My Honest Review of the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC: Is It Worth the Hype?

I recently picked up the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around this budget-friendly smartphone. In this review, I'll break down the pros and cons, camera quality, battery life, and more.

Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC

Before buying this phone, I compared it to Samsung flagships and iPhones, but I just couldn't justify spending a fortune on a gadget. So, I opted for the global version of the Poco X3 6/128gb NFC.

Poco X3 6/128gb NFC

The design is pretty standard - rounded edges, no forehead, thin frames, and a holographic plastic back with a POCO logo. I'll be hiding that in a case, though. The phone comes with a transparent silicone case that's supposedly antibacterial.

Xiaomi Poco X3

For convenience, I've listed the Poco X3's specs below.

Poco X3 specs:

Materials: plastic, aluminum frame Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.8 x 10.1 mm Weight: 225g

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Screen diagonal - 6.67 inchesScreen type - IPS LCD 2400x1080 pixels 20:9Pixel density - 395 ppiBrightness - 3.5-320 nitsScreen protection - Corning Gorilla Glass 5&xa0;

Camera 1 - primary 64 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.73", 0.8&mic; , PDAFCamera 2 - ultra-wide 13 MP, f/2.2, 119°, 1.0&mic;Camera 3 - macro 2 MP, f/2.4Camera 4 - zoom 2 MP, f/2.4Camera 5 - front 20 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4", 0.8&mic;Video - 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@960fpsStabilization - gyro-EISLED flash - yes&xa0;

Main processor - Qualcomm SM7150-AC Snapdragon 732G (8 nm), Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)Graphics processor - Adreno 618RAM - 6 GB LPDDR4XInternal storage - 128 GB UFS 2.1&xa0;

Battery - 5160 mAh&xa0;

NFC - yesIR port - yesNetwork - GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTEWi-Fi - 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4 + 5.0 GHzBluetooth - 5.1Navigations - A-GPS, GLONASS, BAIDU&xa0;

Speakers - Hi-Res Audio x2Fingerprint scanner - yesDust and splash protection - IP53&xa0;

SIM - 2 nano-SIM or SIM + microSD card 256 GBPort - USB Type-C 2.0Audio jack - 3.5mm&xa0;

Operating system - Android 10, MIUI 12 Poco LauncherXiaomi Poco X3 NFC The first thing that caught my attention was the massive size of the phone - 16.5 x 7.7 x 1cm and weighing in at 225 grams. It's like carrying around a big ol' cup of coffee in your pocket. I can forgive the phone for that, though, since it's got a huge 6.67-inch screen.

Screen on the Poco X3 NFC To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed that Xiaomi went with an IPS LCD screen instead of an AMOLED one. IPS LCD screens are just not as sharp, don't have as much contrast, and take a bit longer to respond to touch. And it's not like it's a minor issue - the fingerprint sensor is actually located on the right side of the phone, right on top of the power button. So, if you're trying to unlock your phone, you'll end up triggering the power button instead. It's just a bit of a mess, you know?

Fingerprint scanner on the Poco X3 NFC smartphone One thing that caught my attention, aside from the fingerprint scanner, is the screen itself - and I'll get to that in a minute. But first, let's talk about the screen's lack of PWM, which means it doesn't flicker at low brightness levels. Plus, it's got a TUV certification for low blue light emission, based on tests conducted by Technischer Überwachungsverein. Now, I'm not a medical expert, but based on this, I'd say devices with this screen model could be a good option for people with epilepsy - but that's just my two cents. The minimum brightness of 3.5 nits is perfect for reading in the dark, and the maximum brightness of 450-620 nits is more than enough for everyday use. However, I found that the upper limit is capped in manual mode, which is a bit of a bummer - I guess Mi is being a bit too cautious. The same goes for the sound - in headphones, the upper limit is lower than expected.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical about the display at first, but it's actually not that bad - a decent pixel density of 395 ppi (flagships usually have around 500, but anything above 350 ppi is hard to notice). The 20:9 aspect ratio (2400 x 1080 pixels) might take some getting used to, but it's not a deal-breaker for me.

The screen protection is top-notch, with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and a factory-applied screen protector. And, as a testament to its durability, my Poco X3 has survived a fall from waist height - although it did land on a laminate floor, not a hard surface.

NFC in the Poco X3 NFC

I want to preface this question - the Poco X3 without NFC is not an option. Honestly, I don't see the point of this feature since I live in China and use Wechat Pay and Alipay for payments, which generate QR codes without the need for NFC. If you're a fan of contactless payment systems in Russia, you'll be happy to know that Google Pay is available, and you can even top up your public transport card. The only question is, how many stores in rural areas accept Google Pay?

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The Camera Quality of the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC

The camera module sticks out quite a bit from the phone's back. It's not the most elegant design, but the Sony IMX682 sensor is just thicker than usual, so it's unavoidable.

Cameras on the Poco X3 NFCThe Poco X3 NFC has a total of five cameras:

Main camera - 64 MP, f/1.9 (great for high-detail shots) Ultra-wide-angle camera - 13 MP, f/2.2 (perfect for panoramas and interior shots) 2x zoom camera - 2 MP, f/2.4 (for distant objects) Macro camera - 2 MP, f/2.4 (for close-up shots of objects up to 2cm away) Front camera - 20 MP, f/2.2 (selfies)

If you bought the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC partly because of its camera (like I did), check out the photos below. The 64 MP main camera takes great shots with good detail, and the autofocus is fast. Unfortunately, the full-resolution photo (9248x6944 pixels) is too heavy to upload here, so I've resized it and made a screenshot instead.

Main camera 64 MP Poco X3 NFC 6 128gbBelow is a screenshot.

Screenshot for evaluating detailNow let's compare the ultra-wide-angle camera 119° (next photo, taken with the Poco) with a regular photo (taken immediately below, not on the Poco).Ultra-wide-angle camera Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 128gb

Photo of the same room with a regular lensLooking at the photos with the zoom lens - don't expect much, as this is a software option. So, the photo with the regular lens comes first, followed by the zoom x2. I took both photos without moving from the spot.Photo on Poco X3 without zoom

A closer look at the Poco X3's macro lens in action, zoomed in to 2cm from the subject. I have to say, I'm disappointed to report that the lens struggles to focus beyond 4cm - the entire image becomes a blurry mess.

The Poco X3's macro lens in action. My friend loved the front-facing camera's performance, but I noticed some pretty noticeable distortion in the proportions of my own portraits. To be honest, I wouldn't rely on this lens for selfies.

The Poco X3's front-facing camera. The camera app comes with a range of pre-set modes, including night mode, long exposure, panorama, document mode, and a 'dual-camera' mode that takes a shot with both the main and front cameras. There's also a basic beauty mode, a PRO mode with manual settings, and a decent portrait mode with background blur. Speaking of which, here's how the night mode performs.

Night mode on the Poco X3 cameraRecording video on the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC is possible in the following formats:

4K at 30fps, Full HD – 60fps, HD – 960fps (slow-motion), Gyro-EIS (stabilization).

I've got to say, the stabilization is electronic, so the footage will be cropped. There's a cool VLOG mode that lets you quickly record a short video like a 'story' on Instagram, with slow-motion and time-lapse features.

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Battery life and autonomy on the Xiaomi Poco X3

The battery capacity of the Xiaomi Poco X3 is 6,516mAh. The company claims it can last 2 days in normal use, 10 hours in gaming, 17 hours in movie playback, and 153 hours in music playback (presumably with headphones). I've never managed to achieve those numbers. I use the browser, email, social media, Wi-Fi, and play a bit of mahjong, take photos – just a normal mix, except I only make one short call a day. Despite that, the device barely lasts 1.5 days.

The fast charging was a pleasant surprise, though – it took just an hour to go from zero to a full charge. The device comes with a USB Type-C port.

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Everything you need for gaming on the Poco X3: processor, graphics, speaker, and touchscreen

I've heard that the processor's impact on browser tab speed and app performance is a big deal, but honestly, it's the available RAM that's the real game-changer. So, unless you're a hardcore gamer, there's no real reason to shell out for the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC's Snapdragon 732G processor, which is from 2020. For most users, the Adreno 618 GPU is more than enough for high-end graphics, and while the back does get a bit warm, it's hardly noticeable through the silicone case. The 120Hz screen refresh rate and 240Hz touch response are a blast, and the Hi-Res Audio dual speakers and haptic motor make gaming a real treat.

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RAM and Storage on Poco X3 NFC 6 128gb

I opted for the 128gb storage version when I bought the Poco X3 NFC (there's also a 64gb option). It's a no-brainer, really – with only two SIM slots, you can't exactly upgrade the storage later. And let's be real, those 64MP camera photos can get pretty big, so you'll want all the storage you can get. The phone comes with 6gb of LPDDR4X RAM, which is the previous gen – it's not a huge difference from the newer 5th gen, but it's still plenty fast.

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Connectivity

I've had no issues with standard GSM 900/1800/1900 connectivity – the phone's got five antennas under the back panel to keep you connected.

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5G

I've got to say, the lack of 5G on the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 6 128gb is a bit of a letdown. I mean, it feels like every other phone on the market has 5G, and it's only a matter of time before it's the norm in Russia too. So, if you're planning on buying this phone, you might want to consider upgrading in the near future.

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SIM cards

The Poco X3 NFC 6 has a dual SIM slot on the left side, which can accommodate two nano-SIM cards or one SIM card and a microSD card up to 256GB.

SIM cards on Poco X3 NFC 6 128gb Wi-Fi

I've been really impressed with the Wi-Fi capabilities on the Poco X3 128gb. It's got Wi-Fi 802.11 and can even broadcast Wi-Fi 5 GHz. This has been a lifesaver when my work Wi-Fi is down, and I can just use this feature to stay connected.

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Microphone

The Poco X3 NFC 6 has two microphones with noise cancellation, which is supposed to reduce background noise like water and street sounds. The audio quality is actually pretty good, but the noise cancellation leaves a lot to be desired. I've found that it picks up a lot of background noise, including the hum of the air conditioner and the sound of water, even from a distance of up to 10 meters. I've had to use noise reduction software on my laptop to get rid of the background noise.

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Navigation

I've been using the Xiaomi Poco X3 6 128gb for navigation, and I'm impressed with how well it works. I've used Google Maps to navigate to the neighboring city multiple times, and it's always gotten me to my destination spot on. Even when using taxi apps, the location is pinpointed with accuracy, down to a few meters. I regularly use online maps on Wechat and the offline Maps.me service, and I haven't encountered any issues.

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Bluetooth 5.1

The Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 128gb comes with Bluetooth 5.1, and I've noticed a huge difference. I tried transferring a single photo to my old Huawei phone, but it took an eternity – over a minute. Needless to say, I was disappointed when I couldn't transfer my entire photo album from the old phone to the new one.

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IR port

I'm really glad the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC 6 has an IR port. I use it to control my smart TV and air conditioner at home, and it's so convenient. When I'm in hotels, especially in China, I don't have to deal with multiple remotes – I just use the Mi Remote app and I'm good to go.

I also appreciate the 3.5mm headphone jack, as my wireless Xiaomi headphones tend to fall out when I'm eating or drinking. So, I stick to wired headphones for those situations.

Additionally, I want to mention that the phone has an IP53 rating, which means it's protected from splashes.

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MIUI software

The Poco X3 6 128gb runs on Android 10, with the Poco Launcher and MIUI 12 software. If you've had Xiaomi phones before, you'll be familiar with the interface – but if not, it's worth checking out (e.g., the three-finger screen gesture).

MIUI software on the Poco X3 NFC 6 128gbPoco X3 price

I paid 23,535 rubles for the Poco X3, which is equivalent to 2,099 yuan at the time of writing this review. I bought the phone from Taobao, a Chinese e-commerce platform, and the Russian version is Aliexpress. Before making the purchase, I asked six different sellers and one of them offered the global version.

So, if you're planning to buy the Poco X3 NFC 6 on Aliexpress, my advice is to ask the sellers for the global version.

Cons of Poco X3 NFC 6

I'm leaving this review after using the Poco X3 for over six months, not just after unboxing it. I've been using it as my primary phone for video recording for my blogs, sound recording for classes, working on a reputation management project, sharing Wi-Fi with my laptop, and using navigation. Everything I've written here is based on my personal experience, and I've identified several cons:

The phone is flooded with ads in notifications, which makes me constantly miss important messages – I've yet to find a way to disable them. I'd prefer a phone with a dual SIM slot and a microSD card slot, but the current setup forces me to compromise. Even if you like the design, I recommend using a case because the phone is heavy (225g) and has smooth surfaces, making it prone to slipping out of your hands. Additionally, the holographic design is overshadowed by cases, as the phone's body gets fingerprints after just a minute of use.

Poco X3 is overwhelmed with ads Honestly, I've come to terms with point 3, and point 2 was something I accepted when I made the purchase – I'll deduct a point for both of those. But point 1, the fact that I'm missing important notifications because of all the ads, is a major deal-breaker for me. If you figure out how to turn off the ads, please share in the comments. I'm missing delivery updates from couriers, calls from our community management, and messages from clients every single day. Fair enough, I'll deduct another point and keep searching for a solution.