Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 4G with a beefy 8GB of RAM and a whopping 256GB of storage. Is this phone a budget beast or just another contender in the crowded mid-range market? Let's break it down and see if it's the right choice for you. In this article, we'll explore all the nitty-gritty details, from its performance and camera capabilities to its display and battery life, helping you make an informed decision. So, grab your favorite beverage, sit back, and let's get started!

Design and Build Quality

When it comes to design, the Poco M4 Pro 4G doesn't stray too far from the familiar Poco aesthetic. You get that bold, attention-grabbing camera module on the back, which is a signature of the Poco series. The phone feels relatively lightweight and comfortable in hand, thanks to its plastic build. While some might prefer a more premium material like glass or metal, the plastic construction does help in keeping the weight down and makes it more durable against accidental drops. The matte finish on the back also does a decent job of repelling fingerprints, which is always a plus. The phone has a robust build quality, and you won't find any creaks or flexes, giving it a solid feel. The button placements are ergonomic, and the side-mounted fingerprint scanner is quick and responsive. Overall, the design is functional and appealing, making it a solid choice for everyday use.

Display: A Visual Treat

The display is one area where the Poco M4 Pro 4G truly shines. It boasts a vibrant 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The AMOLED panel ensures deep blacks, punchy colors, and excellent contrast, making everything from browsing the web to watching videos a visual treat. The 90Hz refresh rate adds a layer of smoothness to the user experience, making scrolling and animations feel more fluid and responsive. The display also gets sufficiently bright, making it easily visible even under direct sunlight. The viewing angles are excellent, and the color accuracy is commendable. Whether you're gaming, streaming your favorite shows, or just scrolling through social media, the Poco M4 Pro 4G's display delivers an immersive and enjoyable experience. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which offers decent scratch resistance. However, it's always a good idea to slap on a screen protector for added peace of mind.

Performance: Is 8GB/256GB Enough?

Under the hood, the Poco M4 Pro 4G is powered by the MediaTek Helio G96 chipset. Paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, this phone offers a smooth and responsive performance for most everyday tasks. Multitasking is a breeze, thanks to the ample RAM, and you can run multiple apps in the background without experiencing any significant slowdowns. The Helio G96 is a capable mid-range chipset that can handle most games at medium to high settings. However, don't expect to run demanding titles like Genshin Impact at max settings without experiencing some frame drops. The 256GB of internal storage is a huge plus, allowing you to store a ton of photos, videos, and apps without worrying about running out of space. If that's not enough, you can also expand the storage via a microSD card. Overall, the Poco M4 Pro 4G offers a solid performance for its price range, making it a great choice for users who need a reliable and capable smartphone for everyday use and gaming.

Camera: Capturing Moments

The Poco M4 Pro 4G features a triple-camera setup on the back, headlined by a 64MP primary sensor. The other two lenses include an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 2MP macro lens. In daylight, the 64MP primary sensor captures detailed and vibrant photos with good dynamic range. The colors are generally accurate, and the images are sharp and clear. The ultrawide lens is decent for capturing wide-angle shots, but the image quality is noticeably softer compared to the primary sensor. The 2MP macro lens is a bit of a letdown, as the image quality is quite poor. In low light, the camera performance takes a hit, with images appearing noisy and lacking detail. However, the dedicated Night Mode does help in brightening up the images and reducing noise. On the front, the phone sports a 16MP selfie camera that captures decent selfies in good lighting conditions. The portrait mode is also quite good, with accurate edge detection. Overall, the Poco M4 Pro 4G's camera is decent for its price range, but it's not the best in its class. If camera performance is a top priority for you, you might want to consider other options.

Battery Life: Powering Through the Day

The Poco M4 Pro 4G packs a large 5,000mAh battery that can easily last you through a full day of moderate to heavy use. Even with gaming, streaming videos, and browsing the web, you can expect to get around 6-7 hours of screen-on time. The phone also supports 33W fast charging, which can juice up the battery from 0% to 100% in about an hour. This is a huge plus, as you don't have to wait around for hours to get your phone fully charged. The excellent battery life and fast charging capabilities make the Poco M4 Pro 4G a great choice for users who are always on the go and need a phone that can keep up with their busy lifestyle. The phone also comes with various battery-saving modes that can further extend the battery life when needed. Overall, the battery performance of the Poco M4 Pro 4G is excellent.

Software: MIUI 13 Experience

The Poco M4 Pro 4G runs on MIUI 13, based on Android 11. MIUI is a heavily customized version of Android that comes with a lot of features and customization options. While some users appreciate the added features, others find the UI to be cluttered and bloated. The software also comes with a lot of pre-installed apps, which can be annoying for some users. However, you can uninstall most of these apps if you don't need them. MIUI 13 does offer some improvements over previous versions, such as improved performance, better privacy features, and a redesigned UI. The software is generally smooth and responsive, but you might encounter occasional bugs and glitches. Xiaomi has been improving its software update track record, but it's still not the best in the industry. Overall, the software experience on the Poco M4 Pro 4G is a mixed bag. It offers a lot of features and customization options, but it can also be a bit overwhelming for some users.

Pros and Cons

To summarize, let's take a look at the pros and cons of the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 4G:

Pros:

• Vibrant AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
• Solid performance for everyday tasks and gaming
• Ample RAM and internal storage
• Excellent battery life
• Fast charging
• Decent camera in daylight

Cons:

• Plastic build
• Mediocre low-light camera performance
• MIUI can be a bit bloated

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

So, is the Xiaomi Poco M4 Pro 4G 8GB/256GB worth it? If you're looking for a budget-friendly smartphone with a vibrant display, solid performance, excellent battery life, and ample storage, then the Poco M4 Pro 4G is definitely worth considering. However, if camera performance is a top priority for you, or if you prefer a cleaner and less cluttered software experience, you might want to explore other options. Overall, the Poco M4 Pro 4G offers a great value for its price, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious users. It's a great all-rounder that ticks most of the boxes, and it's definitely one of the best smartphones in its price range.

I hope this comprehensive review has helped you make an informed decision. Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you in the next one!