Redmi Turbo 3 Quick Review: Aka POCO F6 5G

Xiaomi has recently launched the Redmi Turbo 3, also known as the POCO F6 5G, marking its latest addition to the mid-range smartphone category. The Redmi Turbo series promises to deliver the highest level of performance at an affordable price point. Does it live up to that promise? Find out in our Redmi Turbo 3 quick review below.  

Xiaomi has introduced the Redmi Turbo 3 as the inaugural device in its independent Turbo lineup, diverging from the Redmi Note series. As the third entrant in the Turbo brand, it follows in the footsteps of the popular Redmi Note 12 Turbo, known for its combination of affordability and high performance within the mid-range market.

Redmi Turbo 3 Quick Review: Aka POCO F6 5G

Design

The Redmi Turbo 3 boasts a unique aesthetic appeal with a sturdy feel, courtesy of its rough plastic back and metal frame. Given how Xiaomi has focused heavily on the device’s hardware performance, you might find the device’s finish to be less polished, especially at the back.

While most mid-range smartphones now use glass backs and plastic frames, the Redmi Turbo 3 pragmatically opts for a plastic back and metal frame. This economical design choice helps keep the device affordable. Nonetheless, it still feels solid and comfortable in hand.

With color options like Black Crystal, Green Blade, and Ice Titanium, there’s a vibrant palette to choose from. Our Redmi Turbo 3 review unit was striking in a Green Blade hue. There’s also a Harry Potter Limited Edition for superfans, akin to last year’s Redmi Note 12 Turbo model.

In summary, from a distance, the Redmi Turbo 3 has a pleasing design, despite the emphasis on material budgeting. But even when focusing on the finer details, its unbeatable price-to-performance ratio still wins the day.

Display 

Redmi Turbo 3 is equipped with a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen on the front. The impressive point of this screen is that it has extremely thin bezels and is quite evenly thin at the edges. Compared to the Redmi Note 13 series, it’s one nine out of ten.

This screen has a resolution of 1220 x 2712 pixels, and supports a 120Hz refresh rate for a smooth experience, especially when playing games. Xiaomi equipped the device with a flat screen and an under-screen fingerprint sensor to enhance the gaming experience. The screen boasts a maximum brightness of 2400 nits, ensuring clear visibility even under strong sunlight.

The Redmi Turbo 3 features a punch-hole display with a centrally-placed 20MP front-facing camera situated at the top. Despite its affordability, the screen offers commendable quality with vibrant colors and crisp details. This contributes to an enhanced user experience, particularly for gaming and viewing HDR content. Its low latency and consistent brightness make it a value-for-money choice for an entertainment-focused smartphone.

Camera

The Redmi Turbo 3 is equipped with a triangular-shaped dual camera setup on the rear, featuring a 50MP wide-angle camera and an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. This combination offers commendable photography options for basic needs.

Photos captured with the Redmi Turbo 3 boast vibrant colors, pleasing contrast, and respectable HDR handling. However, users should manage their expectations regarding the camera’s performance.

Performance and battery

The Redmi Turbo 3 stands out for its performance, powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, which is a slightly less potent version of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 but still delivers robust capabilities, making it ideal for intensive tasks like gaming. It features a 1+4+3 core structure and an Adreno 735 GPU, enhancing its multitasking and gaming performance.

Benchmark tests using AnTuTu Benchmark V10 and Geekbench 6 reveal the Redmi Turbo 3’s high-performance levels, confirming its ability to smoothly run both light and demanding games. It also includes an advanced VC vapor chamber cooling system, ensuring efficient heat dissipation during gaming sessions.

Furthermore, the Redmi Turbo 3 comes with a 5000mAh battery that supports 90W Turbo Charge, allowing for rapid charging. It operates on the HyperOS, which is based on Android 14, offering a seamless user experience.

Redmi Turbo 3 aka POCO F6 5G specifications

• Display: 6.7-inch (2712 x 1220 pixels) 1.5K 12-bit OLED 20:9display, 120Hz refresh rate, 480Hz touch sampling rate, up to 2499 nits peak brightness, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 2160Hz PWM Dimming, DC Dimming, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection
• CPU: Octa Core Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 735 GPU
• RAM+ROM: 12GB / 16GB LPPDDR5x RAM with 256GB / 512GB / 1TB UFS 4.0 storage
• Features: In-display fingerprint sensor, Infrared sensor, USB Type-C audio, Hi-Res audio, Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, Dust and Splash resistance (IP64), Dual SIM (nano + nano)
• OS: Xiaomi HyperOS
• Rear camera: 50MP main camera with 1/ 1.95″Sony LYT-600 sensor, f/1.59 aperture, OIS, LED flash, 8MP ultra-wide angle lens with f/2.2 aperture, Sony IMX355 sensor, 4K video recording
• Front camera: 20MP OmniVision OV20B selfie camera with 1080p video recording
• Connectivity: 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 6 802.11 be, Bluetooth 5.4, Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS (L1 + L5), NavIC, USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1, NFC
• Battery: 5000mAh (Typical) battery with 90W fast charging
• Dimensions: 160.5×74.4×7.8mm
• Weight: 179g

Price and availability

The Redmi Turbo 3 is now available for international purchase through Giztop.com, with prices beginning at $329. Customers have the option to select from three different colors and three storage configurations.

Also see: Samsung Galaxy A55 Hands-On: First Impression

It’s worth noting that the model offered is the Chinese variant of the smartphone, which supports both English and Chinese languages, along with Google Mobile Services and the Google Play Store. Buyers are advised to verify the compatibility of the Redmi Turbo 3 with their required 4G and 5G network bands before making a purchase.