Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Pocophone F1 specs: It has flagship power, but is that it?
Xiaomi‘s Pocophone F1 is finally official, offering a ton of power in a more affordable package. Today’s flagships push the limit in other ways too, so how does the new device stack up?
The Chinese brand is pushing power as a major selling point for the POCOphone F1, and they aren’t lying. You’re getting Qualcomm’s latest flagship silicon, the Snapdragon 845, along with 6GB RAM and 64GB of expandable storage in the base model. The firm is also selling a 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant, and a top-end 8GB RAM/256GB model. A 4,000mAh battery, which is above average for a flagship, keeps things running.
Pocophone F1 specs
View the full POCOphone F1 specs in the table below:
| Pocophone F1 | |
|---|---|
Display | 6.18-inch IPS LCD 2,246 x 1,080 (Full HD+) 18:9 aspect ratio 403ppi |
SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, 10nm, octa-core, liquid cooled |
GPU | Adreno 630 |
RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 Expandable |
Cameras | Rear cameras Main: 12MP f/1.9, 1.4 micron pixels, Sony IMX363 Secondary: 5MP Front: 20MP f/2.0, 1.8 micron pixels via pixel binning |
Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack aptX/aptX-HD/LDAC |
Battery | 4,000 mAh Quick Charge 3.0 |
IP rating | No |
Sensors | Fingerprint (rear mounted) IR illuminator and IR camera for Face Unlock |
Network | GSM 900/1800 UMTS band 1/8 LTE band 1/3/7/8/20/38/40 |
Connectivity | USB Type-C Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-Band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth 5.0 LE, A-GPS, Glonass, Beidou |
SIM | Dual-SIM, dual 4G standby |
Software | Android 8.1, MIUI 9.6 |
Dimensions and weight | 155.5 x 75.3 x 8.8mm 180g |
Colors | Steel Blue, Graphite Black, Rosso Red, Armored Edition (kevlar back) |
Glance at the POCOphone F1 spec sheet and you’ll realize that a few compromises have been made to meet the price point. For starters, we’ve got a notched screen which tops out at Full HD+ and is of the LCD variety. No 1440p resolution and/or AMOLED display here.
Then there’s the camera department, featuring a 12MP primary shooter and a 5MP secondary snapper that’s used to capture depth information. Don’t expect the Mi 8‘s 12MP telephoto camera or Mi A2-style low-light secondary camera here.
We don’t see any mention of NFC on the spec sheet, which means mobile payments will have to be conducted via alternative methods (e.g. camera-based solutions). At least the device packs a headphone jack (in addition to USB Type-C) for easy listening via wired headsets.
Otherwise, Xiaomi has been using a 20MP front camera on many phones this year (from budget to flagship), and the POCOphone F1 is no different. The notch also plays host to an IR camera and illuminator for facial recognition — although this feature is coming via an update in some markets. It’s a leap over basic recognition via the front camera in theory, but it’s not quite as advanced as 3D face unlock. Unlike the realme 1, however, the POCOphone F1 retains a rear fingerprint scanner.
In the software department, the phone ships with MIUI 9.6 based on Android 8.1, but you can upgrade it to the latest Android 9.0 Pie. In an interesting touch, the phone also ships with the so-called POCO launcher, delivering a look and feel that’s closer to stock Android (complete with an app drawer).
It’s clear that, horsepower aside, the POCOphone F1 specs aren’t quite as impressive compared to other flagship phones. But will you feel it when using the phone? Find out in our review.
What do you think of the POCOphone F1 specs anyway? Would you buy the phone? Let us know in the comments!