This is the Chinese model of the Poco F5. It is flashed with the global ROM already however I would recommend reflashing it to either xiaomi.eu rom or some other custom ROM for security reasons. Seems to support all the bands Vodafone uses and most of Telstra's bands. Really bad on Optus but does that really matter?
If anyone needs help flashing this phone feel free to private message me!
It is already unlocked however is flashed with a ROM that the seller has modified so I would recommend reflashing it yourself to a safer rom
Agreed. I don't have time for all that ROM flashing stuff (unlike my Galaxy S2 days) so I paid for the premium and got the Poco. Assuming it's the closest thing to safe ROM on a Chinese phone.
Fair enough
Hi mate, can you link the store you bought the Poco F5? Thanks
@peteranh3105: I bought mine on AliExpress from 'Xiaomi Brand Global Shop', they are not the official seller. But they were the cheapest at the time with coupons when I bought it back in June
Great price! I've been eyeing poco F5 for a while but waiting for the price to go down.
Is there any good link on how to flash it with an official global ROM?
I would recommend using xiaomi.eu rom as it is just a modified version of the official miui with patches to make things work properly
https://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/miui-14-stable-release.6… scroll down on this link
btw you should probably install with the TWRP method as you wont be able to update without a computer unless you use this method
If you get F5, the ROM is pretty clean already. If you get the Note 22 Turbo you may want to flash it.
@hippo2s - For those unaware, the Redmi Note 12 Turbo is just the Chinese version of Poco F5. This is a better deal with $97 saving if you're okay with flashing custom ROM. I always slap Pixel ROM on my Xiaomi phones.
Also if you intend on using Google Wallet I'm not sure whether it will pass.
Seems Safetynet has been replaced with Play Integrity API and what passed before may not any more.
ie old Redmi Note 9 Pro, running ArrowOS, only unlocked bootloader but no root or anything was working fine with Wallet, then suddenly didn't meet security requirement. Forced to install Magisk and Play Integrity Fix (which I'd consider less secure than before, though have disabled root, it's missus phone and doesn't need it). Guess I could have just locked the bootloader but I assume would have wiped phone.
If you relock on custom roms you will most likely brick the phone
The last device I tried custom ROM on it lost Wallet function and some banking apps kept warning me about unlocked bootloader and one even refuse to open BC of it. Yes and had to mess with Magisk thing …it got confusing, which is why I just stick to Poco's official global ROM.
Increase price by a bit to $250 to get US$40 off instead of US$30, for example the 12GB 256GB version is US $258.00
Yeah I would recommend getting the 12/256 over the 8/256 since its basically the same price
supported network bands seem to be slightly different than poco f5?
F5 seems to support more bands
This is Chinese version, no band 28
Wonder how important missing ban 28 might be?
If you're with Vodafone, that's fine but Telstra and Optus both need this band. You can use certain apps to check which band your phone is using at times.
This or a naturally aspirated Poco F5?
Redmi Note 12 Turbo
Waiting for the GTR version
Upvote deserved for the description!
Damn that's tempting. Especial when the Poco F5 is holding its price above $500.
it's actually under $500 now with the 11.11 codes
$485.32 but the Note 12 turbo is 26.7% better value for money.
ordering from xiaomi official store gets me the lowest price, probably because i have some coins as well which can be used, so after adding screen protector and case (from different sellers) i paid around $468 for poco f5 8/256
@nsingh21: I believe this one is already unlocked as the seller has flashed global rom on it so I would recommend flashing your own one for safety
@iPodVideo: hmm, its the first time I'm actually seeing that a manufacturer is flashing devices to Global ROM. Having said that, looking up reviews on GSMArena suggests that phones sold like this are prone to multiple software bugs affecting calls and other connectivity features.
@nsingh21: It's the reseller flashing them, not Xiaomi but I would recommend not using the preflashed one. The connection issues are from this device not fully supporting all the bands that the provider uses however it should be fine as long as you're using Vodafone or Telstra but not Optus though I wouldn't use Optus anyways.
@iPodVideo: Damn, I was looking forward to unlimited data weekends 🤣 (jokes…not really, Optus is only my home broadband provider)
Best code that's working for me is the 40 which brings it down to $505.
So tempting!!
Estimated delivery between Dec 25-Dec 31
oh crap
Probably won't take this long but if it does then you've got yourself an xmas gift lol
lol, was hoping more so to grab a Diwali gift 🤣
Just a heads up you will have a hard time using Google Pay without an official global ROM
Just flash a different ROM. It will take like 30 minutes as the bootloader is already unlocked and device is flashed with the sellers global ROM but I would flash something like xiaomi.eu for safety reasons and I believe it also supports Gpay out of the box.
Not anymore, as of a few days ago. Google updated their safetynet certificate check system. So buyer beware
Seems to still pass for me although I am not using this phone or xiaomi eu rom.
Yeah, need to root and load an updated zygisk module to circumvent.
But that's how it's been for me anyway.
Yeh the game of cat and mouse continues.
Safetynet has been replaced with the Play Integrity API so even if you pass Safetynet checks still wont work with Google Pay
Good news is the PlayIntegrityFix Magisk module has already been updated to work around it, but if someone doesn't want to be messing around with all that stuff I'd agree this isn't the phone for them.
Just pay the premium, get Poco F5, and rest easy. All the time you spend updating, getting it to work… isn't worth the it (for me).
How is this phone gaming performance? Looking at stuff like Genshin and Star Rail
Should be ok. Look up review of Poco F5 as that is the same phone
These roms are the ones that ban OTA updates. I detest them!
Yeah you should probably reflash it.
Get Poco F5 instead if you are not comfortable with all that unlocking bootloader, flashing ROM stuff. Great phone.