1/10
Poco M4 Pro 4G is Xiaomi spin-off brand Poco’s latest lower midrange phone in India. As you can probably tell, this is the 4G version of the 5G Poco M4 Pro which was launched very recently in the country. Expectedly, it packs different hardware and carries a slightly lower price. The Poco M4 Pro has a 90Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek Helio G96 chip, 64MP triple cameras, and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging. The Poco M4 Pro 4G price in India starts at Rs 14,999 for a version with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. Essentially, it’s a Redmi Note 11S with a different design and watered-down main camera. It is much cheaper, with the base model priced “whopping” Rs 1,500 lower than the Redmi counterpart. HDFC bank cardholders are eligible for a Rs 1,000 discount on purchase of the phone, bringing the price down further, making the Poco M4 Pro a solid contender for most value for money phone under Rs 15,000. We spent some time with the Poco M4 Pro 4G and here’s a quick first look at the phone-its design, specs, and top features. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
2/10
The Poco M4 Pro 4G has an all-plastic body with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen protection. The phone is IP53 certified for dust and splash resistance. Though it is based on the Redmi Note 11S core design scheme with a flat frame and smooth matte finish, Poco has added enough visual elements-that are hallmark Poco-to set it apart and even make it stand out from competition. The biggest differentiator is the gigantic camera island that occupies a good chunk at the top. It is also glossy, in stark contrast to the rest of the phone. The arrangement not only adds a distinct identity to this phone, but it also helps negate the camera bump which is to say it is one of the few phones around its price that doesn’t wobble on a flat surface. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
3/10
Some might find the design of the Poco M4 Pro more appealing and eye-catching than the Redmi Note 11S. We know, we do. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
4/10
The Poco M4 Pro is also a very compact phone with good ergonomics. It is perfectly balanced and an absolute delight to hold and operate, even with one hand. It is sleek and light which is impressive considering that there is a large 5,000mAh battery inside, in addition to dual speakers, headphone jack, and a handy IR blaster. Poco has done well here. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
5/10
On the front, there is a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate (180Hz touch sampling) and hole punch cut-out. This is notably the first Poco M-series phone to come with an AMOLED panel, and it works as advertised with rich colours and ample brightness (up to 1,000 nits). (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
6/10
Under the hood, you get a MediaTek Helio G96 chip which is paired with up to 8GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. This is expandable. There is also a virtual memory expansion feature in this phone. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
7/10
Software is MIUI 13 based on Android 11. There is some bloatware, some of which sends out spammy notifications, too, but all in all, the experience is a little cleaner than what you get inside a Redmi phone at this price. There is no word on Android 12, at the time of writing, which is disappointing. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
8/10
The Poco M4 Pro 4G has three cameras on the back. There is a 64MP main, 8MP ultra-wide-angle, and another 2MP macro shooter. Video recording, as it is in the Redmi Note 11S, tops out at 1080p@30fps. On the front, it has a 16MP selfie camera. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
9/10
The phone has a 5,000mAh battery under the hood, with 33W fast charging support. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)
10/10
We will have more to say about the Poco M4 Pro 4G’s performance and cameras in our full review, dropping soon, but as far as first impressions go, there’s a lot to like here. Poco may have borrowed a page out of Redmi’s book, but it has done its homework well especially when it comes to pricing. As we said, the Poco M4 Pro 4G is a solid contender for best value for money phone under Rs 15,000. Here are the prices- Rs 14,999: 6GB/64GB, Rs 16,499: 6GB/128GB, and Rs 17,999: 8GB/128GB. Stay tuned for our full review. (Photo credit: Saurabh Singh/Financial Express)