Pocophone F2: REVIEW of leaks and rumors – FAKE or REAL?

Most people know about Xiaomi for their budget and high-quality smartphones. However, the Chinese manufacturer also produces flagship devices. In 2018, Xiaomi released the cheapest smartphone on flagship processor Snapdragon 845. The next year we are waiting for Xiaomi Mi 9. It will be the best smartphone of the Chinese company. But we are waiting for another smartphone – Pocophone F2.

Pocophone F1 was introduced in the late summer of 2018. Yes, the smartphone is powered by flagship processor Snapdragon 845, but it is difficult to call a flagship. After all, it had average cameras and plastic case. Also, the smartphones doesn’t have NFC and AMOLED display.

Only gamers and people who need high performance are pleased Pocophone F1. For the price only $300, it offers excellent performance.

Xiaomi wants to repeat the success, and plans to release the next generation Pocophone F2 in 2019. The smartphone will get new design, as well as flagship hardware.

According to the latest leaks, Xiaomi wants to continue the concept of the most affordable smartphone based on the flagship Qualcomm chipset. So, without any doubts, Pocophone F2 will be powered by Snapdragon 855. What else do we know about new smartphone? We prepared first review, based on leaks, rumors and reports.

Pocophone F1

Let’s recall the main features of Pocophone F1. As we already said, the smartphone has flagship processor Snapdragon 845. The cameras are from mid-range devices. They are good, but not the best, as we are waiting for flagship.

The screen is also from mid-range category. Pocophone F1 has very standard design with plastic body. So, only fans of high performance and flagship hardware bought Pocophone F1.

What about Pocophone F2? Will it have the same advantages and disadvantages as Pocophone F1? Yes and no!

Pocophone F2: Design

Pocophone F1 had a budget plastic case, but Xiaomi designers followed the main trend of 2018 – notch above the display. In 2019, there will be a trend of waterdrop notch, hole-punch display or even full bezel-less displays.

Samsung and Honor have already released smartphones with holes in displays. Soon the other manufacturers will announce their phones with the same design – OnePlus, Huawei, Moto and others.

Xiaomi decided to follow the main trend in 2019, and Pocophone F2 will have the hole-punch display. There are already renders of smartphone, so we can see the design of upcoming device. We should say that the leak is not confirmed, so it should not be taken seriously.

Pocophone F2 should be completely bezel-less. As you can see on renders, the bezels around the display are almost completely missing. However, this is obviously FAKE, since Pocophone F1 has thicker bezels than the flagship Xiaomi Mi 8. Xiaomi will not make the cheaper smartphone Pocophone F2 on Snapdragon 855 better than Xiaomi Mi 9, because then Pocophone F2 will be sold better than the main flagship of the Chinese manufacturer. It is simply not profitable for Xiaomi!

So, we think that upcoming budget flagship will have thicker bezels around the screen than Mi 9.

Also, the back cover of Pocophone F2 is interesting. We cannot understand from what it is made. Maybe glass, and maybe plastic.

We still believe that next generation smartphone will get full metal body.

The fingerprint reader will be on the back panel. We don’t believe in built-in display fingerprint scanner, because it is quite expensive technology.

Pocophone F2: Display

Most likely the smartphone will have the display with diagonal from 6 to 6.3-inches with Full HD+ resolution. Of course, there will be no AMOLED, but IPS screen is still OK.

Pocophone F2: Performance

The processor will be Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. In addition to high performance, the smartphone will support 5G networks. Machine learning and neural computing unit will allow Pocophone F2 to compete with other flagships on Snapdragon 855 chipset.

Since the smartphone will be the best solution for budget gaming, we expect 6GB and 8GB RAM versions. As for the built-in memory, the smartphone will have from 64GB to 128GB. Also, there is information about 256 GB version.

Pocophone F2: Camera

As for the main camera, there is only one leak – Pocophone F2 will have 4 camera lens on the back. We don’t believe in this. After all, this is the most affordable smartphone on Snapdragon 855, but not flagship. Four cameras for Pocophone F2 is FAKE.

Most likely, the smartphone will get dual camera, because the same Xiaomi Mi 9 will have triple camera. As we already said, Pocophone F2 cannot be better than Mi 9.

Pocophone F2: Battery

Pocophone F1 has 4000mAh battery with fast charging support. Most likely, Pocophone F2 will have the same battery, or even SMALLER! Yes, it can get 3800mAh battery, because of more energy-efficient process technology of Snapdragon 855 processor (7 nm vs 10 nm). In general, the battery life will remain the same.

Pocophone F2: Price

The most important question – will Pocophone F2 keep the title of budget flagship?

There is talk that Pocophone F1 was produced to draw attention to Xiaomi new sub-brand – Pocophone. The next generation smartphone can be more expensive, just like other flagships. However, we don’t believe in this, and most likely the price of Pocophone F2 will be $300-$350.

The release date of the next Pocophone is too early to predict. We should expect new smartphone at the end of spring – the beginning of the summer 2019.