1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 163.2 × 73.6 × 8.7 mm | Poco F3 is slightly wider, while OnePlus 9 Pro is thicker. The 9 Pro may feel more substantial and less slippery due to its thickness. The Poco F3 may be slightly easier to grip due to its larger width. |
| Weight | 196g | 197g | Virtually identical weight, negligible difference in hand. |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 front | Gorilla Glass 5 front | Similar scratch resistance for both screens. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.7" | Almost identical screen sizes; difference is practically negligible. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3216 | OnePlus 9 Pro has a significantly sharper display, noticeable when viewing high-resolution content or reading small text. |
| PPI | 395 | 525 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a much sharper and clearer viewing experience, especially for detailed images and videos. |
| Technology | AMOLED | Not Specified | Poco F3 has an AMOLED screen offering better contrast, deeper blacks and more vibrant colours compared to an unspecified technology for OnePlus. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, beneficial for gaming and general use. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 1300 nits | Both displays are equally bright, ensuring good visibility in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | OnePlus 9 Pro has a more powerful processor, leading to slightly faster app launches and smoother performance in demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 877,600 | OnePlus 9 Pro shows slightly better performance in benchmarks, although both are high-performing phones and the real-world difference might not be hugely significant. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 | OnePlus 9 Pro provides better graphics performance, important for high-end gaming and graphics-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 48MP, f/1.8, 1/1.43" sensor | OnePlus 9 Pro's larger sensor captures more light, resulting in better low-light photos and improved dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4" sensor | 16MP, f/2.4, 1/3.13" sensor | Poco F3 captures more detailed images, with higher resolution, while the OnePlus 9 Pro has a slightly larger sensor for better low-light selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.4 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers optical zoom capabilities, missing on the Poco F3 allowing better zoom shots. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.2 | OnePlus 9 Pro allows for a much wider field of view, useful for landscapes and group photos. |
| Black & White Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4 | OnePlus 9 Pro offers a dedicated black and white sensor for artistic monochrome photography, which the Poco F3 does not have. |
| Video | 4K@30fps with EIS | 8K@30fps with HDR, EIS, 4K@120fps | OnePlus 9 Pro can record higher-resolution video and smoother slow-motion video, and also includes HDR video recording, with a superior video quality overall. |
| DxOMark | Not Available | Mobile: 122 | OnePlus 9 Pro has an official score, indicating good camera performance. No rating is provided for Poco F3. |
| Camera Features | Digital zoom, EIS, basic photo modes | Optical zoom, OIS, Ultra-stable video, RAW, Night Mode, Laser AF, PDAF | OnePlus 9 Pro has advanced features such as OIS, optical zoom, laser autofocus and the ability to capture images in RAW mode, leading to better photo quality and control. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 4500mAh | Similar battery capacity, expect comparable battery life for typical use. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 65W fast charging, 50W Wireless | OnePlus 9 Pro charges much faster than the Poco F3, and also offers wireless charging. |
| Features | QC3+/PD3.0 | Reverse charging, 50W wireless, reverse wireless | OnePlus 9 Pro offers wireless charging and reverse charging capabilities, for convenient charging of other devices. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support fast Wi-Fi standards for quick internet speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.2 | OnePlus 9 Pro has slightly more advanced Bluetooth which may offer some marginal battery efficiency improvements, though in most cases it is likely to be unnoticeable to the user. |
| GPS | Dual-band GPS, NavIC | Dual-band GPS | Both offer precise location tracking. The Poco F3 supports a few more systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones can use two SIM cards simultaneously. |
Storage
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | Both offer identical maximum storage options, for storing apps, photos and videos. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 8/12 GB | OnePlus 9 Pro offers more RAM, enabling smoother multitasking, especially when using multiple apps simultaneously. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers the option to add an SD card for more storage. |
Audio
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | OnePlus 9 Pro offers enhanced sound clarity during calls and better overall audio quality due to noise cancellation and additional mics, while the Poco F3 provides Hi-Res audio capabilities for higher quality music playback. |
Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | In-display fingerprint sensor | The side-mounted sensor is generally considered quicker and more reliable, while the in-display sensor looks more seamless. |
Software
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 11 (upgradable to 14) | OnePlus 9 Pro has a longer support life, receiving a more recent version of Android. |
Sensors
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus 9 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Both phones offer a standard range of sensors, though the Poco F3 uses ultrasonic proximity, while the OnePlus 9 Pro uses a standard proximity sensor, but both offer similar real-world functionality. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- AMOLED Display: Offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and potentially better power efficiency, especially with dark themes.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Generally faster and more reliable than in-display sensors for unlocking.
- Hi-Res Audio: Offers enhanced audio quality for music enthusiasts.
- Price: Generally more affordable than the OnePlus 9 Pro, offering a good price-to-performance ratio.
OnePlus 9 Pro Advantages:
- Higher Resolution Display: Sharper screen with significantly more pixels for clearer images and videos.
- Superior Camera System: Includes telephoto and wide-angle lenses, OIS, and 8K recording for better photographic flexibility and image quality.
- Faster Charging and Wireless Charging: Significantly quicker wired charging and convenient wireless charging for greater ease of use.
- More RAM: Option for 12GB RAM for smoother multitasking and more demanding applications.
- More Powerful Processor: Snapdragon 888 offers slightly better performance than the Snapdragon 870.
- Latest Android Version: Gets updated to Android 14, for longer software support and access to new features.
Trade-offs:
- Poco F3: Lacks advanced camera features (OIS, telephoto, wide-angle, 8K recording, RAW), slower charging, and the display is not as sharp as the OnePlus 9 Pro.
- OnePlus 9 Pro: More expensive, may not be as affordable as the Poco F3, and a thicker design.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3:
- Ideal User: Price-conscious users who prioritize performance for gaming and daily use, are not demanding on the camera and like AMOLED panels.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, multimedia consumption, general usage, daily tasks, users that use headphones a lot (for the Hi-Res Audio support).
- Strengths: Excellent price-to-performance ratio, smooth gaming, vibrant AMOLED screen, faster fingerprint unlocking.
OnePlus 9 Pro:
- Ideal User: Users who prioritize camera quality, fast charging, premium features, and the highest possible performance and the best possible display.
- Use Cases: High-quality photography, videography, multitasking, gaming, users that care about display clarity.
- Strengths: Top-tier camera setup, fast charging (wired and wireless), high resolution display, more powerful processor, more software support.
4. Decision Framework
Questions to Consider:
- What is your budget? Poco F3 is significantly more affordable.
- How important is camera quality to you? If photography is crucial, the OnePlus 9 Pro is better.
- Do you need the fastest charging and wireless charging? OnePlus 9 Pro offers much faster wired and wireless options.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget Gamer: If you are a gamer looking for the best possible performance without breaking the bank, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is ideal.
- Photography Enthusiast: If photography is crucial, or you need high quality videography capabilities, the OnePlus 9 Pro is the clear winner.
- Everyday User: If you prioritize fast charging and general daily usage and are willing to spend a little extra for it, the OnePlus 9 Pro is suitable. If you prioritize price and can live with slower charging, and a slightly less high end camera, the Xiaomi Poco F3 is a good option.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would personally pick the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the Poco F3 is a fantastic device for its price, I value the advanced camera system, much faster wired and wireless charging, higher resolution display and better general software support that the OnePlus 9 Pro provides. I enjoy taking photos and videos, and the versatility of the additional lenses, the OIS, and the RAW photo capabilities are key features that the Poco F3 doesn't have. I also appreciate the smoother multitasking and better performance of the 888 Chipset and the higher amount of RAM, and the high refresh rate is ideal for gaming and viewing videos, and the additional software support means I can use the phone for longer. While the price is higher, the overall experience offered by the OnePlus 9 Pro justifies the cost, for me personally.
