Poco X3: A Budget Phone That Packs a Punch

The Poco X3 is a budget phone that's packed with impressive features. It's a great option for those who want a powerful device without breaking the bank.

One of its standout features is its high-performance processor, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, which provides lightning-fast speeds. With this processor, you can expect seamless performance and efficient multitasking.

The Poco X3 also boasts a large 6.67-inch display, making it perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games. Its Full HD+ resolution ensures crisp and clear visuals.

Its large 5160mAh battery ensures you can use your phone all day without needing to recharge.

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The Poco X3's display is a standout feature, boasting a 6.67-inch 2400 x 1080 LCD screen with 450 nits brightness.

This screen is supported by HDR and wide color gamut, making it a great choice for watching videos or browsing the web. The display also features a trim punch hole for the front camera, giving it a sleek and modern look.

The real game-changer, however, is the 120Hz refresh rate, which is a significant improvement over the standard 60Hz found in most budget phones. This results in a smoother and more responsive user experience, especially when navigating the app menu.

The display's brightness of 450 nits is among the brightest available at under $300, but it's worth noting that the Realme X50 5G is a little brighter.

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The Poco X3 NFC's design is a mixed bag. It has a plastic shell with a thin metal lip, measuring 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4mm and weighing 215g.

The phone's back is made of plastic, which is a common material used in its class. However, this might not be immediately apparent, as the phone comes with a bundled silicone case that makes the plastic aesthetic less obvious.

The Poco X3 NFC has a 6.67-inch screen, which is noticeably larger than the 6.53-inch screen of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9. This difference is obvious, and you should prepare yourself for a bigger device.

The phone's design also features a giant Poco logo on the rear, which is a design trend that some might find unfortunate. However, the logo is built into a layer under the surface, giving it a more subtle look.

The phone's camera housing is quite prominent, which is a deliberate design choice. This is evident in the bundled silicone case, which has a lip to protect the sides of the phone in case of accidental drops.

Here are some key specifications of the Poco X3 NFC's design:

The Poco X3 NFC has a surprisingly advanced display, especially considering the price. It features a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with a 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution.

The display has a trim punch hole for the front camera, which doesn't take away from the overall viewing experience. It also supports wide gamut color and HDR, making it perfect for streaming 1080p Netflix content.

The screen's 120Hz refresh rate is a major highlight, making it stand out from most budget phones that typically have a 60Hz refresh rate. This is especially noticeable in the app menu, where you'll see a smoother and more responsive interface.

The display's brightness is also noteworthy, reaching 450 nits. While it's not the brightest sub-$400 phone, it's still among the brightest Android phones available at under $300/£200.

However, there's a minor issue with backlight flickering, which may be caused by the display's optimization. This can be seen when Auto brightness is switched off, and it's hoped that a firmware update will resolve the issue.

The Poco X3's camera system is a highlight of the phone's features. It boasts a quad-camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The camera app is intuitive and easy to use, with features like night mode, portrait mode, and more. You can also record 4K video at 30fps.

One of the standout features of the camera is its ability to capture stunning low-light photos. The 48MP primary sensor is capable of producing high-quality images even in dimly lit environments.

The ultra-wide-angle lens is great for capturing broad scenes and landscapes. It's perfect for taking photos of group shots or scenic views.

The Poco X3's camera system is also equipped with advanced features like AI-powered scene detection and HDR. These features help to enhance the overall quality of your photos.

The Poco X3 is a powerhouse of a phone, thanks to its top-notch specs. The phone is equipped with a Snapdragon 732G processor, which is no slouch, delivering performance that's on par with the Snapdragon 765G.

The phone comes in two storage options: 64GB and 128GB, both of which are UFS 2.1. This means you'll have plenty of room for your apps, photos, and videos. The 6GB RAM is also a welcome addition, ensuring that your phone stays smooth and responsive.

The phone's display is a 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400 IPS screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it a joy to use. And with a 5160mAh battery, you can expect to get a full day's use out of it, even with heavy usage.

Here are the key specs at a glance:

The phone's battery life is truly impressive, with over 12 hours of screen-on time possible. And with 33W fast charging, you can get back to 100% in just over an hour.

The battery life on the Poco X3 NFC is truly impressive. The phone has a 5160mAh battery, which is a significant boost to its already-long-lasting battery.

You can easily get two full days of moderate use out of the phone, even with the screen set to 60Hz. We've tested this and found that the phone can last well into the second day, even with some heavy usage.

The 120Hz mode does seem to have a bit of an impact on battery life, but the phone still outlasts many high-end Android phones. Ninety minutes of locally stored video at maximum brightness takes 15% off the battery in the 60Hz mode, or 17% in the 120Hz mode.

Charging speed is also class-leading, thanks to the 33W charger. This means you can get the battery from flat to 58% in just 30 minutes, which is incredibly fast.

The Poco X3 NFC went on sale on September 17, 2020 in Europe.

In Europe, the base model Poco X3 NFC costs £199 (about $250, AU$360) and comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage.

An upgrade to 128GB storage bumps up the price to £229 (around $300, AU$420), although this is an early bird deal that may rise to £249 (around $320, AU$450).

The low price makes this one of the very best cheap phones.

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The Poco X3 has some amazing features that make it a great choice for anyone on a budget.

It has excellent battery life, lasting for days on a single charge, thanks to its large 5160mAh battery. You can stream video, browse the web, or play games all day without worrying about running out of power.

The Poco X3 also offers great specs for its price. You get a 120Hz display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, and a 64-megapixel main camera, all of which are impressive features that beat out many other phones in its class.

However, there are some downsides to consider. The camera can suffer from purple fringing, and the display has a wonky auto-brightness setting.

Here are the pros and cons of the Poco X3 in a nutshell:

The Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC has received a lot of user reviews, with many praising its gaming performance and value.

One user has had the phone since its release date and finds it to be one of the best phones for gaming and performance. However, they do mention that the phone can sometimes be unresponsive, requiring a reboot to open apps.

The phone's camera is also a highlight, with a 64-megapixel main camera that takes good shots, but suffers from purple fringing.

Users are generally impressed with the phone's battery life, which can last for days on a single charge. The phone's display is also a standout feature, with a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling and gaming a smooth experience.

Here are some of the key pros and cons of the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC based on user reviews:

The Poco X3 NFC is a great choice for those who want a powerful gaming phone without breaking the bank. Here are some of its standout features:

The phone's strong gaming performance is one of its biggest pros. It's equipped with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 732G, which is surprisingly quick - almost as fast as the 765G.

If you're looking for a phone that can last all day, the Poco X3 NFC is a great option. It has a large 5160mAh battery that can handle heavy use, including streaming video and scrolling through social media.

A 120Hz wide color gamut screen is a feature that's hard to beat. It's smoother than most other phones on the market, making it perfect for gaming and watching videos.

Here are some of the phone's key specs at a glance:

Overall, the Poco X3 NFC is a well-rounded phone that offers great value for its price. It's a great choice for anyone who wants a powerful gaming phone without breaking the bank.

The Poco X3 NFC isn't perfect, and there are some downsides to consider. Its camera struggles to deliver top-notch results, often suffering from erratic backlight and purple fringing. It's a shame, really, because the camera sounds impressive on paper.

The phone's size and weight might also be a concern for some. It's quite large and a bit heavy, which can make it uncomfortable to hold and use for extended periods. I've found that larger phones can be a bit of a handful, especially if you're used to smaller devices.

The Poco X3 NFC's display has some quirks too. While it's a lovely IPS panel, it's no OLED, and the auto-brightness can be wonky at times. This can make it difficult to get the screen to adjust to changing lighting conditions.

Here are some of the Poco X3 NFC's notable cons:

The Poco X3 NFC runs Android 10 with MIUI 12, which is a more refined version than previous ones, but still deviates too far from stock for my tastes.

MIUI 12's design is pretty standard and includes Google Discover, which is a nice touch. The phone's performance is consistent with the Poco F2 Pro, despite the spec differences.

The new Snapdragon 732G is no slouch, and in day-to-day tasks, it feels about as speedy as the Snapdragon 765G. It's genuinely surprising how quick the X3 NFC is.

The 120Hz refresh rate keeps everything delightfully smooth, and the 6GB RAM and 64GB or 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage provide a solid foundation for performance. Battery life is outstanding, with well over 12 hours of screen-on time.

That huge 5160mAh cell is a major contributor to the X3 NFC's impressive battery life. Filling back up is a breeze thanks to 33W fast charging – 0-100% takes just over an hour.

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The Poco X3 is a fantastic option for those who want a powerful phone without breaking the bank. It's one of the best you can get right now, especially if you're into playing GPU-taxing games like Fortnite and ARK: Survival Evolved.

You'll get a huge screen, good stereo speakers, and a large 5160mAh battery that lasts a full day, even with heavy use. This phone is a great bet if you stream a lot of video or scroll through Instagram for hours on end.

The Poco X3 NFC is all about value, offering a lot of phone for a reasonable amount of money. You'll get a 120Hz display and a Snapdragon 732G CPU, which beats almost everything else available at the price.

However, the camera isn't the best, leaving purple fringes on high-contrast areas of an image. And if you're looking for a premium feel, you might be disappointed - the phone has a plastic rear and a thin band of aluminium on the sides.

If you're on a tight budget, you might want to consider the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, which has a large screen and decent battery life, but lacks some of the techy extras of the Poco X3.

So, should you buy the Poco X3? Here are some scenarios where it's a great choice:

The Poco X3 is a budget-friendly option that packs a punch. It's powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, which is a significant upgrade from its predecessor.

With a starting price of around $250, the Poco X3 is an affordable choice for those looking for a high-performance smartphone.

The phone features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display, which is perfect for gaming and watching videos.

The 5160mAh battery is a beast, providing all-day battery life even with heavy usage.

You can choose from 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of internal storage, depending on your needs.