The Realme GT Explorer Master and Xiaomi Poco F3 GT represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range gaming smartphone space. Both devices prioritize performance and fast charging, but they achieve this through different chipsets and design philosophies. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Realme GT Explorer Master emerges as the slightly better choice. Its Snapdragon 870 offers a well-balanced combination of performance and efficiency, coupled with a brighter display and respectable battery life. While the Poco F3 GT boasts faster charging, the Explorer Master’s overall refinement gives it the edge.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, July 21 | 2021, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, July 27 | Available. Released 2021, July 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) |
| Dimensions | 159.9 mm x 72.5 mm x 8.0/8.8 mm (depending on color) | 161.9 x 76.9 x 8.3 mm (6.37 x 3.03 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 183.5/185 g (depending on color) (6.49 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | - | Physical pop-up gaming triggers
IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1200 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G77 MC9 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm
2 MP (macro) | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Panorama, HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.5, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio
Tuned by JBL |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | No |
| 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 65W wired, 50% in 13 min, 100% in 33 min | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5065 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, White, Aurora, Apricot | Predator Black, Gunmetal Silver |
| Models | RMX3366 | MZB09C6IN, M2104K10I |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 117h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-25.6 LUFS (Very good)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 717879 (v9)
GeekBench: 3050 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Realme GT Explorer Master
- Excellent thermal management with Snapdragon 870
- Brighter display for outdoor use (805 nits)
- Respectable battery endurance (117h rating)
- Camera details are lacking
- Charging speed slightly slower than Poco F3 GT
Xiaomi Poco F3 GT
- Faster 67W charging with PD3.0/QC3 support
- Potentially higher peak performance with Dimensity 1200
- Competitive price point
- Dimensity 1200 may throttle under sustained load
- Likely lower display brightness
Display Comparison
The Realme GT Explorer Master features a display capable of reaching 805 nits of peak brightness, a significant advantage for outdoor visibility compared to the Poco F3 GT (brightness data unavailable, but typically lower in this segment). While both likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors, the Explorer Master’s higher peak brightness translates to a more comfortable viewing experience in direct sunlight. Contrast ratios are nominally infinite on both, typical of AMOLED technology. The absence of refresh rate data for both devices makes a direct comparison difficult, but both are expected to offer at least 120Hz for smooth scrolling and gaming.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Given the market positioning, we can expect competent camera systems, but not flagship-level performance. Sensor size and aperture data are missing, making a detailed comparison impossible. The Poco F3 GT’s camera system is likely tuned for vibrant, social media-ready images, while Realme often aims for a more natural look. Without further information, it’s difficult to determine which phone offers superior image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme GT Explorer Master utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm), while the Poco F3 GT is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 (6nm). The Dimensity 1200, built on a smaller 6nm process, theoretically offers higher peak performance. However, the Snapdragon 870 is renowned for its excellent thermal management. The Dimensity 1200’s Cortex-A78 cores, clocked at 3.0 GHz, are powerful, but can generate more heat under sustained load, potentially leading to throttling. The Snapdragon 870’s Kryo 585 cores, while clocked slightly lower, maintain performance for longer periods. Both devices benefit from ample RAM, though specific configurations aren’t provided, and likely utilize LPDDR5 for fast memory access.
Battery Life
The Realme GT Explorer Master boasts an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating solid battery life. It supports 65W wired charging, achieving 50% charge in 13 minutes and 100% in 33 minutes. The Poco F3 GT, with 67W wired charging (and support for PD3.0 and QC3), claims a full charge in 42 minutes. While the Poco F3 GT charges slightly slower, the difference isn’t substantial. The Explorer Master’s higher endurance rating suggests a more efficient chipset and potentially a larger battery capacity, offsetting the slightly slower charging speed.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme GT Explorer Master if you prioritize a consistently smooth experience, a brighter and more usable display in outdoor conditions, and a chipset known for its thermal efficiency during extended gaming sessions. Buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 GT if you absolutely need the fastest possible charging speeds and are willing to potentially trade off some sustained performance due to the Dimensity 1200’s thermal characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Poco F3 GT overheat during prolonged gaming sessions like Genshin Impact?
The MediaTek Dimensity 1200, while powerful, is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 870. Expect some thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially leading to frame rate drops. The Poco F3 GT’s cooling system will mitigate this, but it’s unlikely to match the sustained performance of the Explorer Master.
❓ Is the 65W charging on the Realme GT Explorer Master fast enough for daily use?
Absolutely. 65W charging is exceptionally fast, delivering a full charge in just 33 minutes. This is more than sufficient for overnight charging or quickly topping up the battery during short breaks. While the Poco F3 GT charges slightly faster, the difference is unlikely to be a major inconvenience.
❓ Does either phone support expandable storage via microSD card?
Neither Realme nor Xiaomi typically include microSD card slots in their mid-range gaming phones. Both the GT Explorer Master and F3 GT are likely to rely solely on internal storage, so choose a configuration with sufficient capacity upfront.
❓ Which phone is better for recording video, assuming similar camera specs?
Given the lack of detailed camera specifications, it's difficult to say definitively. However, the Snapdragon 870 in the Explorer Master generally offers slightly better video encoding capabilities, potentially resulting in more stable and higher-quality video recordings.
