Xiaomi’s sub-brand POCO has released a new budget gaming smartphone, the POCO X4 GT, as an upgrade to its predecessor, the POCO X3 GT. The X series is known for its impressive specs, performance, and affordable prices. This review will explore the unboxing experience, the design and display impressions, and the performance and battery life of the POCO X4 GT.
Unboxing the POCO X4 GT: A New Look
POCO X4 GT comes in a reverse black and yellow box. Inside the box, the unboxing experience remains the same as before, with a clear TPU case, SIM tool, paperwork, the smartphone, a 67W fast charging brick, and a hefty USB-C charging cable. The outer retail box has new consistent branding, a refreshing change from last year’s mish-mash.
Specification table for the POCO X4 GT:
| POCO X4 GT Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.6 inches, IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400 |
| Refresh rate | 144Hz |
| Touch sampling rate | 270Hz |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8100 |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB |
| Rear camera | 64MP main, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro |
| Front camera | 16MP |
| Battery | 5080 mAh |
| Charging | 67W fast charging |
| Operating system | Android 11 with MIUI 12.5 |
| Fingerprint scanner | Side-mounted |
| Audio | Dual stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (nano-SIM), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC |
| Colors | Stargaze Black, Wave Blue |
POCO X4 GT Design and Display Impressions: An Elegant Look
The POCO X4 GT has fewer design changes than last year’s model. The new flat rails and the non-glossy back surface are welcome changes, along with the new camera module layout that looks clean and elegant.
The bottom rail has a dual SIM tray slot, microphone, USB-C port, and speaker grille, while the power and volume buttons are on the right-hand fence. The top rail has an IR blaster, a secondary microphone, a leading speaker grille, and a headphone jack. The fingerprint scanner is integrated into the power button and is fast and accurate.
While the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 instead of Victus and does not have a formal IP rating, it has a 144Hz refresh rate and HDR10 and Dolby Vision support. The touch sampling rate is 270Hz, which helps improve the response time for fast-paced games. The display size is 6.6 inches, making it perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.
Performance on the POCO X4 GT: A Decent Bump Up
The POCO X4 GT is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor, an overclocked version of the Dimensity 1100 used in last year’s POCO X3 GT. The newer processor is made on the 5nm manufacturing process, leading to an almost 20% improvement in Geekbench scores. However, the scores are lower than the Realme GT Neo 3 Naruto Edition smartphone, which has the same processor.
From an everyday use perspective, the POCO X4 GT can handle anything at medium to high settings, making it perfect for gaming. The review unit has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, and there is another option for 256GB storage with the same 8GB RAM.
Battery Life: Zero Anxiety
The POCO X4 GT has a 5080 mAh battery, and it comes with a 67W charging brick. A full charge from zero takes less than an hour, and 30 minutes will get you to 75%, which should be sufficient for a day of moderate use. Users can expect 5+ hours of Screen-on-Time, which can vary depending on individual use cases. Two days of reasonable use is possible for light users, but adaptive charging overnight is recommended to avoid getting stranded.
Xiaomi Poco X4 GT 5G 
Pros:
- Impressive specs for a budget gaming smartphone
- Elegant design with a non-glossy back surface and clean camera module layout
- The high refresh rate of 144Hz with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support
- Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8100 processor with 8GB of RAM
- Exceptional battery life with a 5080mAh battery and 67W fast charging
- Affordable price compared to other smartphones in the same category
Cons:
- No formal IP rating for water and dust resistance
- The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 5 instead of Victus
- Camera performance could be better in low-light conditions
- No wireless charging option
- Limited availability in certain regions
In conclusion
The POCO X4 GT is an impressive budget gaming smartphone that is a worthy upgrade to its predecessor. The design changes are elegant, and the display is quite good despite being an LCD panel. The performance is a decent bump from the previous model, and the battery life is exceptional, making it an excellent option for heavy smartphone users.