Poco X4 GT review

Greatest Costs Right this moment: Poco X4 GT

We’ve turn out to be used to Xiaomi’s Poco-branded telephones outdoing the completion for worth and providing a near-flagship expertise for surprisingly low costs.

The X4 GT, nevertheless, doesn’t fairly stay as much as these expectations. However don’t write it off simply but: there’s rather a lot to love and also you would possibly properly be pleased to just accept a few of the compromises for those who worth the issues which might be really nice about this cellphone. And there are fairly a number of of these.

Options & design

• Plastic body and again
• Silver, blue and black fashions
• Headphone jack (with Hello-Res audio assist)

Though the X4 GT is kind of much like final yr’s X3 GT, there are many variations, too. The plastic body has a lot squarer edges, which makes it really feel thicker regardless that it isn’t.

The rear panel is produced from plastic, too, and has a matt end that doesn’t appeal to fingerprints. It appears to be like plain, however when the sunshine catches it on the proper angle, it shines.

You may select between silver, blue and black colors, and that applies to the body and again. I used to be despatched the silver mannequin to assessment, and it’s higher described as gray and even graphite.

The general design sticks with the X3 GT’s method, so there’s a raised digicam module on the prime proper, Poco 5G branding on the backside and the identical too-prominent regulatory data as on the X3 GT.

The facility button doubles as a fingerprint scanner and, like earlier than, didn’t reliably unlock the cellphone for me. Possibly it’s simply my fingers, nevertheless it was annoying nonetheless.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

One shock is the return of a 3.5mm headphone jack on the highest edge, making the X4 GT engaging to those that nonetheless demand a wired connection.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The X4 GT additionally has what Poco calls an X-axis linear motor. That’s an odd alternative and doesn’t do an excellent job of explaining that that is successfully haptic suggestions. Just like the ‘Taptic Engine’ in an iPhone, it supplies managed vibrations for issues like typing, and feels very related.

At 164x74x9mm, it’s fairly an enormous cellphone, however that is par for the course in the intervening time. It weighs 200g which is, once more, nothing out of the extraordinary.

It’s good that there’s a clear case included within the field.

What’s lacking is any water-resistance ranking. The Poco X3 GT was IP53-rated, however there’s nothing in any respect for the X4 GT. This might be a cost-saving measure as getting that ranking is pricey. Likelihood is, given issues just like the rubber gasket across the SIM tray, the X4 GT will survive precisely the identical kind of unintentional splashes as its predecessor.

Display screen & audio system

• 6.6in IPS, 144Hz
• 20.5:9, 2460×1080 decision
• Gorilla Glass 5

Many mid-range telephones now use OLED screens, however Xiaomi has caught with IPS for the X4 GT. Thankfully, it’s rather a lot higher than the X3 GT’s show with a lot better viewing angles and a good increased refresh price at 144Hz.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

So far as IPS screens go, this is among the higher ones. It has a 270Hz contact sampling price, helps HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient and might change between seven totally different refresh charges as acceptable for no matter is being displayed.

I measured a most brightness of 475 nits by manually adjusting the slider, however open air, the display screen is able to 600nits. That’s virtually half what an OLED display screen can output. It’s not fairly sufficient to make it straightforward to look at movies in sunny situations or see the viewfinder when taking pictures or movies, nevertheless it’s fantastic all over the place else.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

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If there’s one disadvantage, it’s that black ranges aren’t wonderful. This implies distinction isn’t implausible so regardless that it’s an “HDR” show, HDR content material nonetheless appears to be like higher on OLED-equipped telephones which, due to the best way they work, have higher native dimming than any IPS display screen.

In truth, there’s a second niggle: the X3 GT had Gorilla Glass Victus, however the X4 GT steps all the way down to Gorilla Glass 5. There’s no factory-applied display screen protector both, so it’s advisable to purchase one to keep away from any injury to the display screen.

There are stereo audio system that are respectable by smartphone requirements. They assist Dolby Atmos and though you received’t select to hearken to music on them over headphones, they’re nice for gaming and watching most movies.

The one challenge is that the right-hand one (the one on the underside edge) is noticeably louder than the left (prime) one, so there’s an annoying right-hand bias.

Specs & Efficiency

• Dimensity 8100 5G chipset
• 8GB LPDDR5+
• 128GB / 256GB storage (UFS 3.1)

If the Poco X3 GT had spectacular efficiency, the X4 GT is on one other degree. The MediaTek Dimensity 8100 chipset, actually, is the spotlight of the X4 GT.

It’s misplaced in a cellphone costing this little: Realme’s GT Neo 3 additionally makes use of it, however prices significantly extra.

With a multicore rating of 3629 in Geekbench 5 (a bit decrease than the Neo 3’s 3882) it’s nonetheless manner sooner than different mid-range telephones.

That’s an understatement: it’s flagship-level quick, matching the Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely and beating some others.

This can be only a artificial benchmark, nevertheless it exhibits simply how a lot worth the Poco X4 GT provides – for those who care about velocity, that’s.

Gaming prowess is fairly good, too. In GFXBench, body charges had been very respectable even when they weren’t fairly as much as flagship requirements.

In real-world use, although, video games akin to Asphalt 9 and Actual Racing 3 ran very easily, although chances are you’ll properly discover that the refresh price doesn’t routinely enhance in each recreation. In Pokemon GO, for instance, I needed to hunt round within the settings to vary the refresh price, and even then the Android Developer choices for exhibiting the refresh price reported it was working at solely 60Hz. Twitter, Instagram and different apps ran at 120Hz, as do the Android menus, however I by no means noticed any app working sooner than 120Hz.

In comparison with the X3 GT, Xiaomi has made the vapour chamber 32% greater for higher cooling, and I by no means observed any points with the X4 GT getting scorching after extended use.

Nevertheless, there had been instances when the X4 GT would turn out to be laggy. Instance embrace wen exiting apps again to the house display screen: app shortcuts and widgets took a few seconds to load. Some apps took longer than anticipated to launch and now and again menus would show a spinning icon earlier than displaying their contents. Hopefully these are MIUI 13 points as there’s clearly no lack of uncooked energy, and there was no correlation between working the cellphone laborious and these glitches occurring. They appeared to occur at random.

When it comes to different {hardware}, there’s an IR blaster, NFC (which helps Google Pay), Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6. And whereas 5G isn’t a part of the mannequin identify, this is a 5G cellphone. The SIM tray will take two nano-SIMs, however be aware that there’s no expandable storage: you’re caught with the 128GB or 256GB you get. It’s price getting the higher-capacity mannequin because it’s not massively dearer.

Battery life & charging

I believed it was enterprise as traditional within the battery and charging division: the Poco X4 GT has the identical battery capability and similar 67W charging because the X3 GT.

Nevertheless, utilizing the 67W charger and USB cable included within the field, charging was a lot slower. The X4 GT managed a one-third cost from empty in quarter-hour, and two thirds (65%) in half an hour. The X3 GT charged to 90% in half-hour.

The remaining third takes virtually one other half-hour for the X4 GT, with a full cost achieved in about 55 minutes.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

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The opposite draw back, however one which’s anticipated at this worth, is the absence of wi-fi charging. Nearly the one cellphone round this worth to incorporate it’s the iPhone SE.

When it comes to battery life, the X4 GT will final two days with mild use, however there’s sufficient juice for sooner or later of laborious use.

Cameras

• 64Mp (16Mp) principal digicam
• 8Mp extremely extensive digicam
• 2Mp macro digicam
• 16Mp selfie digicam

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

On paper, it appears to be like just like the X4 GT has the identical digicam setup as its predecessor, however the principle sensor has been upgraded with a barely bigger one. It nonetheless has the identical 64Mp decision, however as with so many high-megapixel cellphone cameras, it’s actually a 16Mp machine. That’s as a result of it makes use of a way referred to as pixel-binning which takes a median of every 4 pixels.

By default, then, you’ll get 16Mp pictures from the X4 GT and – when taken open air in good mild – they’ll be completely good. There’s loads of element, colors aren’t oversaturated and dynamic vary is respectable. You may pressure it to shoot in 64Mp mode, however there’s not numerous level: sure, there’s a bit extra element, however you lose out on dynamic vary and pictures are noisier.

Though the autofocus does an excellent job of guaranteeing photographs are reliably sharp, this digicam doesn’t deal properly with motion. Even in good mild, shifting topics – children, pets, sports activities – will virtually all the time be blurry.

Speaking of blur, the portrait mode is surprisingly good. Though it may be fooled by messy hair and blur a few of it, the general impression may be very pleasing.

Issues go downhill when mild ranges drop, with a noticeable lack of sharpness. You should use the principle Picture mode to shoot in low mild, however the devoted Evening mode does a greater job. You won’t instantly discover a lot distinction between the 2, however zoom in and also you’ll see pictures taken with Evening mode are a bit sharper and fewer grainy.

Swap to the ultra-wide digicam and also you’ll see related outcomes to so many mid-range telephones. Though pictures look fantastic when considered small (i.e. on the cellphone’s display screen), zooming in reveals an absence of sharpness on the edges. General, dynamic vary isn’t pretty much as good as the principle digicam, nevertheless it’s completely usable if you want a wider area of view.

The 2Mp macro digicam is similar right here as on nearly each different cellphone: it’s a novelty that’s laborious to make use of. There’s no autofocus, so whether or not your photograph in in focus or not, or whether or not the fitting a part of the photograph is in focus is extra all the way down to luck than anything.

Discovering the Macro mode is a problem. It isn’t in the principle modes carousel, neither is it underneath the Extra part. It’s hidden away within the hamburger menu on the prime proper.

The digicam app provides a 2x possibility, however that is merely digital zoom. It’s greatest to keep away from it utterly because the ensuing pictures are severely missing intimately. You’d be higher off utilizing the 1x mode and cropping them in Google Images or your favorite editor.

The 16Mp selfie digicam isn’t unhealthy, although it’d be good if photographs had been a bit of sharper. As soon as once more, dynamic vary isn’t great which leaves selfies wanting a bit of flat. Portrait selfies are fairly good, although, with real looking blurring of the background and fairly good detection of the topic so hair and fingers aren’t by chance blurred.

The Poco X4 GT defaults to 1080p30 for video and provides good (digital) stabilisation. It’s a disgrace that’s not obtainable at 4K30, so it’s a must to commerce element for smoothness.

You may shoot video utilizing the ultra-wide digicam, however you’re restricted to 1080p30. This implies video appears to be like a bit fuzzy and – as with pictures – you find yourself with smaller dynamic vary.

Software program

Opinions about MIUI 13 are blended at Tech Advisor. A few of us fairly prefer it, whereas others actually don’t.

A part of the issue – however maybe primarily for cellphone reviewers always swapping telephones and having to study the place all of the settings are – is that Xiaomi has made so many modifications to inventory Android.

As my colleague Lewis observes in his assessment of the X4 Professional 5G, the Settings app is a bit in every single place and in a really totally different order to Google’s model of Android which it makes use of on the Pixel 6. The notification shade is totally totally different too.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It’s the identical interface all Xiaomi telephones use, and also you do get used to it. Plus MIUI13 has some helpful additions akin to twin apps which lets you have two copies of WhatsApp, Fb, Instagram and different supported apps, permitting you to be logged into totally different accounts concurrently.

There’s additionally a sidebar which you’ll populate together with your alternative of video games and different apps and Second House, which is successfully a second, separate cellphone the place you possibly can set up a distinct set of apps, have a totally separate digicam roll and signal into apps with totally different accounts to the ‘First House’. Switching between the 2 requires authentication, and it’s a great way to have separate private and work telephones without having two separate gadgets.

One annoyance is the built-in safety app. It has a virus scanner powered by Avast which is all properly and good, however will interrupt what you’re doing to scan newly put in apps relatively than dealing with that within the background. And it additionally exhibits adverts whereas these scans happen.

Value & availability

The Poco X4 GT isn’t offered formally within the UK or US. It’s aimed extra at Europe whether or not the value for the 128GB mannequin is €379 – €20 cheaper than the Poco F4. The 256GB model is €429.

Nevertheless, whereas it isn’t offered by big-name retailers, you will see that it on the market within the UK for a bit of underneath £300. If you would like the official UK mannequin, that’s the Poco X4 Professional 5G which (on the time of this assessment) was one of many prime selections in our roundup of the perfect mid-range telephones.

For those who click on Purchase Now on Poco’s web site, you’ll arrive at Aliexpress the place all three colors can be found for $299 / £259 / €303. Or, if you’d like the 256GB mannequin, it’s $329 / £285 / €333.

Verdict

On paper, the Poco X4 GT appears to be like wonderful. It ticks nearly each field for a mid-range cellphone, but is available in on the very backside finish when it comes to worth.

It has a flagship-level processor, 144Hz display screen, massive battery, quick charging, an excellent digicam setup and dual-SIM 5G. You even get extras such because the headphone jack, stereo audio system and a 67W charger.

However the actuality isn’t fairly as spectacular. Sure, the Dimensity 8100 is massively fast and the display screen is an enormous enchancment over the X3 GT’s. Nevertheless, the cameras – general – aren’t the perfect, there’s no (official) water-resistance ranking, the stereo audio system aren’t properly balanced and MIUI13 does lag every so often. Possibly this might be fastened with software program updates, nevertheless it disillusioned me in my time with the cellphone.

It due to this fact relies upon what you need out of your cellphone. It might be an excellent possibility for anybody searching for an inexpensive gaming cellphone, however for those who’d commerce some efficiency for an OLED display screen and higher cameras, there are different choices (together with the aforementioned Poco X4 Professional 5G). Admittedly, most rivals value greater than the X4 GT, so for those who’re on a strict finances and might stay with the unfavourable points, it’s excellent worth certainly.

Specs

• 6.6in LCD show (144Hz, FHD+)
• MediaTek Dimensity 8100
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB or 256GB storage
• Rear cameras:
  • 64Mp f/1.9 principal rear digicam
  • 8Mp f/2.2 ultra-wide digicam
• 20Mp f/2.5 selfie digicam
• Fingerprint sensor in energy button
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 5G
• Bluetooth 5.3
• WiFi 6
• 5080mAh battery
• 67W quick charging
• 163.6 x 74.3 x 8.9 mm
• 200g
• Colors: Black, Silver, Blue