POCO has just completed six years in India. The company took the entire smartphone industry by storm when it debuted the POCO F1 in 2018, introducing flagship-grade specifications at Rs 20,000. Since then, POCO has established itself as a flagship killer brand with its POCO-X Series and has also forayed into the budget segment with the ‘C’ and ‘M’ Series devices. Let’s have a look at POCO’s journey in India so far.
1/8
The POCO F1 was the first smartphone from the company, which became an instant hit. Being the most affordable device with the Snapdragon 845 chipset, the phone also featured infrared face unlock — a concept which was rapidly gainly popularity as Apple had just launched the iPhone X with Face ID. The POCO F1 also had excellent cameras whose quality was comparable with phones that were priced twice as much. Paired with a 4000mAh battery, the POCO F1 was a complete package that gave a tough run to every smartphone brand for almost a year.
2/8
POCO raised the bar so high with its first device which kept the entire smartphone community waiting for their next phone. However, the company went through a major leadership change when Jai Mani left POCO in 2019. We did not hear from the brand for almost two years, during which the company kept selling the POCO F1.
3/8
While everyone was anticipating the POCO F2, the company made a surprise move by launching the POCO X2 in February 2020. While the POCO community welcomed the new smartphone, some users were disappointed as the POCO X2 was a midrange phone with the Snapdragon 730G, rather than a successor to the flagship killer POCO F1. Compared to the competition, the POCO X2 still offered some great specifications for its price tag of Rs 15,999.
4/8
When the world was locked down in the pandemic, the demand for smartphones grew exponentially. The company quickly launched the POCO X3 bringing minor upgrades over the X2. Although the new phone came with a slightly faster Snapdragon 732G processor and a larger battery, it still did not fill the void between the POCO F1 and the POCO X2.
5/8
To cater for the high demands of the Rs 15,000 midrange segment, POCO also launched the POCO M2 Pro, POCO M3, and the POCO C3 within a span of five months. These devices followed the same aggressive pricing strategy of the company and provided good specifications for the price. These phones mainly focused on performance, with adequate attention to cameras. Considering the situation of the market, the C and M series were perfectly timed.
6/8
After keeping enthusiasts waiting for almost three years, the company finally launched the POCO X3 Pro with the flagship-grade Snapdragon 860 chipset. While the phone cut a few corners with its camera, the processor made sure that the device felt like an actual successor to the POCO F1. The POCO X3 Pro became popular among gamers looking for a performance-centric phone on a budget.
7/8
Since 2021, POCO has followed a balanced approach with its smartphone portfolio. The company launched the POCO F3 GT as a true flagship killer and improved the cameras over the POCO X3 Pro. They also actively kept launching entry-level and budget devices in their C and M Series which helped the company maintain their presence across various segments.
8/8
The POCO X6 and the X6 Pro are the latest devices from the company in the Indian market. Both devices feature powerful processors and offer one of the best price-to-performance ratios in the sub Rs 30,000 segment. The company has also equipped the phones with OIS-enabled cameras, adding a sweet finishing touch.
Over its six-year journey in India, POCO has matured as an established name in the industry. The company has also opened independent retail stores and service centres showcasing their growth. With an increasing number of aggressively priced devices from players like iQOO and even Realme to some extent, POCO is expected to grow further in this competitive market.
