Poco X3 Pro review
The spirit of the first-ever Poco phone - the F1 - continues to live as part of the newly announced Poco X3 Pro and Poco F3. These two mid-rangers reach new heights with 120Hz screens, main chips, stereo speakers, and big batteries. Today, we'll explore the cheaper Poco X3 Pro - the first Snapdragon 860 stand - and its cool features.
The Poco X3 Pro is built on top of the Poco X3 NFC, and they both look the same. The Pro version uses much better hardware, although it is the first phone to run on the Snapdragon 860 SoC - a repackaged version of the flagship (and still is) Snapdragon 855+ chip.
Just like the Poco X3 NFC, the Poco X3 Pro has an IP53 rating for dust protection and splash resistance, it is equipped with a 6.67-inch IPS LCD screen with 1080p resolution and support for a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 5160 mAh battery capable of fast charging at 33W You also get stereo speakers, microSD slot, NFC, IR blaster, and even a 3.5mm jack.
Strangely, the camera is a little different and not in a good way. Look, the Poco X3 Pro has a quad camera on the back with a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-fast camera, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth capture tool. It's not bad, it's just that the regular X3 offered 64 MP main and 13 MP for shooting, and we can't help but feel that the Pro is being demoted in this department.
Well, clearly the most important upgrade since the original X3 is the much improved SoC, which should allow access to over 60fps in many popular games and take advantage of the full potential of the 120Hz display. This is often an issue with mid-range guards capable of HRR, and we'll gladly do the update, be it at the expense of some camera megapixels.
Poco X3 Pro phone specifications:
- Body: 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4mm, 215g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic frame, plastic back; IP53, dust, and water splash protection.
- Screen: 6.67 inches IPS LCD, 120 Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ), 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution, 20: 9 aspect ratio, 395 ppi; 240 Hz touch sampling.
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7nm): Octa-core (1 x 2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Prime + 3 x 2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold + 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485 Silver); Adreno 640.
- Memory: 128 GB 6 GB RAM, 256 GB 8 GB RAM; UFS 3.1; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
- OS / Software: Android 11, MIUI 12, Poco launcher.
- Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f / 1.8, 1 / 2.0 ", 0.8 μm, PDAF; ultra-wide angle: 8 MP, f / 2.2, 119 °; Macro: 2 MP, f / 2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f / 2.4.
- Front camera: 20 MP, f / 2.2, (wide), 1 / 3.4 ", 0.8 μm.
- Video Capture: Back Camera: 4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 30 / 120fps, 720p @ 960fps; EIS gyroscope. Front camera: 1080p @ 30fps.
- Battery: 5160 mAh; Fast charging 33W.
- Misc: Fingerprint Reader (side-mounted); Infrared NFC port; 3.5 mm stereo speakers jack.
We can't think of anything missing on this € 250 phone. Yes, we liked the telephoto camera and AMOLED screen, but maybe that's why we have the upcoming Poco F3 and F3 Pro?
We can feel like we're dealing with the Poco X3 Pro, but before we get deeper, let's first get this thing out.
Design, build and handle the Poco X3 Pro
If you've seen the Poco X3 NFC, you already know everything about the X3 Pro - these two are visually identical. It was the Poco X3 NFC that broke the mold and introduced Poco's first original design, and that's a design you'll get with the Pro upgrade as well.
The phone's design works as usual - the large Gorilla Glass keeps the screen safe, the back panel is made of plastic and is beautifully coated, and the shiny frame looks plastic as well. Everything has an official IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance. Do not mistake this for waterproofing; The Poco X3 Pro probably won't stand inundation.
The back panel with the camera arrangement is what made the Poco X3 different from the Redmi phones - it was the first uniquely designed device that makes the Pocophone instantly recognizable among its peers. Just look at it!
The company chose a somewhat flashy design but wanted to see and see it. The curved plastic has three distinct lines - two matte and one glossy in between. The glossy part is as wide as the camera setup and has this great striped pattern, which in addition to containing the huge POCO logo, also reflects the light in a great way. The back is really unique, and while it can't be everyone's cup of tea, we think some skeptics might grow up to love it in a few weeks.
The camera setup is also weird - its island has a rectangular shape with curved sides. Then everything falls within a dark gray circle - a strange and beloved accent again. The setup is thick, and if the Poco X3 Pro was carried without a bag, it would swing at your desk or table.
With enough design, let's peek at the sides of the phone now.
- The most interesting 6.67-inch IPS LCD screen is one of those panels that boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, small aperture, and the usual 1080 + resolution. This is the same screen we saw on the Poco X3 NFC.
- There's a flat Gorilla Glass 6 protecting the screen, which is one of the few updates made to the Poco X3 NFC - the previous model was based on the Gorilla Glass 5 piece.
- The bottom edge of the screen is a bit larger than the rest, but we really can't hold it for the Poco X3 Pro, due to its affordable prices. Plus, above the screen, you'll find a single slim grille that hides the stereo earphone/speaker and a small white notifications-only LED. The speaker sounds are as loud as the bottom volume, which is cool.
- There is no in-display fingerprint scanner as the panel is not an OLED but rather an LCD screen. The Poco X3 Pro reader is placed on the right side, mounted on the surface of the power switch and sits perfectly under your thumb. This placement can be a problem for some, as you may experience a misunderstanding while pulling the phone out of your pocket. We suggest changing the scanning trigger from Touch to Press in settings, all issues will be resolved immediately.
The right side also houses the volume keys. The only card tray is on the left, and it's hybrid - you can replace one of the SIM cards with a microSD card.
The top of the Poco X3 Pro houses an IR blaster, one of the microphones, and an extra hole for the top speaker. This way, you get higher sound with better quality.
Finally, the bottom has a 3.5mm jack, USB-C port, mouthpiece, and a second stereo speaker.
We have already mentioned the unique wallpaper and its camera settings. The sensor logic there is the same as on the Poco X3 NFC, but the two important cameras feature lower-resolution sensors now. The primary snapper is 48MP instead of 64MP, and the ultra-fast uses an 8MP instead of 13MP, while the depth sensor and macro camera are unchanged - both are 2MP. There is one LED flash in the fifth and final chapter.
The Poco X3 Pro measures 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4mm and weighs 215g - an exact copy of the Poco X3 NFC.
The X3 Pro isn't that stylish, nor is it lightweight - the phone looks solid and well-built, with good grip thanks to its plastic frame, even if it's shiny. Fingerprints and smudges are a problem for the frame and back, so if you want to carry your phone without a case and take care of its appearance, we can see you cleaning it multiple times every day.
The Poco X3 Pro is a nice phone, and we appreciate the added protection against entry. Fits well on hand and in most pockets, but as we said - it's neither the lightest width nor the most weight. But it can't have a main spec and a bigger battery and be as thin as a sheet, right?
Poco X3 Pro display
The Poco X3 Pro uses the same 6.67-inch IPS LCD that we met on the Poco X3 NFC. It uses a familiar resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels (395 pixels per inch), supports HDR10, 120Hz refresh rate, and 240Hz touch sampling.
The plate contains a hole for the selfie camera. A small hole is fine, but due to LCD technology, the surrounding backlight is uneven.
One strange thing - even if the display officially supports HDR10 and is recognized as such, Netflix and Prime currently don't recognize it as supporting HDR (and they stream in Full HD, though). Then YouTube does. It might be up to the services to whitelist the X3 Pro as a supported device. Widevine L1 DRM is there, DRM apps correctly recognize the screen as HDR10, so hopefully, this solution is just a matter of time.
The screen supports an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz
Now, let's talk more about the refresh rate. There are two types of settings available to you - Standard (60Hz) and Medium (120Hz). The Poco X3 Pro always stays at 60Hz whatever you do if the phone is set to standard.
However, the average position is adaptive. You will get a refresh rate of 120Hz when you touch the phone and through the user interface. Sometimes, there will be a drop to 60Hz two seconds after your last reaction, and sometimes it just doesn't. This behavior varies across apps, even system apps, so we really can't put it into a certain pattern.
However, there are exceptions, most of which are video apps. In YouTube, for example, the phone always stays at 60Hz.
On Netflix, the user interface is always displayed at 60Hz, while movies are played at 48Hz. Amazon Prime Video offers its own user interface and streaming content at 90Hz.
The Poco X3 Pro also unlocks the high refresh rate of many popular titles that are known to be over 60fps. Among the things we tried and got 120 Hz were Mortal Kombat, Dead Trigger 2, 1945 Air Force, and Pac Man.
Battery life of the Poco X3 Pro
The Poco X3 Pro, just like the Poco X3 NFC, runs on a fairly large battery of 5160mAh. Supports wired fast charging, and a 33-watt adapter is included with the phone.
The new Poco X3 Pro passed the battery test with an impressive result of 112 hours. It can take approximately 33 hours of calls, last up to 17 hours online, or play videos for half a day. The phone also showed good performance in standby mode.
We ran on-screen tests at both 60Hz and 120Hz, and the difference in results was minimal.
Android 11 with MIUI 12
The Poco X3 Pro runs Android 11 with the Poco-spiced MIUI 12 out of the box. The MIUI 12 release has been around for a while, and even if it uses the latest Android 11 base, you really can't tell because it wears everything off perfectly. Poco launcher uses a slightly different system theme, and icons included, but you can change it if you don't like it
The home screens work as usual - they're full of shortcuts, folders, and tools. The leftmost part, if enabled, is Google Discovery.
There are no Super wallpapers on the Poco X3 Pro, in case you were wondering.
Homescreens - Poco X3 Pro Home Screen Review - Poco X3 Pro Home Screen Review - Poco X3 Pro Home Screen Review - Poco X3 Pro Home Screen Review - Poco X3 Pro Review
Screenshots Poco X3 Pro
Poco-failed MIUI offers 12 app drawers, but unlike Redmi phones, you can't disable it on the Poco X3 Pro. It automatically organizes your apps into categories. The first is all, that is, it contains all applications. Then follow communications, entertainment, photography, gadgets, news, and business. You can edit these categories or even disable them completely.
Another interesting feature is the notifications shade split into Notification Center and Control Center. Just like on iPhones, you can invoke it by swiping down from the left part of the screen to Notification Center or swiping down from the right to Control Center.
Poco X3 Pro review
If you are not fond of this new split - you can disable Control Center, and the shadow will return to its normal look and operation.
Notification Center - Poco X3 Pro Review Control Center - Poco X3 Pro Review Control Center - Poco X3 Pro Review Options - Poco X3 Pro Review The Old Notification Shade - Poco X3 Pro Review
Notification Center • Control Center • Control Center • Options • Old Notification Shade
The task switch didn't change much. It displays all of your recent apps in two columns. Tap and hold a card for a split-screen shortcut, or just swipe it left or right to close it. There's a new Windows Floating button at the top, which is a new option offered by MIUI 12. You can put any app into a floating state, but you only have one floating window at a time.
Task Switcher - Poco X3 Pro Review Options - Poco X3 Pro Review - Floating App Review - Poco X3 Pro Review - Poco X3 Pro Review
Task changer • Options • Floating app • Split screen
Themes are a big part of MIUI, and it's available in MIUI 12 as well. You can download new files from the Themes store, and they can change backgrounds, ringtones, system icons, system fonts, and even Always-Display style.
Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review Themes - Poco X3 Pro Review
Themes for Poco X3 Pro
Xiaomi has improved MIUI 12 with two additional options for privacy. Now, when sharing things, like photos and videos, you can choose to remove location information and/or other metadata (including device information) thus protecting your privacy better. salary.
Gallery - Poco X3 Pro Review Privacy Settings - Poco X3 Pro Review
Gallery • Privacy settings
MIUI also offers a security app. It can scan your phone for malware, manage your blacklist, manage or restrict data usage, configure battery behavior, and free up some RAM. It can also manage permissions for your installed apps and allow you to define battery behavior for specific apps and apply restrictions only to apps you choose.
MIUI 12 bundles proprietary gallery, music, and video player. In some regions, music and video apps may include paid streaming options. Mi Remote is available for infrared amplifiers as well.
The Poco X3 Pro supports FM radio, and you'll find the app that's right for it.
Security - Poco X3 Pro Review - Poco X3 Pro Review - Poco X3 Pro Review - Poco X3 Pro Review Video - Mi Remote Review - Poco X3 Pro FM Radio Review - Poco X3 Pro Review
Safety • Security • Music • Video • Mi Remote • FM Radio
MIUI 12 supports dark mode as well, and you can even force it on wallpapers or restrict its application to individual, incompatible apps.
Dark Mode Review - Poco X3 Pro Dark Mode Review - Poco X3 Pro Dark Mode Review - Poco X3 Pro Dark Mode Review - Poco X3 Pro Dark Mode Review - Poco X3 Pro Review
Poco X3 Pro's dark mode
MIUI 12 is fully optimized for HRR displays, and it looks great on the Poco X3 Pro. Everything is smooth and fast. The animation is unobtrusive but impressive, and the attention to detail is simply excellent. We enjoyed working with MIUI on the Poco X3 Pro 120Hz for sure.
Some MIUI ROMs include ads in the default apps, it's a known thing.
Average Quad Camera
The Poco X3 Pro offers a quad camera on the back - there is a 48MP primary shooter (less than 64MP on the X3 NFC), joined by an 8MP ultra-fast camera (under 13MP on the X3 NFC), and a 2MP macro photography with a depth sensor 2 megapixels. The selfie kit stays the same - it's a 20MP front camera.
The Poco X3 Pro has a 48MP primary camera based on a 1/2-inch Sony IMX 582 Quad-Bayer sensor with 0.8μm pixels, a 25mm f / 1.8 lens, and PDAF. Night mode is supported on this camera.
The second is an 8MP lens with a 15mm f / 2.2 lens. Focus is fixed; Night mode is here too.
2 MP macro camera with f / 2.4 lens, 1.75 μm pixel, but lacks autofocus. Finally, there's a 2MP depth sensor.
The selfie camera has a 20MP Samsung S5K3T2 ISOCELL Plus 1 / 3.4 '' Tetra-pixel sensor behind the 26mm f / 2.2 lens. The focus is fixed.
The default camera app is typical of MIUI - the modes are switched by swiping left and right, all modes are available but the macro is included in this Rolodex. The zoom shortcut on the viewfinder switches between super-fast and normal 1x and 2x (digital) zoom.
Poco X3 Pro review
On the other end of the viewfinder, you have a flash mode switch, an HDR switch, an AI toggle switch, Google Lens, and a magic wand with beauty effects and filters. Behind the hamburger menu, you'll find more options, including the macro mode, as well as a settings shortcut. What you won't find is an option to set the output resolution for any of the cameras.
Pro mode works with the regular camera, the wide camera, and the macro camera. 48MP manual photos are also an option. For the main camera, you can use a shutter speed of 30 seconds and ISO up to 6400. For an ultra-wide camera, the slower shutter speed drops to 30 seconds, while for the macro - 1/4 second.