The vivo S20 and Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro represent distinct approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Poco X3 Pro, while older, boasts a flagship-level Snapdragon 860, while the newer vivo S20 leverages the more efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 3. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the vivo S20 emerges as the better choice. Its newer Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 offers a compelling balance of performance and efficiency, coupled with significantly faster 90W charging. While the Poco X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860 still holds its own, the S20’s modern features and improved power management provide a more refined experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, November 28 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, December 06 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.4 x 74.2 x 7.2 mm (6.31 x 2.92 x 0.28 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 | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch/drop-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~90.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1300 nits (HBM), 5000 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715 & 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7550-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 720 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 15, OriginOS 5 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.55", PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 106˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR | 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 | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), AF | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K, 1080p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LHDC 5 | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS (B1I+B1c) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 90W wired, PD
Reverse wired | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | Si/C Li-Ion 6500 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gray, Gold, White | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | V2429A | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | About 300 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) |
vivo S20
- Significantly faster 90W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset
- Modern CPU architecture (Cortex-A715)
- Potential for better camera image processing
- Detailed display specs are unknown
- Camera sensor details are missing
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon 860 for raw performance
- Good value for money (potentially lower price)
- Decent battery endurance (112h)
- Established performance profile
- Slower 33W charging
- Less efficient 7nm process
- Older chipset architecture
- Potential for thermal throttling
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 vivo S20. The Poco X3 Pro’s display, while adequate, isn’t known for exceptional color accuracy. The S20’s potential for a more advanced panel (LTPO, higher resolution) could give it an edge, but without concrete data, it remains speculative. Bezels are likely comparable given the price points.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specifications are limited for both devices. Both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but lack specifics on sensor size, OIS, or aperture. The Poco X3 Pro’s camera performance is generally considered good for its price, but not exceptional. The vivo S20, being a newer device, likely benefits from improved image processing algorithms and potentially a more advanced sensor. Without more data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the S20’s newer technology gives it a potential advantage.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860 (7nm) features a Kryo 485-based CPU clocked up to 2.96 GHz, prioritizing raw speed. The vivo S20’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 (4nm) takes a different approach, utilizing a more modern Cortex-A715 architecture and a smaller process node. While the 860 has a higher peak clock speed, the 7 Gen 3’s efficiency gains translate to better sustained performance and reduced thermal throttling. The 4nm process is a significant advantage, especially during extended gaming sessions. The S20’s CPU configuration (1x2.63 GHz Cortex-A715, 3x2.4 GHz Cortex-A715, 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) suggests a focus on balanced performance across all cores.
Battery Life
Both phones have an endurance rating of 112 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life *despite* the Poco X3 Pro’s unspecified mAh capacity. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The vivo S20’s 90W wired charging with PD and reverse wired charging is a game-changer, offering a full charge in a fraction of the time compared to the Poco X3 Pro’s 33W charging (59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min). This faster charging significantly enhances the user experience, especially for those who frequently find themselves with low battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S20 if you prioritize efficient performance, fast charging, and a modern feature set. It’s ideal for users who multitask frequently, enjoy mobile gaming casually, and value convenience. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you’re a hardcore gamer seeking maximum raw power on a budget, and are willing to compromise on charging speed and potentially battery life due to the older, less efficient chipset.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 860 is a powerful chip, but its 7nm process and higher power draw can lead to thermal throttling during extended gaming. While the Poco X3 Pro has cooling solutions, it may not be as effective as the more efficient Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in the vivo S20.
❓ How much faster is the 90W charging on the vivo S20 compared to the 33W charging on the Poco X3 Pro in real-world use?
The vivo S20’s 90W charging can top up the battery from 0% to 100% in approximately 40-50 minutes, while the Poco X3 Pro takes nearly an hour. This means you can get a significant charge in a much shorter time with the S20, making it ideal for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Does the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in the vivo S20 offer a noticeable performance improvement over the Snapdragon 860 in everyday tasks?
While the Snapdragon 860 excels in raw benchmark scores, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 provides a smoother and more responsive experience in everyday tasks due to its efficient architecture and optimized power management. The difference is less noticeable in peak performance, but more apparent in sustained performance and battery life.
