When looking for a budget gaming phone for 2026, the POCO X3 Pro likely won’t be off your list. It was launched in 2021 at a price of around ₹20,000 and was popular for giving flagship-level performance at a mid-range price. Five years later, it no longer has the ‘Official’ stamp of approval, but it is still in the used and refurbished marketplace. We have checked out its performance, display, battery life, camera capabilities, and software support in this POCO X3 Pro review to see if it’s worth buying today. 

Read this review and decide why this smartphone still deserves a spot in your shortlist. 

POCO X3 Pro launch Date and Price 

Before going in depth review of POCO X3 Pro, let’s cover the basics when it launched and what it costs. 

POCO X3 Pro launched in India

The POCO X3 Pro was launched in the Indian market on 30 March 2021, serving as a strong sibling to the original POCO X3. The first sale of this phone through Flipkart took place on 6 April 2021, and it was launched with two RAM and Storage combinations.

6GB RAM + 128GB Storage 

8GB RAM + 128GB Storage  

Offered in three colour options – Graphite Black, Steel Black, and Golden Bronze – gives the audience a choice not usually available in just black.

Launch price 

When the POCO X3 Pro was launched, the price was 

₹18,999 for 6GB RAM+ 128GB Storage in all variants 

₹20,999 for 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage in all variant 

POCO also launched a small discount on the day of launch, discounting ₹1000 off for buyers paying via ICICI Bank Credit Card EMI. 

Since the phone is no longer officially sold by POCO, the price now depends on the used and refurbished market, so before purchasing directly, check the price on different sites and then finalise it should be around ₹18000 to ₹24000, depending on the condition, storage, variant, and seller of the smartphone.

POCO X3 Pro specification at a glance 

If you just want numbers without going through the whole review 

Display – 6.67-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD, 2400 x 1080 resolution, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 6 

Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (Adreno 640 GPU) 

Ram and storage – 6GB/128GB or 8GB/128GB 

Rear cameras -48MP main + 8MP ultra-wide + 2MP macro + 2MP depth 

Front camera – 20MP, Punch- hole 

Battery – 5160mAh 

Charging – 33W wired fast charging

Software – shipped on Android 11 (MIUI), later updated through Android 12 and Android 13 before official support ends.

Weight – 215 gms  

This specification is the reason why this became a favourite smartphone among buyers. 

Design and Build Quality 

Design doesn’t change much between this series, but a few details in the phone make a real difference. 

Plastic back but solid feel  

POCO X3 Pro carries the same design standard as POCO X3. The phone uses a glass front Gorilla Glass 6, with a fully plastic back panel that has a glossy finish, which reflects the logo of POCO X3.  It is not one of the premium quality products in the market, but the fingerprint smudges easily. There is a reassuring heft to the phone, which is mostly plastic-bodied.

The phone is known for its protection, and the screen is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 6.  The device carries IP53 for basic dust and water splash resistance. For security purposes, it gives fingerprint recognition, but not on the screen, mounted on the side of the screen with the power button, unlocking the phone instantly, with barely any misreads. 

Ergonomics   

POCO X3 Pro is on the larger and heavier side for a phone in this segment, at 9.4mm thick and 215gms. Combined with a 6.67-inch display, this is not something you forget in your pocket.

The phone’s extra weight is actually helpful while playing games for a long time. It feels steady and comfortable to hold in landscape mode. The dual stereo speakers and 240hz touch sampling make gaming smoother and enjoyable. The POCO 3x Pro is comfortable to use once it fits in size, and in this case, POCO bundles in the box helps offset the slippery, fingerprint-prone back. 

Display Review

The Poco X3 Pro’s biggest selling point on paper was its 120hz panel. 

120Hz Full HD+ IPS LCD 

The best thing about POCO X3 Pro is its 6.67-inch display and full HD with a resolution of 2400×1080 pixels and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Backed with a 240hz touch sampling rate.  For gaming, the higher touch sampling rate makes a difference.

For brightness, the panel is rated at around 450 nits, typically topping out close to 458-534 nits depending on whether it is set manually or left for auto. Comfortable for indoor and shaded outdoor use. But visibility does take a hit in a very harsh light- the IPS LCD panel light, as compared to alternatives. 

Color Accuracy and Multimedia Experience

For everyday content consumption, the display holds well. Without looking oversaturated, the contrast level is solid for an LCD panel.  The screen supports HDR10 and carries Widevine L1 certification, which technically allows full HD streaming on apps like Netflix and Prime Video. YouTube also plays nicely.  

POCO X3 Pro is a solid pick for binge-watching shows or catching up with YouTube videos. The phone’s stereo speakers balance the sound quality, soothing to your ears. 

Performance Review – Snapdragon 860 Still Powerful?

This is the section where the Poco X3 Pro gets the whole attention.

Benchmark Performance 

At the heart of the POCO X3 Pro sits the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 octa-core chipset built on a 7nm process and paired with an Adreno 640 GPU. It’s essentially a refined, slightly overlocked variant of the older Snapdragon 855+, which means it settles well above the usual weight class for phones in this price bracket. On synthetic benchmarks, the chip has been recorded scoring in the neighbourhood of 450000+ points on AnTuTu- a number that comfortably beats most other chipsets found in similarly priced phones from the same era.

Snapdragon 860 stands out because of how usable that power is for years. Any review will still mark this point in day-to-day performance.  

Gaming Test

BGMI/PUBG Mobile runs smoothly at high graphics settings, with many users reporting a stable frame rate even at 90fps on supported settings in the POCO X3 Pro. 

Call of Duty – Mobile plays comfortably at max graphics and frame rates without major stuttering.

Free Fire- runs effortlessly, given its lighter system requirements, maxing out settings with no issue. 

Genshin Impact – one of the more demanding mobile titles around is playable too, though this is where the phones limit shows. At the highest setting, frame rates hover in the 40-50fps  range rather than a locked 60fps, and the phone does heat up noticeably during extended sessions.

The POCO X3 Pro phone’s liquidcool plus vapour chamber cooling system helps delay throttling, but it doesn’t eliminate heat buildup during the heaviest workloads. For the most popular competitive titles, though, thermal management is solid enough that gameplay doesn’t easily suffer. 

Multitasking and Daily Usage

6GB or 8GB RAM offers smooth, quick changes of apps, and the extra memory in 8GB allows gamers to resume apps. The reload takes time in MIUI’s aggressive apps management system, but it does not happen in less aggressive RAM management software.

Storage speed is respectable for the segment too, using UFS 2.1 on most variants, which is fine for everyday app loading and file transfers, even if it’s a step behind the faster UFS 3.1 storage found on pricier phones. Overall, for the price it launched at, the POCO X3 Pro’s performance both in benchmarks and real-world use remains one of its strongest selling points. 

Software Experience

Here, it is mentioned what to expect and what is no longer expected from this phone.

MIUI for POCO

Poco X3 Pro has the MIUI interface. This version of MIUI is an Android version with customizable and advanced features, a gaming turbo mode, floating windows, dual app support, and a variety of gesture controls. 

Updates and Current Android Version

The Poco X3 Pro originally came with Android 11 and MIUI 12. It has been updated to MIUI 12.5 and then to MIUI 13, powered by Android 12, during its life. Last major software update, it got MIUI 14, which is based on Android 13. In most cases, updates were not sent every month, but a few months later, which was a common problem for the Poco budget, Xiaomi budget, and Redmi budget at the time. As of now, Poco X3 Pro is not supported officially. So, if you’re purchasing a secondhand unit today, you can assume that it will continue to function, but won’t be updated or patched in any way. 

Bloatware and Ads 

Poco has bundled several applications with the X3 Pro besides Google’s suite, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and a few games, like most MIUI phones. These can be deleted quite easily. But some users perceive the ads and promotions of the MIUI system-level ads to be more obnoxious. Unless you go to the settings and disable them individually, you can see these ads in the apps you view, such as the file manager, security app, or app store. It’s a common problem with Xiaomi software, and not just this phone. Being mindful of this beforehand is just fine, particularly when you are running the process for the first time and have to be patient while all of the ad placements are turned off.

Camera Review

The Poco X3 Pro sticks with the same quad camera setup as its predecessor.

48MP Main Camera Daylight Performance

The Poco X3 Pro 48MP primary camera holds light, saturated naturally, and gives good detail in daylight photography, a little lower than the standard 64mp of Poco X3. The difference will not be noticeable without pixel peeping.  

Low-Light and Night Photography

Here, the main camera of Poco X3 Pro shows a budget limit. In dim conditions, the detailing of the object may be reduced, but compared to other phones in this price bracket, it holds a better place, and its night mode facility gives better object clarity. 

Ultra-Wide, Macro, and Depth Cameras

The secondary camera is a mixed bag. The 8MP ultra wide sensor is noticeable in daylight, but it reduces and challenges in dark where the visibility reduces, and the image adds more noise, but at least it provides its own dedicated night mode. 

The 2MP macro camera has its own weak link setup of fixed focus and resolution, which is like filling a checkbox of specifications. This blurs automatically in portrait clicks without giving the choice.  

Selfie Camera 

The 20MP front camera is fine in both normal daylight clicks and portrait mode. In daylight, it carries the natural skin tone, the contrast, and the clarity. In portrait mode, the perfection of the hair didn’t lean perfectly, but good with the help of rear camera combination tech, so it works both in daylight and night mode.

Video Recording 

The main camera records upto 4k in 30 fps, along with  1080p in 60fps and slow motion mode. No optical stabilization, but electronic stabilization does a good job. The ultra-wide camera and front camera video recording are limited to 1080p. Audio captures well and decent video recording at this price bracket of Poco X3 Pro, extra things are also given, which are dual video mode, vlog mode, and fun touch, which people usually don’t try in daily life. 

Battery Life and Charging  

Battery has been the biggest strength, in terms of how it holds up in daily use and speed charging. 

5160 mAh Battery Endurance 

According to the users, the battery endurance rating is well above 100 hours. As per daily screen hours of 7-8, including all the daily smartphone tasks, it can normally last for two days of charging, but heavy gamers will see a drop in battery. 

33W Fast Charging Test 

The 33W charger of Poco X3 Pro takes 30 minutes to charge from zero to 50 percent and fully charges in between 60 and 70 minutes.

Audio, Connectivity, and Extra Features 

Poco X3 Pro gives a handful of extra features, which are easy to find in the spec list and useful for day-to-day life. 

Stereo speakers- give the facility of loud and low when it is needed, so this feature maintains balance while watching series or shows on streaming apps.

3.5mm headphone jacks- it helps the gaming users or a radio person to use wired headphones to connect and enjoy. 

IR blaster – works as a remote to connect with IR  electronic appliances like AC and TV.

Fingerprint sensor performance – the side-mounted sensor given with the power button is fast and consistently reliable. The implementations of this style scanner before launch are a greater improvement from the previous POCO X3 NFC’s version. 

Poco X3 Pro’s Pros and Cons 

This will help you to understand both sides of the POCO X3 Pro. 

Pros 

Excellent gaming performance because of the Snapdragon 860 and Adreno 640 GPU. 

Smooth 120Hz display with a 240hz touch sampling rate.

Long battery life, which lasts the whole day easily. 

Loud, well-balanced stereo speakers.

Cons 

Average low-light camera performance, especially on the ultra-wide lens. 

Heavy and thick design, which may be uncomfortable for people with small hands.

IPS LCD panel instead of a more vibrant AMOLED display.

Aging software support because the official update support has been discontinued. 

Poco X3 Pro vs Competitors 

Here is how Poco X3 Pro stacks up  close to the siblings 

Phone	Chipset	Display	Battery and charging	Rear camera	Approx price
Poco x3 pro	Snapdragon 860	6.67-inch 120Hz , IPS LCD	5,160mAh, 33W	48MP quad	₹18,999Launch
Poco x3 nfc	Snapdragon 732G	6.67-inch 120Hz , IPS LCD	6000mAh, 33W	64MPQuad	₹16,999Launch
Redmi note 10 pro	Snapdragon 732G	6.67-inch 120Hz , Super AMOLED	5020mAh, 33W	108PMQuad	₹15,999Launch
Poco x5 pro	Snapdragon 778G	6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED	5000mAh, 67W	108MP Triple	₹25,999Price in 2026
Poco x8 pro 2026	MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra	6.59-inch 120Hz AMOLED	6500mAh,100W	Triple camera	₹30,000

If gaming performance on a strict budget was the whole point in 2021, that same value proposition now belongs to its newer siblings. 

Is the Poco X3 Pro still worth buying in 2026?

Five years from launch, the honest answer is that before buying, you should know the purpose of your need for a phone. 

Gamers with a tight budget, surprisingly, this phone is capable of it. At today’s value, the second-hand phone from the market is better than the brand new phone with the same chipset at the same price. 

But if you are searching for good camera quality and longevity performance, you should not prioritize this phone. 

The camera setup is good but not great. And a software update is the biggest concern. Buy it for the battery, but not for future proofing. 

Who should buy the Poco X3 Pro 

Mobile gamers who want strong frame rates in popular titles without spending flagship money can select this. 

Students who want to perform daily tasks on a tight budget can go for it because of a good battery backup. 

Budget performer users who want raw speed and battery life over camera quality and a premium look.  

People who want to upgrade from Redmi or Poco for day-to-day life without increasing their budget can go for this. 

Final Verdict

This phone has earned its reputation by offering genuine flagship adjacent performance at a price that undercuts almost everything around it. Years later, the core strength hasn’t gone anywhere. The Snapdragon 860 holds up well for gamers, and the 120Hz display remains smooth with its best features. 

The trade-offs are exactly how they were: a heavy plastic design, an average camera setup, and the only downside is the discontinuity of the software updates. 

Ratings 

Performance – 9/10

Camera- 7/10

Battery- 9/10

Value – 8.5/10

If you are specifically hunting for a budget-friendly gaming phone and don’t mind picking up a secondhand phone, the review of the Poco X3 Pro will make your decision easier to choose. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)