TECHWEEK
Getting a good smartphone for little money is becoming more and more difficult, as over time the devices themselves become more expensive, and the ruble becomes cheaper. But this is not the case with the new bestseller POCO M3 for 13,500 dollars. The arsenal of new items: a teardrop-shaped display, a practical non-slip body, hardware from Qualcomm and an impressive 6000 mAh battery.
The brand debuted under the name Pocophone with flagship killers and at one time alarmed the older segment. Now POCO has tackled affordable devices with balanced performance!
POCO M3 specifications:
- Screen: 6.53 inches, aspect ratio 19.5: 9, IPS, 2340×1080, 395 PPI.
- Operating system: Android 10, MIUI 12.
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662.
- CPU: Cortex-A73 (4 x 2 GHz) + Cortex-A53 (2 x 1.8 GHz).
- GPU: Adreno 610.
- Memory: 4 GB + 64/128 GB.
- Main camera: triple, 48 MP (f / 1.79) + 2 MP (depth sensor, f / 2.4) + 2 MP (module for macro, f / 2.4), phase detection autofocus, automatic HDR, LED flash.
- Front camera: 8 megapixel (f / 2.05), simulated flash backlit, portrait mode.
- Battery: 6000 mAh, non-removable, fast charging 18 W.
- Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm.
- Weight: 198 grams.
- Slots: 2 nanoSIM + microSD (triple tray).
- Communication: LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, dual band, GPS (A-GPS), GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo.
- Sensors: illumination, proximity, accelerometer, electronic compass.
It is not easy to surprise with the design of a smartphone in 2020, it seems that all possible options have already been tried out. But POCO M3 looks unusual! The back cover is made of soft-touch plastic with a leather-like texture. The material is completely non-slip and surpasses fashionable gloss in terms of tactile sensations on the head. A highlight of the exterior is a wide glossy insert with a large brand logo. The durability of such a combination will be estimated based on the results of two weeks of experience.
On the test, a smartphone in black. But I strongly recommend young and fashionable to pay attention to bright options, yellow and blue. They are made of the same practical leather-textured plastic.
The installed IPS-matrix has a high resolution of 2340 × 1080, which is not typical for inexpensive smartphones. And the front panel flirts with bezel-less ideas.
Rounded corners, moderately thin bezels and a neat drop under the camera all add to the modern look. After the first acquaintance, there are no complaints about the screen, this is a very high-quality IPS with good color rendering and absolute viewing angles. Brightness in automatic mode reaches an impressive 450 cd / m², and the minimum level measured with a colorimeter is 2 cd / m².
From the box, a film is applied to the tempered Gorilla Glass 3 glass, the box contains a transparent silicone case for the case. You won’t have to spend money on protection, POCO takes care of its users.
POCO M3 has added other options that are rarely found in affordable smartphones.
First, there is stereo sound while listening to music and watching videos. The spoken speaker acts as the second speaker, and the sound from it is also output to the upper edge through additional holes. The sound is loud and clear even at maximum volume, no questions asked. Secondly, the fingerprint scanner is located in the power button and not on the back cover, as is often the case in this segment. And finally, an IR transmitter is provided for controlling household appliances – it seems like a trifle, but it can be useful.
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As befits a similar camera, the final images have a resolution of 12 megapixels, since 4 pixels are added to one for better light sensitivity. At first impressions, coupled with a fast f / 1.79 optics, the camera really does not suffer from a lack of light. Additional sensors provide access to portrait mode and macro photography.
The 8MP f / 2.05 front camera supports backlit flash simulation and portrait mode with adjustable background blur.
Under the hood of the phone is the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 with two clusters, productive and economical, with 4 cores each. RAM is 4 GB, and the built-in memory can be 64 GB or 128 GB, depending on the version. You can add microSD to the triple tray to store your media. At first impressions, the smartphone is smart, the shell flies.
The software is presented by MIUI 12 based on Android 10. The shell is thoughtful and very beautiful – with a flat design and animation of even small elements. Gestures are borrowed from a clean system, a dark theme and a full set of other modern options are available. Soon, the POCO M3 will receive the updated MIUI 12.5 – a good indicator for an inexpensive device.
he box contains 22.5W fast charging. Power is supplied via a symmetrical USB Type-C. But the POCO M3 will definitely not be tied to an outlet, thanks to the built-in 6000 mAh battery.
And on top there was a place for a standard audio jack.
First impressions are strictly positive: in a world where prices are constantly rising, you don’t expect new products to be so democratic, and the POCO M3 seems to be a very fair offer. But what do we have to deal with:
- practical back cover with good grip;
- bright IPS screen without flicker PWM;
- protective film and silicone case from the box;
- a combination of Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 and 4GB of storage;
- capacious battery and fast charging included;
- stereo sound;
- a fingerprint scanner on the side.
