The sub-$200 5G smartphone market is heating up, and the vivo iQOO U3x and Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G are two key players. Both aim to deliver 5G connectivity without breaking the bank, but they take different approaches to achieve this. The iQOO U3x leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 480, while the Poco M3 Pro 5G opts for MediaTek’s Dimensity 700. This comparison will dissect their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G emerges as the better choice. Its Dimensity 700 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge in CPU-intensive tasks and gaming, and the measured 536 nits of brightness offers a more usable outdoor experience. While both share 18W charging, the Poco’s overall package delivers more for the price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 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, March 19 | 2021, May 19 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 22 | Available. Released 2021, May 22 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 75.4 x 8.4 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) | 161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 185.5 g (6.56 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.58 inches, 104.3 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 500 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 460 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 460) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4350 Snapdragon 480 5G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 11, OriginOS 1.0 for iQOO | Android 11, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Aurora | Poco Yellow, Power Black, Cool Blue |
| Models | V2106A | M2103K19PG, M2103K19PI, M2103K19PY |
| Price | About 160 EUR | About 140 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.94 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 121h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1475:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-27.9 LUFS (Good)
|
vivo iQOO U3x
- Potentially optimized vivo software experience
- 5G connectivity at a budget price point
- Compact and lightweight design (assumed based on brand history)
- Snapdragon 480 chipset is less powerful than Dimensity 700
- Lack of detailed display specifications
- Limited camera information
Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G
- More powerful MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset
- Brighter display (536 nits measured)
- Good battery life (121h Endurance rating)
- MIUI software can be bloated with pre-installed apps
- 18W charging is relatively slow
- Camera performance likely limited by budget sensors
Display Comparison
The Poco M3 Pro 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 536 nits, significantly enhancing visibility in bright sunlight compared to the iQOO U3x, which lacks published brightness data. Both displays share a 1475:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color depth and black levels. However, the lack of detailed display specifications for the iQOO U3x, such as color gamut coverage, leaves the Poco M3 Pro 5G as the clear winner for users who frequently use their phones outdoors or consume a lot of video content.
Camera Comparison
Both devices feature a 'Photo / Video' camera setup, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing capabilities. Without this information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given the market positioning, it’s likely both phones rely on similar budget sensors. The absence of details suggests neither phone will excel in low-light photography or offer advanced camera features. Users should temper expectations regarding image quality.
Performance
The Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G’s MediaTek Dimensity 700 (7nm) chipset offers a clear advantage over the iQOO U3x’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G (8nm). The Dimensity 700 utilizes two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz, providing a substantial boost in single-core performance compared to the Snapdragon 480’s 2.0 GHz Kryo 460 cores. This translates to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While both are octa-core CPUs, the architectural differences favor the Dimensity 700, especially for gaming. The 7nm process node also contributes to better power efficiency, potentially offsetting the slightly smaller battery (not specified for iQOO U3x).
Battery Life
Both the vivo iQOO U3x and Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G are equipped with 18W wired charging. Both phones achieve an Endurance rating of 121 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage scenarios. This suggests that despite potentially different battery capacities (capacity not specified for iQOO U3x), the power efficiency of their respective chipsets and software optimizations result in comparable real-world performance. The 18W charging speed is relatively slow compared to faster charging solutions available on more expensive devices, but adequate for overnight charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo iQOO U3x if you prioritize a potentially more optimized software experience within the vivo ecosystem and are primarily focused on basic smartphone tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use. Buy the Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G if you value performance for gaming and multitasking, a brighter display for outdoor visibility, and a more powerful processor for future-proofing your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the MediaTek Dimensity 700 in the Poco M3 Pro 5G capable of running demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the Dimensity 700 is a capable chipset for gaming. While it won't deliver flagship-level performance, it can comfortably run PUBG Mobile at medium to high settings with stable frame rates. The improved CPU and GPU performance over the Snapdragon 480 in the iQOO U3x provide a smoother gaming experience.
❓ Does the Poco M3 Pro 5G's MIUI software significantly impact performance or battery life?
MIUI is known for being feature-rich but can also be resource-intensive. While it doesn't drastically hinder performance, users may experience some bloatware and pre-installed apps. Optimizing the software by disabling unnecessary features and uninstalling unwanted apps can improve both performance and battery life.
❓ How long does it realistically take to fully charge the iQOO U3x and Poco M3 Pro 5G with their 18W chargers?
With 18W charging, expect a full charge to take approximately 2.5 to 3 hours for both devices. While not the fastest charging available, it's sufficient for overnight charging. The similar battery endurance ratings suggest that the charging times will be comparable despite potential differences in battery capacity.
