The X5 runs MIUI 14 on Android 12. This isn't the latest Android version, but it's better than the last major upgrade that POCO gave its X4 Pro, and it should improve.
Cameras
In the camera department, the POCO X5 packs a triple rear sensor setup. This includes a 108-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HM2 primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens.
The main camera does a pretty good job of producing images in most conditions. Its default 12MP shots -- pixel binned from the 108MP sensor -- deliver saturated colors, decent detail and minimal noise.
However, it occasionally saturates reds and blues too much in certain conditions. It also has a tendency to fringe on subjects in HDR, and lens flare can be visible in bright scenes.
Performance
The POCO X5 Pro comes across as a great budget smartphone that packs in a good amount of features for the price. It has a great display, a smooth performer, fast charging and decent cameras.
It's not without its flaws however. Firstly, there are some issues with the camera and secondly, you'll have to get used to the lack of OS updates.
The main camera is a 108-megapixel Type 1 sensor with f/1.9 aperture. This is the same type of sensor that we've seen in a number of Xiaomi devices and it's certainly not a bad implementation for a budget phone.
Design
Taking the design cues from last year's X4 Pro, the POCO X5 has a slightly softer, rounder feel to it. It also comes with a dual-curved plastic rear panel to give it a comfortable grip.
It's lighter this year, too, at 7.9mm thick and 181g. That's a significant weight reduction over the X4 Pro and it feels very similar to hold.
The camera setup is more or less the same as that of last year's X4 Pro, with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide (14mm equivalent) snapper and a 13-megapixel main camera. Performance in good lighting isn't too bad, but dimmer conditions do muddy textures and colour.
Battery
The battery on the POCO X5 is one of its most impressive features. It has a 5000mAh capacity, meaning you can expect to get two days’ worth of use out of it without having to worry about charging it.
There's a buffed 33W fast charger built into the phone, which means you can charge it from empty to full in less than an hour. It's not quite as fast as the 67W charger on the X5 Pro, but it still does the job well.
It's a great feature that's a good way to save on battery life, and it helps the X5 feel like an excellent value for money mid-range smartphone. There are a few quirks though, and it's probably best to step up to the X5 Pro if you want something that performs better and takes better photos.
Software
The POCO X5 Pro is a solid mid-range phone that's worth looking into if you're in the market for a new smartphone. It's the company's latest offering and it comes with several improvements over last year's X4 Pro.
There are plenty of good features to enjoy with the X5 Pro, including an upgraded camera that can now shoot 4K videos. It also has a lot of smart suggestions, and users can customize the layout of the camera app.
The X5 is part of Xiaomi's line up, which means it runs MIUI 14 (a version of Android 13 with some Poco-related tweaks). It's a little busy and cluttered, but it does have some nice features like notification effects that light up the edges of the display for notifications, floating windows, and more.
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