The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro and Honor Play5 5G represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity and solid performance, they take distinctly different approaches. The Poco X3 Pro leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 860, a chip known for its gaming prowess, while the Honor Play5 5G opts for MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U, prioritizing a balance of performance and efficiency. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you choose the right device.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing gaming and sustained performance, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 860 chipset offers a significant performance advantage over the Dimensity 800U in the Honor Play5 5G, despite the latter’s faster 66W charging. However, the Honor Play5 5G remains a viable option for those seeking a more balanced device with quicker top-ups.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, May 18 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, May 26 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 161.6 x 74.8 x 7.5 mm (6.36 x 2.94 x 0.30 in) | 165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation Up | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR10 | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC3 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 10, Magic UI 4.0, no Google Play Services | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | Unspecified | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 60% in 15 min, 100% in 35 min | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | Li-Po 3800 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Violet, Light Blue | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | HJC-AN90 | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | About 270 EUR | $ 128.04 / £ 249.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 112h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1401:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 453223 (v8)
GeekBench: 2574 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Honor Play5 5G
- Significantly faster 66W charging
- Potentially more efficient Dimensity 800U chipset
- Competitive 5G connectivity
- Less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon 860
- Limited display information available
- Camera specs are unknown
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 860 processor for gaming
- Likely 120Hz display for smoother visuals
- Strong performance in demanding applications
- Slower 33W charging
- Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
- Battery life may be slightly lower than Honor Play5 5G
Display Comparison
Both the Honor Play5 5G and Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro share a nominal contrast ratio of 1401:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness, panel type (IPS vs AMOLED), and refresh rate are missing for the Honor Play5 5G. The Poco X3 Pro’s 120Hz refresh rate, while not explicitly stated, is a common feature for this model, offering smoother scrolling and animations compared to a standard 60Hz panel. Without further information on the Honor Play5 5G’s display, the Poco X3 Pro likely offers a more visually engaging experience, particularly for gaming and video consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight. Without specific sensor details (megapixel count, sensor size, aperture), it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison. However, given Xiaomi’s tendency to prioritize camera hardware in the Poco line, the X3 Pro likely features a more capable main sensor. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device suggests reliance on software stabilization. The usefulness of any included macro cameras (often 2MP) is questionable, offering limited image quality improvements.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860 (7nm) boasts a prime core clocked at 2.96 GHz, alongside three additional performance cores at 2.42 GHz, and four efficiency cores at 1.78 GHz. This configuration provides a substantial performance uplift compared to the Honor Play5 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 800U (7nm) with its 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 and 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. While both are 7nm chips, the Snapdragon 860’s architecture and higher clock speeds translate to superior CPU and GPU performance, particularly in graphically intensive tasks. This means smoother gameplay, faster app loading times, and better multitasking on the Poco X3 Pro. The Poco X3 Pro is likely to exhibit less throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 112 hours, indicating similar overall battery life under typical usage. However, the charging speeds differ significantly. The Honor Play5 5G’s 66W wired charging is considerably faster, reaching 60% in 15 minutes and 100% in 35 minutes. The Poco X3 Pro’s 33W charging takes 30 minutes to reach 59% and 59 minutes for a full charge. While the Poco X3 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, the Honor Play5 5G’s faster charging mitigates any potential capacity disadvantage, allowing for quicker top-ups and reduced downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Honor Play5 5G if you need exceptionally fast charging – reaching 100% in just 35 minutes – and prioritize a phone that can quickly recover from short bursts of heavy use. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you prefer a more powerful processor for demanding games and applications, and are willing to trade some charging speed for sustained performance and a potentially more robust gaming experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 860 is known to generate heat under sustained load. While not as prone to throttling as older flagship chips, it's possible to experience some performance reduction after extended gaming. Xiaomi typically implements thermal management solutions, but the effectiveness varies. Expect some warmth, but not necessarily game-breaking overheating.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Honor Play5 5G compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
While the Honor Play5 5G supports 66W charging, it's unlikely to fully utilize the power output of a standard Power Delivery (PD) charger. Honor typically uses its own proprietary charging protocol for maximum speed. Using a PD charger will still charge the device, but at a slower rate.
❓ How does the Dimensity 800U in the Honor Play5 5G handle graphically demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Dimensity 800U can run PUBG Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. It won't deliver the same level of performance as the Snapdragon 860, and you may experience occasional frame drops during intense firefights.
❓ Does the Poco X3 Pro support 4K video recording?
The Poco X3 Pro is capable of recording video up to 4K resolution at 30fps. However, the video quality may not be on par with flagship devices due to limitations in the image sensor and video processing capabilities.
