Poco F5 vs Nothing Phone (2): A Deep Dive into Performance, Battery, and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Nothing Phone (2) emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset delivers noticeably smoother performance, and its significantly longer 14:21 active use battery life outweighs the Poco F5’s faster 67W charging. However, the Poco F5 remains a strong contender for budget-conscious gamers.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Poco F5 | Nothing Phone (2) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2023, May 09 | 2023, July 11 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, May | Available. Released 2023, July 17 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in) | 162.1 x 76.4 x 8.6 mm (6.38 x 3.01 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 201.2 g (7.09 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~394 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) | LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1920Hz PWM, HDR10+, 1600 nits (HBM), 1600 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 725 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 3 major Android upgrades, Nothing OS 3.0 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 50 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, live HDR, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min | 45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4, 100% in 55 min 15W wireless, 100% in 130 min 5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4700 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White | White, Dark Gray |
| Models | 23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I | A065 |
| Price | € 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790 | $ 379.99 / £ 370.00 |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 118h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.3 LUFS (Very good) | - |
Xiaomi Poco F5
- Faster 67W wired charging
- More affordable price point
- Strong gaming performance for the price
- Shorter battery life
- Less refined software experience
- Potentially less capable camera system
Nothing Phone (2)
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
- Longer battery life (14:21h active use)
- Wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Slower wired charging (55 minutes)
- Higher price tag
- Glyph Interface may not appeal to all users
Display Comparison
Both phones feature excellent displays, with the Nothing Phone (2) edging out the Poco F5 in peak brightness at 998 nits compared to the Poco’s 963 nits. While the difference isn’t massive, it translates to slightly better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. Neither specification details refresh rate or panel type, but both are expected to be high refresh rate AMOLED panels, common in this price bracket. The Nothing Phone (2)'s Glyph Interface, while a design choice, doesn't directly impact display quality but adds a unique visual element.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific sensor details. However, given the market positioning, we can infer differences. The Nothing Phone (2) is likely to feature a more sophisticated camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The Poco F5 will likely focus on delivering competitive specs at a lower price point. Without detailed sensor information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but the Nothing Phone (2)'s emphasis on overall user experience suggests a more refined camera experience. The absence of details regarding OIS or lens apertures on either device hinders a deeper analysis.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Nothing Phone (2) boasts the Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm), while the Poco F5 utilizes the SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm). The 8+ Gen 1, with its 3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 prime core, offers a performance advantage over the Poco’s 2.91 GHz Cortex-X2. While both CPUs share the same Cortex-A710 and A510 configuration, the higher clock speeds on the 8+ Gen 1 translate to faster app loading and smoother multitasking. The 4nm process node on both chips ensures reasonable thermal efficiency, but the 8+ Gen 1’s superior architecture will likely result in sustained performance under heavy load. The Poco F5’s gaming performance will be strong, but the Nothing Phone (2) will provide a more consistently fluid experience.
Battery Life
Battery life is a key differentiator. The Nothing Phone (2) achieves an impressive 14:21h active use score and an endurance rating of 103h, significantly outperforming the Poco F5’s 11:52h active use and 118h endurance rating. While the Poco F5’s 67W wired charging is faster (46 minutes to 100%) than the Nothing Phone (2)’s 45W (55 minutes), the Nothing Phone (2) compensates with the addition of 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, offering greater versatility. The larger battery capacity of the Nothing Phone (2) is the primary driver of its superior endurance.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco F5 if you prioritize raw gaming performance on a tight budget and value extremely fast charging. Its Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is capable, and the 67W charging gets you back to 100% in just 46 minutes. Buy the Nothing Phone (2) if you value a premium design, a more refined software experience, and longer battery life. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides a smoother overall experience, and the addition of wireless charging adds convenience.