or one SIM card along with an SD card; however, the Phone does not support eSIM.
Pricing and Availability
The Poco M6 Pro is fairly priced compared to its sibling, the Redmi Note 13 Pro, which is priced a bit higher. The M6 Pro with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage costs KES 24,770, and the 12GB 512GB version costs KES 31,590
You can buy the phone from online stores like Jumia or visit authorized physical stores such as Phone Place Kenya.
Why the Poco M6 Pro Stands Out
The Poco M6 Pro is essentially a rebrand of the Note 13 Pro, with the primary difference being the camera megapixels—64MP on the M6 Pro compared to 200MP on the Note 13 Pro. Other than that, the specifications are the same.
If photography isn't a priority for you, the M6 Pro is an excellent choice, additionally, if you are looking for more RAM for multitasking at a lower price, the M6 Pro is the best option.
Who Should Buy the Poco M6 Pro
This phone is ideal for budget-conscious individuals seeking a powerful device that can effortlessly manage their daily activities, thanks to its ample RAM and storage.
The phone excels in several areas, particularly in photography, thanks to the various filters available for capturing stunning shots. It’s also great for vlogging, as it features both Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS).
For gamers, the Helio G99 Ultra processor can handle most games with ease.
Challenges and Limitations
The Poco M6 Pro faces some challenges, particularly regarding its software. It is launching with Android 13, while Android 15 is already available.
This means that Poco has effectively missed out on a significant year of operating system updates.
If the phone had launched with Android 14, it would receive updates up to Android 17. However, since it is launching with Android 13, it will only receive updates up to Android 16.
The other big issue I have with this phone is the M6 pro is the lack of 4K recording, other competitors at this price point such as the Samsung A25 offer 4K recording yet Poco is still stuck at 1080p.
Considering the phone's price along with its features, these two limitations can be overlooked.
Conclusion
In summary, the Poco M6 Pro provides good value for money, especially if you can overlook its limitations. It features a pleasant display, reliable cameras, and fast charging, with the charger included in the box.
The build quality is solid, and it comes with an IP rating for water and dust resistance. Additionally, the Helio G99 Ultra chipset is capable of handling everyday tasks, including gaming.
If you have never used a Xiaomi device and are on a budget and looking for a good smartphone, the Poco M6 Pro is a great option. It can handle most tasks you may need it for, making it a reliable choice.
