The Xiaomi Poco F3 and X3 Pro represent compelling value in the mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver flagship-like performance without the flagship price tag, they achieve this through different approaches. The F3 prioritizes raw processing power with the Snapdragon 870, while the X3 Pro focuses on a balance of performance and features, utilizing the Snapdragon 860. This comparison will dissect their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Poco F3 emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 870 chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, particularly in demanding tasks and gaming, and its superior display contrast enhances the overall viewing experience. While the X3 Pro offers a competitive package, the F3’s performance advantage justifies the slight price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 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, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 22 | 2021, March 22 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 27 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back |
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm (6.44 x 3.01 x 0.31 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 | 196 g (6.91 oz) | 215 g (7.58 oz) |
| | IP53, dust and splash resistant | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585) | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, HyperOS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama | 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/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| 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@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), NavIC | 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, PD3.0, QC3, 100% in 52 min | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4520 mAh | Li-Po 5160 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Arctic White, Night Black, Deep Ocean Blue, Moonlight Silver | Phantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze |
| Models | M2012K11AG | M2102J20SG, M2102J20SI |
| Price | € 162.15 | $ 128.04 / £ 249.99 |
| SAR | 1.06 W/kg (head) 0.72 W/kg (body) | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.84 W/kg (body) | 0.57 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 114h
|
Endurance rating 112h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
Contrast ratio: 1401:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-24.5 LUFS (Very good)
|
-26.1 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 631850 (v8), 697216 (v9)
GeekBench: 3206 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 453223 (v8)
GeekBench: 2574 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Poco F3
- Superior Snapdragon 870 performance
- Faster charging speed (52 mins to 100%)
- Better display contrast ratio for richer visuals
- Potentially slightly higher price
- No specific camera details available
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
- Competitive Snapdragon 860 performance
- Balanced feature set
- Slightly longer battery endurance (marginally)
- Slower charging speed (59 mins to 100%)
- Inferior display contrast ratio
Display Comparison
The Poco F3 boasts an advantage in display quality, though the difference isn't immediately obvious on paper. While both feature a 120Hz refresh rate, the F3’s display has an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, indicating a true black level and superior dynamic range compared to the X3 Pro’s 1401:1 contrast ratio. This translates to richer colors and deeper blacks, enhancing the viewing experience for videos and games. The F3’s panel technology is likely to be superior, offering better color accuracy and viewing angles, though specific panel type details aren’t provided. The X3 Pro’s contrast ratio, while respectable, suggests a less vibrant and immersive visual experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details regarding sensor size, aperture, or image processing. Given the market positioning, it’s reasonable to assume both utilize similar camera setups focused on versatility rather than outright image quality. The absence of detailed camera specs makes a direct comparison difficult. However, the F3’s superior processing power from the Snapdragon 870 could potentially lead to faster image processing and better low-light performance, even with similar hardware. It's likely both phones will struggle in challenging lighting conditions, relying heavily on software algorithms.
Performance
The core difference between these two phones lies in their chipsets. The Poco F3’s Snapdragon 870 5G (7nm) is a step up from the X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860 (7nm). The 870 features a more powerful Kryo 585 CPU core clocked at 3.2 GHz versus the 860’s 2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold core. This translates to faster application loading times, smoother multitasking, and higher sustained performance in demanding games. While both chips are capable, the 870’s architectural improvements and higher clock speeds provide a tangible advantage. The F3’s CPU configuration (1x3.2 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.80 GHz) also offers a more balanced approach to performance compared to the X3 Pro’s (1x2.96 GHz + 3x2.42 GHz + 4x1.78 GHz).
Battery Life
Battery endurance is remarkably similar, with the Poco F3 achieving 114 hours and the X3 Pro 112 hours in endurance testing. Both phones feature 33W wired charging, but the X3 Pro charges slightly slower, reaching 59% in 30 minutes and 100% in 59 minutes, while the F3 hits 100% in 52 minutes. This suggests a more efficient charging implementation on the F3. The slight difference in endurance is likely attributable to the F3’s more efficient chipset, offsetting any potential battery capacity differences (which aren’t specified). The faster charging speed on the F3 is a convenient advantage for users who frequently need to top up their battery.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 if you prioritize raw performance for gaming, demanding applications, and future-proofing. Its Snapdragon 870 offers a significant leap over the X3 Pro’s 860. Buy the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro if you value a slightly more balanced feature set and are less concerned with achieving the absolute highest frame rates in graphically intensive games. It’s a solid all-rounder for everyday use and casual gaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Poco X3 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 860 in the X3 Pro is capable, it may exhibit more frame drops and require lower graphics settings in demanding titles like Genshin Impact compared to the Poco F3’s Snapdragon 870. The 870 offers a more consistent and smoother gaming experience.
❓ Does the Poco F3 get noticeably hotter during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 870 is generally more efficient than the 860, meaning the Poco F3 is likely to generate less heat during prolonged gaming. However, both phones are passively cooled, so some throttling may occur during extended, intensive use. The F3’s efficiency should mitigate this to some extent.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between the two phones significant in real-world use?
The 7-minute difference in reaching a full charge (52 mins vs 59 mins) may not seem substantial, but it can be noticeable for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery. The F3’s faster charging provides a slight convenience advantage.
