Xiaomi Poco F3 vs OnePlus 9RT 5G: A Deep Dive into Performance and Value
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus 9RT 5G emerges as the superior choice. While the Poco F3 provides excellent performance for the price, the 9RT’s Snapdragon 888 offers a noticeable performance uplift, and its 65W charging significantly reduces downtime. The trade-off is a potentially higher price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9RT 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - Global |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 41, 78 SA/NSA - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 22 | 2021, October 13 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 27 | Available. Released 2021, October 19 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 in) | 162.2 x 74.6 x 8.3 mm (6.39 x 2.94 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 198.5 g (7.02 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~397 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.62 inches, 106.3 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, HyperOS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56”, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.6", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro) |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (macro), AF | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.4, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| 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, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min | 65W wired, 100% in 29 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4520 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Arctic White, Night Black, Deep Ocean Blue, Moonlight Silver | Hacker Black, Nano Silver, Blue |
| Models | M2012K11AG | MT2110, MT2111 |
| Price | € 162.15 | About 590 EUR |
| SAR | 1.06 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 114h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -24.5 LUFS (Very good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 631850 (v8), 697216 (v9) GeekBench: 3206 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Poco F3
- Excellent value for money
- Efficient Snapdragon 870 processor
- Solid battery endurance (114h)
- Slower 33W charging
- Potentially less advanced camera system
OnePlus 9RT 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
- Blazing-fast 65W charging (29 min)
- Likely superior camera image processing
- Potentially higher price
- Snapdragon 888 can run hotter under sustained load
Display Comparison
Both devices feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given OnePlus’s history, the 9RT likely boasts a slightly more color-accurate panel. The Poco F3’s display is known for its 120Hz refresh rate, providing a fluid visual experience, but without LTPO technology, it won't dynamically adjust for power savings like some higher-end displays.
Camera Comparison
Both phones list 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Given the market positioning, the OnePlus 9RT likely features a more sophisticated camera system. While megapixel counts are unknown, the 9RT benefits from OnePlus’s image processing expertise. The Snapdragon 888’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is also more advanced, enabling better noise reduction and dynamic range. The Poco F3’s camera is competent, but likely prioritizes value over outright image quality. We can assume both phones will offer standard features like HDR and night mode.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus 9RT 5G’s Snapdragon 888 (5nm) is a step up from the Poco F3’s Snapdragon 870 (7nm). The 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core, clocked at 2.84 GHz, provides a significant boost in single-core performance, beneficial for tasks like app loading and responsiveness. The 870’s Kryo 585 cores are still very capable, but the 888’s Adreno 660 GPU offers superior graphics performance. However, the 5nm process of the 888 is crucial; the 7nm 870 is more thermally efficient, potentially leading to less throttling during extended gaming sessions. The 9RT’s performance advantage will be most noticeable in graphically intensive games and demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Poco F3 boasts an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating solid battery life. However, the OnePlus 9RT 5G compensates for any potential battery capacity difference with its significantly faster 65W wired charging, achieving a 100% charge in just 29 minutes. The Poco F3’s 33W charging takes 52 minutes. This difference is substantial for users who prioritize minimizing downtime. While the Poco F3’s endurance rating suggests good efficiency, the 9RT’s charging speed is a game-changer.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 if you prioritize maximizing performance per dollar and are comfortable with slightly slower charging speeds. It’s ideal for budget-conscious gamers and everyday users. Buy the OnePlus 9RT 5G if you demand the fastest possible charging, a more powerful processor for demanding tasks, and are willing to spend a bit more for a smoother, more refined experience.