vivo S16 vs Poco F5 Pro: The Ultimate Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo S16 and Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro are two strong contenders vying for your attention. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different priorities. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco F5 Pro takes the crown with its superior Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, brighter display, and faster charging. However, the vivo S16 offers a more refined design and potentially better selfie camera, making it a strong choice for those prioritizing aesthetics and front-facing photography.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo S16 Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, December 222023, May 09
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 30Available. Released 2023, May
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame
Dimensions164.1 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.29 in)162.8 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.41 x 2.97 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight182 g (6.42 oz)204 g (7.20 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~526 ppi density)
Size6.78 inches, 111.0 cm2 (~90.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3Android 13, upgradable to Android 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF-
Triple64 MP, f/1.9, (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro)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)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDRHDR
Single50 MP, f/2.5, (wide), AF16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I), GALILEO (E1), QZSS (L1)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired, 50% in 19 min67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min 30W wireless, 50% in 32 min
Type4600 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Mint, GoldBlack, White
ModelsV2244A23013PC75G
PriceAbout 340 EUR$ 449.99 / € 241.85
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.08 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.00 W/kg (head)     1.00 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life-Endurance rating 99h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 1057977 (v9) GeekBench: 4001 (v5.1), 4009 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo S16

  • Stylish Design
  • Good Selfie Camera
  • Smooth Performance
  • Fast Charging (66W)

  • Less Powerful Chipset
  • Likely Lower Display Brightness
  • No Wireless Charging

Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro

  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • Bright and Vibrant Display
  • Fast Charging (67W & 30W Wireless)
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Competitive Price

  • Less Refined Design (subjective)
  • Potentially Less Focus on Selfie Camera

Display Comparison

The Poco F5 Pro boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1059 nits peak brightness compared to the S16's likely lower brightness (spec not readily available, but generally vivo S series prioritize color accuracy over peak brightness). The Poco F5 Pro's infinite contrast ratio also suggests deeper blacks and better overall image quality. While the S16 likely has accurate colors, the F5 Pro wins on sheer visual impact.

Camera Comparison

While both phones offer capable camera systems, the vivo S16 is generally known for its strong selfie camera performance. The Poco F5 Pro likely excels in overall photo and video quality thanks to its more powerful processor and potentially better image processing algorithms. Detailed camera specs are needed for a more precise comparison.

Performance

The Poco F5 Pro's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a clear winner here. It's a more powerful chipset than the vivo S16's Snapdragon 870, offering noticeably faster performance in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The F5 Pro will handle multitasking and resource-intensive apps with greater ease.

Battery Life

The Poco F5 Pro claims an impressive endurance rating of 99 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. The vivo S16's battery capacity is likely comparable, but the F5 Pro's charging speeds are faster, both wired (67W vs 66W) and wireless (30W vs likely none on the S16). The F5 Pro charges to 50% significantly faster (15 min vs 19 min).

Buying Guide

The vivo S16 is ideal for users who value a stylish design, good selfie camera capabilities, and a smooth overall experience. The Poco F5 Pro is perfect for gamers, power users, and those who demand top-tier performance and a vibrant display at a competitive price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.
❓ Does the vivo S16 have wireless charging?
No, the vivo S16 does not offer wireless charging.
❓ Which phone has better battery life?
Based on the endurance rating, the Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro appears to have better battery life.
❓ Is the Poco F5 Pro worth the extra money?
If performance and display quality are your priorities, the Poco F5 Pro is definitely worth the extra investment.