Xiaomi’s Poco F1 Is The Cheapest Android Phone With Snapdragon 845 Processor

Xiaomi has officially announced a new affordable smartphone that’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor. Xiaomi is selling the new phone under its sub-brand Poco and the device is called the Poco F1.

The Poco F1 was actually first revealed in Europe a few weeks ago under the name Pocophone F1. However, the Poco F1 has now been officially announced in India, where Poco operates. The sub-brand is running under the supervision of Jai Mani, a former Google employee and Mi India’s lead product manager, according to Phone Arena.

The Poco F1 comes with a 6.18-inch full HD+ LCD display with an aspect ratio of 18.7:9. The phone features an iPhone X-style notch on top of its display and it houses a 20-megapixel camera. Although the handset is obviously going for a “bezel-less” look, it still has a bottom chin. Overall, the exterior design of the device makes it look like a very expensive phone. The handset comes with a polycarbonate (plastic) unibody construction, which is not as “premium” as an all-glass chassis. On the back, the Poco F1 comes with dual cameras: one with a 12-megapixel sensor and another with a 5-megapixel sensor.

Inside, The Poco F1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, the same processor that’s powering most of 2018 Android flagship smartphones like the Galaxy Note 9 and the Galaxy S9. The Poco F1 also has 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB storage options. It also has a large 4,000mAh battery, which supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology.

The Poco F1 specs are rather impressive, considering the fact that it comes with a starting price of just Rs. 20,999, which roughly converts to around US$300. This easily makes the Poco F1 the cheapest and most affordable Android phone in the market that’s powered by Qualcomm’s current flagship mobile processor.

With the handset’s set of features and very affordable price tag, it’s clear what Xiaomi’s intentions are with the Poco brand: to deliver a cheap Android smartphone that’s capable of flagship-level performance. Android Police has also suggested that the Poco F1 might even be “a true flagship killer,” a title that was once held by OnePlus.

The Poco F1’s other features include a USB Type-C port, an FM radio, Bluetooth 5.0 and a set of stereo speakers. The dual cameras on its back are capable of recording videos at 4K resolution at 30fps. The Poco F1 will be available in India first, with sales starting on Aug. 29. Pricing and availability in other markets will be announced on Aug. 27 at events in Jakarta, Paris and Hong Kong. Unfortunately, Xiaomi currently has no plans on officially bringing the Poco F1 to the United States.