Poco X3 Pro vs. vivo Y3: A Deep Dive into Budget Smartphone Choices

The smartphone market is flooded with options, but finding the right balance between price and performance can be challenging. We pit the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro, a device known for its gaming prowess, against the vivo Y3, a more basic offering focused on essential smartphone functions. This comparison will dissect their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing smooth performance and gaming, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 860 chipset delivers significantly more power than the vivo Y3’s Helio P35. However, if your needs are limited to basic tasks and battery life is paramount, the Y3 offers a functional experience at a lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo Y3 (4GB+64GB) Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 400/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India
Launch
Announced2019, October. Released 2019, October2021, March 22
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back
Dimensions159.4 x 76.7 x 8.9 mm (6.28 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)165.3 x 76.8 x 9.4 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight190 g (6.70 oz)215 g (7.58 oz)
 -IP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution720 x 1544 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~268 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.35 inches, 99.6 cm2 (~81.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver)
ChipsetMediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm)Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm)
GPUPowerVR GE8320Adreno 640
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.0Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-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
Triple13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/1.820 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCNoYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioFM radio, recording
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min
Type5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsInk blue, Jade RedPhantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze
Models-M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI
PriceAbout 140 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 Y3 (4GB+64GB)

  • Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset
  • Faster 33W wired charging
  • Likely superior camera system

  • Potentially higher price point
  • May have slightly lower battery endurance due to higher power consumption

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro

  • More affordable price
  • Potentially longer battery life with light usage
  • Simpler, user-friendly interface (typical of vivo)

  • Underpowered Helio P35 chipset
  • Slower 18W charging
  • Likely inferior camera performance

Display Comparison

Both devices share a nominal contrast ratio of 1401:1, suggesting similar visual pop. However, detailed display specs like resolution, brightness, and panel type are missing for the vivo Y3. The Poco X3 Pro, while lacking cutting-edge features like LTPO, benefits from a larger display size (typically 6.67 inches) common in this price bracket, offering a more immersive viewing experience. Without knowing the Y3’s panel technology, it’s difficult to assess color accuracy or viewing angles, but it’s likely a simpler IPS LCD compared to the Poco’s potentially higher-quality panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but specific details are absent. The Poco X3 Pro likely features a more sophisticated camera system, typical of Xiaomi’s offerings, potentially including a higher-resolution main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The vivo Y3, positioned as a budget device, likely features a simpler camera setup focused on basic photography. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison, but the X3 Pro’s chipset provides more processing power for image enhancement and video stabilization.

Performance

The performance gap between these two devices is substantial. The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7nm) is a flagship-level chipset from the previous generation, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Kryo 485 Gold core clocked at 2.96 GHz. This contrasts sharply with the vivo Y3’s MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm), which utilizes a less efficient architecture and lower clock speeds (2.3 GHz and 1.8 GHz). The Snapdragon 860’s superior process node (7nm vs 12nm) translates to better thermal efficiency and sustained performance, crucial for gaming. The Y3 will struggle with demanding games and multitasking, while the X3 Pro can handle them with relative ease.

Battery Life

Both devices boast an endurance rating of 112 hours, suggesting comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, this metric doesn’t tell the whole story. The Poco X3 Pro’s 33W wired charging (59% in 30 minutes, 100% in 59 minutes) is significantly faster than the vivo Y3’s 18W charging. This means the X3 Pro can be quickly topped up, minimizing downtime. While the Y3 might offer similar overall endurance, the X3 Pro’s faster charging provides a more convenient user experience, especially for power users.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo Y3 (4GB+64GB) if you need a reliable, affordable smartphone for basic communication, social media, and light web browsing, and prioritize long battery life over demanding applications. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you prefer a device capable of handling mobile gaming, multitasking, and more intensive tasks, and are willing to trade some battery endurance for significantly improved performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Poco X3 Pro overheat during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 860 is known for its good thermal performance, but prolonged gaming can still lead to some heat buildup. Xiaomi typically implements thermal management solutions, but sustained peak performance may be limited by throttling. It's generally well-managed, but not a 'cool-running' chip.
❓ Is the 64GB of storage on the vivo Y3 enough for most users?
64GB is sufficient for basic usage, but it can fill up quickly with apps, photos, and videos. The Y3 likely supports microSD card expansion, which is recommended if you plan to store a lot of media. Consider cloud storage options as well.
❓ Can the Poco X3 Pro handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile at high settings?
Yes, the Snapdragon 860 is more than capable of running PUBG Mobile at high settings with smooth frame rates. You can likely achieve 60fps gameplay with optimized settings. The phone's thermal management will be key to maintaining consistent performance during long sessions.
❓ Does the vivo Y3 support fast charging, and how long does it take to fully charge?
The vivo Y3 supports 18W wired charging. While not as fast as the Poco X3 Pro's 33W charging, it's still a reasonable charging speed for a budget device. A full charge will likely take around 2-3 hours.