Poco X3 Pro review: More power to you

Poco X3 Professional begins at Rs 18,999 (6GB/128GB). (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

Poco hasn’t been round for lengthy and but in a short time this Xiaomi spinoff model has constructed a fame for itself launching a number of merchandise with “world’s first or India’s first” applied sciences. Beginning off with the illustrious Poco F1, it went on to launch the Poco X2 (first telephone underneath 20k with 120Hz refresh fee show) and Poco X3 (first telephone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G system-on-chip). The freshly minted Poco X3 Professional, likewise, is the primary telephone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC. Greater than the chip itself, it’s the worth of the telephone that’s grabbing headlines. It begins at simply Rs 18,999 (6GB/128GB).

Then once more, if a factor or two about Poco, that is enterprise as regular.

In contrast to the Poco F1 or Poco X2 and even the Poco X3, the Poco X3 Professional isn’t technically a brand new product so to say. Because the title suggests, it’s a turbo-charged Poco X3. If the Poco X3 was a race automobile, the Poco X3 Professional with its extra highly effective {hardware} must be a rocket ship. That’s anticipated. However that’s not all that you simply in all probability anticipate from a telephone launching in 2021, even when its prices so low. You additionally anticipate somewhat little bit of polish and somewhat little bit of promise of futureproofing to go alongside.

Excessive efficiency, delivered

Just like the telephone itself, the chip inside it’s also not fully model new. The Snapdragon 860 is a Snapdragon 855 from 2019 with a barely overclocked CPU. Consider it as a refurbished Snapdragon 855 Plus. Contemplating how briskly Qualcomm retains refreshing its portfolio as of late, some would possibly take that refurbished badge with a pinch of salt. Some would possibly name it dated. However whenever you put a chip like that inside a price range telephone just like the Poco X3 Professional, all of your preconceived notions are immediately blown away. All of a sudden, issues begin to make lots of sense.

Make no mistake, that is probably the most highly effective telephone underneath 20k within the Indian market at present. Interval. As if it wasn’t already sufficient, the Poco X3 Professional additionally comes with UFS 3.1 storage, one other first for any telephone on this worth vary.

It’s the is first telephone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 860. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

The Poco X3 Professional story primarily revolves round this {hardware} combo. It’s maybe the one Poco telephone worthy of being known as a “religious” successor to the Poco F1, completely aligning with its “all the things you want, nothing you don’t” method which might be why the model goes all out on advertising and marketing it that approach. For good motive. Subsequent to the Poco X3, the Poco X3 Professional is a complete new beast. Like I stated, it’s a rocket ship.

And it performs like one, for probably the most half. There are two elements to this story.

Additionally Learn | Poco X3 review: Punching above its weight

That is the one telephone underneath 20k that may play a graphically intensive recreation like Genshin Affect (at medium setting) or Name of Responsibility: Cell (all maxed out) effortlessly, which is to say that your expertise can be very, very satisfying. The Adreno 640 GPU holds up effectively. Although it throttles infrequently, this telephone latches on and offers you a gradual 60fps in lots of supporting video games. One thing like this was not doable earlier than. It opens new alternatives, the Poco X3 Professional, for these trying to get some type of headstart into the world of aggressive gaming with out breaking their financial institution.

The telephone comes with UFS 3.1 storage. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

However it isn’t good. The Snapdragon 860, just like the Snapdragon 870, and even the Snapdragon 888, is liable to heating, typically alarmingly when pressured. There’s a cooling system contained in the telephone — known as Liquid Cool Plus — but it surely appears lifted as is from the Poco X3, a telephone that got here with a far much less highly effective chip as compared. No matter it’s, it might probably’t maintain the beast for lengthy because the Poco X3 Professional will get heat rapidly, and close to toasty throughout prolonged gaming classes. At this level, it might probably turn out to be uncomfortable to carry.

Primary day-to-day duties are dealt with effectively by the telephone although. As an everyone telephone, that is as slick as it might probably get at such a low worth. Poco offers you an possibility for as much as 8 gigs of LPDDR4X RAM. Storage is capped at 128GB, however the telephone helps enlargement by as much as 1TB. That is through a hybrid slot.

Past gaming

Remainder of the Poco X3 Professional is acquainted territory. Be it design, show, or battery. Even the cameras. That’s not to say there are not any adjustments, however these adjustments have gotten extra to do with refined refinements than anything. Some decisions work, some not a lot however you possibly can inform Poco has tried so as to add a little bit of polish to the entire package deal. The Poco X3 was tough across the edges.

This begins with the design itself. The twin tone look is being carried over, which is to say that the Poco X3 Professional — like its predecessor — can also be unapologetically daring and flashy. There’s a new bronze colourway if you happen to’re into that type of factor. The pill-shaped large digital camera module stays put too. So does the recessed side-mounted fingerprint reader which is, expectedly, quick and responsive. The one change right here is the marginally tweaked Poco branding that’s extra “3D” than earlier than, however nonetheless tough to unsee — and in my case, tough to get together with.

It has a dynamic 120Hz refresh fee with 240Hz contact sampling. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

One of many massive issues with the Poco X3 was its heft. It was massive and ponderous. Part of this was due to its enormous 6,000mAh battery. Poco has tried to handle these issues by lowering capability — the Poco X3 Professional has a smaller 5,160mAh battery — however the outcomes are nothing to put in writing residence about. The Poco X3 Professional remains to be an all-plastic telephone that’s nearly 215 gram in weight and almost 9.5mm in thickness. To not point out, that watered-down battery means the Poco X3 Professional can’t final so long as the Poco X3 (battery life on common is sweet although). It’s a type of uncommon cases the place Poco has backed itself right into a nook.

It’s barely touched that display screen although other than bumping up the safety which is Corning Gorilla Glass 6 now. The Poco X3 Professional has the identical 6.67-inch IPS LCD show with 1080p decision and dynamic 120Hz refresh fee (240Hz contact sampling) because the Poco X3. It really works in the identical approach additionally which suggests it’s good however not greatest at school. The panel doesn’t get very vivid, colors seem muted and viewing angles could possibly be higher. The telephone can’t play HDR10 content material off streaming providers like Netflix regardless of assist. Ghosting or random stutters are widespread throughout some UI parts infrequently or when you find yourself searching by way of a web page that entails various parts like textual content, photos/GIFs, or movies. Subsequent to a telephone just like the Redmi Be aware 10 Professional Max, or Be aware 10 Professional, the Poco X3 Professional seems critically underpowered on this regard.

Additionally Learn | Redmi Note 10 Pro Max review: Setting a new benchmark for value for money

These Redmi telephones additionally give the Poco X3 Professional’s cameras a run for his or her cash. The Poco X3, despite the fact that it was a performance-oriented slash gaming telephone, had a aggressive digital camera setup. For some curious motive, its “Professional” model takes a number of steps again. It has a 48MP foremost (this was 64MP within the X3), 8MP ultra-wide-angle (13MP in X3) and two 2MP cameras, one for depth and one other for macros. Output is nearly serviceable.

The telephone has 4 cameras on the again. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

You’ll be able to take good-enough pictures with the first digital camera (Sony IMX582 sensor) when numerous mild is accessible, however the stage of element and dynamic vary could possibly be higher. Colors are largely true to supply, which is sweet. The ultra-wide digital camera lacks color parity with the principle digital camera, but it surely does a good job providing a wider perspective when lighting is good. Particulars are nonetheless amiss in these pictures, however it’s what it’s. Portraits shot with the Poco X3 Professional come out good with good topic separation and creamy background blur. The macro shooter is a hit and miss affair. Low mild pictures (even with evening mode which can also be out there on the ultra-wide) are disappointing, partially because of the aggressive noise discount algorithm. Video recording tops out at 4K@30fps. The 20MP entrance digital camera is identical because the one on the Poco X3. It takes respectable selfies when lighting is sweet with occasional smoothening even when beautification is manually set to off.

Additionally Learn | Xiaomi Mi 11X review: Lot of phone for a lot less money, but should you bet your money on it?

Software program has all the time been Poco’s darkish horse and whereas that’s largely true in regards to the Poco X3 Professional as effectively, MIUI for Poco is clearly displaying indicators of ageing, already. It doesn’t present any pesky advertisements like its different Redmi siblings which is effectively articulated and appreciated, however Poco must do greater than that to justify its existence as an unbiased model now. MIUI for Poco must be extra than simply MIUI with a Poco launcher to distinguish itself. With Xiaomi borrowing lots of its options together with the hallowed app drawer and Google feed on the minus one display screen, MIUI for Poco doesn’t actually stand out anymore. If something, it has turn out to be buggier by the day. The quantity of bloat or undesirable apps has gone up. However the greatest downside is the shortage of readability on future updates. My evaluate unit is operating MIUI 12.0.5 (with the April safety patch) when a fair cheaper Redmi telephone just like the Redmi Be aware 10S has been up to date to MIUI 12.5.4.

An ode to a basic

I write this evaluate as I set up Battlegrounds Cell India Beta on this telephone, and I can’t assist however assume how far Poco has come. How the Poco F1 turned the business actually the other way up. That telephone was removed from good. It had a wonky design and horrible cameras. The factor couldn’t even stream Netflix in excessive definition initially. And but, right here we’re, three years later, nonetheless asking Poco to launch a successor. Not lots of telephones have commanded a lot respect and adulation from followers and critics alike. It was really considered one of its type, the Poco F1, and I believe it’s befitting it stays that approach. Some issues are simply not meant to get replaced.

Software program has all the time been Poco’s darkish horse. (Photograph credit score: Saurabh Singh/Monetary Specific)

However you possibly can all the time have a product or two that would take you again in time. One thing just like the Poco X3 Professional. It’s the solely telephone that has been in a position to recreate a few of that misplaced Poco F1 magic for me.

There are telephones with higher design, extra vibrant show, considerably higher cameras, and longer battery life underneath 20k, however none of them can play Battlegrounds Cell India Beta the way in which it’s meant to be performed just like the Poco X3 Professional. If that’s what you’re in search of, the Poco X3 Professional comes extremely beneficial.

However right here’s the factor, nostalgia and energy will take Poco solely up to now. Contemplating how lots of people are nonetheless holding on to their Poco F1s, it will have been good had Poco provided a 5G possibility (it’s doable because the Snapdragon 860 is suitable with an exterior X50 5G modem) even when it got here at a price.

Professionals: Strongest telephone underneath 20k, 120Hz show, Loud twin audio system, IP53 score, Good battery life

Cons: Massive and ponderous, Cameras could possibly be higher, Gradual Android replace rollout

Additionally Learn | How Poco registered 300% growth in India with a product portfolio ‘leaner than even the iPhone’ and what’s next