Poco M2 Pro review - A better Redmi Note 9 Pro - Android

Get it on Google Play

Poco M2 Pro review - A better Redmi Note 9 Pro - Android

Excellent battery life, good performance and no ads. What's not to like?

Poco established itself on the premise of tremendous value. The OG, the first Pocophone F1, delivered cutting-edge specs, while making the right compromises to hit an incredible price point. Since then, the market has changed quite a bit and Poco has followed the trends. Following the spin-off into an entity of its own, Poco introduced the long-awaited successor to the F1, the Poco X2 Pro. An affordable option, the phone delivered on the Poco ethos through a 120Hz high-refresh-rate panel and a powerful Snapdragon 730G chipset in the mid-range segment.

Now, Poco is poised to hit yet another price point. The Poco M2 Pro is the company’s attempt at differentiation through a big battery, fast charging, and a powerful chipset at a budget price point. Will it be enough to go against stablemates like the Redmi Note 9 Pro? We find out in the Android Authority Poco M2 Pro review.

About this review: I wrote this Poco M2 Pro review after spending a week with the phone as my primary device. Poco India supplied the device, which was running Android 10 with MIUI 11.0.2 on board.
Show More

Design: You’ve seen this before

  • 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm
  • 209g
  • P2i water resistant coating

Poco M2 Pro vs Redmi Note 9 Pro

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority


If you, like me, did a double-take on looking at the Poco M2 Pro, no you’re not seeing things. Look, the irony isn’t lost on me that a Xiaomi sub-brand has essentially ripped off a stablemate design. The phone is nearly identical to the Redmi Note 9 Pro. The phone makes a play on Xiaomi’s Aura Balance design with a slightly edgier take.

Poco M2 Pro split back panel

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority


The biggest changes are on the rear panel, and the Poco M2 Pro opts for an almost Pixel-like design. The glass panel is divided in two with an almost 2:3 split. The lower half has a diagonal-line pattern, while the upper half is a straightforward glossy pane.

The rear panel of the Poco M2 Pro has a design reminiscent of the Pixel series.

Unlike the Pixel series and its surface-etched design, the design here is etched under a Gorilla Glass 5 pane, which is brilliantly glossy and extremely prone to catching scuffs and fingerprints. Keeping the Poco M2 Pro clean is frustrating, which is a bit of a shame. The design is distinctive and I would have liked to show it off. All said and done, it is advisable to use the included TPU case or a high-quality alternative.

Poco M2 Pro fingerprint sensor

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority


Like the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the camera module sits fairly proud off the shell and I found it catching on my jeans pocket while sliding the phone in. The similarities extend to the side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Cool as in-display fingerprint sensors are, I love the tactile feedback afforded by a quality side-mounted fingerprint sensor doubling up as a power key. The Poco M2 Pro’s implementation is as good as they come and the fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone in a blink of an eye.

Poco M2 Pro USB C port

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority


Elsewhere, you will find a standard USB-C port along the bottom edge. To the left of the USB port lies a 3.5mm audio jack. Unfortunately, there is no IP rating here, but the phone offers up a modicum of splash resistance so you should be okay with a stray splash if you get caught in the rain.

Poco M2 Pro profile shot

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority


Overall, the Poco M2 Pro is a play on an existing formula, but I like what the company has done with the rear panel. It adds a bit of differentiation in the segment and looks rather good to boot. I can’t find much to complain about the ergonomics either. A slightly unwieldy volume rocker aside, the phone feels great to hold. My only gripe is with the weight. Clocking in at 209g, the phone is heavy and you can certainly feel the heft when holding up the phone for longer durations.

Display

  • 6.67-inches
  • 1080 x 2400 pixels
  • 20:9 aspect ratio

09/07/2020 09:58 AM