Poco F3 GT: The Budget Gaming Powerhouse or Just Another Performance Phone?

The Poco F1 marked the debut of the Poco brand in India, delivering remarkable performance at an affordable price, making it an optimal choice for gamers. Following its rise as an independent entity and multiple smartphone releases, Poco now presents the Poco F3 GT as the long-awaited successor to the F1, specifically engineered for performance. So, does the Poco F3 GT emerge as the affordable gaming smartphone to beat? Or should you explore other options? I conducted a thorough evaluation of the Poco F3 GT to provide insights.

Cost of Poco F3 GT in India

The Poco F3 GT is available starting at ₹26,999 for the entry-level version featuring 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. An option with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at ₹28,999, while the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant retails for ₹30,999.

Look and Design of Poco F3 GT

The Poco F3 GT boasts a sizable 6.67-inch display with slender bezels flanking the sides. Encased in a metal frame, it radiates a premium vibe. Its flattened corners and the design of the top and bottom sections enhance grip during landscape usage. On the right side, there are two sliders to activate the «maglev» trigger buttons, providing a satisfying tactile response for gaming. The power button, also on the right, doubles as the fingerprint scanner for easy unlocking. Volume controls and an additional microphone are positioned on the left side.

The top of the device accommodates a grille for the secondary speaker, another microphone, and an IR emitter, a feature commonly found on Xiaomi devices. At the bottom, you will find the USB Type-C port, a downward-firing speaker, the primary microphone, and a SIM tray able to hold two Nano-SIM cards.

Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects both the front and rear of the Poco F3 GT

The device is safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both its front and rear, making it durable for everyday encounters. On the rear, a triple camera configuration is accompanied by a lightning bolt-style LED flash. This camera setup includes RGB lighting and protrudes slightly, featuring a metal border to mitigate lens scratches. A protective case is included with the device.

Weighing in at 205g, the Poco F3 GT is somewhat heavier and bears an IP53 rating, indicating resistance to splashes and minor water exposure.

Technical Specifications of Poco F3 GT

The hardware of the Poco F3 GT is impressive. It is driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset and comes in 6GB and 8GB RAM options, both featuring 128GB of storage, with an additional variant offering 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. For this review, I utilized the mid-tier model equipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The expansive 6.67-inch AMOLED display supports full-HD+ resolution and operates at a 120Hz refresh rate, along with HDR10+ compatibility and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, which elevates to 480Hz in gaming mode.

Connectivity options include support for both 5G and 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.1, and dual-band Wi-Fi, alongside compatibility with five different satellite navigation systems. The robust 5,065mAh battery is included, paired with a 67W rapid charger. This charger features a larger design and comes with a vibrant yellow cable equipped with an L-shaped Type-C connector, allowing for easy gaming or media consumption while charging.

Physical trigger buttons enhance the gaming experience on the F3 GT

On the software front, the Poco F3 GT operates on MIUI 12.5 layered over Android 11. My review unit featured the June security patch, which was updated to the July patch during my time with it. A variety of pre-installed applications come with the device, including Amazon, Facebook, GetApps, LinkedIn, Netflix, Prime Video, and various Google apps. While GetApps and Themes occasionally generate excessive notifications, I found the user interface largely smooth and intuitive.

Performance Evaluation of Poco F3 GT

The Dimensity 1200 chipset is incredibly capable, managing multitasking and demanding applications seamlessly. My 8GB RAM variant exhibited no sluggish behavior throughout the review phase. The smoothness of scrolling through menus and lists is enhanced by the higher 120Hz refresh rate. DC dimming is present but functions only when the display is set to 60Hz.

The side-mounted fingerprint scanner was swift, requiring just a single touch to unlock. Face recognition also performed promptly. The expansive AMOLED display provided good viewing angles and sufficient brightness for outdoor visibility. The stereo speakers enriched the video viewing experience. Additionally, the RGB lighting surrounding the camera module activates during charging and in gaming mode, also pulsating for notifications and incoming calls.

I subjected this device to benchmarks, yielding impressive results. The F3 GT achieved a score of 6,11,051 in AnTuTu. In Geekbench 5, it scored 855 in single-core and 2,709 in multi-core tests. The Poco F3 GT also reached 38fps and 117fps in GFXBench’s Car Chase and T-Rex tests, respectively, surpassing the performance of the priced comparably OnePlus Nord 2 (Review), which I assessed recently.

The 67W charger included features an L-shaped connector

For gaming, I tested Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) on the Poco F3 GT, which automatically configured HD graphics and a high frame rate. Gameplay was smooth under these settings without any lags or interruptions. The physical trigger buttons elevated engagement, augmented by the stereo speakers. After playing for 20 minutes, the battery dropped by 3 percent, and the device slightly warmed up.

The Poco F3 GT demonstrated commendable battery life, lasting approximately a day and a half without a recharge. In our HD video loop evaluation, it managed 17 hours and 36 minutes of playback, and when the battery was depleted, the included 67W charger could replenish it to 72% in 30 minutes, with a full charge taking around 47 minutes.

Camera Capabilities of Poco F3 GT

The rear of the Poco F3 GT features a triple-camera array comprising a 64-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens, alongside a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. The camera application is user-friendly, providing quick access to AI scene detection and HDR. Switching between shooting modes is straightforward, and filters can be applied prior to capturing images.

Daytime photographs captured reasonable levels of detail, though the F3 GT’s tendency to sharpen images can produce an unnatural look. The dynamic range is satisfactory, albeit not exceptional. The ultra-wide lens allows for a broader perspective but sacrifices some quality compared to the primary camera. Its output lacks the crispness of the primary lens and should be reserved for specific situations.

Poco F3 GT daylight camera example (tap to view full size)

Poco F3 GT daylight ultra-wide angle camera example (tap to view full size)

Close-up photography with the Poco F3 GT revealed good levels of detail, employing a subtle depth effect. Edge detection in portraits was performed well, accurately distinguishing subjects from backgrounds, with an option to set the blur level prior to capturing. The macro lens allows for extreme close-ups, though caution is needed not to obstruct light. Macro shots retain good detail, and even fine text on a coin was legible, but the resolution is limited to 2 megapixels.

Poco F3 GT close-up camera example (tap to view full size)

Poco F3 GT portrait camera sample (tap to view full size)

Poco F3 GT macro camera example (tap to view full size)

The low-light performance of the camera was average. It engaged AI quickly to adapt to dim conditions, which resulted in artificially brightened images that could appear odd. Photos taken in Night mode exhibited a more natural appearance.

Poco F3 GT low-light camera sample (tap to view full size)

Poco F3 GT Night mode camera sample (tap to view full size)

Self-portraits taken with the Poco F3 GT displayed clarity, albeit with slight sharpening. Portrait selfies experienced effective edge detection, successfully identifying faces, including those partially covered by masks.

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Poco F3 GT low-light selfie portrait sample (tap to view full size)

Video recording capabilities reach up to 4K at 30fps for the main camera. Daylight footage was stabilized in both 4K and 1080p modes, while low-light recordings exhibited undesirable shimmer effects.

Conclusion

The Poco F3 GT represents a revitalizing update within the Poco F series. Offering strong performance at an attractive price, coupled with a significant battery and rapid charging capabilities, it solidifies its appeal. Although the Poco F1 (Review) had its shortcomings in the camera department, the new Poco F3 GT also falls short in image quality when I compared it to the OnePlus Nord 2.

For gaming enthusiasts, the Poco F3 GT is a commendable choice with its physical triggers, enhanced audio through stereo speakers, and an AMOLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. However, if you seek a versatile device in this price range, consider the OnePlus Nord 2.