POCO X2 is official: A 120Hz quad camera phone for under $250

Xiaomi has launched the POCO X2. Correction, POCO has launched the Redmi K30. No wait, the POCO X2 has launched as POCO’s first phone after the Pocophone F1, complete with the exact same specs and design as the Redmi K30. There it is.

Yes, the new POCO X2 is a carbon copy of the Xiaomi phone that launched last month. However, POCO wants you to know that it’s now an independent brand, ready to compete with Xiaomi and the others.

Given that it borrows everything from the Redmi K30, the POCO X2 is in direct competition with the realme X2. Can POCO earn back the limelight it had back in 2018 with its new phone? We’ll answer that bit in our review of the POCO X2. Meanwhile, here’s everything you need to know about the phone.

POCO X2 design: The standard for 2020

The POCO X2 comes in Atlantis Blue, Phoenix Red, and Matrix Purple colorways. It’s got thin bezels surrounding the display, with the exception of a slightly thicker chin.

The phone has the same coin slot-shaped quad camera setup at the back as the Redmi K30. It even has the Redmi K30’s familiar dual punch-hole cameras on the display. At first glance, the punch holes look like one pill-shaped housing, but POCO masks the space between the two holes with software trickery.

You get a USB-C port on the phone for wired fast charging. The speaker grille and the 3.5mm headphone jack are placed on either sides of the port.

The volume controls rest on the right edge of the phone. There’s no in-display fingerprint scanner we’ve come to expect from recent phones. Instead, the POCO X2 integrates the fingerprint sensor with the power button situated next to the volume keys. Otherwise, you’ll find an IR blaster at the top of the phone.

POCO has also delivered a p2i coating on the device for splash resistance. So while it’s not likely to survive a dunking, it should fare just fine in the rain or if you accidentally spill water on it. All in all, it seems like standard fare for a 2020 smartphone.

POCO X2 specs: This isn’t a true POCO F1 sequel

As mentioned before, the POCO X2 and Redmi K30 have identical specs.

It gets a 6.67-inch FHD+ (1,080 x 2,400 resolution) LCD display. The screen has a 20:9 aspect ratio and a refresh rate of 120Hz. POCO calls it the RealityFlow display.

With a 120Hz refresh rate, you can expect smooth scrolling and better animations during fast-paced games. You also have an option to switch between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rates in order to save battery life when required. POCO has also shared a slide showing games that support 120Hz, seen below:

For its processing powers, the POCO X2 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core SoC. It has three RAM and storage variants: 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage, 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage, and 8GB of RAM + 256GB of storage.

Coming to the camera, the phone features a quad rear camera setup with a 64MP Sony IMX686 main sensor. The POCO X2 is only the second phone after the Redmi K30 that’s confirmed to get the Sony sensor. The other three primary sensors on the POCO X2 include: an 8MP wide-angle 120-degree sensor, a 2MP macro sensor (2-10cm), and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, you get a 20MP shooter with a 2MP depth sensor.

Related: The full list of POCO X2 specs

As for camera modes, you’ve got 4K/30fps video recording, 960fps super slow motion (likely software enhanced), AI beauty and portrait modes, and a Vlog mode. The latter mode sees the phone automatically conduct post-processing on videos, with seven styles to choose from.

The battery capacity of the POCO X2 is set at 4,500mAh, and there’s 27W fast charging onboard.

In terms of software, the device comes with MIUI 11 designed for POCO and Android 10 out of the box.

Oddly enough, POCO says you don’t need these features as a smartphone user: air triggers, OLED screens, always-on displays, curved screens, QHD+ resolution, dual vibration motors, IP68 water resistance, wireless charging, dual-tone flash, or air vents. This might be true for many, but it might also serve to show just how much is missing from the POCO X2.

POCO X2: Price and availability

The POCO X2 is priced at Rs 15,999 (~$225) for the base 6GB of RAM + 64GB of storage variant. The 6GB of RAM + 128GB of storage version comes in at Rs 16,999 (~$239). The top-end 8GB of RAM + 256GB of storage version is priced at Rs 19,999 (~$281).

The phone will be available starting February 11 at midday on Flipkart.com.

The launch of the POCO X2 outside of the Indian market has not yet been announced. It’s possible that the phone never makes it out of the country since Xiaomi might want to sell its Redmi K30 in other markets.

What are your thoughts on the POCO X2? Do you think the smartphone is everything POCO needs to make its comeback successful? Drop us a line in the comments section below.