Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco F3 vs. Honor X7a
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Honor X7a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 167.5 × 76.9 × 8.3 mm | The Honor X7a is slightly taller and thicker, which might be noticeable in hand and pocket. |
| Weight | 196g | 196g | Both phones have identical weights, so no difference in heft. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.75" | Both have large screens, the difference of 0.08 inches is negligible. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | Xiaomi Poco F3's higher resolution means sharper text, images, and videos. |
| PPI | 395 | 260 | The higher pixel density of the Poco F3 results in a much clearer and detailed display. |
| Technology | AMOLED | TFT LCD | AMOLED on the Poco F3 offers much deeper blacks, better contrast, vibrant colors, and is more power-efficient in dark mode. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | Xiaomi Poco F3's 120Hz refresh rate results in noticeably smoother scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi Poco F3 is much easier to view in bright sunlight due to its higher peak brightness. Honor X7a brightness is unknown. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Mediatek Helio G37 (12 nm) | Xiaomi Poco F3's chipset provides significantly faster processing and better overall responsiveness. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 125,000 | The Poco F3 scores vastly higher, indicating far superior performance for gaming, multitasking and app loading times. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | PowerVR GE8320 | Xiaomi Poco F3's Adreno 650 is much more powerful, providing a better gaming and graphics experience. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 5330mAh | Honor X7a has a larger battery, potentially leading to longer battery life between charges. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | Xiaomi Poco F3 charges faster than the Honor X7a. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" Sony IMX582 | 50MP, f/1.8 | Honor X7a has a slightly higher resolution, but Xiaomi Poco F3 has a wider aperture and larger sensor. Sensor size on the Honor X7a is unknown, however the Poco F3 is likely to perform better in low light. |
| Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4" Samsung S5K3T2 | 8MP, f/2.0 | Xiaomi Poco F3 has a significantly higher resolution for selfies, while Honor X7a has a wider aperture, but the difference in image quality would probably be marginal |
| Wide Angle Lens | Not present | 5MP, f/2.2 | Honor X7a has a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape shots, where Xiaomi Poco F3 lacks a wide-angle lens. |
| Portrait Mode Lens | Not present | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor X7a has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | Not present | 2MP, f/2.4 | Honor X7a has a dedicated macro lens for close-up photography. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@up to 960fps w/EIS | 1080p@30fps w/ no EIS | Xiaomi Poco F3 records higher-resolution and more stable video. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | Honor X7a has a slightly newer Android version out of the box but is unlikely to be upgradable. Xiaomi Poco F3 has a maximum upgradable version, but will still likely receive more updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | Xiaomi Poco F3 supports a newer Wi-Fi standard for faster and more stable connections, including Wi-Fi MiMO. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE, aptX, LDAC | 5.1 LE, EDR | Both have Bluetooth 5.1, Xiaomi Poco F3 has aptX for better audio, Honor X7a has EDR. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1, B2), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC System | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Xiaomi Poco F3 offers more accurate location with additional satellite system support. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB | Xiaomi Poco F3 offers a larger storage option. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 4 GB or 6 GB | Xiaomi Poco F3 provides more RAM for better multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Both phones lack expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic Audio | Xiaomi Poco F3 offers better audio quality with Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint | Side-mounted fingerprint | Both have a side mounted fingerprint sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Xiaomi Poco F3 has better screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Features | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Xiaomi Poco F3 has additional ultrasonic proximity virtual sensor. Honor X7a has Proximity and gravity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, significantly higher resolution and brightness. Offers a much better viewing experience with richer colors, sharper details, and smoother animations, especially in bright conditions.
- Much Higher Performance: Snapdragon 870 chipset provides vastly better performance for gaming, app loading, and multitasking. Future-proofs the phone for demanding apps and games.
- Better Main Camera: The main camera features a larger sensor which should perform better in low light and offers superior 4k video recording capability.
- Faster Charging: 33W charging is faster than Honor X7a's 22.5W, resulting in less charging time.
- Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, and stereo speakers offer an improved audio experience.
- Better WiFi standard Faster and more stable connection.
- Better Location Accuracy More satellite support results in greater location accuracy.
Honor X7a Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Offers a larger capacity battery which can result in longer battery life.
- Additional Cameras: Wide-angle, portrait, and macro lenses add versatility for different photography needs.
- Newer Operating System Honor X7a has a newer OS out of the box.
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi Poco F3 prioritizes performance and display quality, sacrificing some battery capacity and dedicated additional cameras.
- The Honor X7a focuses on battery life and camera versatility, but lags far behind in overall performance, display quality, and charging speeds.
- Xiaomi Poco F3 has a smaller battery, the trade off is that is offers better charging speed to compensate.
- Honor X7a does not have any display protection listed.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 Ideal User:
- Gamers: Demands high performance for smooth gameplay and fast loading times.
- Media Consumers: Wants the best possible display for watching videos, browsing, and social media.
- Performance Seekers: Needs a fast, responsive phone for multitasking and demanding apps.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Values cutting-edge display and fast charging.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming with fast frame rates and smooth graphics.
- Watching movies and TV shows with rich colors and deep blacks.
- Heavy multitasking and fast app loading.
- Viewing content outdoors in bright sunlight.
- Long lasting battery life with moderate usage and fast charging.
Honor X7a Ideal User:
- Budget Conscious Buyers: Seeks a more affordable phone with basic functionality.
- Casual Photographers: Wants extra cameras for different shooting scenarios.
- Battery Life Prioritizers: Needs a phone that lasts a long time between charges.
Use Cases:
- Casual photography with added versatility of wide-angle, macro and portrait mode.
- Long days without access to charging with heavy usage.
- Basic social media use, web browsing, and email.
- Less demanding mobile games that do not require heavy graphical or processing capability.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is display quality? If a vibrant, sharp, and smooth display is essential, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is superior.
- How important is performance? If gaming, heavy multitasking, or demanding applications are priorities, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is the clear choice.
- How important is battery life? If you need the longest possible battery life and prioritize casual use, the Honor X7a may be better, but does lack fast charging.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gaming & Multimedia If you prioritize gaming and viewing media, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is the obvious winner due to its superior display and performance.
- Scenario 2: Photography & Battery Life If you need camera versatility and the longest battery life and are less concerned with gaming and graphics, the Honor X7a offers an option for the price conscious.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Use For those needing a balance of features and price, the Xiaomi Poco F3, with its better overall specs, will likely provide a better long-term user experience. The trade off being a slightly smaller battery than the Honor X7a.
My Choice
If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F3.
Reasoning:
While the Honor X7a has a larger battery and more camera lenses, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is the superior choice for my needs and for most users. The significantly better display quality (AMOLED, 120Hz, higher resolution, higher brightness) and much higher performance (Snapdragon 870) are more crucial for my daily use. As someone who values a fast, smooth, and visually appealing experience, I'm willing to trade the slightly smaller battery for these benefits, especially since the Poco F3 has faster charging to compensate. The lack of a wide angle, macro and depth camera on the Poco F3 is not a major sacrifice. In addition, the better video capabilities, WiFi 6 and much better audio quality makes the Poco F3 a far more compelling option. For the price difference, I think that the Poco F3 is a much better device and will have a greater longevity with more future proofed components.
