vivo iQOO 3 5G vs Xiaomi Poco F5: A Detailed Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo iQOO 3 5G and Xiaomi Poco F5 are two strong contenders. Both offer impressive specs at attractive price points, but which one truly delivers the best overall experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 emerges as the winner thanks to its brighter display, more modern chipset (Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2), and faster charging. While the iQOO 3 5G boasts a flagship Snapdragon 865, the Poco F5's improvements in key areas make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	vivo iQOO 3 5G	Xiaomi Poco F5

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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands	1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G (3.3 Gbps DL)	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
	41, 77, 78 - India	-

Launch
Announced	2020, February 25. Released 2020, March 04	2023, May 09
Status	Discontinued	Available. Released 2023, May

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	158.5 x 74.9 x 9.2 mm (6.24 x 2.95 x 0.36 in)	161.1 x 75 x 7.9 mm (6.34 x 2.95 x 0.31 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	214.5 g (7.58 oz)	181 g (6.38 oz)
	-	IP53, dust and splash resistant

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 6	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size	6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ)	AMOLED, 68B colors, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x2.91 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.49 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)	Qualcomm SM7475-AB Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Adreno 650	Adreno 725
OS	Android 10, iQOO UI 1.0	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
	UFS 3.1	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Triple	-	64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	-
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers
	32-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes (market/region dependent)
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO	GPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
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

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass

Battery
Charging	55W wired, 50% in 15 min	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 46 min
Type	4400 mAh	Li-Po 5000 mAh

Misc
Colors	Volcano Orange, Tornado Black, Quantum Silver	Black, Blue, White
Models	V1955A, I1927, I1928	23049PCD8G, 23049PCD8I
Price	About 480 EUR	€ 202.76 / $ 289.99 / ₹ 23,790
SAR	1.19 W/kg (head) 0.59 W/kg (body)	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	0.99 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body)

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 118h	Endurance rating 118h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-26.3 LUFS (Good)	-24.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 575601 (v8) GeekBench: 13325 (v4.4), 3402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	-

vivo iQOO 3 5G

Flagship Snapdragon 865 chipset
Slightly larger screen
Good value for money (when discounted)

Older chipset
Slower charging
Lower display brightness

Xiaomi Poco F5

Brighter display
More modern Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset
Faster 67W charging
Improved efficiency

Potentially slightly less raw power than iQOO 3 5G in extreme scenarios

Display Comparison

The Poco F5 takes a clear lead in the display department. It measures a peak brightness of 963 nits, significantly higher than the iQOO 3 5G's 848 nits. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the Poco F5's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors and in bright environments. Both likely use AMOLED panels, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is likely similar given the lack of detailed specs. Both phones likely feature a main sensor around 64MP, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. Image quality will depend on software processing and tuning, which is difficult to assess without direct comparison. Expect decent photos in good lighting conditions, but struggles in low light.

Performance

While the iQOO 3 5G features the flagship Snapdragon 865, the Poco F5's Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is surprisingly competitive. The 7+ Gen 2's newer architecture and 4nm process offer improved efficiency and comparable performance in many real-world scenarios. The iQOO 3 5G still holds an edge in demanding tasks, but the Poco F5 provides a smoother experience for everyday use.

Battery Life

Both phones share the same endurance rating of 118h, suggesting comparable battery life under typical usage. However, the Poco F5's 67W charging is significantly faster than the iQOO 3 5G's 55W, allowing for quicker top-ups.

Buying Guide

The vivo iQOO 3 5G is a good choice for users prioritizing raw processing power and a slightly larger screen. The Xiaomi Poco F5 is ideal for those seeking a vibrant display, faster charging, and a more recent chipset with improved efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 865 still a good chipset?

Yes, the Snapdragon 865 is still capable, but the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 offers better efficiency and a more modern architecture.

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

The iQOO 3 5G has a slight edge in raw gaming power due to its Snapdragon 865, but the Poco F5's improved thermal management might result in more consistent performance during extended gaming sessions.