The Oppo K9s and Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver strong performance without breaking the bank, they take different approaches. The K9s leverages the efficient Snapdragon 778G, while the X3 Pro opts for the older, but still potent, Snapdragon 860. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 860 provides a noticeable performance edge in demanding tasks and gaming, offsetting the K9s’s slightly more efficient chipset. While charging speeds are comparable, the X3 Pro’s established endurance rating and aggressive pricing make it a more compelling overall package.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 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 / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1x | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, October 20 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, November 01 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.4 x 75.9 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.99 x 0.33 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 | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Panda Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7325 Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 642L | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, ColorOS 11.2 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 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, 26mm (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired
5W reverse wired | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Aurora | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | PERM10 | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | - | $ 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) |
Oppo K9s
- More modern chipset architecture (Snapdragon 778G)
- Potentially better power efficiency
- 5W reverse wired charging
- Lower peak CPU performance compared to the X3 Pro
- Missing display specifications
- Limited information on camera capabilities
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Higher CPU performance (Snapdragon 860)
- Established 112-hour endurance rating
- Faster charging speeds (33W)
- Older chipset generation
- MIUI software can be polarizing
- No reverse wireless charging
Display Comparison
Both the Oppo K9s and Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro share a nominal contrast ratio of 1401:1, suggesting similar visual depth. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and panel type (IPS vs AMOLED) are missing for the K9s. The X3 Pro’s display, while adequate, isn’t a standout feature. The lack of high refresh rate information for the K9s means the X3 Pro likely has an advantage if it supports 120Hz, contributing to smoother scrolling and gaming. Without further data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a display winner.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or OIS. This makes a direct comparison challenging. The omission of details suggests neither phone is a camera-focused flagship. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on the X3 Pro is a common, but often underwhelming, addition. Without further information, it’s reasonable to assume both phones offer adequate, but not exceptional, camera performance for their price range. Image processing style will likely be the differentiating factor, leaning towards Xiaomi’s typically vibrant and saturated look.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860, built on a 7nm process, boasts a higher peak CPU clock speed (2.96 GHz vs 2.4 GHz) and a more aggressive core configuration (1x Kryo 485 Gold at 2.96 GHz, 3x Kryo 485 Gold at 2.42 GHz, 4x Kryo 485 Silver at 1.78 GHz) compared to the Oppo K9s’s Snapdragon 778G (1x Cortex-A78 at 2.4 GHz, 3x Cortex-A78 at 2.2 GHz, 4x Cortex-A55 at 1.9 GHz). This translates to a tangible performance advantage for the X3 Pro in CPU-intensive tasks and graphically demanding games. While the 778G’s 6nm process is more efficient, the 860’s raw power is likely to be more impactful for gamers. RAM specifications are missing for both, but assuming similar configurations, the X3 Pro will likely maintain higher sustained performance due to its more powerful chipset.
Battery Life
The Poco X3 Pro has an endurance rating of 112 hours, indicating solid battery life. The Oppo K9s’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 30W charging is comparable to the X3 Pro’s 33W charging. The X3 Pro charges to 59% in 30 minutes and 100% in 59 minutes, providing a quick top-up. While the K9s offers 5W reverse wired charging, the X3 Pro lacks this feature. The X3 Pro’s established endurance rating suggests it can comfortably last a full day of moderate use, potentially outperforming the K9s if the latter has a smaller battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Oppo K9s if you prioritize a newer chipset architecture and potentially longer software support, and value a slightly more streamlined user experience. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you’re a gamer or power user who demands maximum performance for the price, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 860 is known to run warm under sustained load. However, the Poco X3 Pro incorporates thermal management solutions, including a copper heat pipe, to mitigate throttling. While some performance reduction is possible during extended gaming, it generally remains playable. The K9s’s 778G will likely run cooler, but at the cost of overall performance.
❓ Is the 5W reverse charging on the Oppo K9s useful for topping up accessories like earbuds?
The 5W reverse charging is a convenient feature for emergency top-ups of small accessories like wireless earbuds or a smartwatch. However, it’s a slow charging method and not suitable for quickly charging larger devices like another smartphone. It’s a nice-to-have, but not a primary reason to choose the K9s.
❓ Does the Poco X3 Pro support high frame rate gaming like 90fps in PUBG Mobile?
The Poco X3 Pro can achieve high frame rates in PUBG Mobile, but it depends on the graphics settings. While it may not consistently maintain 90fps on the highest settings, it can comfortably run the game at 60fps with smooth graphics, providing a competitive gaming experience. The Snapdragon 860’s GPU is capable of handling demanding games.
