1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus ROG Phone 7 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm | 173 x 77 x 10.3 mm | ROG Phone 7 is taller and significantly thicker, potentially less comfortable for smaller hands and pocket carry. |
| Weight | 196g | 239g | Poco F3 is much lighter, making it more comfortable for long-term use. The ROG Phone 7's heavier build may feel more robust, but less practical for everyday carry. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | ROG Phone 7's slightly larger screen provides a bit more immersion for media consumption. The difference isn't very significant. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2448 | Both offer similar sharpness, the minor difference is practically negligible. |
| Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 395 PPI | Both have the same pixel density, resulting in similar display sharpness. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | ROG Phone 7 provides smoother scrolling and animation, offering a more fluid user experience, especially noticeable in gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1500 nits | ROG Phone 7 has better visibility under direct sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 870 (7nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) | ROG Phone 7 has much newer, more powerful and efficient chipset for better overall performance including faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 1,603,292 | ROG Phone 7 delivers significantly higher performance, with nearly double the AnTuTu score. This translates to a drastically better user experience, especially in demanding tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 740 | ROG Phone 7’s GPU provides substantially better graphics processing power, ideal for intensive gaming and graphic-heavy applications. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", Sony IMX766, 1.0µm | ROG Phone 7 features a larger sensor, bigger pixel size, resulting in improved low-light performance and better image quality. It has a slightly smaller aperture, though. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2, 0.8µm | 32MP, f/2.5, 1/3.2", Omnivision OV32C, 0.7µm | ROG Phone 7 offers higher resolution for more detail in selfies. The larger sensor size on Poco F3 will theoretically give better low light performance although its aperture is negligibly wider. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.2, 1/3.06", Omnivision OV13B10, 1.12µm | ROG Phone 7 has a wide-angle lens for capturing more of the scene in a single photo. Poco F3 doesn't have it. |
| Macro Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.4, 1/5", Samsung S5K5E9, 1.12µm | ROG Phone 7 provides a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. Poco F3 doesn't have it. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p up to 960 fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p up to 480fps | ROG Phone 7 supports higher resolution 8K recording, providing professional video options. Both record stable video. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, EIS, Autofocus, HDR, etc | Digital zoom, EIS, PDAF, 8K Video, RAW, Night Mode, etc | ROG Phone 7 offers more advanced features like PDAF (faster focus), RAW support (for editing), and Night Mode (for better low-light shots) as well as 8K. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520 mAh | 6000 mAh | ROG Phone 7 has a larger battery, offering significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W | 65W | ROG Phone 7 charges much faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | QC3+/PD3.0 | Bypass Charging, Reverse charging | ROG Phone 7 includes extra features: bypass charging (powering without charging battery), reverse charging. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 13 (upgradable to 15) | ROG Phone 7 has a newer OS version, guaranteeing more recent features and security updates for longer. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7 | ROG Phone 7 supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard, providing much faster speeds, lower latency, and better network performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 | ROG Phone 7 features newer Bluetooth version with enhanced functionality and more advanced audio codecs. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC System | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, NavIC System | ROG Phone 7 supports more satellite systems, resulting in better location accuracy, especially in challenging environments. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 256/512 GB | ROG Phone 7 comes with a larger storage option of 512 GB, better for users with extensive media or app libraries. Poco F3 has 128GB option which could be cheaper. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 8/12/16 GB | ROG Phone 7 offers more RAM, allowing better performance in demanding applications and multitasking. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | DTS/DTS:X, Hi-Res Audio, Noise Cancellation, 3 Microphones | ROG Phone 7 has advanced surround sound, better voice capture and noise cancellation. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side Mounted | Basic | Poco F3 has side mounted, while ROG has basic. |
| Build | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass Victus | ROG Phone 7 has better screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Proximity, Hall | Poco F3 has ultrasonic virtual proximity, while ROG has standard proximity sensor, and additional Hall sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner: More comfortable for extended use and pocket carry, better for users who prefer a lighter device.
- Potentially Cheaper: Older and not as spec-heavy, so you might find better deals.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More advanced and faster than standard fingerprint sensors
- Ultrasonic proximity sensor:
Asus ROG Phone 7 Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset provides drastically faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
- Superior Display: Higher refresh rate and brightness for smoother and more vibrant visuals, especially in bright environments.
- Better Cameras: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras with a larger sensor, along with a dedicated wide-angle and macro lens, provide more versatile and better quality photos.
- Larger Battery: Significantly larger capacity results in much longer battery life.
- Faster Charging: 65W fast charging significantly reduces charging times.
- Newer Software: Comes with a newer OS version out of the box and with longer software support.
- Better Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 provide faster and more stable connections.
- More RAM and Storage: Higher RAM options and larger storage provide a better user experience for heavy users.
- Advanced Audio: DTS/DTS:X with noise cancellation for superior audio and voice capture.
- Better build: More durable screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus.
- Extra Features: Bypass charging, reverse charging.
Trade-offs:
- Poco F3: Trades significant performance, camera quality, battery life, and advanced features for a lighter, thinner, and potentially cheaper device.
- ROG Phone 7: Trades pocketability, a slightly bulkier design for top-tier performance, advanced features, and significantly better battery.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who want a decent screen and performance for everyday tasks, who value a lightweight device.
- Use Cases:
- Casual web browsing, social media, and media consumption.
- General app usage and light gaming.
- Users who prioritize lightweight and portability.
- Users who prefer side-mounted fingerprint reader.
Asus ROG Phone 7:
- Ideal User: Mobile gamers, power users, and anyone who wants the absolute best performance available.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming with high graphics settings.
- Heavy multitasking with multiple apps running simultaneously.
- Video editing, photo editing, and other resource-intensive tasks.
- Users who need long battery life for all-day use.
- Users who want the best connectivity, build and camera quality.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case? (e.g., gaming, photography, everyday use)
- How important is battery life? (Do I need to last all day or will I be close to a charger)
- What is my budget? (Is cost or performance more important?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious Casual User: If you need a decent phone for general use, the Poco F3 offers good value. However, understand that its performance and camera capabilities are significantly lower.
- Performance-Oriented User/Gamer: If you need the best performance for gaming and demanding tasks, the ROG Phone 7 is the clear choice. The higher price is justified by the superior hardware.
- Balanced User: If you want a good experience without breaking the bank, then the Poco F3 is the better option, however if you need a premium experience with excellent performance and features, the ROG is the best choice.
- Users who value battery life: The ROG Phone 7 is the clear choice with its 6000 mAh battery.
- Users who value camera quality: The ROG Phone 7 is a clear choice as well, with better sensors and features.
- Users who value better build quality: The ROG Phone 7 is the better option with its better Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 7. While it is bulkier and heavier, the advantages it brings are essential for my usage habits. I play graphically intense games, and the huge increase in performance would provide a smoother experience. The extra features, such as a better camera, much better battery life, and faster charging would also make the phone a much better device for me overall, making it worth the increased cost. The latest generation connectivity would also extend the lifespan of this device compared to the Poco F3.
