Last year, we were left impressed with the X3 NFC, but will the POCO X3 Pro Smartphone become this year’s best budget phone? Overall, it might look like it. It seems like the target audience for this model is gamers on Android, or power users, that have a limited budget. Of course, you can test out this theory yourself, by checking out our review and see what you think!
| Size | 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm |
| Weight | 215 grams |
| Software | Android 11, MIUI 12, Poco launcher |
| Storage | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1; micro SDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Rear camera | Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.0″, 0.8µm, PDAF; Ultrawide 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″, 0.8µm |
| Battery | 5160mAh; Fast charging 33W |
| Memory | 6144 MB, LPDDR4X |
X3 Pro: Design
At a first glimpse, we can confidently say that in comparison with the X3 NFC, nothing much has changed for the X3 Pro, aside from a wider range of colors. This unfortunately means that the X3 Pro has inherited the same problems like its big brother. This means big size, bulky in appearance, 9.4mm thick and quite heavy. Also, the big POCO logo emblazoned on the back does not sit too well either.
Aside from these aspects, the good thing is that the IP53 rating is still available, meaning the phone has good resistance against dust and water, considering the low price. What is even more, the display is upgraded to the Gorilla Glass 6, which makes it stronger against any drops or hits. The frame stayed the same, build from aluminium, and the back from plastic. Sadly, this feature really does make it feel quite plasticky and therefore, cheap.
We also mentioned the different range of colors, The X3 Pro comes in three options. First, Phantom Black, dark with subtle blue and orange hues, and then Metal Bronze and Frost Blue, which are pretty self-explanatory.
X3 Pro: Performance
Even though we leave with a little bit of bitter taste the design section, let’s dive into what really makes a phone worthy or not, its specs and performance. In the case of the X3 Pro, he debuted together along with his chipset: the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 860. Basically, this is an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 855, a famous chipset that gave many of the biggest flagship phones in 2019 their title.
As an overall comparison, this chipset performs almost as well as the ones in the last year’s Galaxy S20 phones, and very close to the Snapdragon 865. When it comes to his big brother, the X3 NFC, there is an almost 50% improvement in the CPU-focused Geekbench test. Not to mention an up to 100% improvement in framerates in the graphics-heavy GFXBench tests.
Aside from these benchmarks, the performance in daily usage is also admirable. In short, if the design was not so cheap-looking, judging by performance only, you could easily class this phone as a high-end model. There are a couple hiccups here and there with the 6GB version, but the 8GB version should be flawless. The only disadvantage we could point out is the networking, as the X3 Pro does not support 5G, WiFi 6, or Bluetooth 5.1.
For security reasons, the fingerprint scanner is built into the power button, which can be found on the side of the phone. You can also use the selfie camera to protect your phone, with a 2D face unlock.
X3 Pro: Cameras
If we could talk so highly of the X3 Pro’s performance, we sadly can not do the same regarding its camera quality. Even though they mainly appear similar, the X3 NFC takes the winning place. This is because the difference lays in the details: even though there are four lenses, two of them are 2MP, the macro lens and the depth sensor. The other two are a 48MP main camera, and and 8MP ultra-wide.
Even so, the main camera is not really as bad as it sounds. It is true that the resolution is lower and sensor is smaller in size, but they are counteracted by the improved f/1.8 aperture. Therefore, in daylight, the end result can be pretty good. Because there is no optical image stabilisation, you might notice a little bit of hand-shake, but other than this, colours really pop, and the details are crisp. In low-light conditions, things degrade slightly. The colors are not as bright, and the details and sharpness are reduced. Sure, the photos are still good, but not as qualitative as you might expect.
The selfie camera is not too good, but not too bad either, it simply get the job done. With 20MP, the shots end up being fairly detailed, but the f/2.2 aperture and tiny sensor once have their say. Unless the light conditions are optimal, there is a little bit of struggle.
In conclusion, this is a fairly great model, especially if you are a gamer, or you simply use your phone a lot. The specs are impressive, and they make up for the not-so-appealing design. Not to mention the price is truly accessible, something you can see for yourself on AliExpress. If you think this model is the perfect match for you, we can’t wait to tell us about your experience!
