Xiaomi’s newest cheap phone has a huge battery and 5G but little else in its favor

The Poco M3 Pro 5G

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If you love keeping tabs on all thecheap phonesthat Xiaomi puts out - a task that’s basically a full-time job at this point - we’ve got another for your list, as the new Poco M3 Pro 5G has been unveiled.

This new Xiaomi phone has been confirmed for the UK, with a ‘late June’ release date and no price attached so far. It’s the first Poco M series phone to hit the chalky shores, with previously only the F- and X- lines available.

This follows thePoco F3andPoco X3 Prorelease very recently, and other low-cost Xiaomi phones like theMi 11 Lite 5G,Redmi Note 10 ProandRedmi Note 9Tlaunched earlier in the year.

We’ll run you through the specs below, and will test out the phone for a full review when we can. The specs list doesn’t show any huge selling points, other than a fairly big battery and 5G compatibility, but when we hear a final price we’ll be better placed to judge the device.

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G specs

The Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G uses the MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset we’ve already seen in phones like the Oppo A55 and Realme 8, which promises mid-tier power. It’s paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on which version of the phone you opt for. As the name suggests, the device is 5G-enabled, though at this point there are plenty of cheap phones that are.

There’s a 48MP main camera joined by a 2MP depth-sensing and 2MP macro snapper; round the front there’s an 8MP camera.

The screen is 6.5 inches across, with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 1080 x 2400 resolution. It’s broken up by a punch-hole cut-out at the top.

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You’ll find a big battery in the Poco M3 Pro, at 5,000mAh. It charges at 18W, though curiously the in-box charger supports up to 22.5W. There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack too.

One potential selling point is the phone’s appearance, as its two-tone design might appeal to some. Our eyes were drawn to the yellow version of the handset, though there’s also a black or blue option.

We’ll have to wait for a final word on the phone’s price, and some hands-on time, to see if it’s worth your money or not. The specs list isn’t particularly inspirational, but if the phone has a low enough price it could be a winner.

Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.

He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.

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