The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the vivo iQOO Neo5 SE and the Xiaomi Poco F3 GT. Both promise impressive performance and features, but which one truly comes out on top?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Poco F3 GT edges out the iQOO Neo5 SE thanks to its faster charging, slightly better display, and overall more premium feel. However, the iQOO Neo5 SE offers a compelling alternative with its Snapdragon 870 and competitive price, making it a strong choice for gamers.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1x | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, December 20 | 2021, July 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, December 29 | Available. Released 2021, July 26 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5) |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm (6.48 x 3.02 x 0.33 in) | 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 | 189 g (6.67 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | - | Physical pop-up gaming triggers
IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10, 650 nits (typ) | 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, OriginOS Ocean | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 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@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, HDR |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | 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, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 55W wired | 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 42 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5065 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Aurora | Predator Black, Gunmetal Silver |
| Models | V2157A | MZB09C6IN, M2104K10I |
| Price | About 300 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) |
vivo iQOO Neo5 SE
- Excellent performance with Snapdragon 870
- Smooth 120Hz display
- Competitive price
- Good gaming experience
- Slower charging speed
- LCD display (less vibrant than AMOLED)
- Camera may not be as advanced as competitors
Xiaomi Poco F3 GT
- Fast 67W charging
- Vibrant AMOLED display
- Premium design and build quality
- Versatile camera system
- Dimensity 1200 may throttle under sustained load
- Software experience can be polarizing
- Price slightly higher than iQOO Neo5 SE
Display Comparison
The Poco F3 GT boasts a 120Hz AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth scrolling. The iQOO Neo5 SE features a 120Hz LCD panel, which is still good but lacks the contrast and color accuracy of the AMOLED. The Poco F3 GT's display is the clear winner here.
Camera Comparison
The Poco F3 GT typically features a versatile camera system with a high-resolution main sensor, often including an ultrawide lens. The iQOO Neo5 SE's camera setup is generally good, but may lack some of the advanced features or image processing capabilities of the Poco F3 GT. Camera performance is generally comparable, but the Poco F3 GT often has a slight edge in image quality.
Performance
While the Poco F3 GT's Dimensity 1200 is a capable chip, the iQOO Neo5 SE's Snapdragon 870 generally delivers slightly better sustained performance and efficiency, especially in demanding games. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the 870 has a slight edge.
Battery Life
The Poco F3 GT's 67W charging is significantly faster than the iQOO Neo5 SE's 55W charging, allowing for quicker top-ups. Both phones offer decent battery life for a full day of moderate use, but the faster charging of the Poco F3 GT is a definite advantage.
Buying Guide
The vivo iQOO Neo5 SE is ideal for gamers and users prioritizing raw processing power and a smooth gaming experience on a budget. The Xiaomi Poco F3 GT is a better fit for those who value faster charging, a vibrant display, and a more premium design, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The iQOO Neo5 SE generally offers slightly better sustained gaming performance due to the Snapdragon 870's efficiency.
❓ Is the Poco F3 GT's software good?
Xiaomi's MIUI can be a love-it-or-hate-it experience. It offers extensive customization options but can also be bloated with pre-installed apps.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Both offer decent battery life, but the Poco F3 GT's faster charging makes it more convenient.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
The Poco F3 GT often features a more premium build, potentially offering slightly better durability.
