Last year there was a terminal that we particularly liked for users in Europe, the SMALL X3. The main reason for its selection among the most interesting in our country was its excellent price-performance ratio.
Poco X3 NFC, analysis: it is the new king of the mid-range
We have taken an in-depth analysis of the new Pocophone Poco X3 NFC, one of the best value-for-money cellphones on the market in Europe.
However, there is a certain market below 200 dollars for mobile phones, as Lidl recently showed with its smart mobile proposal for 69.90 dollars.
If we are looking for something more powerful than this device but with a very reasonable price, we have the POCO M3, a proposition that offers an entry-level experience, at an entry-level price but with a few extras.
Buy POCO M3
Features of POCO M3
- Screen:
- Diagonal: 6.53 inches.
- FullHD + resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels).
- Aspect ratio: 19.5: 9.
- Technology: LCD.
- Brightness: 400 nights.
- Contrast: 1500: 1.
- Widevine L1 certification for Netflix in HD.
- Performance:
- Snapdragon 662 processor.
- 4 GB of LDDR4X memory.
- Two storage versions:
- 64 GB of UFS 2.1 storage.
- 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
- Cameras:
- 48 megapixel main sensor.
- 2 megapixel macro camera.
- 2 megapixel depth camera.
- 8 megapixel front camera.
- Drums:
- Capacity: 6000 mAh.
- Supports fast charging up to 18W.
- 22.5W USB C charger included.
- Sound:
- Stereo speakers.
- Hi-Red Audio certified.
- Headphone jack with FM radio support.
- Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm.
- Weight: 198 grams.
- Other: Infrared port, micro SD extension …
- System:
- Android version: 10.
- Personalization layer: MIUI 12.
Unique design and inexpensive materials
Design has become one of the key elements in choosing a mobile for many people. The problem is, this is something manufacturers notice when a certain spending threshold is crossed, but not before.
Yet the POCO M3 is quite a different terminal from the rest of its rivals, even different from its older brothers.
The front part is very conventional, betting on a teardrop-shaped notch, but at the rear there are different things.
The camera module occupies the entire width of the mobile, with a satin tone that contrasts with the imitation leather finish of the mobile. This imitation is simply visual because you can quickly tell that it is plastic to the touch.
Even so, given the category of this mobile, it seems like a good way to differentiate it from other alternatives.
And the best way is the inclusion of two speakers, something that you rarely see in mid-range mobiles and that in the low-end hardly exists.
Better performance than expected, with a but
Unlike other occasions, we were unable to analyze the POCO M3 within days of its presentation, which led to a misconception about its performance.
I had seen and read that this terminal was almost unbearable slow. Yes, we really notice the lack of fluidity in some actions, especially in those related to multitasking, and it is that the 4 GB of RAM is a little insufficient with MIUI 12. We have no complaints about the Snapdragon 662.
But, sparing the possibility of using multiple apps almost simultaneously, I have to admit that I have used this device on a daily basis with no other issues. The reality is that having jumped from a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra the difference is more than remarkable, but as I say in the video, this mobile costs 10 times less.
The RAM is greater than that of other models of this price and the internal memory the same, with two options available. We prefer the 128GB, and the price difference makes up for that. However, it is not crazy to access the 64 GB model at 99 dollars as we have seen in some sales.
Regarding connectivity, we can boast of having a headphone jack, its own slot for the micro SD card which does not cancel one of the 2 trays for SIM cards, infrared sensor … yes, no NFC or 5G.
A resolution rarely seen in the input range
In the analysis of the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G, one of the cheapest models with this connectivity, we paid attention to the fact that its screen had HD resolution, which is striking considering the range in which it was. .
This time we have to say the same thing, although in the opposite direction. This POCO M3 has a 6.53 ″ screen with IPS technology, but with Full HD resolution, something that is not at all normal below 200 dollars, although it is not the only one .
Of course, the peak brightness isn’t particularly high, although given what it’s worth, we can highlight the display as one of the best aspects of this device.
The triple camera of the POCO M3 is, in practice, a single camera
In the photographic section we have that we are not going to stop much because, although this phone uses a triple sensor on the back, the reality is that only one of them deserves the time in this analysis.
The other two of 2 MP, a depth sensor and a macro, we still think it would have been better to eliminate them to get a wide angle.
The camera is what you would expect from a cheap terminal and, from that basis, you can say that you get some pretty passable photographs in good light. The same goes for selfies.
What we really missed was better electronic stabilization in video, something that, to be fair, we don’t have in many mobiles that cost twice as much as that.
By battery it will not …
A section in which the POCO M3 clearly stands out is in autonomy, thanks to its battery of 6000 mAh, which we can charge at a speed of up to 18 watts.
The first battery test It was pretty intense. We took pictures outside, we used the mobile as a music player in the car for almost an hour, we played a lot … The result was around 8 hours of screen time with over 24 hours of total battery life..
The second battery test He was less intense, having played a little less but with greater total autonomy. We exceeded 8 hours of screen with over 34 hours of total battery life.
In the third battery test We walked around using the mobile as a player, we spent more time in 4G coverage instead of Wifi but usage was normal. We arrived at 7 hours of screen time with over 33 hours of total battery life.
MIUI 12 needs more RAM
MIUI 12 has been through our scan table several times already, and there is no news here except because the PocoPhone launcher is used, which we also talked about.
We have Discover, a host of customization features, dark mode, and all the latest Android 10 news.
The only problem in this section is the RAM. 4GB seems more than enough for a mobile of this price, but it shows that it is not enough for MIUI 12 to go as fast as we would like with the Snapdragon 662 which uses the M3.
During the week we used this mobile We have updated MIUI version twice, something we liked because it shows that PocoPhone is waiting to improve the performance of this model.
The POCO M3 is a simple and inexpensive terminal, nothing more
The conclusion of this analysis will be somewhat different from what we have done on other occasions. We know that Pocophone should polish some aspects of this terminal, but we can still recommend it.
This model is perfect for those who want to pay very little and still have enough storage, plenty of battery and a charging station that, without being expensive, attracts attention.
Of course, the fact that the smoothness isn’t greater means that we can’t almost blindly recommend it like we do with its older brother, the POCO X3.
Buy POCO M3
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