Xiaomi Poco X5 vs Poco X3 Pro: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Xiaomi Poco series consistently delivers impressive value for money. But with multiple iterations, choosing the right model can be tricky. We're pitting the Poco X5 against the Poco X3 Pro to determine which phone offers the best overall experience for your budget.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Poco X3 Pro boasts a significantly more powerful Snapdragon 860 chipset, resulting in noticeably faster performance. While the Poco X5 offers a slightly improved display brightness, the X3 Pro's superior processing power makes it the winner for users prioritizing speed and gaming. Both offer excellent battery life.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Poco X5 Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE
 1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 40, 78 SA/NSA - India1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 - India
Launch
Announced2023, February 062021, March 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, February 07Available. Released 2021, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), plastic back
Dimensions165.9 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.53 x 3.00 x 0.31 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
Weight189 g (6.67 oz)215 g (7.58 oz)
 IP53, dust and splash resistantIP53, dust and splash resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, 700 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak)IPS LCD, 120Hz, 2404Hz PWM, HDR10, 450 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 Gold & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm)Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 619Adreno 640
OSAndroid 12, MIUI 13 for POCOAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 for POCO
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.2UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone 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
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro)-
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single13 MP, f/2.5, (wide)20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radio, recordingFM radio, recording
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-bandWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, 100% in 60 min33W wired, 59% in 30 min, 100% in 59 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 5160 mAh
Misc
ColorsJaguar Black, Wildcat Blue, Supernova GreenPhantom Black, Frost Blue, Metal Bronze
Models22111317PG, 22111317PIM2102J20SG, M2102J20SI
PriceAbout 230 EUR$ 128.04 / £ 249.99
SAR0.84 W/kg (head)     0.68 W/kg (body)0.99 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     0.77 W/kg (body)0.57 W/kg (head)     0.90 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 106h Endurance rating 112h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1401:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.3 LUFS (Good) -26.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 400895 (v9) GeekBench: 2088 (v5.1) AnTuTu: 453223 (v8) GeekBench: 2574 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Poco X5

  • Brighter Display (728 nits)
  • Modern Design
  • Good Value

  • Less Powerful Processor
  • Slightly Lower Battery Endurance

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro

  • Significantly Faster Performance (Snapdragon 860)
  • Excellent Battery Life
  • Strong Gaming Performance

  • Lower Display Brightness
  • Older Design

Display Comparison

The Poco X5 features a measured peak brightness of 728 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the X3 Pro. Both phones have a nominal contrast ratio of 'Infinite' (X5) and 1401:1 (X3 Pro), suggesting deep blacks and vibrant colors. The X5's slightly newer display technology might offer marginally better color accuracy, but the difference is likely subtle.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature similar camera setups, likely including a primary wide-angle lens, an ultrawide lens, and a macro lens. Image quality will be comparable in good lighting conditions. The X3 Pro's more powerful processor might allow for slightly better image processing and low-light performance, but the difference is unlikely to be dramatic. Video recording capabilities are likely similar on both.

Performance

This is where the Poco X3 Pro truly shines. Its Snapdragon 860 chipset is a significant upgrade over the X5's Snapdragon 695. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and significantly better gaming performance on the X3 Pro. The X5 is still capable, but it won't handle demanding games as well.

Battery Life

Both phones offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 106h and 112h respectively. The X3 Pro edges out the X5 slightly in this category. Charging speeds are identical at 33W, offering reasonably fast charging times.

Buying Guide

The Poco X5 is ideal for users who prioritize a brighter display and a more modern design, and who don't heavily rely on demanding games or applications. The Poco X3 Pro is the better choice for gamers, power users, and anyone needing a phone that can handle intensive tasks with ease.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Poco X5 worth buying in 2024?
The Poco X5 remains a solid budget option, especially if you prioritize a bright display and a modern design. However, if performance is a key factor, consider the X3 Pro or newer models.
❓ Can the Poco X3 Pro handle demanding games?
Yes, the Poco X3 Pro's Snapdragon 860 chipset makes it well-suited for demanding games, offering a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience compared to the Poco X5.