Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco F3 vs. Infinix Note 12 G96
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Infinix Note 12 G96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 164.6 × 76.8 × 8 mm | Slightly thinner and more compact build of the Poco F3, but nearly imperceptible differences. |
| Weight | 196g | 185g | The Note 12 G96 is 11g lighter, potentially making it slightly more comfortable during extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.7" | Virtually identical screen sizes; negligible difference in daily use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer sharp, detailed images; no visual difference due to resolution. |
| Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 393 PPI | Identical sharpness; no practical visual difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | Poco F3 offers significantly smoother scrolling and animations, leading to a more responsive feel. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 650 nits | Poco F3 has better visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm) | Snapdragon 870 is considerably faster, offering better gaming performance and faster app loading. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 307,000 | Poco F3 delivers dramatically higher performance for demanding apps and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Poco F3 provides significantly superior graphics performance, leading to smoother visuals in gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 5000mAh | Note 12 G96 has a slightly larger battery, potentially offering slightly better battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging (Li-Polymer) | 33W Fast Charging (Li-Ion) | Both offer the same 33W fast charging, no practical difference. |
| Charging Features | QC3+/PD3.0 Support | Non-removable | Poco F3 supports more charging standards. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP (f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582) | 50MP (f/1.6, 1/2.76", Samsung S5KJN1) | Note 12 G96 has a wider aperture, but Poco F3 has a larger sensor. In practice, image quality is highly dependent on software processing. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP (f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2) | 16MP (f/2.0) | Poco F3 offers higher resolution; Note 12 G96 has wider aperture for better low-light selfie photos. |
| Depth Camera | None | 2MP | Note 12 G96 has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, allowing for better background blur effects. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@up to 960fps | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@120fps | Poco F3 has a significantly better video recording capabilities with 4K video and higher slow-motion recording. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, Continuous Shooting | Night Mode | Poco F3 offers advanced video features; Note 12 G96 has dedicated night mode. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 12 | Note 12 G96 has a slightly newer OS out of the box. The difference in day-to-day user experience depends on manufacturer skin. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | Poco F3 has faster wireless speeds with WiFi 6. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 (AptX, LDAC, SBC, AAC) | 5.1 (A2DP, EDR, HID, LE) | Poco F3 supports higher-quality audio codecs over Bluetooth. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC | GPS, A-GPS | Poco F3 has more comprehensive GPS support, leading to better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Nano) | Dual SIM (Nano) | Both support dual SIM, allowing for usage of two networks at the same time. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 64/128 GB | Poco F3 has higher maximum storage, providing more space for apps, media, and files. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 4/6/8 GB | Both can have 6 or 8GB of RAM, providing similar multitasking capabilities. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither supports microSD cards, limiting storage capacity to internal memory. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio | DTS / DTS X | Poco F3 offers richer audio quality with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio support. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Both phones have side-mounted fingerprint sensors for secure unlocking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Poco F3 has better protection against scratches and damage with Gorilla Glass 5. |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Compass, Ultrasonic Proximity | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity | Poco F3 has a more comprehensive set of sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 870 chipset offers much higher CPU and GPU performance, making it a much better choice for gaming and intensive tasks. This translates to smoother overall usage, faster loading times and improved multitasking capabilities.
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate provides a significantly smoother visual experience. This is noticeable during scrolling, animations, and gameplay.
- Brighter Display: The 1300 nits brightness ensures better outdoor visibility, making it a better choice for users who use their phones in sunny conditions.
- Better Video Recording: 4K video recording capabilities and slow-motion options provide greater flexibility for content creation.
- Superior Audio: With Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio, the Poco F3 offers a better audio experience for music, videos, and gaming.
- Advanced Connectivity: It features WiFi 6 and enhanced Bluetooth audio codecs for faster data transfers and higher quality audio over wireless.
- Better GPS: The multiple satellite systems allow for enhanced location tracking accuracy.
- Better Build Quality: The use of Gorilla Glass 5 offers more protection against screen damage.
- Wider array of Sensors: The inclusion of a compass and ultrasonic proximity sensor enable more accurate tracking, and enhanced functionality for specific use cases.
Infinix Note 12 G96 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 5000mAh battery offers potentially slightly longer battery life.
- Dedicated Depth Sensor: A dedicated 2MP depth sensor for better portrait mode.
- Wider Selfie Aperture: Wider f/2.0 aperture allows more light for better low-light performance.
- Newer OS: Ships with Android 12 out of the box
- Night Mode: Offers dedicated night mode feature in the camera settings
Trade-offs:
- The Poco F3's superior performance comes at the expense of a potentially slightly shorter battery life.
- The Note 12 G96's better battery life comes at the cost of significantly lower performance and a less smooth display.
- The Poco F3 does not have a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 is ideal for:
- Gamers: Demanding mobile games run better due to the powerful processor and GPU, and the 120Hz display provides a smoother gameplay experience.
- Multimedia Users: Users who consume a lot of video or music, benefit from its high-quality screen and audio.
- Users who prioritize performance: For those who need a fast and responsive device for multitasking and app usage.
- Those who work in bright sunlight conditions: The 1300 nits brightness allows for good outdoor visibility.
- Content Creators: The high-quality video recording options and slow-motion features are perfect for creating engaging content.
Specific Use Cases for Poco F3:
- Playing graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.
- Watching high-resolution movies with crisp detail and smooth playback.
- Recording 4K videos for vlogging.
- Navigating with accuracy using its multiple GPS systems.
- Listening to music using high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs.
Infinix Note 12 G96 is ideal for:
- Users on a budget: It provides a good balance of features at a lower price point.
- Users who prioritize battery life: The larger 5000mAh battery will last longer.
- Casual users: For those who primarily use their phone for browsing, social media, and light productivity tasks.
- Users who want better low-light selfies: A wider selfie camera aperture is useful for low-light environments.
Specific Use Cases for Note 12 G96:
- Browsing social media and streaming videos without needing top performance.
- Taking casual photos and portraits with the dedicated depth sensor.
- Users who require a phone with long battery life.
- Users who need a phone that performs well in dark and low light conditions.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Poco F3 offers a higher price-to-value ratio for users who prioritize performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
- The Note 12 G96 provides better value for those on a tighter budget focusing more on battery life and basic features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance for my daily usage? If you play demanding games or run intensive applications, the Poco F3 is the better option.
- How crucial is battery life? If you need a long battery life and are not focused on high performance, the Note 12 G96 is the better option.
- Do I frequently take photos and videos in low light? The Note 12 G96 has better low-light selfie capabilities, and dedicated night mode features. The Poco F3 offers higher video resolution and higher quality video capabilities.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: High-Performance Gaming: Choose the Xiaomi Poco F3. The Snapdragon 870 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate display, and Adreno 650 GPU offer a smoother experience.
- Scenario 2: Casual Daily Usage and Long Battery Life: Choose the Infinix Note 12 G96. Its larger battery and decent camera are sufficient for light use.
- Scenario 3: Budget-Conscious User with Decent Camera: Choose the Infinix Note 12 G96 for a phone with reasonable performance, good battery life and a portrait mode camera at a lower price.
- Scenario 4: Multimedia and Content Creation: Choose the Xiaomi Poco F3. The higher quality audio, video, display and build provide a much better content creation and multimedia experience.
Personal Choice
Given these considerations, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco F3. While the Infinix Note 12 G96 has a slightly larger battery, the performance difference is too substantial to overlook. The Poco F3's Snapdragon 870 chipset, 120Hz display, superior video capabilities, and high quality audio provide a significantly better user experience, especially for gaming and multimedia consumption, which are critical for my usage. While the Infinix has a newer operating system, the Poco can be updated, making this less of a concern. The additional features like better WiFi, more accurate GPS, and more robust screen protection make the Poco F3 a more compelling option despite the marginally shorter battery life and slightly higher price.
