The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 8 Pro and Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco X3 Pro takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster Snapdragon 860 chipset, offering a noticeable performance boost for gaming and demanding tasks. While the Realme 8 Pro boasts a potentially better display and faster charging, the Poco's raw power makes it the more appealing choice for many.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - Asia | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 24 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 25 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (6.32 x 2.91 x 0.32 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 | 176 g (6.21 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 430 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
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 | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, 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, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 50W wired, 50% in 17 min, 100% in 47 min | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Infinite Blue, Infinite Black, Punk Black, Illuminating Yellow | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | RMX3081 | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | About 550 EUR | $ 128.04 / £ 249.99 |
| SAR | 1.10 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) | 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 116h
|
Endurance rating 112h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1401:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.2 LUFS (Average)
|
-26.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 286666 (v8)
GeekBench: 1678 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 453223 (v8)
GeekBench: 2574 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 8 Pro
- Vibrant AMOLED Display
- Faster Charging (50W)
- Versatile Camera System
- Sleek Design
- Slower Processor
- IPS LCD display on Poco X3 Pro is better
- Less Powerful than Poco X3 Pro
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 860 Chipset
- Excellent Value for Money
- 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Good Battery Life
- Less Refined Camera
- Slower Charging (33W)
- IPS LCD Display
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display (Realme 8 Pro) and an IPS LCD display (Poco X3 Pro) with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smooth scrolling and visuals. The Realme 8 Pro's AMOLED panel provides richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, resulting in a more immersive viewing experience. The Poco X3 Pro's contrast ratio of 1401:1 is respectable, but doesn't match the AMOLED's capabilities. The Realme 8 Pro's 'Infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, but the AMOLED technology inherently provides superior contrast.
Camera Comparison
The Realme 8 Pro generally offers a more versatile camera system. While both phones have a 64MP main sensor, the Realme 8 Pro often produces more detailed and vibrant photos, especially in good lighting conditions. The Realme 8 Pro also typically has better low-light performance and a more refined image processing algorithm. The Poco X3 Pro's camera is decent, but lacks the polish of the Realme 8 Pro.
Performance
This is where the Poco X3 Pro truly shines. Its Snapdragon 860 chipset is a significant upgrade over the Realme 8 Pro's Snapdragon 720G. The 860 offers substantially faster processing speeds and better graphics performance, making it ideal for demanding games and multitasking. The Realme 8 Pro is still capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle more with intensive applications.
Battery Life
Both phones offer large 4500mAh batteries, providing all-day battery life. The endurance ratings (116h vs 112h) are very close, suggesting similar real-world usage. However, the Realme 8 Pro's 50W fast charging is considerably faster than the Poco X3 Pro's 33W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Realme 8 Pro is ideal for users prioritizing a vibrant display, fast charging, and a slightly more refined design. The Poco X3 Pro is the better choice for gamers, power users, and those who demand top-tier performance without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Poco X3 Pro is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset.
❓ Does the Realme 8 Pro have a better camera?
Yes, the Realme 8 Pro generally offers a more versatile and refined camera experience, particularly in terms of image quality and low-light performance.
❓ Which phone charges faster?
The Realme 8 Pro charges faster with its 50W fast charging compared to the Poco X3 Pro's 33W charging.
❓ Is the Poco X3 Pro worth buying in 2024?
Yes, the Poco X3 Pro still offers excellent value for money, especially for those prioritizing performance and gaming.
