RACONTEURPH

Poco M3 Pro 5G: A reason why you should switch to 5G

With the local telecommunications companies continuing to expand their 5G networks across the Philippines, it is now the right time for consumers to upgrade their smartphones and other mobile devices to 5G-enabled models. 

While 4G LTE smartphones and other devices that rely on older generation mobile standards could also take advantage of 5G, it should be noted that they are not designed to maximize the many benefits brought about by the latest mobile technology. 

Among these benefits, the most tangible of these is internet speed and this is the first thing that we put to the test with the Poco M3 Pro 5G.

Launched in June, the Poco M3 Pro 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor. Poco said that it is the first time it has used MediaTek's Dimensity technology with the M3 Pro 5G. The smartphone also comes with a 6.5-inch display, a triple rear camera system (48MP main, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor), an 8MP front camera and a 5000mAh battery. 

The chipset promises to offer flagship performance, along with long battery life and dual 5G standby support, which means the two SIM slots of the phone are 5G-enabled. Swapping SIM cards just to ensure that you are maximizing 5G with your handset is no longer needed with the M3 Pro 5G. 

To test 5G speeds on the Poco M3 Pro 5G, we used 5G-enabled SIM cards from Globe and Smart. Consumers should note that in order for them to maximize 5G, they should have a 5G-enabled smartphone, a 5G-enabled SIM card and, ideally, your area should have a 5G transmitter, such as in the case of key business districts in Metro Manila. 

Currently, not all areas in the Philippines have a 5G transmitter built by the telcos, but that does not mean that you will not get an internet speed boost just in case you are situated in one of the non-5G areas. 

In my case, I am living and working in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan, where 5G is not fully deployed. Internet speed tests, however, show significant boosts if you are using a 5G smartphone with a 5G SIM card.

With a Globe 5G SIM card, the Poco M3 Pro 5G recorded an average download speed of 75.2Mbps and an average upload speed of 21Mbps on Ookla's Speedtest app. These results are close not far from what we got with Google's internet speed test, which shows an average download speed of 69Mbps and an average download speed of 23.1Mbps. 

With a Smart 5G SIM card, results are noticeably lower. The M3 Pro 5G recorded an average download speed of 27Mbps and an average upload speed of 22.3Mbps on Ookla's Speedtest app. Results are much lower on Google's internet speed test, which yielded an average download and upload speeds of 12Mbps.

I compared the internet speed scores of the Poco M3 Pro 5G with those of the Lenovo A6600 Plus, a 4G LTE phone released in 2016. In getting the scores of the A6600 Plus, I also used the Globe and Smart 5G SIM cards that were used on the M3 Pro 5G. 

With a Globe 5G SIM card, the A6600 Plus recorded an average download speed of 36.4Mbps and an average upload speed of 19Mbps on Ookla's Speedtest app. On Google's internet speed test, the phone registered an average download speed of 4Mbps and an average upload speed of 8.14Mbps. 

With a Smart 5G SIM card, the A6600 Plus received an average download speed of 14MBps and an average upload speed of 13.4Mbps on Ookla's Speedtest. The phone also got 10.2Mbps average download speed and 8Mbps average upload speed on Google's internet speed test. 

Looking at these numbers, it is obvious that the Poco M3 Pro 5G enjoyed the internet speed boost of 5G more than the five-year-old, 4G LTE-enabled Lenovo A6600 Plus. 

If you are still using an aging smartphone that relies on the 4G LTE or older mobile network technologies, now is the appropriate time for you to consider getting a 5G smartphone like the M3 Pro 5G because of the significant boost in terms of internet speed, plus the promise of faster software performance, better image quality and longer battery life.

In the Philippines, the Poco M3 Pro 5G comes in two variants in three colors: Yellow, Power Black and Cool Blue. The one with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage costs P8,990, while the version with 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage sells for P10,990.