The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro and Realme Q3i 5G represent compelling options in the competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Poco X3 Pro, with its older but potent Snapdragon 860, aims for gaming dominance. The Realme Q3i 5G, powered by the Dimensity 700, prioritizes 5G connectivity and affordability. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best experience for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For users prioritizing raw performance and gaming, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is the clear winner thanks to its Snapdragon 860. However, the Realme Q3i 5G offers a viable alternative for those seeking 5G access on a tighter budget, accepting a performance trade-off.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 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, April 22 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, April 22 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 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 | 185 g (6.53 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 (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nits | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 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 700 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB 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 | - | 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/2.1, 26mm (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide) | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Supersonic Blue, Supersonic Black | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | RMX3042 | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | About 130 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) |
Realme Q3i 5G
- Affordable price point
- 5G connectivity for future-proofing
- Decent battery endurance
- Less powerful processor compared to the Poco X3 Pro
- Charging speed is relatively slow
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 860 processor for gaming
- Fast 33W wired charging
- Potentially better image processing
- May not be as power efficient as the Realme Q3i 5G
- Lacks detailed display specifications
Display Comparison
Both devices share a nominal contrast ratio of 1401:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness, color gamut coverage, and refresh rate are missing for the Realme Q3i 5G. The Poco X3 Pro’s display, while not explicitly detailed beyond contrast, benefits from the Snapdragon 860’s image signal processor for potentially better color reproduction. Without further data on the Q3i 5G’s panel, the X3 Pro holds a slight edge due to the known capabilities of its chipset.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or features like Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Given the market positioning, it’s likely both utilize similar budget-oriented camera setups. Without concrete specifications, it’s difficult to declare a winner. However, the Snapdragon 860’s superior image signal processor in the Poco X3 Pro *could* lead to better image processing and dynamic range, even with similar sensors.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7nm) in the Poco X3 Pro features a 1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold core, alongside three additional Gold cores and four Silver cores, offering significantly higher clock speeds and a more complex architecture than the Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm) in the Realme Q3i 5G. The Dimensity 700’s octa-core configuration (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) is geared towards efficiency and 5G connectivity, but falls short in sustained performance. This translates to smoother, more demanding gaming and faster app loading times on the Poco X3 Pro. The X3 Pro’s GPU will also provide a substantial advantage in graphics-intensive tasks.
Battery Life
Both devices boast an endurance rating of 112 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage scenarios. However, the Poco X3 Pro’s 33W wired charging (59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min) is significantly faster than the Realme Q3i 5G’s 18W charging. This faster charging capability is a major convenience factor, allowing users to quickly top up their battery when needed. While the mAh capacity isn’t specified for either device, the faster charging of the Poco X3 Pro provides a practical advantage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Q3i 5G if you need a future-proof 5G connection and prioritize affordability over peak performance. It’s ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and light gaming. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you’re a mobile gamer or power user who demands the highest possible performance in this price bracket, and are willing to sacrifice some battery efficiency for that power.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 860 is a powerful chip, it's known to generate heat under sustained load. The Poco X3 Pro's thermal management system is adequate, but some throttling is likely during prolonged, demanding gaming. However, it will still outperform the Dimensity 700 in this scenario.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Realme Q3i 5G actually useful, or is it just a marketing feature?
The usefulness of 5G depends on your location and carrier coverage. If you live in an area with readily available 5G networks, the Q3i 5G will offer significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G. However, if 5G is limited or unavailable, the benefit is minimal.
❓ How does the Dimensity 700 handle popular games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile?
The Dimensity 700 can run PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, but you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to achieve a smooth frame rate. It's suitable for casual gaming, but won't provide the same level of performance as the Snapdragon 860.
❓ Does the Poco X3 Pro support high refresh rate gaming?
While the Poco X3 Pro's display specifications aren't fully detailed, the Snapdragon 860 is capable of driving high refresh rate displays. Whether the phone supports 90fps or 120fps in specific games like PUBG Mobile will depend on the game's settings and the phone's optimization.
