Poco M3 first impressions: Bold design, competitive specs

The entry-level smartphone market in India is perhaps the most hotly contested segment in the country. Last year, the Poco M2 duked it out against alternatives from Redmi and Realme to offer one of the most value for money options. Now, the brand is back with its successor, the Poco M3. Here’s our first impressions of Poco’s latest.

Poco M3: Design and hardware

In a sea of gradients and glass-metal sandwiches, Poco has crafted an eye-catching and unique visual identity for the Poco M3. It channels a bit of the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk edition, but also classic phones like the Lumia 1020 with its bright yellow color and distinctive camera layout. If you prefer a more subdued look, black and dark blue variants are on offer as well.

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

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

The switch from the rear-mounted fingerprint reader to a side-mounted location is well appreciated too. Put simply, there’s little if anything to complain about the hardware design here.

Instead of reinventing the M2, Poco has focussed on enhancing key aspects of the phone and as such, the display remains unchanged at 6.53-inches with a Full HD+ resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

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 ahead but should offer nominal performance enhancements.

Elsewhere, depending on your shooting preferences, you might find the camera system here to be a downgrade. While the M2 offered up an 8MP ultrawide sensor and 5MP macro sensor in addition to the primary camera, the Poco M3 opts for a 48MP main shooter paired up with 2MP macro and depth cameras. Over at the front, the 8MP front camera remains unchanged.

The battery gets a big upgrade to 6000mAh.

A major enhancement is the 6,000mAh battery that now supports reverse charging as well. Poco’s entry-level hardware has generally done well with battery longevity, and the enhanced battery life should deliver stellar results.

Specs

Poco M3 early verdict: Should you buy it?

The Poco M3 is priced starting at Rs. 10,999 for the base 64GB variant which makes it one of the most enticing options in the segment. While the spec sheet doesn’t particularly wow, it is definitely competitive.

Moreover, it is the fresh design and bold color options that should help the Poco M3 stand out amidst ample competition. The Poco M3 goes on sale starting February 19. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review very soon.