1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Poco F3 and OnePlus Nord 4, focusing on practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 162.6 × 75 × 8 mm | Poco F3 is slightly taller and wider, while Nord 4 is negligibly thicker. Overall, both are similar in size and comfort. |
| Weight | 196g | 199.5g | Both phones feel very similar in hand, with no practical weight difference. |
| Build Quality (Screen Protection) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | Poco F3 offers known better screen protection against scratches and minor drops, Nord 4 has unknown protection. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.74" | Negligible difference in screen size; both provide immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1240x2772 | Nord 4 has a significantly sharper display, making text and images look clearer. |
| PPI | 395 | 450 | Nord 4 has a noticeably crisper display, better for reading and detailed graphics. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and animations, excellent for gaming and media consumption. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 2200 nits | Nord 4 is significantly better for outdoor use under bright sunlight, offering much better visibility. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 (4 nm) | Nord 4 has a newer generation chipset, offering significantly better overall performance and power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 1,366,982 | Nord 4 demonstrates considerably better performance, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 732 | Nord 4's Adreno 732 provides superior graphics performance, beneficial for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Nord 4 has a slightly higher resolution main camera, potentially capturing more detail. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.8 | Poco F3 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially capturing slightly more light in low-light situations. |
| Main Camera Sensor | Sony IMX582 Exmor RS | Sony LYT-600 | Different sensors, Nord 4 likely has better image processing and overall quality. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | Poco F3 has a higher resolution front camera for more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.45 | f/2.4 | Nord 4's front camera aperture is slightly wider for better low-light performance |
| Selfie Camera Sensor | Samsung S5K3T2 | Sony IMX471 Exmor RS | Different sensors, Nord 4 may offer different quality in selfies, although with a lower resolution. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP | Nord 4 has a dedicated wide-angle camera, offering more versatility for landscape and group photos. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 4K@60fps, EIS | Nord 4 offers smoother video recording with 4K at 60fps, both offer stabilization. |
| Stabilization | No | Yes | OnePlus Nord 4 has better video stabilization |
| Slow Motion | Up to 960 fps | Up to 240 fps | Poco F3 has a higher slow motion capture, but only 720p |
| Camera Features | Triple Camera, Manual Focus | Dual Camera, OIS, PDAF | Nord 4 offers OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) for sharper images and videos and PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) for faster and more accurate focusing; Poco F3 has a triple camera setup with manual focus control. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 5500mAh | Nord 4 has a larger battery, likely offering significantly longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 100W Fast Charging | Nord 4 has considerably faster charging, allowing you to top up the battery much quicker. |
| Charging Features | Supports QC3+/PD3.0 | None | Poco F3 has more charging protocol support |
Software
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Operating System | Android 11, Upgradable to 13 | Android 14, Upgradable to 18 | Nord 4 comes with the latest Android OS, promising longer support and up-to-date features |
Connectivity
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 6, Dual Band | Wi-Fi 6, Single Band | Both offer similar Wifi performance, Poco F3 has dual band support which is better for network connection reliability |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 LE | 5.4 | Nord 4 has newer bluetooth version with improvements in range, speed and efficiency |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), QZSS (L1 + L5) | Nord 4 supports more satellite systems for accurate and faster positioning. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both phones support Dual SIM functionality. |
Storage
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB, 256GB or 512GB | Nord 4 has an additional 512GB option for users needing more space. |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 8GB, 12GB or 16GB | Nord 4 offers significantly more RAM, enhancing multitasking and performance. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither supports microSD cards. |
Audio
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers, 2 Microphones | Poco F3 has better audio enhancements, while Nord 4 has 2 microphones for clearer audio recording. |
Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Features | Side-mounted Fingerprint | Basic Fingerprint Sensor | Poco F3 has a more convenient side-mounted fingerprint sensor. |
Sensors
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | OnePlus Nord 4 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Biometric: Fingerprint; Motion: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope; Proximity: Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Biometric: Fingerprint; Proximity: Proximity; Motion: Accelerometer, Gyroscope | Poco F3 features more sensors including the compass, and an ultrasonic proximity sensor. Nord 4 has a gravity and geomagnetic sensor for improved location sensing |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Slightly wider Main Camera Aperture: f/1.79 vs f/1.8 - potentially better low light performance
- Higher Resolution Selfie Camera: 20MP vs 16MP, for more detailed selfies.
- Higher Slow-motion recording Up to 960 fps vs 240fps.
- More Charging protocol support QC3+/PD3.0
- More sensors Compass, ultrasonic proximity virtual sensor.
- Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res audio support
OnePlus Nord 4 Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 with a much higher AnTuTu score.
- Sharper Display: Higher resolution and PPI.
- Brighter Display: 2200 nits for better visibility outdoors.
- Larger Battery: 5500mAh for longer battery life.
- Faster Charging: 100W for quicker top-ups.
- Newer Android Version: Android 14 for the latest features and extended updates.
- Dedicated Wide-Angle Lens: Adds versatility to the camera setup.
- Optical Image Stabilization: OIS offers superior image and video quality.
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Better GPS
- More Ram and storage options
Trade-offs:
- The Poco F3 excels in some areas of camera capability like a higher resolution selfie camera, and higher slow motion, but the Nord 4 has an overall better camera system with OIS, PDAF and a wide angle lens.
- The Poco F3 has better audio support and more sensors, but lacks in every other area.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3:
- Ideal User: Gamers on a budget, Multimedia consumers, Users who value a lower price point and slightly superior selfie camera.
- Use Cases: Casual gaming, binge-watching, listening to music with headphones, users who prefer more camera controls.
- Price-to-Value: Offers strong performance at a lower price point, but is outdated.
OnePlus Nord 4:
- Ideal User: Power users, mobile gamers, photographers, users needing long battery life, and those who prefer a modern operating system.
- Use Cases: Demanding games, heavy multitasking, taking high quality photos and videos, day-long usage without charging.
- Price-to-Value: Delivers high performance and cutting-edge features for its price, making it a strong all-rounder.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance Needs: Do you need a phone for demanding tasks, or is a budget friendly device enough?
- Camera Requirements: Do you prioritize a high resolution selfie camera, or versatile camera with OIS and a wide angle lens?
- Battery Life: Is day long battery life and fast charging crucial, or are you fine with charging more frequently?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget-Conscious Gamer: If you need a phone for gaming on a budget, the Poco F3 could still be an option, but consider that it is an older model.
- Photography Enthusiast: If you take photos and videos on a regular basis, the Nord 4's OIS, PDAF, and Wide Angle Lens are more versatile.
- Power User: If you need the best performance, longer battery life, and the latest Android version, the Nord 4 is the better choice.
- All-Rounder: For a phone that does most things well, the OnePlus Nord 4 is the better buy.
My Choice
I would choose the OnePlus Nord 4.
While the Xiaomi Poco F3 holds some advantages in specific areas like slightly wider main camera aperture, a higher resolution front camera, higher slow motion capture and more charging protocol support, the OnePlus Nord 4 has significant advantages in overall performance, display quality, battery life, charging speeds, camera versatility, software and connectivity. The newer chipset and higher AnTuTu score of the Nord 4 will provide a much smoother experience and provide futureproofing for the next few years. The superior screen, larger battery, faster charging, wider camera lens, improved video, and newer software make it the best choice overall. Though the Poco F3 might appeal to users looking for certain camera features, the Nord 4 delivers a much better all-around experience.
