Poco X3 Review

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The much-awaited Poco X3 is now official in India and in the typical Poco fashion, this one brings together competitive specs for a disruptive price. Highlights include a 120fps screen, a massive 6000mAh battery, and a powerful Snapdragon 700 series chipset (which are getting increasingly rare in the sub-20k segment). (Poco X3 review हिंदी में पढ़िए)

The Poco X3 has all the ingredients it takes but do they add up to a comparable experience? In our Poco X3 review, we will share our experience and give you a better view of where it stands compared to Realme 7 Pro (review) and Galaxy M31s (review). By the time we are done, you will hopefully be able to decide if this is a phone you should buy.

Poco X3 price and specifications

Phones Poco X3
Display 6.67-inch, IPS LCD, FHD+ (1,080×2,340 pixels) display, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Software Android 10, MIUI 
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G (8nm)octa-core (2×2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver); Adreno 618.
Memory 6GB/8GBLPDDR4x
Storage Up to 128GB UFS 2.1; Hybrid card slot
Main camera 64MP Primary + 13MP wide-angle + 2MP macro2MP depth
Selfie camera 20MP, f/2.2
Fingerprint sensor   Side, Capacitive
FM Radio Yes
Battery 6000mAh, 33W fast charging
Colors Shadow Gray and Cobalt Blue
Price 6 + 64GB – ₹16,999
6 + 128GB – ₹18,999
8 + 128GB – ₹19,999

Poco X3 Unboxing

Poco X3 Box Contents include:

  • Handset with a pre-applied screen protector
  • Transparent protective case
  • 33W charging adaptor
  • USB A to C cable
  • Documentation and SIM ejector

Poco X3 Review: Design and Build

Weighing 225 grams in heft and about 10mm in thickness, the Poco X3 is unapologetically big and bulky and this should take some getting used to. The metal side-frame that lends it durability also contributes to the heft, but yes Poco manages to shave off a few grams by using a polycarbonate back (glass-like).

The rear camera array still bulges out and the bundled case barely evens out the hump. The module makes the phone look distinct, and if you ask us, that’s important. Also, there is a nice gradient pattern at the back which should be appealing to young consumers. 

The display has a centrally-aligned notch and the bezels surrounding it are quite slim. Apart from Gorilla Glass 5, there is also a pre-applied screen protector shielding the screen. 

The fingerprint reader is on the side and it’s as snappy and reliable as we’d want it to be. The volume rocker above it isn’t as easily accessible, but we can still reach it out with fair ease. 

The microSD card slot is not dedicated, so choose your storage variant accordingly. Other than that, there are no unexpected hardware surprises here – USB Type-C port, noise cancelation microphone, IR blaster, audio jack are all there.

Poco X3 Review: Display

The IPS LCD display has 120Hz smoothness and thanks to the massive 6000mAh battery users can relish the fluidity without any self-reproach. The Poco X3 dials down refresh rate and conserves battery in situations like when you wouldn’t need those extra frames – like when watching movies.

The display quality is good enough for the price. Whites are bluish by default, but MIUI has several customization options including different color profiles, an elaborate reading mode, and a color temperature wheel that you may use to tune the white point to your liking. The ‘standard’ color scheme works the best for us.

Poco X3 has slightly better overall brightness than Realme 7 Pro but outdoor visibility is comparable on both of these devices.

Poco X3 also supports Full HD content streaming on Netflix and Prime videos out of the box. It also supports HDR content on YouTube. The multimedia experience is however more enjoyable on AMOLED displays on Realme 7 Pro and Galaxy M31.

Poco X3 Review: Performance and Software

This is the first phone with 8nm process-based Snapdragon 732G octa-core chipset, which is an incremental upgrade to the Snapdragon 730G used on the Poco X2. It’s currently the most powerful Qualcomm chipset available under 20k and Poco bundles ample LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 2.1 storage to back it up.

The benchmark scores reveal that the performance you’d get from Snapdragon 732G, 730G, and 720G isn’t very different and that kind of mellows down one of the biggest Poco X3 advantage.

The high-end games we tried are playable and day-to-day usage was smooth. So, performance shouldn’t be a concern for prospective buyers.

Also Check: Here’s why Auto Call recording is missing on most new phones in India

The MIUI 12 software is quite feature-rich and mostly-stable interface. There are a number of pre-installed apps that also hog precious notification shade but users can uninstall these or turn off notifications for system apps. The Poco Launcher has an app drawer that feels a tad complicated. The skin is intuitive and It’s easy to get to what we are looking for.

The software on the phone has a few peeve points, though. Google is now pushing OEMs to include the stock Google dialer and messaging app on its phones and the Google Dialer doesn’t have auto call recording. In fact, Poco X3 doesn’t have the option for regular call recording either but that can be added with an OTA update. Post the Android 9 Pie update, third-party apps are utterly useless in this regard.

It won’t be fair to blame Poco for the omission because this is an industry-wide change that affects almost all upcoming phones.

Poco X3 Review: Camera performance

Poco X3 is equipped with 64MP Sony IMX682 sensor in the lead. This is among the better sensors available in mid-range phones today and Poco says that the only feature missing when compared to Sony IMX686 is 4K video recording@60fps.

The primary camera is accompanied by a 13MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP portrait camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The selfie camera is a single 20MP sensor.

In proper daylight, the Poco X3 can keep the colors natural and retains details and texture fairly well. Compared to the Realme 7 Pro, there is no clear winner. At times 7 Pro manages better details in shadows and in the backdrop and at times the Poco X3 retains better texture.

Poco does really well with portraits. The camera can intelligently detect subject edges for shots taken indoors and outdoors.

We managed to take decent pictures in low light and dark situations. Once again, the performance is comparable to Realme 7 Pro and Galaxy M31.

There is some degradation in image quality with 13MP wide-angle camera, but that is to be expected in this price segment.

Poco X3 has a macro camera as well, but we doubt the majority would be using it very often. The selfie camera on the front performs well in proper daylight.

So, overall, the Poco X3 is comparable to Realme 7 Pro and Galaxy M31 in terms of camera performance, but not better than these alternatives. The later two have AMOLED displays and images look punchier on the phone display.

Poco X3 Review: Battery and Audio

In India, the Poco X3 comes with an extra-large 6000mAh battery. We could easily manage 1.5 days of usage while keeping the screen refresh rate at 120fps. Xiaomi bundles a 33W charger in the box that can top-up the battery to around 68% in one hour. A full charge takes around 2 hours.

The stereo-speakers on the X3 can get really loud and you can feel the rumble across the back. The audio quality via speakers is better than what we have on Realme 7 Pro. Our ringtone when we receive calls, however, plays very feeble. At times we missed calls when our phone was in another room and the ringing volume wasn’t set to 100 percent.

Poco X3 Review: Should you buy it?

Poco is only starting off as a new brand and can afford to compete at razor-thin margins. The 6000mAh battery lasts long, the Snapdragon 732 chipset makes it a reliable performer, and the camera performance is comparable to the best available options in this price segment.

Yes, Poco X3 is a well-put-together phone and it comes at a very convincing price, but it’s also a tad unwieldy. It’s for users to decide if that’s the price they are willing to pay for the niceties on board.

Pros

  • Powerful performance
  • Decent cameras
  • 120Hz display refresh rate
  • IR blaster
  • Long-lasting battery

Cons

  • Thick and bulky

Poco X3 FAQ

Question: Does Poco X3 have call recording option?

Answer: No, it does not. 

Question: Does Poco X3 support HD streaming on Netflix and Prime videos?

Answer: Yes it does. 

Question: What is the SAR value of Poco X3?

Answer: Head SAR: 0.747W/kg; Body SAR: 0.615W/kg

Question: Does Poco X3 has NFC in India?

Answer: No, it does not.

Question: Does Poco X3 have FM Radio?

Answer: Yes, it does.

Question: How thick and heavy is Poco X3? What are the dimensions?

Answer: The Poco X3 weighs 225 grams and measures 10.08mm in thickness.

Question: Does Poco X3 support dual Volte and Wi-Fi calling.

Answer: Yes, it does.

Question: How much storage is free on Poco X3?

Answer: Out of 128GB, 104GB is free for users.

Question: Does Poco X3 have LED notification light?

Answer: Yes. LED indicator is present underneath the earpiece.

Poco X3 First Impressions Video in Hindi | Know it All

Deepak SinghDeepak Singh
Deepak has more than 8 years of experience in covering technology for several eminent publications in India. He currently leads an enthusiastic team of young writers at Smartprix and tries to uphold the highest quality standards.

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Discuss

15 Comments
User
Darik Patel
Anonymous
2 years ago

I am using this phone and my honest opinion “This is an impractical phone” Mainly because of its weight. If I wanted a paper weight I would bought a paper weight from the market. I am not looking that feature in a phone. This one phone is creating lot of problems in daily usage. Cannot use third party lenses. Macro lens is also a waste. USB tethering does not work properly. What’s the use paying so much. There are so many other disadvantages. Reason I am talking so much because I have burnt my fingers. I just sold this mobile. Got fed up.

Reply
User
Shisher bhusal
Anonymous
2 years ago

I’m not a professional gammer but I play free fire daily, now day’s I need a phone. I’ve small budget. Please suggest me a phone, which phone should I buy under INR.20,000.

Reply
User
Deepak Rajawat
Anonymous
2 years ago

Check out this list: https://www.smartprix.com/bytes/best-gaming-phones-under-rs-20000-to-buy-india/

User
Manish
Anonymous
2 years ago

Between Poco X3 and Realme 7, which one to consider?(Overall)

Reply
User
Deepak Rajawat
Anonymous
2 years ago

you can pick either of them depending on your budget and availability.

User
Kashinath Hegde
Anonymous
2 years ago

Is POCOX3 5G computable?

Reply
Show Replies (1)
User
J
Anonymous
3 years ago

Which is better?? Poco X2 or X3?? Please give a straightforward answer…got tired of listening to all of the specifications comparison. And also the X3 has a plastic back…

Reply
Show Replies (1)
User
Azeem
Anonymous
3 years ago

This is the worst phone for calls. Everyone in the room can hear the caller talking. Absolutely no privacy. It uses the stereo loudspeaker for calls since it doesn’t have a dedicated speaker for calls.

Reply
Show Replies (1)
User
Marson_2.0
Anonymous
3 years ago

Does it have some problems with the software or something? Can u remove the ads? Does it get verry hot when you gaming?

Reply
Show Replies (1)
User
Rahil
Anonymous
3 years ago

How to install MiUi dialer and messaging app on poco x3 without rooting the device

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