Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro vs. Asus ROG Phone 3: A Deep Dive into Gaming and Value

The Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro and Asus ROG Phone 3 represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone market. The K30 Pro aimed to deliver near-flagship performance at a significantly lower price point, while the ROG Phone 3 doubled down on gaming features and raw power. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value and a balanced experience, the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro emerges as the winner. While the ROG Phone 3 boasts a slightly faster processor and dedicated gaming features, the K30 Pro offers comparable performance for a lower cost, making it a more sensible all-around choice.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro Asus ROG Phone 3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - ChinaHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - A version
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 66, 71 - A version
5G bands1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - A version
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G 4.4 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO -
Launch
Announced2020, March 24. Released 2020, March 272020, July 22. Released 2020, July 23
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.35 in)171 x 78 x 9.9 mm (6.73 x 3.07 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight218 g (7.69 oz)240 g (8.47 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~391 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.59 inches, 106.6 cm2 (~79.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10+, 650 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.10 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G+ (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, MIUI 11Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, ROG UI
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFS 3.0 (128GB 6GB RAM) UFS 3.1 (128GB 8/12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM)-
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 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-
Triple-64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 11mm, 125˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro)
Video8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps; gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRPanorama, HDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm24 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with DTS:X stereo speakers (2 dedicated amplifiers)
 24-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1 (side), USB Type-C 2.0 (bottom), OTG, accessory connector
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 63 min30W wired, PD3.0, QC4 10W reverse wired
TypeLi-Po 4700 mAhLi-Po 6000 mAh
Misc
ColorsNeon Blue, Phantom White, Electric Purple, Cyber GrayBlack Glare
Models-ASUS_I003D, ZS661KS, I003DD, I003D
PriceAbout 390 EURAbout 650 EUR
SAR-0.74 W/kg (head)     1.50 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 120h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.1 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 621932 (v8) GeekBench: 13306 (v4.4), 3386 (v5.1) GFXBench: 48fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro

  • Excellent value for money
  • Strong Snapdragon 865 performance
  • Fast 30W charging

  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Missing detailed camera specifications

Asus ROG Phone 3

  • Superior sustained performance with advanced cooling
  • High 144Hz refresh rate display
  • Longer battery endurance

  • Higher price point
  • Gaming-focused features may be unnecessary for casual users

Display Comparison

Both phones utilize 7nm+ Snapdragon 865 platforms, but the ROG Phone 3’s display boasts a measured peak brightness of 719 nits, suggesting a more visible experience in direct sunlight compared to the K30 Pro (brightness data unavailable). While both offer an 'infinite' contrast ratio, the ROG Phone 3’s 144Hz refresh rate, a feature absent in the K30 Pro, provides a significantly smoother visual experience, particularly in fast-paced games. The ROG Phone 3’s larger display size also caters to more immersive gaming.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are lacking. Without sensor size or aperture data, a direct comparison is difficult. However, given Asus’s focus on gaming, the ROG Phone 3’s camera is likely tuned for quick snapshots and social media sharing, while the K30 Pro might prioritize more balanced image processing. The absence of detail suggests neither phone is a standout camera performer in this segment.

Performance

The Asus ROG Phone 3 edges out the Redmi K30 Pro with its Snapdragon 865 5G+ chipset, featuring a slightly higher peak CPU clock speed of 3.10 GHz versus the K30 Pro’s 2.84 GHz. This translates to a marginal performance advantage in CPU-intensive tasks. Both devices share the same CPU core configuration (1x Cortex-A77 @ 2.84/3.10 GHz, 3x Cortex-A77 @ 2.42 GHz, 4x Cortex-A55 @ 1.80 GHz). However, the ROG Phone 3’s advanced cooling system is crucial for sustaining peak performance during extended gaming sessions, mitigating thermal throttling that the K30 Pro might experience.

Battery Life

Both the Redmi K30 Pro and Asus ROG Phone 3 share a 30W wired charging capability, supporting PD3.0 and QC4 standards, achieving a 100% charge in approximately 63 minutes. The ROG Phone 3 boasts an endurance rating of 120 hours, suggesting optimized power management. While the K30 Pro’s battery capacity is unknown, the ROG Phone 3’s longer endurance rating indicates a more efficient overall power consumption profile, likely due to software optimizations and a larger battery (implied by the endurance rating).

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Pro if you need a powerful daily driver with excellent performance for the price, a capable camera, and don't require specialized gaming features. Buy the Asus ROG Phone 3 if you are a hardcore mobile gamer who prioritizes sustained performance under heavy load, demands the highest possible refresh rates, and appreciates features like AirTriggers and a robust cooling system.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the ROG Phone 3's cooling system significantly reduce thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions compared to the K30 Pro?
Yes, the ROG Phone 3 features a more advanced cooling system, including a vapor chamber and potentially external fan accessories, designed to dissipate heat more effectively. This allows the Snapdragon 865+ to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods, minimizing performance drops during extended gaming, a scenario where the K30 Pro might experience more noticeable throttling.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs, is the Redmi K30 Pro a viable option for photography enthusiasts?
Without specific sensor details, it's difficult to assess the K30 Pro's camera capabilities definitively. However, Xiaomi generally delivers competent camera performance in its flagship devices. If photography is a primary concern, researching independent camera reviews of the K30 Pro is crucial before making a decision.
❓ Does the ROG Phone 3 support high frame rate gaming (90fps or higher) in popular titles like PUBG Mobile?
The ROG Phone 3's 144Hz display and powerful processor allow it to achieve high frame rates in many games, including PUBG Mobile. However, achieving 90fps or higher depends on the game's settings and optimization. The ROG Phone 3's gaming-specific software often includes options to prioritize frame rate over graphics quality.