Poco M3 first impressions: Bold design, competitive specs

The entry-level smartphone market in India is possibly the most competitive segment in the country. Last year, the Poco M2 prevailed over alternatives from Redmi and Realme to offer one of the cheapest options. Now the brand is back with its successor, the Poco M3. Here are our first impressions of Poco’s latest.

Poco M3: design and hardware

In a sea of ​​color gradients and glass-metal sandwiches, Poco has created a striking and unique visual identity for the Poco M3. It channels the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk Edition a bit, but also classic phones like the Lumia 1020 with its bright yellow color and distinctive camera layout. If you prefer a more subtle look, black and dark blue variants are also available.

The general hand feel of the phone is excellent. In my early impressions, I found the textured layout on the back to be particularly nice to hold. The phone gives really good tactile feedback and Poco somehow managed to keep the weight below 200g despite the large battery.

The Poco M3 is exceptionally well built and looks refreshingly unique.

The change from the fingerprint reader on the back to a side-mounted location is also very much appreciated. Simply put, there is little or nothing to complain about here.

Instead of reinventing the M2, Poco has focused on improving key aspects of the phone. Therefore, the display with a Full HD + resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection remains unchanged at 6.53 inches.

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 forward, but should offer nominal performance improvements.

Depending on your recording settings, the camera system may be a downgrade here. While the M2 offered an 8MP ultrawide sensor and a 5MP macro sensor in addition to the main camera, the Poco M3 opted for a 48MP main shooter in combination with 2MP macro and depth cameras. The 8MP front camera remains unchanged at the front.

The battery gets a major upgrade to 6000mAh.

A major improvement is the 6,000 mAh battery, which now also supports reverse charging. Poco’s entry-level hardware has generally performed well with battery life, and the extended battery life should produce great results.

Technical specifications

Poco M3 Early Verdict: Should You Buy It?

The Poco M3 starts at Rs. 10,999 for the 64GB base variant, making it one of the most enticing options in the segment. The spec sheet, while not particularly impressive, is definitely competitive.

Additionally, it’s the fresh design and bold color options that should help the Poco M3 stand out in a tough competition. The Poco M3 will go on sale on February 19th. Look forward to a more in-depth review shortly.