Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro smartphone review: Lots of power and features at a bargain price

The equipment list of the Poco X3 Pro is quite impressive considering the starting price of 250 Euros (~$305) that Xiaomi has set for its mid-range smartphone. Two years ago, it would have even passed for a flagship with its specs, since the 6.7-inch device is powered by the Snapdragon 860, a new edition of the Snapdragon 855+, which was used in many high-end devices back then.
The "Pro" in the Poco X3 Pro mainly references the device's power and makes it a kind of performance version of the Poco X3. However, this doesn't mean that corners have been cut in other areas. The features of the Poco X3 Pro include an IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, a quad-camera setup with 48 MP, at least 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, as well as a 5,120 mAh battery.
The small variant with 6/128 GB of storage is available in the Xiaomi store for 250 Euros (~$305). Alternatively, you can also buy the 8/256 GB version, which costs 300 Euros (~$366).
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
84.6 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro SD 860, Adreno 640 | 215 g | 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | |
81.3 % v7 (old) | 02 / 2021 | Motorola Moto G 5G SD 750G 5G, Adreno 619 | 212 g | 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.70" | 2400x1080 | |
80.1 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2021 | Oppo A73 5G Dimensity 720, Mali-G57 MP3 | 177 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
82.2 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2021 | Realme 8 Pro SD 720G, Adreno 618 | 176 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.40" | 2400x1080 | |
82.8 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | Samsung Galaxy A52 SD 720G, Adreno 618 | 189 g | 256 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | |
83.7 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2021 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro SD 732G, Adreno 618 | 193 g | 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | 6.67" | 2400x1080 |
Case - With Gorilla Glass 6 and IP53 certification
With 6.67 inches, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is a large smartphone, and it's also relatively heavy with 215 grams. With a height of 9.4 millimeters, it isn't among the slimmest ones, either. The quad-camera setup protrudes another 2 millimeters from the case, which makes the Xiaomi wobble quite a bit when it's placed on a table. Once you put it in the included protective case, however, this is almost no longer noticeable.
The Poco X3 Pro scores points with high stability and tight gap dimensions. In addition, it has an IP53 certification. Although this doesn't make it waterproof, it does make it resistant to splashing water, which is why raindrops, for example, can't harm it.
The display of the Poco X3 Pro is protected by Gorilla Glass 6. As a result, the smartphone is supposed to survive a drop from up to 1.6 meters onto hard, rough surfaces - we didn't give this a try, though. The back is made of plastic and has a matte finish towards the edges.
An eye-catching detail is the glossy stripe that runs through the center of the back cover from top to bottom. It's wide enough to enclose the large camera module, and it also carries the Poco logo, which slightly reflects incoming light according to the viewing angle. The feel also fits the "dual" look. The strip in the center provides an even slightly better grip for the fingers than the sides, making the smartphone sit pretty securely in the hand despite its size.
Xiaomi offers the Poco X3 Pro in blue, metal bronze, and black.
Connectivity - At least 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage in the Poco X3 Pro
The internal storage that varies between 128 and 256 GB depending on the model can be expanded via a microSD card. It can be up to 1 TB in size, but it can't store apps, only media data. Another limitation: There is no real dual SIM. The card slot can hold either two SIM cards or one SIM card and one microSD card.
The Poco X3 Pro has an OTG-compatible USB-C port with USB 2.0 speeds. In addition, there's an IR blaster, a 3.5 mm audio jack, FM radio, a notification LED, as well as Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC, which makes the configuration quite extensive. Since DRM Widevine L1 is also on board, the Xiaomi phone can also reproduce streaming content, such as from Netflix, in HD quality.
microSD card reader
The Xiaomi transfers data from microSD cards at a good speed - the sequential read and write rates that we measured can't even be surpassed by high-end smartphones. The copy speed, on the other hand, is quite weak.
SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501) |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software - Android 11 und MIUI 12
Xiaomi equips the Poco X3 Pro with Android 11 and its in-house user interface MIUI 12. The Android security patches were at the level of April 2021 at the time of testing (end of May) and consequently still pretty up to date.
The OS and preinstalled apps use 20.6 GB of the 128 GB of storage, so there's still about 107 GB free. The additional third-party software is limited to a handful of apps like Facebook, Netflix, ebay, and Amazon, which can all be uninstalled.
Communication and GNSS - Good GPS, 4G, and Wi-Fi 5
The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro isn't equipped with 5G, but it offers a solid 4G frequency coverage that should be sufficient to use the device in Germany. Wireless connections are stable and reliable in the test.
In terms of WLAN, the Xiaomi phone uses Wi-Fi 5 and 2x2 MIMO antenna technology. The smartphone achieves both stable and quite fast transmission rates of over 600 Mb/s for sending data in the test. However, there's still some room for improvement in terms of receiving data: The Motorola Moto G 5G shows that more than 600 Mb/s can definitely be reached despite only using Wi-Fi 5.
Networking | |
iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
Motorola Moto G 5G | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Realme 8 Pro | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
iperf3 receive AX12 | |
Motorola Moto G 5G | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
Realme 8 Pro |
The Xiaomi phone obtains its location information via the GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo satellite navigation systems, and it can determine our position both indoors and outdoors quite quickly and with an accuracy of 3 meters.
Accuracy remains high when moving as well. On a 10-kilometer bike ride, the Poco X3 Pro is not quite as accurate as the Garmin Edge 500 professional navigation device, and it's frequently a bit off when it comes to dense urban areas in particular, but overall, deviations from the route are hardly worth mentioning.
Telephone and call quality
The Poco X3 Pro convinces with good call quality. It transmits voices very naturally and also reproduces them relatively clearly in speakerphone mode, but they sound a bit more muffled in that case. Noise cancellation is also good and works well even in noisy environments.
The Xiaomi smartphone supports VoLTE and Wi-Fi calls but not eSIMs.
Cameras - Quad-camera setup with 48 MP and pixel-binning
The Poco X3 Pro has an ensemble of four lenses and an LED flash on its back panel. Its core is a 48 MP camera that shoots 12 MP photos using 4-in-1 pixel-binning, but it optionally also uses the full 48 MP resolution.
The main camera takes good pictures in daylight that score points with natural colors and decent image sharpness. Pixel-binning and Night Mode, which can be turned on and off, are intended to improve the light yield in the dark. As the low-light test scene shows, the Xiaomi phone does indeed manage this quite well, but the camera can no longer extract that much image detail in that case.
The additional 119° wide-angle lens with an 8 MP resolution does its job as well as the main camera in terms of colors and contrast. However, pictures taken with the wide-angle camera visibly lack sharpness at the edges of the image. The lens quartet is topped off by a depth-of-field camera with 2 MP and a macro camera that is activated in the camera settings and then has a fixed focus of 4 cm. However, because it also only has a resolution of 2 MP, its use is quite limited.
The main camera records videos at up to 4K and 30 frames per second, and it's supported by electronic image stabilization. The Dual Mode is a nice extra, where the front and rear cameras record simultaneously, and both views are combined into one video.
The 20 MP selfie camera records videos at 720p or 1080p and 30 frames per second. Its image quality is okay for video calls, but it's obviously not a photo pro. Good pictures are possible in daylight, but image sharpness is poor when there's backlight, and it's quickly overtaxed in the dark due to the lack of pixel-binning.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Daylight scene 1Daylight scene 2Ultra wide-angle5x zoomLow-light photoUnder controlled lighting conditions, the camera renders the test chart sharply and provides a fairly accurate color reproduction. Both are poor in low ambient light, but the test chart is still quite easy to recognize.


Accessories and warranty - 33-watt power adapter included
Xiaomi includes a 33-watt fast charger, a USB-C cable (Type-A to C), a SIM eject tool, a protective case, a user manual, and a warranty card with the Poco X3 Pro. The manufacturer doesn't offer any special accessories for the smartphone.
The Poco X3 Pro comes with a 12-month warranty from the manufacturer. This doesn't affect the legal retailer warranty.
Input devices and handling - 240 Hz touch sampling rate, very fast fingerprint scanner
The Xiaomi smartphone was practically born with the ability to provide fast operation: The IPS touchscreen responds quickly and precisely to inputs with its 240 Hz touch sampling rate. In addition, the refresh rate can be set to 60 or 120 Hz, making operation even smoother in the 120 Hz setting.
The fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button works very quickly - it unlocks the smartphone immediately after you put your finger on it. A further biometric login method is facial scan. The unlocking speed is high here as well, but the detection rate is only good when either the ambient light or the display are bright enough.
Display - Birght IPS panel with 120 Hz refresh rate
The Poco X3 Pro has an IPS display with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, a diagonal size of 6.67 inches, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a touch sampling rate of 240 Hz - these are the same specs as in the Poco X3 NFC. Xiaomi itself proves that it's definitely possible to use an OLED panel instead of an IPS one in this price range with the 6.67-inch Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro, for example, which is available for under 300 Euros (~$366).
With an average of 524.1 cd/m², the Poco X3 Pro has almost the same brightness as the Poco X3 NFC (600.2 cd/m²), and it's also practically on par with its sibling model in terms of contrast ratio with a good 995:1. We can get a maximum brightness of 556 cd/m² from the smartphone in the APL50 measurement, while the maximum value is still 479 cd/m² when the brightness sensor is turned off. In the lowest brightness setting, the luminosity is 1.15 cd/m².
The IPS panel adjusts its brightness using pulse width modulation (PWM). However, it operates in such a high-frequency range at 2,404 Hz that the resulting PWM flickering shouldn't be bothersome for the vast majority of users.
|
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 567 cd/m²
Contrast: 995:1 (Black: 0.57 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.89
ΔE Greyscale 1.7 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
95.1% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.16
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro IPS, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Motorola Moto G 5G LTPS LCD, 2400x1080, 6.7" | Oppo A73 5G IPS, 2400x1080, 6.5" | Realme 8 Pro AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Samsung Galaxy A52 Super AMOLED, 2400x1080, 6.5" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro OLED, 2400x1080, 6.7" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Screen | -30% | -64% | -126% | -42% | -2% | |
Brightness middle | 567 | 586 3% | 527 -7% | 581 2% | 694 22% | 653 15% |
Brightness | 524 | 565 8% | 499 -5% | 563 7% | 696 33% | 651 24% |
Brightness Distribution | 87 | 88 1% | 87 0% | 86 -1% | 98 13% | 98 13% |
Black Level * | 0.57 | 0.61 -7% | 0.38 33% | |||
Contrast | 995 | 961 -3% | 1387 39% | |||
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1 | 1.74 -74% | 3.5 -250% | 4.34 -334% | 2 -100% | 1.2 -20% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 2.1 | 4.09 -95% | 7.3 -248% | 7.15 -240% | 6.7 -219% | 2.9 -38% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.7 | 3 -76% | 2.9 -71% | 4.9 -188% | 1.7 -0% | 1.8 -6% |
Gamma | 2.16 102% | 2.244 98% | 2.29 96% | 2.327 95% | 2.1 105% | 2.25 98% |
CCT | 6343 102% | 6000 108% | 6502 100% | 7658 85% | 6440 101% | 6426 101% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 2404 Hz | ≤ 38 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 2404 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 38 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 2404 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8619 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
In the "Automatic" preset color scheme, the display adjusts its colors to the ambient light. The other color schemes are "Saturated" and "Standard", which also offers the best image quality. The deviations in colors and grayscales are minimal in the "Standard" color scheme, and the color temperature is very good.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
24 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 9.2 ms rise | |
↘ 14.8 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 50 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
50.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 23.2 ms rise | |
↘ 27.6 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 86 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.7 ms). |
The Poco X3 Pro scores points with high viewing-angle stability, and it also performs well outdoors. However, due to the smartphone's brightness potential that isn't exactly ample, it's best to use it in places in the shade. Content remains visible in direct sunlight, but it's difficult to read.
Performance - A refreshed Snapdragon 855+
The Poco X3 Pro is the first smartphone to use the Snapdragon 860. However, the mid-range SoC isn't exactly new, but it's an almost unchanged update to the Snapdragon 855+ that was launched in mid-2019. Therefore, the Snapdragon 860 also makes use of 4 Cortex-A76 cores with at up to 2.96 GHz and 4 power-saving Cortex-A55 cores with clock rates of up to 1.8 GHz. The SoC is supported by the Adreno 640 graphics chip and up to 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM.
Although the Snapdragon 860 is based on technology that is almost two years old, which is almost as old as the Bible by smartphone standards, it performs very well in the benchmarks. The Poco X3 Pro is currently one of the fastest mid-range smartphones and can clearly beat the Poco X3 NFC that is equipped with the Snapdragon 732G. Overall, the Poco X3 Pro even comes quite close to the Poco F3, which is powered by the Snapdragon 870.
PCMark for Android | |
Work performance score (sort by value) | |
Motorola Moto G 5G | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Realme 8 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Motorola Moto G 5G | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Realme 8 Pro | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (10095 - 11699, n=3) |
AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Motorola Moto G 5G | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () |
VRMark - Amber Room (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (2523 - 10071, n=4, last 2 years) |
AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (46152 - 46413, n=2) |
Basemark GPU 1.2 | |
1920x1080 OpenGL Medium Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (9.08 - 382, n=64, last 2 years) | |
OpenGL Medium Native (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (9.3 - 284, n=61, last 2 years) | |
1280x720 Vulkan Simple Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (70.3 - 1796, n=63, last 2 years) | |
1920x1080 Vulkan Medium Offscreen (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (8.75 - 355, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Vulkan Medium Native (sort by value) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | |
Oppo A73 5G | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 () | |
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 303, n=63, last 2 years) |
The Poco X3 Pro delivers the same impressive performance in the browser benchmarks. It doesn't give the assembled mid-range competitors a chance and takes the top spot in all benchmarks.
Jetstream 2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Smartphone (111.1 - 387, n=168, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (62 - 73, n=2) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Motorola Moto G 5G (Chrome88) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) |
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (110.2 - 128.1, n=2) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) |
Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=149, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (59 - 61.3, n=2) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) |
WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=79, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (90 - 96, n=2) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) |
Octane V2 - Total Score | |
Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=205, last 2 years) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (23902 - 28456, n=2) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Motorola Moto G 5G (Chrome88) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) |
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
Oppo A73 5G (Chrome 83) | |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Chrome98) | |
Samsung Galaxy A52 (Chrome 90) | |
Motorola Moto G 5G (Chrome88) | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro (Chrome 90.0.4430.210) | |
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (1603 - 2155, n=2) | |
Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=165, last 2 years) |
* ... smaller is better
Depending on the version, the Poco X3 Pro comes with 128 or 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with which the Xiaomi phone provides great performance. However, the data transfer rates are a bit below average for UFS 3.1 flash memory, but this isn't noticeable when using the smartphone.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Motorola Moto G 5G | Oppo A73 5G | Realme 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A52 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro | Average 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AndroBench 3-5 | -30% | -50% | -58% | -43% | -42% | 30% | 90% | |
Sequential Read 256KB | 1330 | 822 -38% | 860 -35% | 474 -64% | 511 -62% | 512 -62% | 1602 ? 20% | 1941 ? 46% |
Sequential Write 256KB | 527 | 243 -54% | 193 -63% | 191.7 -64% | 267.1 -49% | 268 -49% | 748 ? 42% | 1558 ? 196% |
Random Read 4KB | 203.1 | 157.8 -22% | 102.2 -50% | 98.5 -52% | 135.5 -33% | 146.5 -28% | 243 ? 20% | 280 ? 38% |
Random Write 4KB | 176.9 | 167.8 -5% | 88.1 -50% | 84.8 -52% | 127.3 -28% | 126.7 -28% | 244 ? 38% | 320 ? 81% |
Games - Strong hardware with FPS brake
The Poco X3 Pro's graphics unit is the Adreno 640, which makes it easy for the smartphone to render modern games smoothly. The test games Armajet, Asphalt 9: Legends, and PUBG Mobile were all played at maximum frame rates or as fast as the game allowed. But why is there such a limitation? The Xiaomi phone should actually be able to fully utilize its 120 Hz display in Armajet, because the game supports the corresponding frame rates, but it sets the limit at 30 FPS.
We determine the frame rates with Gamebench.
Emissions - Throttling under load, good speakers
Temperature
The Poco X3 Pro heats up noticeably during use and reached up to 40.5 °C (~105 °F) in the test. Without the internal throttling, we would probably measure even higher surface temperatures under load. As the GFXBench battery tests show, the SoC performance remains practically constant in the graphically simple T-Rex scenario, but it drops right from the start in the more demanding Manhattan test.
3DMark - Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro |
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 40.5 °C / 105 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39 °C / 102 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 31.9 °C / 89 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
Speakers
The Poco X3 Pro has two speakers certified for Hi-Res Audio. One of them is located next to the USB-C port, while the second one is hidden under a narrow opening at the top bezel of the display. Both can get quite loud, but they only deliver sound that is relatively low in bass. However, their performance is quite alright for stereo speakers in this price range.
The 3.5 mm audio jack of the Xiaomi smartphone produces very good audio output (signal-to-noise ratio of 105.19 dBFS). Bluetooth 5.0 is available for wireless audio connections.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 20% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 41% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Oppo A73 5G audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 22.2% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.8% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 18% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 73% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 39% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life - Not above average despite XXL battery
Energy consumption
The Poco X3 Pro isn't one of the most economical smartphones in terms of power consumption, but it counters this with its 5,160 mAh battery. It's quickly recharged with the included 33-watt power adapter. It only takes 1:20 hours to go from a 0% to a 100% battery charge in the test.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro 5160 mAh | Motorola Moto G 5G 5000 mAh | Oppo A73 5G 4040 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 4500 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 5020 mAh | Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 | Average of class Smartphone | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | -5% | 32% | 27% | 15% | -24% | 8% | |
Idle Minimum * | 0.79 | 1.3 -65% | 0.58 27% | 0.88 -11% | 1.05 -33% | 0.89 ? -13% | 0.877 ? -11% |
Idle Average * | 2.21 | 1.5 32% | 1.86 16% | 1.8 19% | 1.8 19% | 3.21 ? -45% | 1.455 ? 34% |
Idle Maximum * | 2.26 | 2.1 7% | 1.88 17% | 1.84 19% | 1.85 18% | 3.24 ? -43% | 1.604 ? 29% |
Load Average * | 6.17 | 7 -13% | 3.1 50% | 2.65 57% | 4.2 32% | 7.03 ? -14% | 6.79 ? -10% |
Load Maximum * | 10.09 | 8.9 12% | 5.01 50% | 4.86 52% | 6.29 38% | 10.4 ? -3% | 10.2 ? -1% |
* ... smaller is better
Battery life
With its XXL battery, the Poco X3 Pro manages good but not outstanding runtimes. Nevertheless, 14:39 hours in our Wi-Fi test and over 16 hours of video playback are strong runtimes. This should give the smartphone enough power for a whole day even during intensive use.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro 5160 mAh | Motorola Moto G 5G 5000 mAh | Oppo A73 5G 4040 mAh | Realme 8 Pro 4500 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A52 4500 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro 5020 mAh | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 20% | 62% | 14% | -2% | -5% | |
Reader / Idle | 2372 | 2093 -12% | 1489 -37% | |||
H.264 | 973 | 1027 6% | 1232 27% | |||
WiFi v1.3 | 879 | 1056 20% | 1426 62% | 1006 14% | 836 -5% | 753 -14% |
Load | 276 | 289 5% | 283 3% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict - A lot of smartphone for 250 Euros (~$305)
The Poco X3 Pro proves to be a worthy representative of Xiaomi's Poco series, because it also offers a lot of value for little money. One highlight is the Snapdragon 860 SoC, which is a bit outdated in terms of technology, but it offers above-average power by mid-range standards.
The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is a very fast mid-range smartphone with an extensive feature set at a low price.
The Poco X3 Pro also scores points with its 120 Hz IPS display, solid battery life, fast UFS 3.1 storage, and 48 MP main camera that shoots good photos in daylight. In addition, there are small but nice details like an IP53 certification, a 3.5 mm audio jack, NFC, an IR blaster, a notification LED, and stereo speakers.
The list of cons is quite short for the Xiaomi smartphone: The 2 MP macro camera barely allows for a meaningful use due to its poor resolution. And the Poco X3 Pro doesn't come with 5G or an OLED display. Those who need both will find what they're looking for in the Poco F3, for example, which costs around 350 Euros (~$427) and offers even faster performance.
Price and availability
At the time of writing, you can find the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro on newegg in both storage configurations. The 6/128 GB version is priced at around $274, while the 8/256 GB model will set you back about $315.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- 05/25/2021 v7 (old)
Manuel Masiero