Poco M3 review: here's what you can do with a 150 euro smartphone
More and more often to make the news are the most accessible smartphones such as the Poco M3 , the interest of the public is in fact slowly moving from the top of the range, difficult to reach, to the cheaper models. In my opinion, this is not a mere trend or a fashion, as we often repeat, it is instead technology that makes the difference at the dawn of 2021, when brand producers and chipmakers have reached such a level that the gap between medium and high range is very narrow.Premise that partly explains why this M3 could be one of the most sought-after smartphones of these Christmas holidays and even beyond, on the other hand with such an aggressive positioning and a midrange data sheet , Xiaomi (or Poco) has created the perfect "best buy. "for the low end. With this I do not want to say at all that it is the perfect smartphone and the rest no longer makes sense, but it is clear the intention to create the wow effect and, perhaps, get lost in this operation as well.
It is therefore necessary to be clear about the limits of such a terminal and also what the market offers (at the same price) to contextualise it properly, so as to take measurements and know how to navigate better in the midst of the sea of offers and models.
POTENTIALITY AND LIMITS
Unlike in the past, it is now possible to spend 200 euros, or even 150 euros, and find yourself an Android terminal capable of doing everything or almost everything , naturally with the necessary speed compromises that distinguish one platform from another. On board this Poco M3 we have Snapdragon 662, one of the latest arrivals for the mid-range that boasts an 11nm production process, octa-core Kryo 260 CPU and Adreno 610 GPU.
Numbers and acronyms that will not mean much for many, so let's try to summarize by enclosing my experience with this smartphone in some of the most common scenarios, answering the simplest questions:
CAN I NAVIGATE THE NETWORK COMFORTABLY?
The answer is yes, a decided yes; on Chrome you travel fast and scrolling is fast, with some sporadic clicks and average fast page rendering. The difference with the higher categories is sometimes noticeable only in multitasking, in the intermediate steps for the opening of the new cards with a few moments of waiting more, as "right".
IS PLAYING LIMITING?
I would say no and for three good reasons. The first concerns the display: a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with FHD + resolution (2340 x 1080) that retains few fingerprints and discreetly keeps reflections at bay, also boasts a good brightness that facilitates viewing even outdoors. Then there is the audio sector with two speakers ready to create a more complete sound pressure than usual ; in this range we are only ever used to single speakers. The feedback during the game is therefore completely positive, both for the eyes and for the ears, even if you do not get absolutely high decibels.
For the third reason I recall the Snapdragon 662 chip and its Adreno 610, capable of running titles like Cod Mobile without particular problems; of course, some graphic details will be given up but the feeling is of a good overall experience. Also because connectivity is guaranteed by the Snapdragon X11 LTE modem which works in carrier aggregation up to 390Mbps in download (Cat 13) and 150Mbps in upload (Cat 13).
Little M3
77.3 x 162.3 x 9.6 mm
6.53 inches - 2340x1080 px
Little X3
76.8 x 165.3 x 9.4 mm
6.67 inches - 2400x1080 px
Little F2 Pro
75.4 x 163.3 x 8.9 mm
6.67 inches - 2400x1080 px
Click here for the complete comparison »
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
SoC : Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 at 11nm, 64-bit octa-core Kryo 260 CPU, up to 2GHz
GPU : Adreno 610
Display : 6.53 "with FHD + resolution (2340 x 1080) in 19.5: 9 (Gorilla Glass 3) and drop notch
Memory :
4GB of RAM
64 / 128GB of storage memory
Camera :
Triple Rear : 48MP main sensor, 2MP macro and 2MP depth
Front : 8MP
Sensors : side fingerprint
Audio: dual speaker with dust blaster (dust protection)
Battery : 6,000 mAh with 18W charging support
S operating system: Android 10
Colors : Cool Blue, Poco Yellow and Power Black
Price : € 159.9 for 4 / 64GB variant and € 179.9 for 4 / 128GB variant
LENDS ITSELF TO WATCHING FILMS, VIDEOS AND TV SERIES?
The conditions that make a smartphone suitable for a pleasant use of multimedia content are a couple, among these the quality of the panel (colors, resolution and brightness) and the audio stand out. I don't want to repeat myself but both compartments are well represented on this terminal, with the second speaker - the upper one - which plays the role of companion and offers slightly reduced power.
Curiously, it is not currently compatible with Netflix and Disney + , which sometimes happens for smartphones that have just arrived on the market, so I would not despair. All in order instead for Prime Video which works regularly.
CAN I TAKE MAGNIFICENT PHOTOS AND HIGH RESOLUTION VIDEOS?
I would say no, you must also save somewhere and one of the sectors that pay the most in the case of cheap terminals is this. The conditions are therefore the following: photos that I would define as good in favorable light conditions and details that are lost very quickly if the light falls.
In these examples you can see how the final result is completely satisfactory, but be careful because you have to deal with a slow and unresponsive camera application. A few seconds elapse between the shot and the ability to view the image, let's say that in this little speed you can see all the limits of a 150 euro smartphone. Limited chromatic coverage, dim but precise optics, take a look at Elena's portrait too.
To forget the self-portraits , especially if the light is not practically perfect, the 8MP camera does not seem quite up to its task. It is also difficult to postpone the videos, poorly stabilized and with a difficult white balance when conditions and framing vary, moreover it is not possible to go beyond the Full HD resolution at 30fps.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO USE IT "ONLY" AS A PHONE?
We could also consider it as a perfect forklift to take with you, given its capabilities it is in fact able to support many of the normal operations, enjoys good connectivity (even dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0) and a triple slot capable of hosting two SIMs. and a microSD for any memory expansion. The audio on call is loud and clear and I have never found any anomalies in reception.
It must also be added that the 6,000mAh battery is one of those capable of focusing on 48 consecutive hours of use , also because the system is not very pushed. No miracle on recharging, you have to settle for an 18W adapter in the package, far from the glories of the absolute top of the range (from the Xiaomi group), the Mi 10 Ultra, with its incredible 120W .
Quick then in unlocking via the side fingerprint reader integrated with the on and off button, clickable and well positioned. Alternatively, there is of course face recognition, but the first solution is the safest one. Too bad the NFC chip is missing , a compromise to be taken into consideration for those who use it for payments and quick associations.
IN SHORT, IS IT CONVENIENT TO BUY?
On the day of the presentation I defined it as " a new ambitious standard for the low-end ", because the technical data sheet would place it a little higher than where it is and because the competition does not always manage to be so aggressive when it comes to entry. -level. However, take it for what it is, my considerations are in fact commensurate with its membership range and this means having to take into account a speed of execution of almost all operations far from that of the most expensive smartphones.
Quickly switching from one application to another, consulting multitasking, starting heavier apps, almost always leads to some lag or indecision, even if once inside it is possible to navigate without too many problems within those environments. I think of social networks like Facebook and Instagram: after a few seconds of waiting you can scroll the feed quickly, without those pleasant effects of maximum fluidity of superior models, but it is something that is expected.
In conclusion, I consider it an excellent solution to enter the Android world without spending too much , it could therefore be the right compromise for the very young who want their first smartphone (at the appropriate age) and do not look at certain details. From an aesthetic point of view it is also very subjective; I don't mind this finish of the back cover, while I find the word POCO in white on the black plastic " punched in the eye ". Points of view, if you then find it on a discount as in the first days at 129-149 euros, don't think about it too much.
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