POCO M4 5G Review: App Performance and Camera Quality

This POCO M4 5G review looks at a budget 5G phone with a clear job: bring 5G, a large battery and a smooth 90Hz screen to buyers who do not want to pay mid-range money. The POCO M4 5G Review: App Performance and Camera Quality focuses on the two things shoppers ask about most, which are how apps run from day to day and how good the photos look. Announced on 15 August 2022 and released on 7 October 2022 in its global form, model 22041219PG, the phone pairs a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip with 4GB or 6GB of RAM, a 6.58-inch display and a 5000mAh battery. The POCO M4 5G price and specifications in 2026 still earn it a place on shortlists for used and clearance stock, where a low asking price keeps it in the running next to newer budget rivals. At launch it was good value at its launch price of about 180 EUR, and that value-first character shapes every part of this review.

A typical POCO M4 5G unboxing includes the phone, a charging brick and a USB-C cable, which is all most buyers need to get started. This POCO M4 5G review of app performance and speed works through the chip, the screen, the cameras and the battery in turn, so readers can judge the phone as a daily companion rather than as a list of numbers. The POCO M4 5G specs at a glance are simple: Dimensity 700, up to 6GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, a 13MP main camera and Android 12 with MIUI 13. Readers who want every detail can jump to the POCO M4 5G full specifications and features explained in the table near the end of this article.

App Performance and Everyday Speed

POCO M4 5G performance with Dimensity 700 chipset hardware is the foundation of this phone. The 7nm chip runs an octa-core CPU with two 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 cores for heavier work and six 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores for lighter tasks, plus a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. A POCO M4 5G Antutu score of 336,380 on version 9 and a Geekbench 5.1 score of 1730 put it in the capable budget bracket: quick enough for everyday apps, short of the pace of pricier mid-range phones. POCO M4 5G performance in daily use feels smooth when the phone is asked to do ordinary things, and that is where most owners will spend most of their time.

Dimensity 700 and Daily App Speed

The POCO M4 5G Dimensity 700 chip opens messaging apps, browsers, maps and social feeds without long waits, and scrolling through long timelines stays steady thanks to the 90Hz display. App switching is helped by the RAM on board, and the UFS 2.2 storage loads apps faster than the slower eMMC storage found on some rivals at this price. Heavy apps such as video editors and large games take longer to load, and switching between several demanding apps can force a reload, but for calls, chats, email, streaming and navigation the phone keeps up. Background apps are managed firmly by MIUI, which saves battery but can delay a notification now and then, so owners who rely on instant alerts may want to check battery settings for their most-used apps.

Gaming on the POCO M4 5G

POCO M4 5G gaming is best suited to casual and mid-weight titles. Popular online games run at modest settings, and the large screen makes longer sessions comfortable to watch. The POCO M4 5G gaming performance for casual mobile games is decent: puzzle games, racing games at balanced settings and battle royale titles at low to medium graphics all play without constant stutter. Demanding 3D games at high settings are a step too far, with frame drops and longer load times, so buyers who play competitively should look at a stronger chip.

Casual Games and Frame Rates

In casual play the phone holds a steady frame rate in most light titles, and the 90Hz screen makes menus and simple games feel fluid. GFXBench results of around 12fps in the ES 3.1 onscreen test show the limits of the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU in heavy 3D work, which matches the lived experience of smooth casual play and choppy high-end play. Lowering resolution and effects in the game settings is the simplest way to keep frame rates stable, and the phone handles that trade-off without fuss.

Heat and Sustained Play

Talk of a POCO M4 5G heating issue while playing games for hours usually describes mild warmth around the upper back of the phone rather than a shutdown or a warning message. The plastic body spreads heat slowly, and long sessions in a warm room will make the phone warm to the touch. Taking a short break, removing a thick case and lowering screen brightness all help, and the chip throttles gently instead of cutting out. For most owners this warmth is a minor point, not a reason to avoid the phone.

RAM, Storage and Multitasking

POCO M4 5G RAM comes in 4GB or 6GB, paired with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, and the POCO M4 5G storage options with 64GB and 128GB cover both light users and people who keep a lot of photos and apps. POCO M4 5G multitasking with 6GB RAM and UFS 2.2 storage is the better pick for anyone who jumps between a browser, a chat app and a video app, since the extra RAM keeps more apps alive in the background. The 4GB version still works for lighter use, but it reloads apps more often. A POCO M4 5G microSD card slot for extra storage expansion takes a dedicated microSDXC card, so adding room for photos and offline video does not cost a SIM slot. Readers weighing the older sibling can compare notes in the POCO M3 Pro 5G Review: Daily Use, Software and Battery Life before deciding which budget POCO fits their habits.

Display and Design

The POCO M4 5G display is a 6.58-inch IPS LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels and about 401 pixels per inch. POCO M4 5G display quality with 90Hz refresh rate hardware makes scrolling, swiping and animations look smoother than on a 60Hz panel, which is one of the first things owners notice after switching. Colours look natural rather than punchy, viewing angles are wide, and the 500-nit high brightness mode keeps the screen readable in most daylight.

6.58-Inch 90Hz IPS LCD in Daily Use

POCO M4 5G screen size and resolution for watching videos suit the phone well: the tall 20:9 screen shows video with small black bars, text stays sharp, and the 90Hz refresh rate keeps feeds feeling quick. The panel is an LCD, so blacks are grey rather than the deep black of an AMOLED screen, and contrast is rated around 1630:1. In bright sunlight the screen stays usable at full brightness, though direct sun still washes the image out a little, as it does on most LCD phones at this price. Gorilla Glass on the front adds scratch protection, and the waterdrop notch for the selfie camera is small and easy to ignore after a day or two.

Build, Weight and Colours

POCO M4 5G weight is 200 grams, and the phone measures 164 x 76.1 x 8.9 mm, so it is a large handset rather than a compact one. POCO M4 5G weight and thickness for one hand use daily is a fair trade for the big screen and big battery, though owners with smaller hands will use two hands for typing and for reaching the top of the screen. POCO M4 5G colours are Power Black, Cool Blue and Poco Yellow, with the yellow finish giving the phone the bold look the brand is known for. The POCO M4 5G splash resistant design with plastic back panel keeps rain and splashes from being a worry, while the plastic frame and back keep the phone light for its size. POCO M4 5G durability is helped by the Gorilla Glass front and the solid build, though the plastic back will show scratches over time without a case.

Camera Quality

The POCO M4 5G camera setup is modest on paper: a 13MP main camera with an f/2.2 lens and PDAF, plus a 2MP depth sensor for portrait shots, and a 5MP front camera. POCO M4 5G camera quality in daylight photos is where this setup does its best work, with enough detail for social sharing and casual prints. Expectations should stay in line with the price: this is a camera for everyday moments, not a rival for phones that cost twice as much.

13MP Main Camera in Daylight

POCO M4 5G photo samples from 13MP main camera sensor hardware show clean, well-exposed images in good light, with natural colours and decent sharpness in the centre of the frame. HDR helps with bright skies and shaded subjects, and the camera focuses quickly on still subjects. Detail softens toward the edges of the frame and in crops, and there is no ultrawide lens, so wide scenes need a step back rather than a lens switch. For food, pets, friends and street scenes in daylight, the main camera is reliable and easy to use.

Low Light and Night Mode Photos

POCO M4 5G night mode photos in low light conditions show the limits of a small sensor and a slow f/2.2 lens. POCO M4 5G night shots gain brightness from Night Mode, which stacks several frames, but fine detail is lost and moving subjects blur. A steady hand and a still subject give the best results, and indoor shots under warm light can look soft with visible noise. The LED flash helps at close range, yet it flattens skin tones, so natural light is the better choice whenever it is available.

Selfie Camera and Video Recording

The POCO M4 5G selfie camera is a 5MP unit with an f/2.2 lens, and POCO M4 5G selfie camera quality for video calls is fair: faces look clear in good light, and the HDR mode helps when a bright window sits behind the subject. POCO M4 5G video recording tops out at 1080p at 30 frames per second on both cameras, and the POCO M4 5G video recording quality at 1080p 30fps settings is steady enough for clips, calls and short social videos, though it lacks the stabilisation and detail of pricier phones. Both front and rear cameras record 1080p video at 30 frames per second, which is standard for this price band. A POCO M4 5G camera comparison with other budget phones in 2026 puts this phone in the middle of the pack: better than the cheapest rivals in daylight, behind phones with larger sensors after dark. Buyers who want a step up in camera hardware can see how the bigger sibling fares in the POCO M4 Pro 5G Review: Everyday Speed, Cameras and Value.

Battery Life and Charging

The POCO M4 5G battery is a 5000mAh Li-Po unit, and POCO M4 5G battery life with 5000mAh battery hardware is one of the strongest reasons to buy this phone. GSMArena gave the phone an endurance rating of 121 hours in its older test, which lines up with the lived experience of a phone that rarely needs a midday top-up. For many owners the battery is the feature they notice most after a week of use, since it removes the low-battery worry that smaller phones bring.

5000mAh Battery in Real Daily Use

With mixed use, messaging, browsing, maps and an hour or two of video, the phone usually ends the day with charge to spare, and two days of light use is realistic for careful owners. POCO M4 5G battery drain during long video streaming sessions is steady rather than alarming, with the large screen and the 5G radio doing most of the work when streaming over mobile data. Wi-Fi streaming drains the battery more slowly, and the 90Hz refresh rate costs a little extra power, so switching to 60Hz can stretch a charge further on long days away from a plug.

18W Charging Speed

POCO M4 5G charging tops out at 18W over a wired USB-C connection, and the POCO M4 5G charging speed with 18W fast charging is modest by current standards: a full charge takes well over an hour and a half from empty. There is no wireless charging, which is normal at this price. The slow top-up is the price of the big battery, and owners who charge overnight will rarely notice it. Battery-first buyers may also like the POCO M3 Review: Build Quality, Battery and Daily Use, which covers another POCO phone built around long battery life.

Software, Security and Connectivity

POCO M4 5G Android software ships as Android 12 with MIUI 13, and the POCO M4 5G Android 12 with MIUI 13 software experience is familiar to anyone who has used a Xiaomi or POCO phone: colourful icons, a control centre pulled down from the right, plenty of settings and a set of pre-installed apps. POCO M4 5G MIUI adds themes, a second space for work apps and a game mode, plus the usual Xiaomi apps for gallery, security and file management. The interface is busy rather than plain, and some owners spend their first hour turning off notifications and removing apps they do not need.

Android 12 and MIUI 13 Experience

Day to day, MIUI 13 on this phone is stable and quick enough, with smooth animations and a capable settings app. A POCO M4 5G update can change the feel of the phone, and buyers often search for news of a POCO M4 5G software update to Android 13 and MIUI 14, so it is worth checking the update screen in settings before judging the software on an older unit. Common POCO M4 5G issues reported by owners tend to be small software quirks rather than hardware faults: a delayed notification here, an app that needs a battery exemption there, and the odd advert in a system app that can be switched off in settings. None of these is a deal breaker, but they are worth knowing before buying.

Fingerprint Sensor, 5G Bands and Extras

The POCO M4 5G fingerprint reader sits on the power button on the side of the phone, and the POCO M4 5G fingerprint sensor and security features review is positive: the side-mounted fingerprint reader is fast, accurate and easy to reach with a thumb or index finger. Face unlock is also available through the front camera, though it is less secure than the fingerprint reader. The POCO M4 5G dual SIM and 5G network bands support list covers Nano-SIM plus Nano-SIM with 5G bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77 and 78 in SA and NSA modes, plus Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.1 and GPS, GLONASS and BDS positioning.

NFC Availability by Region

NFC on this phone depends on the market: GSMArena lists NFC as yes, market and region dependent, which means some variants ship with NFC for contactless payments and some do not. Buyers who pay by phone should check the exact variant they are buying, since the model number alone does not settle it. The global model 22041219PG and the India model differ in launch timing too, so the safest check is the specification sheet from the seller for the exact unit on sale.

Audio, IR Blaster and FM Radio

The POCO M4 5G speakers use a single loudspeaker, and the POCO M4 5G headphone jack and speaker sound quality test is good news for wired listeners: the 3.5mm jack is still here, with 24-bit and 192kHz Hi-Res audio support. The single speaker is loud enough for video and calls but lacks the depth of stereo speakers, so headphones are the better choice for music. The POCO M4 5G infrared blaster and FM radio features explained in short: the IR blaster turns the phone into a remote for a TV or air conditioner, and the FM radio works with wired headphones as an aerial.

Pros and Cons

The POCO M4 5G pros and cons after long term daily use come down to a familiar budget trade: strong battery life, 5G and a smooth screen on one side, and a basic camera and slow charging on the other. POCO M4 5G value for money as a budget 5G smartphone is still fair in 2026 for buyers who want 5G and two-day battery life without spending much, and the phone makes most sense as a first 5G phone, a work phone or a reliable second handset.

What We Like

• 5000mAh battery that lasts a full day with ease and often stretches to two days of light use.
• 5G support across a wide set of bands, with dual SIM and a dedicated microSD slot.
• 90Hz Full HD+ display that makes scrolling and everyday use feel smooth.
• Side-mounted fingerprint reader that is fast and easy to reach.
• Headphone jack, IR blaster, FM radio and a fair launch price.

What Could Be Better

• Basic 13MP camera with no ultrawide lens and weak low light results.
• 18W charging that takes a long time to fill the large battery.
• Single loudspeaker and a plastic body that shows wear over time.
• NFC missing on some regional variants, so buyers must check before they pay.
• MIUI 13 ships with extra apps and can delay notifications unless tuned.

A POCO M4 5G comparison with the M4 Pro 5G shows the trade clearly: the Pro adds a better camera and a faster chip for more money, while this phone keeps the price low. POCO M4 5G alternatives include newer budget phones with stronger cameras, and the POCO M5s Review: Build Quality, Battery and Daily Use covers a later budget option from the same brand for buyers who want to compare generations.

Full Specifications

The POCO M4 5G specs in full are listed below, based on the global model 22041219PG. The POCO M4 5G full specifications and features explained here match the GSMArena listing for the global version, announced on 15 August 2022 and released on 7 October 2022, with the India version announced on 29 April 2022 and released on 5 May 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the POCO M4 5G good for gaming?

It is good for casual games at low to medium settings, with smooth play in light titles and a large 90Hz screen. Demanding 3D games at high settings will stutter, so competitive players should pick a phone with a stronger chip.

How long does the POCO M4 5G battery last?

The 5000mAh battery usually lasts a full day of mixed use with charge to spare, and light users can reach two days. Video streaming over 5G drains it faster than Wi-Fi streaming, and switching the screen to 60Hz helps on long days.

Does the POCO M4 5G have NFC?

It depends on the region: some variants include NFC for contactless payments and some do not. Check the specification sheet for the exact unit before buying, since the model number alone does not settle it.

What Android version does the POCO M4 5G run?

It launched with Android 12 and MIUI 13. Owners should check the update screen in settings, since update availability varies by region and later software versions have rolled out in many markets.

Is the POCO M4 5G still worth buying in 2026?

For buyers who want a cheap 5G phone with a big battery and a smooth screen at a low price, it is still a fair buy, mainly as a used or clearance phone. Buyers who care most about camera quality or fast charging will find better value in newer budget phones.

Verdict

That balance is the heart of this POCO M4 5G Review: App Performance and Camera Quality. The phone does the everyday things well: apps open quickly, the 90Hz screen feels smooth, the battery lasts, and 5G is there when the network is. The camera is honest rather than exciting, charging is slow, and NFC depends on the variant, yet none of that changes the core appeal. An older mid-range option is covered in the POCO M2 Pro Review: Everyday Speed, Cameras and Value for readers who want to compare generations before they buy. For the right buyer, someone who wants a cheap 5G phone with long battery life and no fuss, the POCO M4 5G remains an easy phone to recommend.