POCO M3 Review: Verdict
Our editorial rating based on product testing.
- Exceptional value for money
- Reliable Snapdragon 662 processor
- Large 6000 battery with long endurance
- Fast fingerprint sensor
- No NFC chip
- Occasional slower system responses
- Lower video quality, no stabilization
The Chinese Xiaomi sub-brand, POCO, surprises once again. It brings the very affordable POCO M3 smartphone with a Full HD+ display, the new Snapdragon 662 processor, and a 6000 mAh battery. All this for a price just above €120.
In the editorial office, we decided to test this smartphone so we can assess exactly what equipment it really offers.
POCO M3: Where to buy?
We tested the latest POCO M3 among the first in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The manufacturer sent it to us directly in black. You can currently order it at the best price from the international seller Banggood.com, which offers great coupons.
POCO M3 Global version
EU Priority Line
TIPWith EU Priority Line shipping, you don’t pay any extra fees.
We recommend choosing Priority Line shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs duties and any VAT will be handled for you directly by the seller. Shipping can be selected in the cart after you enter your delivery address. Delivery with EU Priority Line usually takes about 15 - 25 days, but it may also be longer.
The package also includes accessories
The POCO M3 smartphone will arrive at your home in a bright yellow box of standard dimensions. After unboxing it, you’ll immediately find a paper envelope with accessories in the top section.
It contains a pin for ejecting the memory card / SIM card tray, a quick user guide, and a fairly high-quality clear silicone case to protect the device.
Below it is a cable for charging with a modern and universal USB Type-C connector. The package also includes a fast charger with a local European plug, with an output of up to 22,5W.
Device layout: Design and build
At first glance, the smartphone feels rather bulky. However, that’s not just because of the low price and the polycarbonate body, but mainly because of the large battery included. The smartphone from the POCO brand does not have any certification for increased resistance to water and dust.
The dimensions of this device come in at 162,3 x 77,3 x 9,6 millimeters. Its weight is 198 grams, which is understandable given the aforementioned battery with a capacity of up to 6000 mAh.
The front side features a large 6.53″ display with a fairly thick bottom bezel and a teardrop notch. In this price range, though, that’s nothing unusual. Above the display is the earpiece speaker, as well as a sensor cluster.
On the left side, there is only the tray for two nanoSIM cards or a microSD memory card. The right side offers plastic volume buttons and a fingerprint reader, which also serves as the power button.
USB Type-C and triple rear cameras
At the bottom of the device is the primary microphone for calls, which has average quality. There is also a modern and universal USB Type-C connector with USB OTG and reverse wired charging support. You’ll also find the first of the two loudspeakers, which deliver good sound reproduction quality.
The top edge includes a traditional 3,5 mm audio jack for connecting wired headphones, a secondary microphone for things like video recording, a second loudspeaker (stereo), and an infrared port for controlling home electronics, which is also supported by the corresponding software.
On the back plastic side with a matte finish and subtle patterning, there’s a glossy module with cameras. It’s placed at the top, and besides a trio of cameras, it also includes an LED flash and a rather prominent POCO manufacturer logo.
Display: you’ll be surprised by the Full HD+ IPS panel
The POCO M3 smartphone comes with a 6.53″ IPS panel with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. In this price category, we’re usually used to an average HD+ panel, and that’s why it’s a very pleasant surprise to see a good Full HD+ panel (2340 x 1080 pixels) with brightness up to 400 nits.
As for automatic brightness, it worked exceptionally well without any issues. The sensors needed for this and other features are hidden in slightly thicker bezels. The minimum brightness was also fine even in a dark room, and the maximum brightness is something the manufacturer could still improve a bit. Readability dropped even though the viewing angles were good, especially in direct sunlight.
We were very happy with the panel used and pleasantly surprised. When it comes to protection, the manufacturer used Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and directly in the box there’s also a protective film already applied to the display.
Performance: New Snapdragon 662 processor
On the performance side, the manufacturer bet on a newcomer from Qualcomm. It’s a new octa-core processor (4 x 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4 x 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) from the mid-range segment, labeled Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, made using an 11 nm process.
The processor is also paired with a graphics accelerator Adreno 610, which will help especially with graphically demanding game titles. The smartphone’s responses were exemplary and fairly fast. While a mid-range chip could imply some compromise, you don’t really notice it during standard everyday use.
Memory: 4 GB RAM and UFS 2.2 storage
For testing, we received a version with the configuration 4 GB RAM + 128 GB internal storage of the UFS 2.2 type. However, a cheaper variant is also available on sale with 4 GB RAM + 64 GB internal storage of the UFS 2.1 type.
In terms of the device’s responsiveness, four gigabytes of RAM is definitely a good choice, and the smartphone could handle even simple multitasking. With about ten open apps, though, the smartphone starts to run out of breath a bit, and you need to close apps or wait a few seconds for a response.
Right after the first power-on, the operating system together with the manufacturer’s custom layer will take away about 13 GB of storage space. However, the storage can be expanded via a microSD memory card.
Fingerprint reader
Device access security is handled with a standard capacitive fingerprint reader. It’s located on the right side edge of the device, specifically in the power on/off button.
Compared to its more expensive siblings that offer an optical sensor under the display, this capacitive sensor is very fast, and we didn’t notice any problems when unlocking the device. The sensor even handled slight finger oil and moisture.
Android 10 + MIUI and POCO Launcher
On the software side, you get the current Android 10 operating system (QKQ1.200830.002). The system’s security level—i.e., the security package from Google—was current as of 01.10.2020. Only the November security update is missing.
The current operating system is a very good choice and delivers a secure, fast run of the smartphone itself. Besides the OS, though, there’s also the popular MIUI 12 custom UI (12.0.1.0), which includes a slightly adjusted POCO Launcher. During testing, we even received an update to the MIUI 12 version (12.0.5.0).
As a system, it responded fairly quickly, and that’s thanks mainly to the manufacturer’s good optimization and sufficient RAM. Among the practical features, we definitely have to mention the well thought-out system dark mode with scheduling.
Another very useful element is the apps menu, which can be sorted alphabetically. In its top section, it contains recently used apps and several categories, which the system uses to sort your apps automatically.
We also got an updated, separate shortcuts and notifications center, but it needs to be enabled in the settings. Right from the factory, an older version is active here, known from other Xiaomi smartphones.
Camera: decent 48 MPx results
We didn’t have big expectations for the camera. After all, a device priced easily over 100 € can’t be compared with a flagship or even a higher mid-range smartphone. Still, we have to say POCO has nothing to be ashamed of.
The setup includes three rear cameras placed in a glossy, protruding module. The main one is the well-known 48 MPx sensor (f/1.8) with PDAF autofocus, HDR, and solid results in natural daylight.
This sensor is also complemented by a secondary 2 MPx (f/2.4) macro sensor and a 2 MPx (f/2.4) depth sensor, mainly tasked with stylish background blur, i.e., the bokeh effect. Video recording is also available up to 1080p (30 fps); the front camera sits inside a cutout in the display and has a basic 8 MPx resolution.
Original photos in full resolution are available in the link below.
Despite the low price, this is a surprisingly usable camera, and besides daylight it can also produce a usable photo in worse lighting conditions—at sunset or in the dark. Full HD video quality is a bit worse mainly due to the lack of stabilization. But we didn’t really expect better results, either.
Connectivity: missing 5G and NFC
On the connectivity side, unfortunately, we have to mention several compromises right away. Modern 5G connectivity wasn’t something we expected in this price category, so you’ll have to rely on 4G channels that support LTE-A technology (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41).
This smartphone also doesn’t include an NFC chip for quick pairing of accessories. For that reason, you can’t use mobile payments with this device either, for example via Google Pay. That’s definitely a shame, and you should take it into account before buying.
On the upside, Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac is included with support for Wi‑Fi Direct. You’ll also get Bluetooth 5.0 LE with A2DP support, plus GPS + A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and even an infrared port for controlling home electronics.
Rock fans will appreciate the 3,5 mm audio jack for connecting standard wired headphones, which also double as an antenna for FM radio. This feature is built right into the device. We also have to highlight the pair of loudspeakers, which is a pleasant surprise—especially when playing multimedia content.
Battery life: a hefty 6000 mAh
In the category where this cheap smartphone clearly stands out is the built-in battery—or rather, the resulting runtime on a single charge. You get a battery with a total capacity of up to 6000 mAh, with support for fast 18W charging. You can do it using a modern, universal USB Type‑C connector.
We didn’t expect wireless charging in this price category, but we were pleasantly surprised by the reverse wired charging feature. With such a large battery, you can also use the smartphone as a power bank. All you need is a cable with a USB Type‑C end and the connector for the other device.
Battery life is really good, even with the used Full HD+ panel. Proper optimization and an energy-saving mid-range Qualcomm processor mean that with normal usage you can easily reach a full two days on a single charge.
On a second afternoon, the phone told us 25% with remaining battery at about 13 hours. Full-day use in our case included actively using social networks and editing documents, an hour of calls, an hour of watching Full HD videos, plus an hour of listening to podcasts and occasional photo taking or playing mobile games.
Smartphone price and availability
The POCO M3 smartphone, despite its tempting specs, is priced very low compared to the advertised sale price. From popular international sellers, this device costs around 110 – 130 €, depending on the promotion.
POCO M3 Global version
EU Priority LineTIPWith EU Priority Line shipping, you don’t pay any extra fees.
We recommend choosing Priority Line shipping, where you won’t pay anything extra. Customs duties and any VAT will be handled for you directly by the seller. Shipping can be selected in the cart after you enter your delivery address. Delivery with EU Priority Line usually takes about 15 - 25 days, but it may also be longer.
Final verdict: POCO M3
Our POCO M3 review is now complete, and we can say the smartphone pleasantly surprised us. At first glance at a device in this price range, we’d mainly consider it as a secondary smartphone, a phone for those with modest needs, a first mobile for kids, or as a backup phone for the whole family.
After thoroughly testing it, though, we found that the POCO M3 offers more and proves that even for a low price you can get a full-fledged smartphone for everyday use. Big pluses include the FullHD+ display, the latest Snapdragon processor that even belongs to the mid-range, a huge battery with reverse charging, and of course the price.
We believe that over time, the manufacturer will improve system smoothness further with new updates, making POCO M3 in this price range almost unbeatable.
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