Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco F3 vs. Asus ROG Phone 5
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus ROG Phone 5 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm, 196g | 172.8 x 77.3 x 10.3 mm, 238g | Poco F3 is more compact and significantly lighter, making it more pocketable and comfortable for extended use. ROG Phone 5 is larger and heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | ROG Phone 5 offers a slightly larger viewing area, potentially better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2448 | Both offer a sharp display. The slight resolution difference is negligible in practice. |
| PPI | 395 | 395 | Identical pixel density results in similar display sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | ROG Phone 5 provides slightly smoother visuals, noticeable in fast-paced games and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Poco F3 has vastly superior visibility in bright sunlight. ROG Phone 5 brightness is unavailable. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | ROG Phone 5 offers slightly better performance for demanding apps and games due to newer chip and higher scores. |
| Antutu Score | 800,216 | 883,000 | ROG Phone 5 is marginally faster, especially in computationally intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 | ROG Phone 5's GPU provides better graphics performance, beneficial for gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 6000mAh | ROG Phone 5 has a significantly larger battery, providing potentially much longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 65W fast charging | ROG Phone 5 charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | QC3+/PD3.0 | Bypass Charging, Reverse Charging | ROG Phone 5 offers more advanced charging features, potentially preserving battery health and providing power to other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582 | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7", Sony IMX686 | ROG Phone 5 has better main sensor with higher resolution and larger size. Potentially better image quality and low light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2 | 24MP, f/2.45, 1/2.8", Samsung S5K2X7 | ROG Phone 5 offers a slightly higher-resolution front camera with a larger sensor, likely resulting in better selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.5 | ROG Phone 5 has a dedicated wide-angle lens, allowing for more versatile photography. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.0 | ROG Phone 5 has a dedicated macro lens, useful for close-up shots. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 8K@30fps with EIS | ROG Phone 5 is able to shoot higher resolution video, potentially capturing greater detail and offering more editing flexibility. |
| Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode | ROG Phone 5 has additional features such as 8K Video, Optical zoom, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and Night Mode offering a more versatile photography experience. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Poco F3 offers a longer software support cycle with a confirmed upgrade to Android 13. ROG Phone 5 support ends at Android 12. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Both offer fast Wi-Fi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | ROG Phone 5 has the latest standard of Bluetooth offering potentially better connection stability and power efficiency. |
| GPS | Multiple systems | More systems | ROG Phone 5 can potentially achieve better location accuracy due to the inclusion of more satellite systems. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | ROG Phone 5 offers a larger storage option (512GB) for users who require more space for media and apps. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB/18GB | ROG Phone 5 provides significantly more RAM, improving multitasking and gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 4 microphones | ROG Phone 5 offers more advanced features for sound quality and microphone performance with DTS / DTS X and additional microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Poco F3 offers a more advanced side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | ROG Phone 5 offers slightly better screen protection against scratches and damage using Gorilla Glass 6. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Ultrasonic proximity virtual, Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Proximity, Hall, Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | ROG Phone 5 has more dedicated sensors, including hall sensor and a dedicated proximity sensor while the Poco F3 uses an ultrasonic virtual sensor. This can mean slight differences in responsiveness and precision, depending on use case. |
| ## 2. Key Differences Analysis |
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: Easier to handle and carry, better for one-handed use.
- Superior Brightness: Much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight.
- Longer Software Support: Confirmed upgrade to Android 13, which may mean better long-term functionality.
Asus ROG Phone 5 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Faster processor, higher benchmark scores, and better GPU for gaming and demanding tasks.
- Larger Battery: Significantly longer battery life for extended usage.
- Faster Charging: Much quicker charging times.
- Advanced Camera System: Main camera with higher resolution and wide angle and macro lens for more versatile photography experience.
- Better Audio Features: Enhanced surround sound and better voice recording.
- More RAM: Allows for better multitasking and smooth gameplay.
- Better Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 6.
- More Storage Options: Available 512GB storage option.
Trade-offs:
- The Poco F3 sacrifices some performance and gaming capabilities for a lighter, more compact design and better display brightness.
- The ROG Phone 5 is significantly bulkier and heavier, but gains in performance, battery life, charging, and camera capabilities.
- Poco F3 lacks the additional camera lens functionality, slightly behind in overall camera performance, especially in low light
- Poco F3 may not perform as well in demanding gaming and multi-tasking as the ROG Phone 5
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3:
- Ideal User: Everyday users who prioritize portability, a great display, and overall good performance for general use.
- Use Cases: Social media browsing, media consumption, casual gaming, photography in well-lit conditions, users needing great outdoor display visibility.
- Value: Offers excellent value for its price, balancing performance and features well.
Asus ROG Phone 5:
- Ideal User: Gamers, power users, and multimedia enthusiasts who prioritize top-tier performance, battery life, and advanced features.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming (especially demanding titles), video editing, heavy multitasking, long periods of usage without recharging, low light photography
- Value: Justifies its higher cost with best-in-class performance and robust features for demanding users.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Do you prioritize portability and comfortable handling, or performance and battery life?
- Do you need a phone with very high brightness for outdoor usage, or is a larger battery and better performance more important?
- Are advanced camera features like optical zoom and ultra wide lens important for your photography use case?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Casual User: If you are a casual user who mainly uses social media, watches videos, and plays casual games, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is a great option due to its portability, bright display, and balanced performance.
- Scenario 2: Hardcore Gamer: If you are a hardcore gamer who plays demanding mobile titles, the Asus ROG Phone 5 is the superior choice. Its superior performance, larger battery, faster charging, and gaming-centric features justify its higher cost.
- Scenario 3: Multimedia Enthusiast: If you're looking for the best in mobile multimedia experiences, the Asus ROG Phone 5 offers a better camera system, larger storage, and better audio quality.
My Choice
Personally, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 5. Although I appreciate the Xiaomi Poco F3's lightweight design and superior brightness, the ROG Phone 5's significantly better performance, larger battery, faster charging and better camera system are more important for my daily use cases. I often play demanding mobile games and watch videos. While the ROG Phone 5 is larger and heavier, I am willing to trade portability for those key benefits. The inclusion of more advanced audio features and dedicated camera lenses also caters more to my specific needs.
