Poco M3 : test / comprehensive review without double talk

Poco M3 : test / review

Name: Poco M3
Brand: Poco
Price: 90 EUR
Availability: InStock

The Poco brand had not been used by Xiaomi since 2018 and 2020 marked the return of the brand with 3 new models. The Poco F2 Pro came first by attacking the top of the range, the Poco X3 came next by attacking the middle of the range and the little last one, the Poco M3, comes to attack the entry level with a launch for Black Friday 2020 and an announced price of 129€! [b][b]With each Poco, I have the impression that Xiaomi takes out the flattening roller to push the competition even further with ever lower prices. I'm really struggling to find credible alternatives in the same price range.[b][b]I usually think a lot before buying a phone but I bought the Poco X3 blind because I was very satisfied with the F2 Pro. I did the same with this Poco M3 and I'm curious to see what it has in store for 129€.[b][b][b]linkManufacturer web site: https://www.poco.net/global/[b]linkSite where I have bought the Poco M3: https://s.zbanx.com/r/D23tPcHW7g58[b]

Structure of my tests

I test the phones according to a pre-established structure (see below) to provide you with as much information as possible. Unfortunately, this takes a long time. Some tests like network performance tests take several days and for photo tests I sometimes have to wait until the weather is suitable to take pictures in good conditions. I am therefore obliged to publish the tests step by step, so I invite you to come back if the test is not complete at the time of your visit.[b]
How are my tests different from others on the web?

- I usually buy the devices with my own money, so price is just as important as you are!
- I keep the devices for at least a few weeks (sometimes more) to see what they are worth in real conditions.
- I answer (when possible) your questions to help you decide before you buy
- no one pays me to do these reviews, so I'm completely neutral and independent...
- My pages are not filled with ads

Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite test / review
Poco X3 Pro : test / review
OnePlus Nord N100: test / review
Poco F3 Test / Review
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite test / review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro : test / review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: test / review
Redmi 9A test / review
Nokia 5.3 Test / Review
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9T: test / review

Price Poco M3

The list below shows the prices for the Poco M3 from more than 50 sites around the world. If you are not satisfied with any price, you can subscribe to a price alert to be the first to be notified when the price drops.[b]

Xiaomi Poco M3 4GB 128GB Smartphone Cool Blue 48MP Dual SIM 6000mAh EU Handy...

2021-04-11 06:22

90 EUR

eBay DE
open_in_new

Xiaomi Poco M3 64gb. NUEVO...

2021-04-11 20:31

99 EUR

eBay ES
open_in_new

Xiaomi POCO M3 Power Black 4 GB Ram 64 GB Speicher Samrtphone *Neu*...

2021-04-11 20:23

104 EUR

eBay DE
open_in_new

Xiaomi Smartphone POCO M3 4+64G 6000mAh Ladung 6.53 "display Globale Version...

2021-04-11 20:23

129 EUR

eBay DE
open_in_new

Xiaomi POCO M3 64GB Power Black Smartphone 6,53" 48MP Dual SIM 6000mAh Händler✅...

2021-04-11 14:22

110 EUR

eBay DE
open_in_new

Xiaomi Poco M3 4GB 64GB 48MP 6,53'' FHD+ 6000mAh Smartphone Doble SIM EU Plug...

2021-04-11 20:31

110 EUR

eBay ES
open_in_new

[b]

helpThe above links are affiliate links from companies such as Amazon, Gearbest, Aliexpress,... If you appreciate my work, I would be grateful if you could purchase these products through these links. It costs you absolutely nothing but I get a small commission that allows me to buy the material I test. Thank you very much!

Timeline

27/11/2020 I order the Poco M3 on Aliexpress at introductory price[b][b]18/12/2020 I finally received the Poco M3, so I can start testing it.[b]

Why this phone?

As I wrote above, I tested the Poco F2 Pro and the Poco X3 earlier this year. I really liked both phones, the price/performance ratio is absolutely unbeatable. These two Poco's have pushed the limits of what you can get for this price. The Poco M3 comes with an even lower price, so it will be available to an even wider audience.[b][b]Beyond the price of the Poco M3, its features are close to the Redmi Note 9, these two phones have a lot in common. They are the same size but the Poco is a little thicker to accommodate a larger battery. The screen has the same size and resolution. The performance is similar even if the architecture is different. It is also possible that the Poco will take over the camera from the Redmi, if this is the case I hope it won't take over the poor colour management of the latter.[b][b]The Poco therefore looks like a Redmi Note 9 with a higher battery capacity. The comparison could therefore be interesting.[b][b]

Unpacking

[b][b]Xiaomi uses the colour orange for its phones and to differentiate itself from the main brand, Poco uses yellow. The box is therefore yellow and contains the phone, a transparent cover, a manual, a needle to open the sim drawer, a charger and a USB cable. [b][b]

3add_a_photo

[b][b]

Length : 162.3
Width : 77.3
Thickness : 9.6
Weight : 198
Jack output : Yes
USB Type : Type C

First configuration

The configuration of the Poco M3 is identical to the other models of the brand, Xiaomi has just added a possibility to exit the configuration quite quickly in case you want to make an urgent call. You can set up your e-mail box and fingerprint later.[b][b]Xiaomi has recently introduced an additional question to encourage you to sign up for the Xiaomi Cloud. They are becoming more and more insistent.[b][b]

Finish

[b][b]The Poco M3 is an entry-level phone, so don't expect a glass or metal back. The Poco M3 is made of plastic and the back of the phone is covered with a texture that reminds me of a crocodile skin. I hadn't seen this kind of texture for almost 2 years. This doesn't affect the quality of the phone, the Poco M3 doesn't follow the trend that phones should be shiny with all kinds of lighting effects. The advantage of this kind of texture is that it doesn't slip.[b][b]The Poco M3 has a slightly peculiar configuration on the back with a photo block on the left but which is extended by a smooth surface across the entire width of the phone. Every Poco launched in 2020 is different, I have the impression that Poco has not yet found the ideal format to represent the brand with its own identity. I have read many reviews of this format, I personally have nothing against it, this phone is just different and the choice of Poco does not affect the use of the phone. So it's all a matter of taste.[b][b]As for the rest, the Poco follows the market guidelines with a jack connector at the top of the phone, an infrared sensor, a USB C port and a mono speakerphone at the bottom of the phone. The fingerprint sensor is on the side like the Redmi Note 9S and the Poco X3. The SIM drawer can hold two SIM cards and an extra micro SD memory card (not at the expense of the SIM cards).[b][b] The finishes are not of the premium type but overall I think the Poco M3 is pretty good.[b][b]

7add_a_photo

[b][b]

Specifications

[b]The information below comes from the Device Info HW application. The application provides detailed technical information about the tested phone.I tested the Poco M3 in its 4Gb/64Gb version. The full features are available in the screenshots below this paragraph.[b][b]

10add_a_photo

[b][b]

CPU / GPU Performance

CPU : Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
GPU : Qualcomm AdreNo 610
Memory (RAM) : 4 Gb
Storage : 64 Gb - 128 Gb

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

I scored 185,000 points with Antutu, this puts the Poco M3 at a Redmi Note 9 level. The price positioning of the Poco is lower than the Redmi, the price/performance ratio is therefore favourable to the Poco.[b][b]

3add_a_photo

[b][b]

Antutu score : 185690
Antutu CPU : 72074
Antutu GPU : 34783
Antutu UX : 36819
Antutu Mem : 42014
3D Mark Open GL : 1149

[b]Top 10 - performance ranking based on Antutu
1. Poco F3 - 610000
2. Oppo Find X2 Pro - 605184
3. Oneplus 8t - 595000
4. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro - 581650
5. Oneplus 8 Pro - 579417
6. Xiaomi Mi 10 - 579114
7. Poco F2 Pro - 569559
8. Samsung Galaxy S20 Fe - 565000
9. Samsung Galaxy S20 - 503905
10. Poco X3 Pro - 486466

Number of smartphones in the ranking:121
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:56/121

Note: this ranking only contains the phones I tested as well as a few others that I added for reference.
[b]Gaming[b]To test the performance in game, I download the mobile PUBG game and evaluate the in-game experience, graphics level and depth of vision. This game is quite demanding and should help you evaluating the performance of a phone.[b][b]The Poco M3 is not intended for a gaming audience but it does very well on PUBG Mobile, this is at the expense of the fluidity of the image and the level of detail of the textures. These are normal degradations for a phone of this type and it will not prevent you from playing this kind of game as long as it offers a low graphics mode.[b][b]

Network performance

The Poco M3 supports most of the 3G/4G frequencies used in Europe, and has become a standard at Xiaomi where 2 years ago this was not the case at all. The B28 / 700 Mhz frequency is also available.[b][b]

3G frequencies : B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B4 (1700/2100 AWS A-F), B5 (850), B8 (900)
4G frequencies : B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B3 (1800), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B20 (800), B28 (700), B38 (TDD 2600), B40 (TDD 2300), B41 (TDD 2500)
Bluetooth : Bluetooth 5.0 LE
Volte : Yes
NFC : No
Number measurements : 1116
Average signal (reference) : -92.09
Average signal (telephone) : -91.74
Average deviation reference/telephone : 0.35
Min/Max signal (reference) : -88 / -98
Min/Max signal (phone) : -90 / -99

Choose your country to check if your phone is compatible:

The frequencies displayed below will allow you to see if this phone is compatible with your operator or if you will be able to use it in the country where you are going on vacation.

Signal 4G (before december 2020)[b]The ability to pick up the network correctly is an essential element for a phone but it is only very rarely measured. To measure a phone's ability to pick up the network, I perform a large number of measurements on the same cells to be able to compare phones under similar conditions. The signal is measured in dBm, a value of -90dBm indicates a worse signal than -70dBm. These measurements are therefore taken under real conditions and not in a laboratory, they are not scientific but give a good indication of performance. [b][b]Network signal sensitivity rating

Phone tested:	Average signal (dBm)	Number of measurements:
Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro	-88	1600
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5	-91.305	600
Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite	-93	788
Samsung Galaxy A70	-94.511	1975
Nokia 5.3	-94.98	531
Realme 6	-95.14	2301
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro	-95.922	1599
Xiaomi Mi A3	-95.95	1000
Huawei Y6 2019	-95.95	1199
Doogee S58 Pro	-96.22	856
Redmi 9a	-96.48	1000
Meizu Note 9	-96.68	937
Motorola G8 Power	-96.88	1032
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7	-97.01	1430
Redmi 9c	-97.04	1000
Umidigi S3 Pro	-97.13	1200
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8	-97.34	879
Samsung Galaxy A21s	-97.78	1000
Umidigi F1	-97.82	298
Ulefone Armor 7e	-98.7	1000
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite	-99	1000
Honor 9x	-99.14	899
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s	-99.4	1860
Poco F2 Pro	-99.8	1247
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9	-100.79	1785
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g	-100.88	1198
Poco X3	-101.19	821
Umidigi F2	-101.47	712

[b][b]Signal 4G (from December 2020)[b]I decided to change the methodology for measuring the network because I noticed that the configuration of the mobile network changes over time. This makes it more difficult to compare phones because the conditions are no longer exactly the same.[b][b]To overcome this problem, I set up a device that captures 24 hours a day about ten parameters from the mobile network (ex: cell id, rssi, rsrq, snr, frequency,...). I then place the phone next to the device for 24 to 48 hours taking the same measurements so that I can compare them. [b][b] Overview of the phones tested with this methodology[b][b]

Phone tested:	Measurements	Avg signal (reference)	Avg signal (phone)	Min/Max (reference)	Min/Max (phone)

Samsung Galaxy S10+	457	-93.06	-97.39	-89 / -98	-97 / -99
Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro	669	-93.69	-95.84	-90 / -95	-92 / -98
Poco F2 Pro	1438	-91.02	-94.99	-89 / -94	-94 / -96
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g	1645	-90.77	-95.02	- 88 / -98	-95 / -100
Poco X3	821	-94.89	-103.19	-91 / -97.7	-101 / -104
Umidigi Bison	2343	-92.71	-96.46	-90 / -99	-94 / -102
Oukitel C21	1101	-92.04	-94.99	-90 / -97	-92 / -95
Poco M3	1116	-92.09	-91.74	-88 / -98	-90 / -99
Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro	1071	-90.61	-94.03	-88 / -94	-94 / -96
Umidigi A9 Pro	981	-90.40	-94.01	-88 / -95	-93 / -95
Redmi Note 9t	1201	-92.149	-91.71	-90 / -97	-91 / -97
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10	999	-92.35	-93.99	-88 / -97	-92 / -98
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro	877	-89.72	-90.56	- 88 / -92	-89 / -95
Poco X3 Pro	1876	-91.45	-92.91	-90 / -94	-90 / -96
Oneplus Nord N100	896	-91.23	-96.005	-88 / - 99	-96 / -99

[b][b]The Poco M3 is the 8th phone I have tested with my new 4G test protocol and it is clearly the best. I usually get quite average results with Chinese brands but here Poco did very well.[b][b]I took over 1000 measurements comparing the results with my reference device. For the first time I have a phone that scores better than my reference device. [b][b]On the following graph you can see that the Poco measurements are almost identical to the measurements of my reference device. The results are so close that at first I thought it was an error in the manipulation of the data but after several checks I came to the same conclusion. [b][b]

[b][b]The Poco M3 is currently the best phone in terms of network sensitivity.[b][b][b][b]Download/Upload speed[b]To test the download speed, I have identified some 4G cells offering good performance where I test all my devices several times to see what download and upload speed they can achieve.[b]Top 10 - speed ranking in download
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 D:351Mbps U: 20Mbps
2. Poco X3 D:232Mbps U: 55Mbps
3. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g D:223Mbps U: 52Mbps
4. Poco F2 Pro D:207Mbps U: 53Mbps
5. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite D:153Mbps U: 68Mbps
6. Xiaomi Mi A3 D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s D:150Mbps U: 60Mbps
8. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite D:149Mbps U: 60Mbps
9. Samsung Galaxy A21s D:147Mbps U: 51Mbps
10. Huawei Y6 2019 D:145Mbps U: 61Mbps

Number of smartphones in the ranking:30
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:0/30

Note: the theoretical maximum speed of a telephone is often limited by the configuration of the mobile network and the congestion of the network at the time of the measurement. So maybe you could get a higher speed on another network
[b][b]

Wifi performance

To test a phone's ability to receive the network properly, I take measurements near my router and then remotely (and always at the same place). This gives me an average in dBm where a value of -90 dBm indicates poorer performance than a value at -30 dBm.[b]

Wifi frequencies : 802.11a , 802.11b , 802.11g , 802.11n , 802.11n 5GHz , 802.11ac
Download speed : 112
Signal / close : -21
Signal / distant : -63

Wifi signal[b]I got a -21 dBm signal near my router and a -63 dBm signal at a distance. The Poco M3 is not the best in terms of wifi sensitivity, it is not bad either, it is somewhere in the middle of the ranking.[b][b][b]Top 10 - wifi sensitivity ranking
1. Poco F2 Pro -11dBm
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro -12dBm
3. Samsung Galaxy A21s -13dBm
4. Oneplus Nord N100 -15dBm
5. Poco X3 Pro -15dBm
6. Redmi Note 9t -15dBm
7. Poco X3 -17dBm
8. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 -17dBm
9. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro -18dBm
10. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s -18dBm

Number of smartphones in the ranking:40
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:20/40

[b]Download/Upload speed[b]To test the speed in Wifi, I connect to my router in 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (if available) and use the Ookla application to measure the speed.[b]Top 10 - wifi download speed ranking
1. Poco X3 Pro 389Mbps
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 367Mbps
3. Samsung Galaxy S20 351Mbps
4. Poco F2 Pro 341Mbps
5. Redmi Note 9t 332Mbps
6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 319Mbps
7. Umidigi Bison 306Mbps
8. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 300Mbps
9. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 260Mbps
10. Poco X3 251Mbps

Number of smartphones in the ranking:39
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:32/39

Note: I have a 400Mbps line and a modem capable of delivering higher speed, but I can never be sure how much bandwidth is available when doing a test.
[b]

GPS performance

[b]To test the quality of the GPS signal I use the Offline Maps application and I make the same train trip in pedestrian mode. Why? In pedestrian mode, the GPS does not artificially correct the signal to stick to the road, it has no markings, so you can see the actual position. I then use an application to measure the accuracy of the signal. [b][b]I obtained a GPS signal accuracy of 4 metres, which is below average. The first "fix" with the GPS network was also quite long.[b][b]The Poco M3 does not seem to offer dual GPS because I only see one frequency per network.[b][b][b]Top 10 - GPS accuracy ranking
1. Oukitel C21 1m
2. Redmi 9a 1m
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 1m
4. Redmi 9c 2m
5. Umidigi Bison 2m
6. Redmi Note 9t 2m
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 3m
8. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 3m
9. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 3m
10. Poco X3 Pro 3m

Number of smartphones in the ranking:15
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:14/15

Note: An accuracy of 3 meters or less can easily be corrected by a good GPS application. Phone performance also plays a role in how fast your display updates, so good accuracy could be compromised by too slow a display.
[b]

Battery range

Capacity : 6000
Fast charge : Yes
W max : 18
Range (100% brightness) : 842.00
Range (50% brightness) : 1898.00
Charging time : 217.00
Discharge speed (100%) : 0.12
Discharge score (100%) : 7.13
Discharge speed (50%) : 0.05
Discharge score (50%) : 3.16
Charging speed : 0.46
Charging score : 27.65

From March 2020, I replaced my subjective battery test with a technical test to better measure the real behaviour of the battery. Now I test the autonomy and charging time under absolutely identical conditions. I perform several measurements, so this test alone takes several days during which I cannot use the phone for anything else.

Battery life - methodology
To test the battery life, I measure the battery consumption every minute in strictly identical conditions to be able to compare phones and also to allow you to evaluate your phone in the same conditions. I rule out any influence of applications that could interfere with the measurement. The autonomy is not linear, the battery sometimes discharges much faster at the end. This is a frustrating phenomenon but with my measurements, you will know if you need to find a charger quickly.

Battery life
The battery of the Poco M3 has a capacity of 6000 mAh and has discharged from 100% to 1% in 842.00 minutes with 100% brightness, it has discharged from 100% to 1% in 1898.00 minutes with 50% brightness. I obtain in this way an average discharge speed of 0.12% per minute with 100% luminosity and 0.05% per minute with 50% luminosity, the consumption is therefore 7.13 mA per minute with 100% luminosity and 3.16 with 50% luminosity. To be able to compare the efficiency of the phone and its influence on the battery, you have to compare the 7.13 (or 50%) score with that of other smartphones, the figure should be as low as possible.

Charging time - methodology
To test the charging time, I always use the same charger with the same cable. I measure the charging time minute by minute to see the evolution of the charge as well as the charging speed. The charging speed of a battery is not linear, it is often faster at the beginning and slower at the end. The charger is compatible with fast charging.

Charging time
The battery of the Poco M3 has a capacity of 6000 mAh and has been charged from 1% to 100% in 217.00 minutes. This gives me an average charging speed of 0.46% per minute and therefore an increase of 27.65 mA per minute. To compare the performance of the Poco M3 compared to other phones, you should use the 27.65 per minute score, this score should be as high as possible.

Important note: the charging speed is not always linear, the graph below gives you an indication of the battery behaviour.

The following table lists the phones tested with the technical battery test, they are ranked in order of efficiency. A higher battery capacity should logically result in a higher battery life but it is not always the case and it does not give any indication of the efficiency of a phone.

Smartphone	Capacity (mAh)	Battery life (minutes)	Efficiency Score	Battery life (minutes) / 50%	Efficiency Score / 50%	Charging time	.Score charging
Samsung Galaxy S20	4000	565.00	7.08	1217.00	3.29	136.00	29.41
Nokia 5.3	4000	549.00	7.29	1096.00	3.65	199.00	20.10
Oukitel C21	4000	497.00	8.05	1324.00	3.02	167.00	23.95
Honor 9x	4000	770.00	5.19	1333.00	3.00	151.00	26.49
Umidigi A9 Pro	4150	552.00	7.52	1562.00	2.66	112.00	37.05
Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g	4160	749.00	5.55	1541.00	2.70	163.00	25.52
Realme 6	4300	704.00	6.11	1104.00	3.89	162.00	26.54
Poco F2 Pro	4700	1150.00	4.09	1536.00	3.06	180.00	26.11
Motorola G8 Power	5000	912.00	5.48	2792.00	1.79	311.00	16.08
Umidigi Bison	5000	550.00	9.09	1471.00	3.40	238.00	21.01
Redmi 9a	5000	694.00	7.20	1902.00	2.63	195.00	25.64
Redmi 9c	5000	656.00	7.62	1915.00	2.61	170.00	29.41
Redmi Note 9t	5000	766.00	6.53	2054.00	2.43	148.00	33.78
Samsung Galaxy A21s	5000	729.00	6.86	1283.00	3.90	166.00	30.12
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10	5000	691.00	7.24	1728.00	2.89	193.00	25.91
Oneplus Nord N100	5000	808.00	6.19	1278.00	3.91	663.00	7.54
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro	5020	625.00	8.03	1557.00	3.22	213.00	23.57
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s	5020	663.00	7.57	1876.00	2.68	224.00	22.41
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9	5020	650.00	7.72	1808.00	2.78	162.00	30.99
Umidigi F2	5150	927.00	5.56	1854.00	2.78	299.00	17.22
Poco X3	5160	653.00	7.90	1654.00	3.12	181.00	28.51
Doogee S58 Pro	5180	845.00	6.13	1908.00	2.71	177.00	29.27
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite	5260	827.00	6.36	1609.00	3.27	208.00	25.29
Ulefone Armor 7e	5500	768.00	7.16	1140.00	4.82	179.00	30.73
Poco M3	6000	842.00	7.13	1898.00	3.16	217.00	27.65

helpHow to read these figures?
The battery capacity is an important element in determining the autonomy of a phone but it is not the only factor. A phone with a large battery may have a shorter battery life if it consumes more power. If I had to take an example from everyday life, I would use the universe of the car. If a car has a large fuel tank, it should be able to drive a longer distance unless its average fuel consumption is higher. The battery efficiency score works the same way, it should be as low as possible and represents the energy consumption of the phone. These differences in efficiency are often related to the brightness of the screen, large bright screens will tend to consume more energy and even if they have a large battery, their range will be shorter.

In summary The Poco M3 has a huge 6000 mAh battery, which is clearly above average. This battery offers an autonomy of 2 to 3 days in normal use but it is not the most efficient battery.[b][b]With the display on at 100%, I got a battery life of 842 minutes, that's a good score but I have tested other phones that offer better battery life with a lower capacity battery. This can be explained by the brightness of the screen which is above average.[b][b]With the display on at 50%, I obtained a battery life of 1898 minutes, this is also a good score but here again I have tested other phones that do better with a smaller battery.[b][b]The consumption according to the lighting of the screen is therefore almost linear, the consumption at 50% is almost half of the consumption at 100%. So there are no surprises here unlike some phones where I have a much higher ratio.[b][b]

[b][b]The Poco M3 took 217 minutes to fully charge the battery, which is an average score. Charging speed is higher in the first percentages of the battery and slows down in the last 10 percentages.[b][b]

[b][b]

Photo camera test

To test the quality of photos produced by a phone, I do a technical test (resolution, sharpness, chromatic aberration,...) in studio (identical conditions) to evaluate the technical part objectively. From the second half of 2020, I built my own laboratory to take completely objective technical measurements. I then take pictures in real conditions to see how the camera performs. I then evaluate these photos according to my criteria but I publish the photos so that you can evaluate the result according to your criteria.[b]

Hardware

Selfie / resolution : 8
Resolution : 48
Sensor : Samsung S5KGM1
mm wide angle : 4.71mm

The Poco M3 is equipped with a Samsung S5KGM1 sensor that is also found in many other phones such as the Redmi Note 9 where the image processing was catastrophic. However, this sensor has proven itself on other models by offering good photo quality, so I hope that Xiaomi has not made the same mistake with this Poco M3.[b][b]Default app[b]The default photo application of the Poco M3 is identical to the other Xiaomi phones running MIUI 12. Xiaomi gradually simplified the photo application because it had become complex to use with too many choices on the same screen. However, there is still the same problem of displaying the parameters over the photo, these parameters are unreadable if you are photographing a very bright scene.[b][b][b]

Photoquality

Photo test / studio[b]

[b]I usually test the studio photos before taking pictures outdoors but this time I did the opposite. The outdoor photos are available later in the article. The studio photos are not good, the colour processing is very bad, the exposure time is not good either and it is clearly a software problem as I was able to get a much better result in PRO mode as on the photo below.[b][b]

[b]I tried almost all the photo modes (AI, HDR, night,...) and each time the exposure time and colour management is not good. It was the same thing with the Redmi Note 9, it's really deplorable because the sensor is able to produce good photos (example in PRO mode).[b][b]Fortunately I got better results outdoors.[b][b]

7add_a_photo

[b][b][b]Photo test / sunny[b]

[b][b]Before taking my first outdoor pictures, I had some apprehensions related to the bad experience of the Redmi Note 9 which uses the same camera. Fortunately, the Poco M3 brings some improvements but not all problems are solved yet. I really felt like I had to play a balancing act to find the right compromise for the photos. On the first photo I gave priority to the sky and the sky is correctly rendered whereas everything below the horizon line is a little too dark. By focusing below the horizon line, I have the opposite. The Poco M3 therefore has a too limited dynamic range which will often generate overlay for the sky or underexposure for the ground. [b][b]Can this problem be avoided? Yes, there are several solutions. The Poco M3 has AI, HDR, night, ... modes. These modes are designed to correct this type of problem. For each photo I have tried the different modes and the result is really very different.As a general rule, AI tends to force the colours and I find that the result is not good. HDR on the other hand does much better but tends to produce slightly under-exposed photos, so you need to target an area that is neither too light nor too dark. All this is obviously too complicated for the average person and I think it's a shame because the camera is capable of producing beautiful photos if you're willing to make some effort.[b][b]Fortunately there is an easier solution than the trial and error game with the different photo modes available. The Poco M3 works with Gcam![b][b]First of all, here is a photo taken without Gcam and with HDR+AI activated:[b]

[b][b]With Gcam without special settings:[b]

[b][b]The result is therefore quite good for a phone in this price range. I don't understand why Xiaomi let this quality problem pass because it is not a hardware problem, it is a (bad) choice in the software. So I'm not going to give a good rating to the photo even though it is possible to produce good photos with Gcam or PRO mode because I think that a consumer phone should be able to be used without any modifications on the part of the user.[b][b]

43add_a_photo

[b][b][b]Photo test / cloudy[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]Test photo / night[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b][b]

Video quality

Stabilisation[b][b][b]The Poco M3 does not have video stabilisation, which is no surprise, I have not yet tested effective stabilisation in this price range.[b][b]Video normale conditions[b][b]The Poco M3 is capable of producing 1080p video at 30fps. The video produces colours that are a bit too warm, the trees should not be so orange and the dynamic range is not very high because the sky is often overexposed. The change of exposure is visible but quite fast.[b][b]The Poco M3 produces videos with a quality equivalent to what we find in this price range there.[b][b]Video low light[b]Not yet available / tested[b][b]

Audio quality

To test the quality of the phone's audio output, I connect the device's audio output to a measuring tool, then play sounds on all frequencies and measure the differences between the original sound and the sound produced by the phone. In this way I measure the phone's ability to correctly reproduce all sounds.[b]

Frequency Respons : +0.01 / -0.1
Noise Level : -97.1
Dynamic Range : 94.5
THD : 7.275
Intermodulation : 5.789
Stereo crosstalk : -90.3

Frequency Response[b]This test is intended to test the device's ability to correctly reproduce all frequencies. The white line in the middle of the graph is the ideal situation and the other colors come from tests on different phones. A deviation from the reference line indicates a deviation from the ideal situation. To see good sound at all frequencies, it is therefore necessary to get as close as possible to the reference line.

[b][b]The Poco M3 is capable of reproducing most frequencies correctly, it is better in low frequencies than the Poco X3 but it stalls faster in high frequencies. The sound quality of the M3 is less fine than the X3 but in this price range the result is very correct.[b][b]Dynamic Range[b]This test is designed to test a phone's ability to play sounds at different volume levels. Here too, the phones must be as close as possible to the reference.

[b][b]The Poco M3 offers powerful sound, and this power comes at a price in terms of sound quality. When pushed to the limit, the Poco M3 has quite a lot of sound distortion. If I keep between 80 and 90% of the volume, the sound is still powerful and the distortion is much more limited.[b][b]Noise Level[b]This test aims to identify if the device under test is able to reproduce sounds without too much noise. A high score indicates a low parasite rate, a lower score indicates a higher presence of parasites.

[b][b]I haven't noticed any sound interference problems, the Poco M3 produces good sound up to 80/90% of the volume.[b][b]Concert recording[b]The purpose of this test is to measure the recording quality of the phone when there is a lot of ambient noise. Since I don't have the opportunity to go to a concert every time I test a phone, I simulate the noise of a concert in a closed environment.

Screen quality

To test the screen, I use a colorimetric probe that measures the color accuracy of a screen, as well as other parameters to see if a screen is able to correctly reproduce an image. I also test the brightness level to determine if the screen will be able to display an image in full sunlight.[b]

Screen size : 6.53
Resolution : 1080 x 2340
Ratio : 19.5:9
Protection : Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Type : LTPS LCD
% occupancy : 83
dE white : 3.2
dE red : 1.0
dE green : 1.4
dE blue : 0.8
dE jaune : 1.1
dE cyan : 1.9
dE magenta : 0.4
White temperature : 6451
Contrast : 1800:1
Brightness : 440

Colorimetry[b]

[b][b]I think the Poco M3 uses the same screen as the Redmi Note 9 as it has many similarities. I had a good colour matching score with the Redmi Note 9 but my first test of the Poco M3 resulted in a poor score. I had forgotten that Xiaomi had a tendency to set their phones to a colour profile that was too saturated and by bringing the colour profile back to a standard mode, I got one of the best colorimetries for this type of screen. The Poco M3 screen not only offers good resolution but also very accurate colorimetry.[b][b][b]Top 10 - ranking of the best screens by colorimetry
1. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g dE = 0.73
2. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro dE = 0.83
3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 dE = 1.2
4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 dE = 1.23
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro dE = 1.31
6. Samsung Galaxy S20 dE = 1.4
7. Poco M3 dE = 1.4
8. Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite dE = 1.46
9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s dE = 1.47
10. Honor 9x dE = 1.5

Number of smartphones in the ranking:40
Position of this smartphone in the ranking:7/40

Note: the colorimetric difference is measured in dE. After three, the human eye will perceive a colorimetric difference, so the dE should be the lowest. The tests were all carried out with a colorimetric probe.
[b]Brightness / Contrast[b]The Poco M3 offers a maximum brightness of around 390 cd/m² but with the "sun mode", this brightness can rise to 440 cd/m². So you should be able to use this phone outdoors on sunny days but I think you may need to tilt the screen to avoid glare and poor readability.[b][b]Light Absorption/Reflection[b]The smartphone screen reflect light and sometimes turn them into a real mirror. This mirror effect makes it harder to read. [b][b]The absorption index below indicates the percentage of light absorbed by the screen. The readability of a screen is better when the absorption index is high.[b][b]

Phone tested:	% light absorption
Samsung Galaxy S10+	58
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro	52
Honor 9x	65
Redmi Note 9s	55
Motorola G8 Power	60
Realme 6	54
Umidigi F2	48
Poco F2 Pro	52
Redmi Note 9	56
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite	53
Samsung Galaxy S20	47
Samsung Galaxy A21s	53

The phones tested have an average absroption rate of54 %

Biometry

Most of the Xiaomi/Poco/Redmi phones I have tested over the past few months have had a fingerprint sensor on the side. Before this type of sensor appeared on the market, I preferred phones with a fingerprint sensor on the back but since Xiaomi introduced a side sensor, I prefer this type of sensor. This sensor is well positioned for the thumb and is fast (even on the Poco M3 which is a slower phone).[b][b]

Operating system

[b]

Encoutered bugs

Not yet available / tested[b][b]

Accessories Poco M3

To better enjoy your experience with your smartphone, I offer links to all kinds of accessories that you might find useful

Protective cover / case poco m3
Screen protection film poco m3
Memory card poco m3
USB Cable / Charger poco m3
Headphones poco m3
Bike rack poco m3

Compare Poco M3 with the others

I assigned a score of 1 to 10 for each test that determines the strengths and weaknesses of a product. I am using 0 for criteria that have not (yet) been tested. A score of 1 to 3 indicates poor performance (and yes, it does), a score of 4 to 6 indicates average performance, a score of 7 to 8 indicates good performance, and a score of 9 and 10 indicates exceptional performance. .
The score is calculated based on my measurements and when there are no measurements, it is a subjective opinion based on my experience.

The scores are not static, they change over time because the performance of new products changes and this must be taken into account.

	Poco M3
Finish quality	6.5	6.00
Battery performance	7.00	8.00
CPU performance	6.5	6.5
GPU performance	6.5	6.5
Screen quality	8.00	7.00
Photo quality	6.5	5.00
Video quality	6.5	5.00
Wi-Fi performance	6.00	7.00
Mobile download speed	6.00	5.00
Mobile network sensitivity	8.00	6.00
Frequency coverage	7.00	7.00
Audio quality	7.00	6.00
GPS performance	6.00	6.00
Operating system	8.00	8.00
Overall score	95.5	89

Global ranking
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 112 / 140
2. Poco F2 Pro 111 / 140
3. Poco X3 Pro 108.5 / 140
4. Samsung Galaxy S10+ 107 / 140
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 106.5 / 140
6. Xiaomi Mi 9t Pro 106 / 140
7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 102 / 140
8. Poco X3 102 / 140
9. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5g 101 / 140
10. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite 101 / 140
11. Redmi Note 9t 100.5 / 140
12. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro 100 / 140
13. Xiaomi Mi 9 Lite 98 / 140
14. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s 98 / 140
15. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 97 / 140
16. Poco M3 95.5 / 140
17. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 94 / 140
18. Realme 6 93 / 140
19. Umidigi Bison 92 / 140
20. Umidigi A9 Pro 92 / 140
21. Oukitel C21 89.5 / 140
22. Motorola G8 Power 89 / 140
23. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 89 / 140
24. Nokia 5.3 89 / 140
25. Xiaomi Mi A3 89 / 140
26. Oneplus Nord N100 88.5 / 140
27. Honor 9x 88 / 140
28. Meizu Note 9 86 / 140
29. Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite 86 / 140
30. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 85 / 140
31. Umidigi S3 Pro 83 / 140
32. Samsung Galaxy A21s 82 / 140
33. Umidigi F2 82 / 140
34. Redmi 9a 81 / 140
35. Redmi 9c 80 / 140
36. Ulefone Armor 7e 80 / 140
37. Doogee S58 Pro 78.5 / 140
38. Honor 8x 78 / 140
39. Umidigi F1 77 / 140
40. Huawei Y6 2019 74 / 140
41. Xiaomi Mi 10t Pro 57 / 70
42. Elephone U5 0 / 0

Test / Review conclusion

[b]I still have to test the camera at night but as this is probably not going to change the conclusion, I allow myself to draw the conclusion before finishing my test.[b][b]The Poco brand hit hard in 2020 with the Poco F2 Pro to shake up the top end, the Poco X3 to shake up the mid-range and now the Poco M3 to shake up the entry level. The three new Poco models didn't come with any new features or big innovations, that was probably not the point. Poco has assembled phones with a very interesting price/quality ratio and this Poco M3 has done just as well as the first two models.[b][b]It's an entry-level phone, so you can't compare it with a phone costing more than 200€. If I compare it to other phones around 100€, I can't see anything that could oppose the Poco M3. There are credible alternatives on some aspects of my tests but overall the Poco scores better.[b][b]For just over €100, the Poco offers good autonomy, a good screen, good network sensitivity and sufficient performance to take full advantage of all the phone's features.[b][b]The Poco M3 is clearly not a performance machine and this is sometimes felt in use, but in this price range it's normal. The level of finish is not exceptional, the Umidigi A9 Pro does much better but it is also a matter of taste. [b][b]The camera of the Poco is not exceptional but again, in this price range, the quality of the photos is quite good. Gcam works on this phone, so you can take full advantage of the sensor's qualities by using your own settings. Thanks to the raw RAW and/or Gcam mode, you can take really interesting pictures.[b][b]So the conclusion is quite simple...The Poco M3 is not perfect but for around 100€ you won't find such a versatile phone.[b][b]Strengths[b]Value for money[b]Good screen[b]Good battery life[b]Photos in RAW mode and compatible with Gcam[b][b][b]Weaknesses[b]Average performance for games[b]Some slowdowns[b]Average wifi performance[b][b][b]Alternatives to this product[b][b]The Poco M3 offers a performance comparable to the Redmi Note 9 but costs less and scores better overall. The Umidigi A9 Pro is probably the closest phone to the Poco, it offers a better finish but overall it scores lower than the Poco.[b][b]The Poco has therefore succeeded in establishing itself as a reference in this price segment.[b][b]

Poco M3 : test / review

Structure of my tests

Price Poco M3

Timeline

Why this phone?

Unpacking

First configuration

Finish

Specifications

CPU / GPU Performance

Benchmark Antutu/3DMark

Network performance

Wifi performance

GPS performance

Battery range

Photo camera test

Hardware

Photoquality

Video quality

Audio quality

Screen quality

Biometry

Operating system

Encoutered bugs

Accessories Poco M3

Compare Poco M3 with the others

Test / Review conclusion

Comments

Join the discussion / Ask your questions

Price Poco M3

Contact form

Welcome to my blog!