Xiaomi has just launched the Poco M3 Pro in our country, but a few weeks ago it did the same with the standard M3, a 4G model that has quite a few differences, beyond the connectivity options, with respect to its older brother.
Different design, a screen of uneven quality, a processor with changes in each mobile and different battery capacities are the main differences between us mobile phones that, to keep something unchanged, is the camera and the operating system.
- Little M3
- Little M3 Pro 5G
To make it easier for you to choose between one or the other when you approach the store to buy your new mid-range, we compare the Poco M3 with the Poco M3 Pro so that you are clear about what you gain and what you lose when buying any of the telephones. Keep in mind that, although it may not seem like it, the smartphone launched a while before, without compatibility with 5G networks, has some better features than its older brother.
All identical features between Poco’s mobiles
The Poco M3 Pro 5G, the latest entrant in Poco’s mid-range phone segment, made its world debut last Wednesday. The phone was launched in Europe for a starting price of 179 euros boasting inside a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset, a 90Hz screen and a triple camera system on the back.
Although the new Poco M3 Pro 5G is similar to the Poco M3 , there are not so many characteristics that they share as you can see below, where we are going to discover which of the two may be more worthwhile depending on what you are looking for.
The cameras, unaltered
Beyond its encapsulation, there is no change in the camera configuration between the two phones, where we find a 48-megapixel triple lens assisted by a 2-megapixel macro camera with f / 2.4 aperture and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. with aperture f / 2.4. Camera software offers night mode, macro mode, movie frame, and the ability to record 4K clips
If you wonder about the front camera it is still the same, an 8 megapixel selfie sensor with a small change in the design: notch vs hole.
Fingerprint sensor
In both cases the power button acts as a fingerprint sensor and is located below the volume keys. There are not many more mysteries regarding mobile unlocking beyond the fact that, like most of the brand’s smartphones, you can also do it using the front camera and face recognition.
This is how the Poco M3 Pro changes compared to the Poco M3
As you can see, the similarities between the two mobiles are not many, so this is not the typical case in which a 5G model only changes the type of networks to which it can be connected compared to a 4G version. Here the screen, the processor, the battery, the system and even the speakers radically change between Xiaomi phones.
Notchless design and other camera package
The most striking difference of the new Poco M3 Pro 5G is its design aesthetic. Although the phone retains that bright yellow coating of its older brother, Poco has made changes to the back cover. While the Poco M3 features a leather-like back panel, the Poco M3 Pro now comes with a reflective coating. There are changes to the camera island as well, with a narrow vertical black stripe housing the triple rear cameras rather than the large rectangular design seen on the Poco M3.
In addition, the original model uses a notch in the shape of a drop of water to accommodate its selfie camera, while the pro version opts for the hole in the screen, also located at the top of the smartphone.
Screen with clear differences
The Poco M3 Pro features a 6.5-inch FHD + LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 1100. The phone comes with a Dynamic Switch feature to toggle between the standard and 90Hz screen refresh rate. As for the Poco M3, it went on sale with a slightly larger 6.53-inch FHD + LCD panel, but with a 60Hz refresh rate and the same Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
Processor and memory
The most notable change in the Poco M3 Pro 5G is in its internal hardware. While the previous iteration came equipped with the Snapdragon 662 mobile processor, the new Poco M series phone now ships with a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset that has a pair of Cortex-A76 cores and maximum download speeds of up to 2.77 Gbps. Compared to the Snapdragon chipset, faster CPU and GPU performance is expected, in addition to support for 5G networks
The Poco M3 Pro 5G goes on sale in Spain in two memory variants, with 4 GB of RAM / 64 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM / 128 GB of native storage. The Poco M3 came with 4 or 6 GB RAM paired with 64GB or 128GB of internal memory.
5G and NFC connectivity
Obviously, the possibility of connecting to dual 5G networks, whether SA or NSA, is the main difference between the Poco M3 Pro and the Poco M3 , only compatible with LTE networks. Another addition to the new Poco M3 Pro 5G is NFC which was not available on the regular Poco M3 model.
MIUI 12 with Android 10 and 11
The Poco M3 Pro 5G runs Android 11-based MIUI 12 right out of the box, with its changes to navigation gestures, multi-window support and Picture-in-Picture mode and animations for various system actions. As for the Poco M3, it was released with the same customization layer, MIUI 12, but based on Android 10. At the moment we do not know when the Android 11 update for the Poco M3 will arrive.
Goodbye to stereo speakers
Incomprehensibly, the most modern model loses in the audio segment, since the brand has abandoned the dual stereo speakers in the model compatible with 5G networks, all with the firm intention of being able to maintain a more competitive price.
Uneven battery
While the Poco M3 can boast of being one of the smartphones with the largest battery capacity, a huge 6,000 mAh cell with 18 W fast charging support, the Poco M3 Pro 5G comes with a 5,000 mAh battery with charging capacity. fast 18 W.
Is it worth the change?
The most modern mobile has as great advantages 5G connectivity, the presence of the NC to make mobile payments, a screen with a higher refresh rate and Android 11 ruling the device. In return, the Poco M3 is left with a better autonomy thanks to its huge 6,000 mAh battery.
The price of the 5G model starts at 179.99 euros while the Poco M3, which has been sold in Spain for months, already costs 30 euros less. Because of this minimal difference, unless you prioritize the battery over the rest of the components, if you don’t have any cell phones, you should definitely go for the M3 Pro .