Poco M2: When Poco introduced the Poco M2, its objective was to offer more with less in the segment of budget smartphones.
So is the Poco M2 worth its price? With plenty of features including full HD+ 18:9 display, quad cameras, 6GB RAM and a massive battery pack of 5000mAh, the Poco M2 is meant for those who want good all-round performance without ripping off their wallets.
Where many phones in this price segment help themselves to a compromise, the Poco M2 tries to get its value for essentials right without compromising the very good things that one experiences on a daily basis.
So, here’s a closer look at what using this phone is like in practice.
Design and Build:
Usefully Usual The D41 is designed for functionality and practicality.
The Poco M2 features a simple yet functional design. This is polycarbonate on the back with a dual-tone finish, so it looks OK and doesn’t pick up all the smudges, but isn’t as nice as the glass-coated rear on the Pixel 4.
It also feels solidly built in the hand and weighs around 198 grams — not bad for a phone with a large battery.
The ergonomic button is located conveniently behind the phone, and the rear fingerprint sensor is fast and relatively easy to reach.
It isn’t terribly eye-catching, but it is well built – and the textured finish adds a bit of extra grip.
Display: full HD+ on the Cheap
One of the highlights of the Poco M2 is its 6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen. For this price, a lot of rivals only give you a HD+ screen, so the sharper Full HD+ panel here is a genuine plus.
Colors are true, angles are wide, and it’s bright enough for indoor and moderate outdoor use. It is protected with scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
Whether you’re binge watching shows, reading or scrolling through social media, the display is a huge strength of the M2.
Performance: Designed for Everyday Use
The Poco M2 is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, along with 6GB RAM and with the 64GB/ 128GB internal storage, with an additional storage of up to 512GB using a microSD card.
This configuration plays well with daily tasks such as browsing, video playback, multitasking and light gaming.
Apps are snappy, and multitasking is fluid. Their performance leaves no room for complaint when you want to play games such as Free Fire and Subway Surfers, and even resource-hungry games like Call of Duty Mobile can be played at low-medium setting.
For its value, the M2 is reliable too and 6GB RAM is definitely a plus over other competing brands that haven’t dumped the 4GB me-too like the Gionee M6.
Camera: Well-Rounded But Not Flawless
TRENDING IN Tech NEWS THIS WEEK Poco M2 quad camera setup on the back:
13MP main sensor
8MP ultra-wide
5MP macro
2MP depth sensor
The main camera takes sharp shots with good dynamic range in daylight. The ultra-wide lens is great for landscapes and the macro lens is fun for extreme close-ups, though the shots are a mixed bag.
Portrait mode performs passably with a slightly accurate background blur. The front camera is an 8MP unit that does the job well when you have good lighting, but can falter in low light tears.
Taken as a whole, this camera system easily offers tremendous versatility at the price, but it’s just not truly standout in challenging lighting.
Battery Life: Gets Through the Day With No Bother
The Poco M2 is fueled by a 5000mAh battery, and it’s one of the talking points of the everyday phone.
It even lasts more than a day (of casual video streaming, gaming and social media) with moderate usage.
The phone charges at 18W, and it takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge.
It’s not super quick, but it’s respectable for the price.
Software: Lean MIUI with a Dash of Bloat
The Poco M2 operates on MIUI 12 based on Android 10, with some features under the Poco ecosystem.
The UI is smooth and includes features such has dark mode, split-screen and game turbo, but comes with pre-installed apps and occasional ads. However, most of these can be uninstalled or disabled.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Full HD+ screen, highly unusual in this price range
Decent battery capacity of 5000mAh with good life
6GB RAM for faster multitasking
Nice for daily use
Versatile quad-camera setup
MicroSD card slot for expandable storage
Cons:
Cameras struggle in low light
Does not support fast charging over 18W
Slightly bulky and heavy
Ads and bloatware in MIUI
No night mode or high refresh rate screen
Poco M2 Final Verdict
It might not be the most flashy phone on the market, but the Poco M2 nails the basics.
It is value for money, given its vivid screen, all-day battery life, usability and dependable performance.
If you’re looking for a phone on a budget, need a phone that just does the job without making you compromise on some of the finer points, the Poco M2 is a savvy choice that remains as relevant today.