The Xiaomi Redmi K30 5G and Poco F2 Pro represent distinct approaches to the mid-range and upper-mid-range smartphone market. The K30 5G prioritized 5G connectivity at a more accessible price point, while the Poco F2 Pro aimed for near-flagship performance with the Snapdragon 865. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device delivers the best value and experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Poco F2 Pro is the superior choice. While both phones offer a 120-hour endurance rating, the Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a significant performance uplift, making it ideal for demanding tasks and gaming. The slightly longer charging time is a minor trade-off for the substantial power increase.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| 5G bands | 41, 78 Sub6 | 77, 78 Sub6 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, December 10. Released 2020, January 07 | 2020, May 12 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, May 19 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) | 219 g (7.72 oz) |
| 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 (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10 | Super AMOLED, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1
| UFS 3.1
6GB RAM (LPDDR4X)
8GB RAM (LPDDR5) |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
5 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF
13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
2 MP, f/2.4, 1/5.0", 1.75µm, depth sensor | - |
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | - | Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 100% in 57 min | 30W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 63 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4700 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, Red, Purple, White | Neon Blue, Phantom White, Electric Purple, Cyber Gray |
| Models | M1912G7BE, M1912G7BC | M2004J11G |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 0.51 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.79 W/kg (head) 1.03 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 120h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.6 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 538221 (v8)
GeekBench: 3332 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 40fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi K30 5G
- More affordable price point
- Faster charging (0-100% in 57 minutes)
- Good 5G connectivity for the price
- Less powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset
- Display brightness likely lower than Poco F2 Pro
Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro
- Significantly more powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Brighter display (854 nits)
- Support for PD3.0 and QC4 fast charging
- Slightly slower charging time (0-100% in 63 minutes)
- Higher price tag
Display Comparison
The Poco F2 Pro boasts a notably brighter display, reaching 854 nits measured peak brightness, compared to the Redmi K30 5G’s unspecified brightness. This difference translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. Both displays feature an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting deep blacks. While the Redmi K30 5G’s display specifications are less detailed, the Poco F2 Pro’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use and HDR content consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are absent. Given the Poco F2 Pro’s positioning as a higher-end device, it likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger sensor and potentially optical image stabilization (OIS). Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive comparison, but the F2 Pro’s overall hardware suggests superior image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. The lack of detail on both phones suggests a focus on software processing rather than groundbreaking hardware.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Poco F2 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) is a significant step up from the Redmi K30 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865 features a more powerful CPU configuration – an octa-core setup with a 2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core versus the K30 5G’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. This architectural difference, combined with the 865’s more advanced process node, results in substantially faster processing speeds and improved graphics performance. The Poco F2 Pro is better equipped for demanding games and applications. The K30 5G’s 765G is still capable, but will show its limitations in more intensive scenarios.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 120 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the charging speeds differ slightly. The Redmi K30 5G reaches 100% charge in 57 minutes with its 30W wired charging, while the Poco F2 Pro takes 63 minutes with the same 30W charging, but adds support for PD3.0 and QC4 fast charging protocols. The slightly slower charging time on the F2 Pro is offset by its broader compatibility with fast charging standards and the overall performance benefits of its chipset.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 5G if you need a reliable 5G experience on a tighter budget and prioritize affordability over raw processing power. It’s a solid daily driver for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Buy the Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro if you prioritize performance for gaming, video editing, or other resource-intensive applications, and are willing to spend a bit more for a smoother, more responsive experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Poco F2 Pro get noticeably hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 865 is a powerful chip, Xiaomi likely implemented thermal management solutions to mitigate overheating. The 7nm+ process node is more efficient than the 7nm node used in the K30 5G’s Snapdragon 765G, meaning the F2 Pro should handle sustained loads better. However, prolonged, high-intensity gaming will inevitably generate heat, potentially leading to some throttling to maintain stability.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Redmi K30 5G compatible with all 5G bands in the US?
The Redmi K30 5G was primarily designed for the Asian market. 5G band compatibility varies significantly by region. It's crucial to verify that the specific model you are considering supports the 5G bands used by your carrier in the US before purchasing. Compatibility is not guaranteed.
❓ Given the similar endurance ratings, will I notice a real-world difference in battery life between the two phones?
While both phones have a 120-hour endurance rating, the Poco F2 Pro’s more efficient Snapdragon 865 chipset *may* result in slightly better battery life during demanding tasks like gaming or video streaming. However, for typical daily use, the difference is likely to be minimal. The K30 5G might edge out the F2 Pro in lighter usage scenarios.
