Poco X6 5G in the test: A cheap Redmi Note 13 Pro clone?

Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 13 series on the German market in mid-January. Part of this is the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, which comes with a 200 megapixel camera, among other things, at a price of around 400 euros. If you like the model but the price is too high, it might be worth taking a look at the X6 from Xiaomi subsidiary Poco. Because both cell phones are very similar visually and in terms of features. With a starting price of 300 euros, the Poco X6 is significantly cheaper.

Below you will find out what you have to give up for the lower price and how the cell phone performs in everyday life. First, let’s take a look at the color and memory variants available.

Price and availability

The Poco X6 is available in three memory versions. You can choose between a variant with 256 gigabytes (GB) of device memory and 8 gigabytes of main memory (RAM) and a variant with 512 GB of device memory and 12 GB of RAM. The 256 gigabyte model is also available with 12 GB of RAM. By the way, the memory cannot be expanded later.

All three memory variants are available in black, blue and white. The recommended retail prices for the individual variants are as follows:

• 256 GB + 8 GB RAM: 299.90 euros
• 256 GB + 12 GB RAM: 329.90 euros
• 512 GB + 12 GB RAM: 369.90 euros

In comparison, with the Redmi Note 13 Pro you only have the choice between a 256 GB version with 8 GB of RAM (399.90 euros) and a 512 GB model with 12 GB of RAM (449.90 euros). Xiaomi also uses different colors here and places more emphasis on the design overall.

Design and workmanship

The color of the camera island of the Redmi Note 13 Pro adapts to the respective housing color. In the case of the Poco X6, however, it is black in all three color variants. The thin dividing lines between the individual camera modules that are familiar from the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G are also missing. But for the lower price you can certainly do without such decorations. Apart from that, both devices are visually practically identical. The case of the Poco X6 also measures 161.15 x 74.24 x 7.98 millimeters. At 181 grams, the cell phone is slightly lighter than the Redmi model.

Thanks to the thin casing, the Poco X6 still sits comfortably in the hand despite its size. But it’s not a small cell phone, you need both cell phones to operate it and it’s clearly noticeable in your pocket. There is a power switch and volume rocker on the right side of the housing. Both are well placed and easy to reach with your thumb and forefinger.

Poco X6 in pictures

This is what the Poco X6 looks like.

The keys do not have a fingerprint sensor; this is now integrated into the screen and is located at the bottom edge. In our opinion, it is placed a little too low here and is not in the place where our fingers naturally touch the screen when picking up the cell phone. So you’ll have to get used to it here.

The blue color variant we tested had a smooth plastic back, which was unfortunately also very susceptible to fingerprints. The Poco X6 is not available in a version with a non-slip synthetic leather back; this is reserved for the Pro model. Not only the back of the model is made of plastic, but also the frame.

However, the display protection used is of high quality. The strong Gorilla Glass Victus is used here and not Gorilla Glass 5, as is usual with other manufacturers in this price range. It’s a shame, however: The Poco X6 is not waterproof, but only has splash water protection according to IP54.

display

The display itself measures 6.67 inches diagonally. There is a hole-shaped recess in the middle of the top edge into which the front camera is embedded. The side edges are not curved, but flat. Like the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, it is an AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,712 × 1,220 pixels. The presentation is correspondingly sharp. We have no complaints about this. The panel can display images at up to 120 Hertz. However, the refresh rate is set dynamically ex works and adapts accordingly to the content. This saves the battery.

processor

Like the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G, the Poco X6 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. This delivers solid performance, but is anything but a computing monster. In relevant benchmarks, the Poco X6 is at the same level as Samsung’s 2023 mid-range phones Galaxy A54 and A34. You can see the individual benchmark results in the table. The higher the score, the better the result.

camera

The biggest downgrade compared to the Redmi Note 13 Pro 5G is the camera. Xiaomi uses a completely different module here. The Poco X6 does not offer a 200 megapixel camera. Instead, a 64-megapixel sensor acts as the main camera. It is supported by an 8 megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a macro camera with a resolution of 2 megapixels. The main camera is optically stabilized.

Xiaomi Poco X6 and X6 Pro: camera samples

These pictures were taken with the Poco X6 (Pro).

This is the same module that Poco also uses in the Poco X6 Pro. The image quality is correspondingly similar. In good lighting conditions you can take usable snapshots; the less light there is, the weaker the results will be. In our opinion, Samsung’s Galaxy A models deliver better images here.

Battery life

On paper, the battery capacity is generous. Xiaomi has slightly increased the usual 5,000 milliampere hours (mAh) for this model. The battery now has a capacity of 5,100 mAh. However, this is not really noticeable in the test. With a runtime of 10 hours and 26 minutes, the Poco X6 performs rather averagely.

One battery charge should get you through the day, but if you use it sparingly you might even be able to get through a day and a half. However, the Xiaomi cell phone is definitely not a long-term runner like the Xperia 10 V from Sony. However, the energy storage can be quickly refilled. A complete charging cycle takes around 50 minutes with the included 67-watt power adapter.

software

The planned update to the new Xiaomi HyperOS user interface could possibly have a positive effect on battery life. Xiaomi promises that HyperOS should work significantly more efficiently than MIUI. However, it will be some time before you can see this for yourself.

While the sister model Poco X6 Pro ships with Android 14 and HyperOS. The X6 runs Android 13 and MIUI 14 out of the box. Updates are therefore only available on Android 14, 15 and Android 16. Security patches until 2028.

This is something else we noticed…

Alternatives

You can now also get Samsung’s Galaxy A34 with 256 gigabytes of memory for around 300 euros. The cell phone offers a better camera in comparison. The sister model Poco X6 Pro, on the other hand, offers more computing power and a more stylish design.

Poco X6

Editorial rating 6.5 Reader Ratings

16 reviews

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Transparency note: The test device was loaned to Netzwelt by Poco for the test and was then returned.

Poco X6: The best alternatives

Don’t agree? Are you looking for suitable alternatives? Below you will find the best Poco X6 alternatives. You can find an even more extensive list in our smartphone overview.

Poco X6: data sheet

Here you can find the technical data for Poco X6. You can easily compare size, weight and other properties with other products.

processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 (SM7435-AB)
GPU	Qualcomm Adreno 710
R.A.M.	8, 12GB
Battery capacity	5100mAh
Fast charging	✘ No
Interchangeable	✘ No
Wireless charging	✘ No
Reverse charging	✘ No
Device memory	256, 512GB
Main camera (back)	64MP
Main camera resolution	9280 x 6920 pixels
Video recording	3840×2160 pixels
focal length	25mm
Second image sensor	8MP
Third image sensor	2MP
Autofocus	✔ Yes
Digital zoom	✔ Yes
Flash light	Dual LED
Height	161.2mm
Width	74.3mm
depth	8mm
Weight	181g
Display resolution	1220×2712 pixels
Display diagonal	6.67 inches
Display pixel density	446ppi
Display type	OLED
SIM/memory card format, number of slots	Nano-SIM (4FF – Fourth Form Factor card, since 2012, 12.30 x 8.80 x 0.67 mm)
Dual SIM	✔ Yes
Bluetooth	5.2
WiFi	802.11a (IEEE 802.11a-1999), 802.11b (IEEE 802.11b-1999), 802.11g (IEEE 802.11g-2003), 802.11n (IEEE 802.11n-2009), 802.11n 5GHz, 802.11ac (IEEE 802.11ac ), Dual band, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Display
LTE	LTE-FDD 700 (B28), LTE-FDD 850 (B5), LTE-FDD 850 (B18), LTE-FDD 850 (B19), LTE-FDD 850 (B26), LTE-FDD 900 (B8), LTE FDD 1700 (B4), LTE-FDD 1700 (B66), LTE-FDD 1800 (B3), LTE-FDD 1900 (B2), LTE-FDD 2100 (B1), LTE-FDD 2600 (B7), 1900 (B39) , 2000 (B34), 2300
5G	✔ Yes
GPRS	✔ Yes
HSDPA	✘ No
HSUPA	✘ No
EDGE	✔ Yes
GSM	850 (B5), 900 (B8), 1800 (B3), 1900 (B2) MHz
IrDA	✔ Yes
USB	USB Type-C
Headphone jack	✘ No
Fingerprint scanner	✔ Yes
NFC	✔ Yes
GPS	✔ Yes
Glonass	✔ Yes
BeiDou	✔ Yes
compass	✔ Yes
radio	✔ Yes
Accelerometer	✔ Yes
Proximity sensor	✘ No
Ambient light sensor	✘ No

View all technical data❯