1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | Asus is slightly thicker and has more volume, may feel less sleek. |
| Weight | 196g | 224g | Poco F3 is significantly lighter, more comfortable for prolonged use. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | Asus has a slightly larger display, better for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Identical sharpness on both screens. |
| PPI | 395 | 388 | Similar pixel density, negligible visual difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both have vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Asus is slightly smoother for gaming and UI animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2500 nits | Asus is dramatically brighter, excellent visibility in direct sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Asus has much more processing power for demanding tasks and future proofing. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 1,532,000 | Asus has substantially better performance, better for gaming and intensive apps. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 750 | Asus has much better graphics performance, better for gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 5500mAh | Asus has a larger battery, offering longer usage times. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 65W fast charging | Asus charges much faster. |
| Features | QC3+/PD3.0 | 15W wireless, 10W reverse wired | Asus offers wireless charging, reverse wired charging, Poco only offers fast charging protocol support |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Asus captures slightly more detailed images in good lighting. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.9 | Poco potentially performs slightly better in low light situations due to the wider aperture, but the larger sensor in the Asus camera is a big benefit. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.56" | Asus captures more light and potentially produces better images overall, particularly in low light. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 32MP | Asus captures more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.45 | f/2.5 | Poco theoretically performs slightly better in low light situations due to the wider aperture, but the larger sensor in the Asus camera is a big benefit. |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/3.4" | 1/3.2" | Asus captures more light and potentially produces better selfie images overall. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 32MP | Asus has much better zoom capabilities for photos and videos |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 13MP | Asus offers additional versatility with a wide angle lens |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | Asus can record much higher resolution video, offering much better professional-grade video capture, as well as better stabilization features |
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom, EIS, Autofocus, touch focus etc | Digital Zoom, OIS, Gimbal, PDAF etc | Asus has much better image stabilization, autofocus, and a raw mode for photography |
| DxOMark Score | Not tested | 125 | Asus has a good camera rating |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages
- Lighter: Significantly lighter (28g) making it more comfortable for extended use.
- Wider main camera aperture: Slightly better low-light performance on the main camera due to f/1.79 aperture.
- Lower Price: The Poco F3 is significantly cheaper, offering excellent value for its price point.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: More advanced than a basic sensor.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Advantages
- Significantly More Powerful: Superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for much faster performance in all tasks and gaming.
- Brighter Display: 2500 nits for exceptional outdoor visibility, 1200 nits brighter.
- Larger Battery: 5500mAh battery for longer battery life.
- Faster Charging: 65W charging for faster recharge times, plus wireless charging capabilities.
- Better Camera System: Larger sensors, additional lenses, OIS, Gimbal, and higher resolution video recording for superior image quality and versatility.
- Newer Software: Ships with the latest Android version, and will be updated to a later version.
- Better Connectivity: Newer Bluetooth and Wifi standards
- More Storage and RAM: Higher storage and RAM capacities are available
Trade-offs
- The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is significantly more expensive than the Xiaomi Poco F3.
- The Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra is heavier than the Poco F3, which may not be as comfortable for prolonged usage.
- The Xiaomi Poco F3, while an older model, still provides excellent value for users who prioritize cost-effectiveness and a lightweight design.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 Ideal User
- Budget-conscious users: Prioritizes affordability while maintaining strong performance for everyday tasks.
- Users who value lightness: Prefers a phone that's comfortable to hold for long periods.
- Casual gamers: Can handle most games well at its price point.
- Users who need a reliable phone for day-to-day tasks: Ideal for social media, communication, and light multimedia.
Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra Ideal User
- Power users: Demanding tasks, heavy gaming, and professional applications.
- Photography enthusiasts: Prioritize a versatile, high-quality camera with advanced features.
- Users who need maximum screen brightness: Works outdoors often and need to see the display in sunlight
- Multimedia consumers: Enjoys watching videos, streams content often
- Users who value future-proofing: Desire a phone that will remain performant for several years.
Specific Use Cases
- Poco F3: Social media browsing, light gaming, communication, everyday photography, and media consumption.
- Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra: High-end mobile gaming, professional video recording, photography, intensive productivity tasks, prolonged outdoor use, and power-demanding tasks.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions
- What is your budget? The Poco F3 is much more affordable and is the better option for a limited budget.
- How important are top performance, camera quality, and future-proofing? The Zenfone 11 Ultra is vastly superior in these areas, especially with the vastly improved camera.
- How important is weight and comfort? The Poco F3 is the better choice if you're looking for a lighter device.
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Budget-conscious user needing a reliable all-rounder:
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Poco F3. It provides a very good experience for most daily tasks at a fraction of the cost of the Asus.
- Scenario 2: User seeking the best possible performance and camera experience, regardless of budget:
- Recommendation: Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. It offers top-tier performance, a much better camera, and future-proofing.
- Scenario 3: User who prioritizes a lightweight phone for extended use:
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Poco F3. Its lower weight makes it more comfortable for prolonged usage, but the benefits of the Asus device are substantial and should still be considered.
My Choice
Personally, I would choose the Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra. While the Xiaomi Poco F3 is a very capable phone, the Zenfone 11 Ultra offers so much more in terms of performance, camera quality, screen brightness, battery, charging, and future-proofing. The significant performance jump due to the newer chipset, the much improved camera system, brighter screen, and larger battery are major factors that outweigh the slight increase in weight and cost. For a user who requires high performance in demanding applications, as well as a versatile and excellent quality camera, the Zenfone is the better option. The improved camera is a huge draw, and while the Poco F3 is a good budget option, the value offered by the Zenfone 11 Ultra is hard to ignore.
