1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Samsung Galaxy A35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 163.7 x 76.4 x 7.8 mm | 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm | Poco F3 is taller and thinner; A35 is wider and thicker, impacting in-hand feel and pocketability. |
| Weight | 196g | 209g | Poco F3 is slightly lighter, which may feel less tiring during long use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.6" | Negligible size difference, both offer immersive viewing experience. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2340 | Minimal resolution difference, both screens will look sharp and clear. |
| PPI | 395 | 390 | Similar pixel density; screens will appear equally sharp. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both offer vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, making the user interface feel responsive. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Poco F3 offers significantly better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight (A35 brightness not specified). |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 (7 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) | Snapdragon 870 offers better performance for demanding tasks like gaming and heavy multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 578,500 | Poco F3 is significantly faster in benchmarks, translating to smoother performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G68 MP5 | Adreno 650 offers better gaming performance than Mali-G68 MP5. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Marginal difference; both cameras will take detailed photos in good lighting conditions |
| Rear Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.8 | Poco F3 has a slightly wider aperture, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Rear Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.96" | A35 has a slightly larger sensor, potentially better detail and dynamic range |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 13MP | Poco F3 selfie camera should offer more detail. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.45 | f/2.2 | A35 selfie camera has a wider aperture, potentially better low-light performance. |
| Wide Angle Lens | No | 8MP | A35 has a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape and group shots, which F3 lacks. |
| Macro Lens | No | 5MP | A35 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which F3 lacks. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS only | EIS & OIS | A35 has optical image stabilization (OIS), resulting in smoother videos and sharper images. |
| Slow Motion | 960 fps | 240 fps | Poco F3 can record at a significantly higher slow-motion frame rate. |
| DxOMark Score | N/A | 104 | A35 has a 104 camera score (Photo: 107; Video: 110); indicates its overall camera performance. |
| Camera Features | Manual Focus | 2x2 OCL, Pro Video Mode, OIS, Ultra stable video, AutoFraming, All Pixel Omni- Directional PDAF, NPU AI Engine, Night Mode, RAW 12 bits, DOL HDR | A35 has a more advanced and feature-rich camera system. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 4520 mAh | 5000 mAh | A35 has a slightly larger battery, potentially longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W | 25W | Poco F3 charges faster, reducing charging times. |
| Battery Tech | Li-Polymer | Li-Ion | Li-Polymer in Poco F3 might have slightly longer life cycle than Li-Ion in A35 |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 13) | Android 14 (upgradable to 18) | A35 ships with a newer version of Android and has a promise for longer software support, meaning longer feature updates and security patches. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both support the latest Wi-Fi standards. |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 | A35 has a newer Bluetooth version with better efficiency and capabilities. |
| 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 | Poco F3 supports a broader range of GPS technologies for enhanced location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both support Dual SIM Dual Standby. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Both offer the same storage options. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 6 GB or 8 GB | Both provide the same RAM options. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Both phones offer high quality audio experience. |
| Security | |||
| Security Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Poco F3 has a faster side-mounted fingerprint sensor, A35 only has basic sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | A35 has superior screen protection against scratches and drops. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity, Hall, Geomagnetic | A35 has a more advanced sensor suite. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 870 chipset offers significantly better performance for gaming, heavy apps, and overall responsiveness.
- Faster Charging: 33W charging allows for faster refueling compared to the A35's 25W charging.
- Brighter Display: 1300 nits brightness ensures better outdoor visibility in sunny conditions.
- Higher Slow-motion: Can record video at a higher slow motion rate of 960 fps
- Better GPS: Includes more GPS technologies for enhanced location accuracy.
Samsung Galaxy A35 Advantages:
- Newer Software: Ships with Android 14 and promise for longer software support (up to Android 18)
- Better Camera System: Offers a more versatile camera system with OIS, a wide-angle lens, a macro lens, and additional video features.
- Superior Screen Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus provides better scratch and drop protection than Gorilla Glass 5 on the Poco F3.
- Bigger Battery: Has a slightly larger battery at 5000 mAh
- Better Bluetooth: Has a newer version of Bluetooth that supports better audio standards
- Additional Sensors: More sensors like Hall and Geomagnetic
- Better Main Camera Sensor: Larger main camera sensor size with better detail and dynamic range
Trade-offs:
- The Poco F3 sacrifices camera versatility for performance and faster charging. It lacks the dedicated wide-angle and macro lenses, and the OIS found in the A35.
- The Galaxy A35 has a slightly weaker performance compared to the Poco F3. However, it compensates with better software support and an enhanced camera.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 is ideal for:
- Gamers: The Snapdragon 870 provides a better gaming experience.
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize speed, responsiveness, and fast loading times.
- Users Needing Bright Displays: Individuals who often use their phone in bright, outdoor conditions.
- Users who want higher slow-motion fps Individuals who want high slow-motion capture.
- Users who prioritize speed over software and camera features.
Use Cases:
- Intensive mobile gaming, video editing and rendering.
- Smooth multitasking and quickly switching between apps.
- Viewing content outdoors without significant screen glare.
Samsung Galaxy A35 is ideal for:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a versatile camera system with multiple lenses, better stabilization, and image processing features.
- Users Who Want Long Software Support: Individuals who prefer phones that will have a longer support in terms of feature updates.
- Users needing good all-round phone: People who want a good performance, good camera, and good battery.
- Users who want more premium build quality: Individuals who prefer superior screen protection
- Users who like more versatile camera system: People who want to have wide angle and macro lens cameras.
Use Cases:
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos in various scenarios.
- Taking photos and videos in various lightning conditions
- A long-term investment in a phone with long software updates.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Performance or Camera? Do you prioritize a smooth, powerful experience for gaming and daily tasks, or a more feature-rich camera system with better stabilization?
- Long-Term Software or Raw Power? Do you prefer the latest version of Android and longer software updates or higher benchmark scores, and better gps accuracy?
- Outdoor Visibility or Camera Versatility? Is a bright display that is easily visible under direct sunlight important, or are multiple camera lenses (wide, macro) and OIS a priority?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer: Choose the Xiaomi Poco F3 for its superior chipset, faster charging, and smoother performance.
- Scenario 2: Photography Focused User: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A35 for its versatile camera system, OIS, and additional video features.
- Scenario 3: Balanced Use with Long-Term Value: Choose the Samsung Galaxy A35 for its updated software and superior screen protection, better sensors, and modern features.
- Scenario 4: Budget-conscious performance seeker: Choose the Xiaomi Poco F3 if it offers more performance at the same or a lower price, and you don't need a camera that much.
My Choice
Given the current analysis, I would choose the Samsung Galaxy A35. While the Xiaomi Poco F3 offers superior raw performance, the A35 balances a capable chipset with a more versatile camera system, better build quality, and superior software support. As someone who often takes photos and values a phone that will be updated with new features and security patches for a long time, the Galaxy A35 is the more practical choice for my needs. Its combination of a better camera, more durable build, and longer software support makes it a more compelling overall package despite slightly weaker performance. The improved camera versatility and future software updates are worth the trade-off in raw processing power for my daily use.
