Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The entry-level smartphone market in India is perhaps the most hotly contested segment in the country. Last year, the Poco M2 duked it out against alternatives from Redmi and Realme to offer one of the most value for money options. Now, the brand is back with its successor, the Poco M3. Here’s our first impressions of Poco’s latest.
Poco M3: Design and hardware
In a sea of gradients and glass-metal sandwiches, Poco has crafted an eye-catching and unique visual identity for the Poco M3. It channels a bit of the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk edition, but also classic phones like the Lumia 1020 with its bright yellow color and distinctive camera layout. If you prefer a more subdued look, black and dark blue variants are on offer as well.
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The overall hand feel of the phone is excellent. In my early impressions, I found the textured layout at the back to be particularly nice to hold. The phone delivers really good tactile feedback, and Poco somehow has somehow managed to keep the weight under 200g despite the large battery.
The Poco M3 is exceptionally well built and looks refreshingly unique.
The switch from the rear-mounted fingerprint reader to a side-mounted location is well appreciated too. Put simply, there’s little if anything to complain about the hardware design here.
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
Instead of reinventing the M2, Poco has focussed on enhancing key aspects of the phone and as such, the display remains unchanged at 6.53-inches with a Full HD+ resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
What is new, however, is the Snapdragon 662 processor. Compared to the MediaTek Helio G80 in the M2, this is more of a sidegrade than a big leap ahead but should offer nominal performance enhancements.
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
Elsewhere, depending on your shooting preferences, you might find the camera system here to be a downgrade. While the M2 offered up an 8MP ultrawide sensor and 5MP macro sensor in addition to the primary camera, the Poco M3 opts for a 48MP main shooter paired up with 2MP macro and depth cameras. Over at the front, the 8MP front camera remains unchanged.
The battery gets a big upgrade to 6000mAh.
A major enhancement is the 6,000mAh battery that now supports reverse charging as well. Poco’s entry-level hardware has generally done well with battery longevity, and the enhanced battery life should deliver stellar results.
Specs
| Poco M2 Pro | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch IPS LCD, 20:9 aspect ratio, camera cut-out, Full HD+ (1,080 x 2,400) resolution, 84.5% screen-to-body ratio |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 662
4 x 2.0GHz Kryo 260 Gold Adreno 610 |
| RAM/Storage | 4GB/64GB 4GB/128GB microSD expansion |
| Camera | Rear: 48MP main f/1.8, 0.8-micron pixel size, PDAF 2MP, f/2.4 macro 2MP, f/2.4 depth Front: |
| Battery | 6000mAh 18W charging USB-C Reverse charging |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm |
| Weight | 198g |
| Colors | Cool Blue, Poco Yellow, Power Black |
| Biometrics | Side-mounted capacitive fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Sensors | Proximity sensor, In-screen ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic compass, Vibration motor, IR blaster |
| Headphone jack | Yes |
| Connectivity | LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28 LTE TDD: B38/B40 WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8 GSM: B2/B3/B5/B8 Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz): 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi Direct/Wi-Fi Display Bluetooth 5.0 NFC GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
Poco M3 early verdict: Should you buy it?
Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The Poco M3 is priced starting at Rs. 10,999 for the base 64GB variant which makes it one of the most enticing options in the segment. While the spec sheet doesn’t particularly wow, it is definitely competitive.
Poco M3
The Poco M3 stands out with a unique design and competitive specs amongst a sea of derivative alternatives.
Moreover, it is the fresh design and bold color options that should help the Poco M3 stand out amidst ample competition. The Poco M3 goes on sale starting February 19. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review very soon.
