1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Huawei nova Y70 Plus | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 168.3 × 77.7 × 9 mm | Poco F3 is more compact; Y70 Plus is taller, wider, and thicker, making it slightly less pocketable. |
| Weight | 196g | 199g | Virtually identical weight; negligible difference in hand feel. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.75" | Minimal difference in size; both offer large screen viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 720x1600 | Poco F3 offers significantly sharper and clearer images and text due to its higher resolution. |
| PPI | 395 | 260 | Poco F3 has a much sharper display with significantly more detail, better for reading and viewing high-res content. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Poco F3 has much better contrast, deeper blacks and more vibrant colours. Better for media consumption and overall visual experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | Poco F3 offers smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming experience; makes the device feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits (Not specified) | Poco F3 is considerably brighter and better visible under direct sunlight; Y70 Plus brightness is unknown which makes it difficult to assess how well it can handle bright conditions. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Kirin 710A (14 nm) | Poco F3 has a much more powerful processor offering vastly superior performance, faster app loading, and smoother gaming experience. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 103,500 | Poco F3 has significantly higher performance scores, indicating better overall speed, multitasking and gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G51 MP4 | Poco F3 offers much better graphics performance, important for gaming and graphic-intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520 mAh | 6000 mAh | Y70 Plus has a significantly larger battery, potentially offering much longer battery life between charges if other factors are equal (screen, software, etc). |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 22.5W Fast Charging | Poco F3 charges faster, reducing charging times significantly. |
| Features | Supports QC3 + / PD3.0 | Non-removable | Poco F3 supports more fast charging standards. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582, 0.8µm | 48MP, f/1.8, Sensor Unknown | Poco F3 offers a wider aperture and known sensor size, which can translate to better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2, 0.8µm | 8MP, f/2.0, Sensor Unknown | Poco F3 takes higher resolution selfie pictures. Y70 Plus has wider aperture for possibly better low light. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.2, Sensor Unknown | Y70 Plus has a dedicated ultra-wide lens for capturing more in your photos, while Poco F3 does not have one. |
| Depth Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, Sensor Unknown | Y70 Plus has a depth sensor for portrait mode, while Poco F3 does not have one. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS, Slo-mo up to 960fps | Up to 1080p@30fps, Slo-mo up to 120fps | Poco F3 offers higher video resolution and frame rates with more slow motion capabilities, enabling higher quality video capture. |
| Features | Manual focus | Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) | Poco F3 has manual focus, while Y70 Plus has PDAF (potentially faster autofocus). |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android Unknown | Poco F3 has a known version and upgrade path. Huawei's version is unknown. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6, MIMO | 802.11n | Poco F3 supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard for faster and more reliable connections, plus MIMO for better signal. Y70 is on older 802.11n. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1, AptX | Bluetooth 5.1, EDR | Both have Bluetooth 5.1 and common audio codecs, however Poco F3 has AptX while Huawei has EDR. |
| GPS | GPS (L1+L5), Beidou (B1, B2), Galileo (E1+E5a), NavIC | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo | Poco F3 has additional and more modern satellite systems for more precise location tracking. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support Dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 64GB/128GB | Poco F3 has larger storage options. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 4GB | Poco F3 has more RAM options for better multitasking and overall performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone allows for storage expansion. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res, Stereo Speakers | Basic Audio | Poco F3 offers a better audio experience with Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res and Stereo Speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both offer side-mounted fingerprint sensors for security. |
| Build | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Poco F3 offers better screen protection for daily use and resistance to scratches. |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer | Poco F3 provides more sensors (Compass, Gyroscope, Virtual Proximity) offering a wider range of applications. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 870 chipset offers significantly higher performance than the Kirin 710A, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and higher resolution offers a much sharper, more vibrant and smoother visual experience. The 1300 nits brightness is much better for outdoor visibility.
- Better Camera: The main camera has wider aperture and known sensor which would be better for low light performance. The selfie camera has much higher resolution.
- Faster Charging: The 33W fast charging reduces charging times significantly.
- Better Audio: Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio features provide a better audio experience.
- More RAM/Storage: Higher RAM and storage options contribute to better multitasking and more capacity for media.
- Better Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 standard and more GPS satellite systems offer better and more precise connections.
- Better Build Quality: Gorilla Glass 5 offers much better screen protection.
- More Sensors: Additional sensors like the gyroscope, compass and virtual proximity sensor enable more capabilities.
Huawei nova Y70 Plus Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 6000mAh battery offers significantly more battery life between charges.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle Lens: The inclusion of an ultra-wide lens provides more flexibility in photography by allowing a wider field of view.
- Dedicated Depth Lens: The inclusion of a depth lens allows for dedicated portrait mode photos with bokeh.
- Potentially Better Low-Light Selfies: Wider aperture may enable better low light performance, although the lower resolution of the sensor might not.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Poco F3: The smaller battery is a tradeoff for performance and other features, which may mean less battery life.
- Nova Y70 Plus: Significantly lower performance is a major drawback for power users, and the lack of display quality affects visual experience.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize fast performance, smooth multitasking, and gaming.
- Media Consumers: Users who watch a lot of videos, movies and play games will enjoy the AMOLED display and stereo speakers.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value a high-quality main and front camera with better video capabilities.
Power Users: Those who want a faster device, faster charging and better audio will find the Poco F3 better suited.
- Use Cases:
- Gaming on high settings
- Editing photos and videos
- Extensive social media use
- Watching high-definition videos
- Use Cases:
Huawei nova Y70 Plus Ideal User:
- Battery Life Prioritizers: Users who need a phone that can last for multiple days on a single charge.
- Casual Users: Users who focus on social media, browsing and don't need high levels of processing power.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users who are looking for an affordable smartphone with decent features.
- Users who enjoy the Huawei ecosystem: Those already invested in the Huawei ecosystem.
- Use Cases:
- Basic everyday use (calls, messaging)
- Extended travel or situations where charging is limited
- Occasional photos and videos
- Use Cases:
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Poco F3 offers a higher price to value ratio for users who prioritize performance and display quality.
- The Y70 Plus offers better value if the priority is on longer battery life and budget is the main constraint.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance and gaming to you? (Poco F3 excels here).
- How long of a battery life do you need on a single charge? (Y70 Plus is the winner here).
- How important is display quality and audio for media consumption? (Poco F3 offers a superior experience).
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gamer/Power User: If you're a gamer or power user looking for a fast phone with great visuals, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is the clear choice.
- Scenario 2: Long Battery Life Focus: If your primary need is a long-lasting battery, the Huawei nova Y70 Plus is the better pick, albeit with lower performance.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you're looking for the best overall value and don't need extreme performance but prioritize a great screen, and good main and selfie camera, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is the better choice.
- Scenario 4: Budget Conscious User: If budget is the main concern, and you're okay with basic performance, the Huawei nova Y70 Plus might be a good fit.
My Choice
Given the analysis, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F3. My reasoning is primarily based on the following points:
- Overall Performance: The Snapdragon 870 offers much higher processing power and gaming performance.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED panel, with its high refresh rate, sharpness, and brightness, offers a noticeably better viewing experience for everyday use and media consumption.
- Better Main and Selfie Camera: The Poco F3 offers a better main and selfie camera for capturing photos and videos and a better experience overall.
- Better Audio Quality: Stereo speakers, and Dolby Atmos support provide an improved listening experience when watching media and playing games.
- Faster Charging: Faster charging is important for modern usage to reduce downtime.
While the Huawei nova Y70 Plus offers a larger battery, the trade-offs in display quality, performance, camera and other aspects are not worth it for me. I believe the benefits of the Poco F3, primarily its superior performance and visual quality, make it the better overall choice for my usage which would encompass a wide variety of tasks such as gaming, productivity, social media, and content consumption.
