Xiaomi Poco M5 vs Poco X5: The Ultimate Budget Showdown

The Xiaomi Poco series consistently delivers impressive value for money. The Poco M5 and Poco X5 are two of their latest contenders, offering compelling features at affordable prices. But which one reigns supreme? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco X5 edges out the M5 thanks to its significantly brighter display, faster charging, and the more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset. While the M5 boasts exceptional battery life, the X5's overall package makes it the slightly better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Poco M5 Xiaomi Poco X5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India
Launch
Announced2022, September 052023, February 06
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, September 13Available. Released 2023, February 07
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back-
Dimensions164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.35 in)165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight201 g (7.09 oz)189 g (6.67 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 500 nits (HBM)Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek Helio G99 (6 nm)Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Adreno 619
OSAndroid 12, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOSAndroid 12, MIUI 13 for POCO
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm13 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS
RadioFM radioFM radio, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired33W wired, 100% in 60 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Green, YellowJaguar Black, Wildcat Blue, Supernova Green
Models22071219CG22111317PG, 22111317PI
PriceAbout 100 EURAbout 230 EUR
SAR1.04 W/kg (head)     0.83 W/kg (body)0.84 W/kg (head)     0.68 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     0.83 W/kg (body)0.52 W/kg (head)     0.77 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 121h Endurance rating 106h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1363:1 Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.6 LUFS (Good) -27.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 386311 (v9) GeekBench: 1896 (v5.1) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 400895 (v9) GeekBench: 2088 (v5.1)

Xiaomi Poco M5

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Smooth performance for everyday tasks
  • Good value for money

  • Lower display brightness
  • Slower charging
  • Less powerful chipset compared to X5

Xiaomi Poco X5

  • Brighter display
  • Faster charging (33W)
  • More efficient chipset (Snapdragon 695)
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slightly shorter battery life than M5
  • Potentially higher price

Display Comparison

The Poco X5 takes a clear lead in the display department. While both offer excellent contrast ratios (the X5's 'infinite' is nominal, but still indicative of high quality), the X5's measured 728 nits max brightness is a substantial improvement over the M5's 448 nits. This makes the X5 much easier to view outdoors and in bright environments. Both displays are likely to be LCD panels with FHD+ resolution.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is likely similar between the two, with both offering decent image quality in good lighting conditions. However, the X5 might have slightly better image processing due to the Snapdragon chipset. Both phones likely feature a main sensor around 50MP, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. Low-light performance is likely comparable.

Performance

The Poco X5's Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset generally outperforms the Poco M5's Mediatek Helio G99. The Snapdragon offers better efficiency and a more modern architecture, resulting in smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times. Both phones handle everyday tasks well, but the X5 has a slight edge for more demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Poco M5 shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 121 hours. The Poco X5, while still offering good battery life at 106 hours, falls slightly behind. This difference is noticeable in real-world usage, with the M5 potentially lasting a full day longer on a single charge.

Buying Guide

The Poco M5 is ideal for users prioritizing maximum battery life and a smooth experience for everyday tasks. The Poco X5 is better suited for those who value a brighter display, faster charging, and 5G connectivity, and a slightly more powerful processor.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better 5G support?
The Poco X5 supports 5G connectivity, while the Poco M5 does not.
❓ Is the Poco X5 worth the extra money?
If you value a brighter display, faster charging, and 5G, then the Poco X5 is likely worth the extra investment. If battery life is your absolute top priority, the Poco M5 remains a strong contender.