Xiaomi POCO M6 Pro Review: I Tested This Phone

POCO M6 Pro as my primary device—juggling work emails, social media, Netflix sessions, and intensive gaming—I can confidently say this is one of the most well-balanced budget smartphones on the market. This review goes beyond specs, offering you real-world, experience-driven insights into how the POCO M6 Pro performs in daily life.

👉 Click here to check out the Poco M6 Pro at a fair discount

Design & Build Quality

At first glance, the POCO M6 Pro carries the familiar budget look, but up close, the build feels far from cheap. The frame is sturdy, and with Gorilla Glass 5 protection on the front, it handled accidental drops off my desk and the occasional jostle in a packed bus like a champ. It also features IP54 splash resistance, which saved me during an unexpected rain shower.

Weight and handling: At 179g, it feels balanced in hand—not too light to feel hollow, but not heavy enough to fatigue the wrist after long usage sessions.

Display & Multimedia

The 6.67" FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate is easily the most surprising aspect of this phone. Text looks crisp, scrolling is buttery smooth, and colors pop, especially in videos and games. Outdoor visibility is decent, although direct sunlight can slightly dim the vibrancy.

Watching experience: Streaming a full-length film on Netflix or watching YouTube on max resolution was truly immersive for this price segment. The stereo speakers are decently loud, although they lean slightly toward treble at max volume.

Performance & Gaming

Under the hood, the POCO M6 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G99-Ultra chipset built on a 6nm process, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage.

🕹️ Real-World Gaming Test

I tested the following popular games:

Call of Duty Mobile: Smooth on Medium graphics and High frame rate. No frame drops even during Battle Royale.

PUBG Mobile: Smooth + Ultra settings worked fine. A bit of heat buildup after 45 minutes, but it was manageable.

Genshin Impact: Struggled on High settings. I had to drop it to Low/Medium for consistent 30+ FPS.

Asphalt 9: Loaded quickly and ran well with minimal stutter.

Gaming verdict: It won’t replace a gaming flagship, but for casual to moderate gamers, it provides one of the best experiences in its class. The 120Hz display enhances the fluidity, and thermal throttling is minimal.

Battery & Charging

The 5,000mAh battery is an endurance champ. I consistently got:

Around 8 hours of screen-on time with mixed usage

2 full days on lighter use (calls, texts, browsing)

But the real standout is the 67W fast charging. It charges from 0–100% in under 45 minutes. I once plugged it in during breakfast and had over 60% by the time I was out the door.

Charger included in the box—a rare and welcome bonus.

Camera System

The POCO M6 Pro features a 64MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro sensor.

Daylight shots are sharp, colorful, and detail-rich. The OIS makes a noticeable difference, especially in video stabilization and low-light shooting.

Low-light shots are usable with night mode, though there is visible grain if lighting is poor.

Video recording is capped at 1080p at 30fps, which is a limitation for content creators.

The ultra-wide is average, and the macro is mostly a gimmick.

Front camera (16MP) is decent for selfies and video calls, though skin tones can sometimes look a bit too smooth.

Software Experience

The phone ships with MIUI 14 based on Android 13, and Xiaomi has promised future updates—though not quite the multi-year commitment you get from Samsung or Pixel.

Positives: Highly customizable UI, privacy features, and fast animations.

Negatives: Bloatware and occasional ads in system apps. I spent about 20 minutes uninstalling unnecessary apps.

Once cleaned up, the interface felt snappy and responsive.

What’s Missing or Could Be Better?

Even at this price, no phone is perfect. Here’s what I noticed:

No 5G – It’s a 4G-only device, which might be a deal-breaker for futureproofing.

No 4K video – 1080p only, which limits content creation.

MIUI ads – Still annoying and require effort to remove.

Camera struggles at night – Expected, but still a weak point.

🎯 Final Verdict: Is the POCO M6 Pro Worth It?

Absolutely.

If you’re looking for a smartphone under $200 (or under ₦150,000 in Nigeria) with a flagship-grade AMOLED display, reliable gaming, fast charging, and decent photography, the POCO M6 Pro is one of the most feature-rich phones in its category.

✅ Best for:

Students and professionals who want top specs at budget price

Gamers on a budget

Media lovers (Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram)

Anyone tired of slow charging and poor battery life

🚫 Not ideal for:

Heavy night photography users

Those who need 5G for future-proofing

Users who hate bloatware and MIUI ads

👉 Click here to check out the Poco M6 Pro at a fair discount