With its all-new Poco M5s and M5s, Xiaomi offers particularly well-balanced low-cost smartphones with performance and features that can appeal to many users, including gamers.
As we know, Xiaomi has a very rich catalog. Especially in the smartphone department. The Chinese manufacturer releases new models at a steady pace throughout the year, to the point that it is sometimes difficult to navigate. Especially since to create a range effect, the brand also plays with two “sub-brands” – “ranges” or “labels”, if you prefer -, with, in addition to models stamped Xiaomi quite simply, its Redmi and Poco families, sometimes presented as brands in their own right. And, today, while looks are revised on the iPhone 14, Samsung’s new folding models, the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4, or even the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, all high-end, Xiaomi is launching two low-cost models: the Poco M5 and the Poco M5s. Very affordable smartphones – around 200 euros – intended for users “hungry for entertainment” – especially gamers – who are distinguished by their very balanced technical characteristics. A priori, good deals, often with Poco.
Poco M5: performance at a low price
The Poco M5 is aimed at users with the smallest budget – obviously some concessions will have to be made. The smartphone takes the usual design of the brand, with a variation in three colors – black, green and yellow – and a notch in the shape of “V”. It has a 6.58-inch Full HD+ screen (2,408 x 1,080 pixels) with a refresh rate of 90 Hz, and a brightness of 500 nits. It measures 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm and displays a weight of 179 grams. Note that it does not support 5G, only 4G – which is enough for many people today.
On the technical side, the M5 embeds Mediatek Helio G99 processor (engraved in 6 nm technology) with eight CPU cores: two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2 GHz. However, it benefits from Game Turbo 5.0 technology which optimizes the processor and the GPU in order to provide more power in the game phases. It has a random access memory (RAM) of 4 GB and a storage space 64 or 128 GB – it is possible to add a microSD card. Finally, it has a 3.5mm jack. At the photo level, the M5 has a 50-megapixel main camera, supported by a 2-megapixel macro sensor and a 2-megapixel depth sensor as well. The front camera for selfies is 5 megapixels. A standard composition which is unfortunately devoid of an ultra wide-angle. Finally, like many current Chinese smartphones – especially from Xiaomi – it incorporates a comfortable 5,000 mAh battery – with an 18 W charge – which suggests very good autonomy – several days on average.
The M5 has been available since September 12 in two versions. The first with 64 GB of storage is at the unbeatable price of 190 euros – with an offer of 170 euros until September 17 – and that with 128 GB is at 210 euros – with a discount of 20 euros until September 17 which goes to 190 euros.
Poco M5s: an improved and balanced version
The Poco M5s is an upgraded version of the M5. It displays an elegant design somewhat reminiscent of that of Xiaomi’s Redmi, with a variation in three colors – gray, white and blue. It has a 6.43-inch Full HD+ (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) Amoled screen, which promises excellent readability with a maximum brightness of 1,100 nits, even if its refresh rate is only 60. Hz. It also benefits from Gorilla Glass 3 protection, has an IP53 certification and incorporates two speakers to broadcast stereo sound. The improvements are also felt in terms of power, with a MediaTek Helio G95 chip clocked up to 2.05 GHz. No difference in RAM – with 6 or 6 GB – or storage – 64 or 128 GB, with microSD expansion possible. Classic, but sufficient today.
The photo is also of a higher level, with a model of four sensors. The main module has a nice 64 megapixel sensor, and benefits from an ultra wide-angle – absent on the M5 – 8 megapixel, a 2 megapixel macro module and a 2 megapixel depth sensor . As for the front camera, it is 13 megapixels. To power the whole, a 5000 mAh battery takes place in the smartphone. It benefits from a fast charge at 33 W which allows to recover more than 60% of capacity in 30 minutes. The battery is still 5,000 mAh, this time with 33 W fast charging. According to the manufacturer, the M5s has a battery life of 12 hours. “immersive streaming entertainment”and a day and a half of uninterrupted voice calls.
The M5s has been available since September 12 in two versions. The first with 64 GB of storage is priced at 230 euros – with an offer of 199.00 euros until September 17 – and the one with 128 GB is at 250 euros – with a discount of 20 euros until September 17 which passes it to 220 euros.