Poco F5 5G main camera sample (tap to see full size)
Poco F5 5G ultra-wide camera sample (tap to see full size)
Poco F5 5G main camera sample (tap to see full size)
Low-light images from the main camera have good exposure and details. I didn’t notice much of a difference between regular and Night mode shots, which is a good thing. Images taken at 2X magnification during the day show no visible loss in details. The maximum zoom level is 10X and images are quite usable even at this level, provided you’re shooting in daylight.
The ultra-wide camera expectedly doesn’t capture as much details as the main one even under good lighting. Exposure can be a bit of a hit or miss too. In low light, this camera under-exposes the scene unless you use Night mode, which has a visible improvement. Macro photos from the macro camera are usually below average, even in good light.
Poco F5 5G low-light camera samples (tap to see full size)
The selfie camera on the Poco F5 5G is not great, but can capture passable selfies. It tends to struggle with backlit selfies, and the Portrait mode with this camera isn’t very convincing. Low-light selfies have visible grain on facial features and details are a bit fuzzy.
Poco F5 5G front camera samples: Daylight (left) and low light (right)
The Poco F5 5G can capture videos up to 4K 30fps using the main camera, while the ultra-wide is limited to 1080p 30fps. Videos recorded at 4K look decent in the day but walking and shooting does introduce some jitter in the video, which is more pronounced in low light. The video quality from the ultra-wide camera is average as footage is generally under-exposed.
Verdict
The Poco F5 5G is an undeniable powerhouse at this price as it delivers raw performance that comes close to Qualcomm’s flagship 8 Gen series SoCs. This, coupled with the good heat management makes the F5 5G an excellent option for anyone looking for a powerful smartphone for gaming. Other areas where the F5 5G excels are its display, good battery life, and slim design. I just wished it felt a bit more premium like its predecessor did. The selfie and ultra-wide cameras are also fairly average and could have been better.
If you want a more premium looking phone, the Nothing Phone 1 checks all the boxes at this price, and gets you wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy A34 and Motorola Edge 40 are also worth considering if you need full-fledged waterproofing. If you are looking for good camera performance around this price, then the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G makes a good alternative as it features familiar software, and comes with quicker charging and a better set of cameras.
