POCOPHONE F1 added to Xiaomi’s End-of-life list, was it the pioneer of flagship killers?

The POCOPHONE F1 is the trendsetter and trailblazer among flagship killers, with powerful specs at a convincing retail price.

From MIUI to HyperOS, many Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices have reached the end of their life cycle. Some are still eligible for security updates, but the rest are completely left in the dust, telling users to upgrade asap.

Among these is the POCOPHONE F1, a legend in its own right. Not only was it a flagship killer, but it was also the killer of flagship killers. Sadly, it has reached its end of life. Let’s go back in time and look into the future for those who still own this legendary smartphone.

Golden Age

The golden age of the POCOPHONE F1 peaked between 2018 and 2019 when no brand wanted to launch a top performer with a cheap price tag. Unparalleled performance could only be obtained from flagship models.

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While a few brands reshaped the landscape back then, Xiaomi was the true innovator merging top specs with an eye-catching price tag. The POCOPHONE F1 was priced between 18K and 20K and arrived with the following:

  • 6.18” IPS LCD
  • 1080p resolution
  • Corning Gorilla Glass
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
  • Adreno 630
  • 6GB to 8GB RAM
  • 64GB to 256GB ROM
  • 12+5MP rear cameras
  • 20MP front camera
  • Stereo speakers
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • 4000mAh battery
  • 18W charging
  • Infrared Face ID
  • Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor

The chipset was a flagship at the time and its performance could only be matched by more expensive models, such as Galaxy Note9, P20 Pro, and iPhone X. Those were priced over 40K back then.

With POCOPHONE F1, you have an ultimate performer with an appealing design and excellent grip. Its back is polycarbonate but the sides are metal and you can hold it snugly without a phone case.

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Still Kicking

Six years later, the POCOPHONE F1 is still kicking and would probably take down many brand-new mid-rangers in the market. Mid-rangers that would likely win against this legend are those with 5G chipsets.

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The Snapdragon 845 processor remains a good CPU despite being relegated to the mid-range category today. It still scores over 463K AnTuTu points and can run MOBAs and action games on the Play Store. Depending on the title, you can even play them on mid-to-high graphics. But you’re stuck with 60 FPS because POCOPHONE F1 only supports 60 Hz refresh rate.

PUBG Mobile may achieve up to 53 FPS at ultra graphics while Call of Duty: Mobile may run up to 55 FPS at high graphics. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at ultra may peak at 56 FPS and World of Tanks Blitz may get up to 60 FPS at ultra. Select AFK RPGs like Ragnarok for mobile and turn-based RPGs like Black Clover Mobile should still run just fine on the POCOPHONE F1.

How about heating? The POCOPHONE F1 featured LiquidCool technology to keep it cool under heavy use, whether you’re gaming or using the camera. This is another reason why the smartphone is loved by many.

Renewal

It’s undeniable that the POCOPHONE F1 has reached its end of life after six years of serving numerous users across the globe. You’ll no longer receive future patches, especially security updates because it’s stuck on Android 10 and MIUI 12.

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But is there a way to get around this? Go with custom ROMs. This is the only way to extend the life of POCOPHONE F1. Some of its custom ROMs are based on Android 14 and you can find them at XDA. Just be careful because there are risks in this route. Do your research first.

Another thing is that custom ROMs require root access and that’s a no-no for banking and finance apps. Even though you’ve extended the life of your POCOPHONE F1, it will still become a secondary handset.

Legacy

The POCOPHONE F1 is now an heirloom yet the word “legacy” represents its hardware value as well. The Snapdragon 845 remains relevant, thanks to its enduring capabilities for emulation and GCam.

According to some Redditors, SD 845 is still fine for emulation, particularly from Atari 2600 and PS2. If you like retro games, you can use the phone.

One big advantage of Snapdragon chipsets is the wide range of GCam options. Click here to see which version you want to try on your POCOPHONE F1.

You may not be aware but did you know there’s an Armored Edition of POCOPHONE F1? It uses a Kevlar chassis to resist scratches, good for those who want to slap the phone case.

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If your POCOPHONE F1 is in good condition, don’t vault it just yet. It’s a great secondary device for online messaging, video streaming, and even light to moderate gaming. Now’s the time to explore beyond MIUI and see if you can turn back time and rejuvenate your POCOPHONE F1 with smooth and lightweight custom ROMs.

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