1. Specifications Comparison
Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | Xiaomi Poco X4 GT | Practical Impact |
---|---|---|---|
Design | |||
Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 163.6 × 74.3 × 8.9 mm | Poco F3 is wider but thinner; X4 GT is slightly more compact in hand but thicker. |
Weight | 196g | 200g | Negligible difference in hand feel; both are relatively lightweight. |
Display | |||
Size | 6.67" | 6.6" | Both offer similar screen real estate; minimal difference in viewing experience. |
Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2460 | Virtually identical sharpness; no noticeable difference. |
Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 407 PPI | Both screens offer similar sharpness. |
Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | AMOLED provides deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors, superior viewing experience. |
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | X4 GT offers slightly smoother animations and scrolling, noticeable in gaming. |
Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Poco F3 is far better in bright sunlight; Poco X4 GT's brightness not specified, indicating potential issues in bright conditions. |
Performance | |||
Chipset | Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Dimensity 8100 (5 nm) | Both are high-performing chips; Dimensity 8100 is newer and potentially more power-efficient. |
AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 820,061 | Both scores are very similar, very close real-world performance levels. |
GPU | Adreno 650 | Mali-G610 MC6 | Different GPU architectures; both handle gaming well, but may have slight differences in specific games or graphical tasks. |
Camera | |||
Rear Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582, 0.8µm | 64MP, f/1.89, 1/1.72", Samsung S5KGW1, 0.8µm | X4 GT has a higher resolution sensor; slightly smaller aperture but a larger sensor size; both should offer decent low light performance. |
Front Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2, 0.8µm | 16MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06", Omnivision OV16A10, 1.0µm | Poco F3 has a higher resolution sensor; X4 GT has a larger sensor size and bigger pixel size; both should provide good quality selfies. |
Wide Angle Lens | N/A | 8MP, f/2.2 | X4 GT has a wide-angle lens for more versatile shooting. |
Macro Lens | N/A | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", Omnivision OV02B10, 1.75µm | X4 GT has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots. |
Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps with EIS | Up to 4K@30fps | Both offer similar 4K capabilities; Both offer EIS; Both offer 960 fps slow-motion |
Camera Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Manual focus, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | X4 GT has more camera features, including ultra-stable video, phase detection autofocus, RAW capture and night mode. |
Battery | |||
Capacity | 4520mAh | 5080mAh | X4 GT has larger battery; potentially better battery life throughout the day. |
Charging | 33W | 67W | X4 GT charges significantly faster. |
Software | |||
OS | Android 11, upgradable to 13 | Android 12 | X4 GT ships with a more recent version of Android out of the box; Xiaomi Poco F3 has official support up to Android 13. |
Connectivity | |||
WiFi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 | Both offer similar modern Wi-Fi standards. |
Bluetooth | 5.1 | 5.3 | X4 GT has the newer Bluetooth version; both support high-quality audio codecs. |
GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System | A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1) | Poco F3 has additional satellite navigation system support. |
Storage | |||
Internal | 128 GB or 256 GB | 128 GB or 256 GB | Both offer similar storage options; both lack expandable storage via MicroSD card. |
RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB | Poco X4 GT offers 8GB RAM, which is great for multitasking. Poco F3 has options for 6 GB or 8 GB RAM. |
Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage, which might be limiting for some users. |
Audio | |||
Quality | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers, 2 microphones | Both offer good audio; X4 GT has 2 microphones for better voice capture. |
Security | |||
Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both have side-mounted fingerprint sensors for basic biometric security. |
Build Quality | |||
Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Both offer similar screen protection. |
Sensors | |||
Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual, RGB | Poco X4 GT has an additional RGB sensor which can be used for ambient light detection. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Superior Display Technology: The AMOLED screen offers significantly better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, making it superior for media consumption.
- Higher Display Brightness: With 1300 nits peak brightness, the F3 is far more usable outdoors in bright sunlight.
- More comprehensive GPS: The F3 includes support for more satellite systems leading to improved location accuracy.
Xiaomi Poco X4 GT Advantages:
- Newer Chipset: The Dimensity 8100 is built on a more efficient 5nm process, potentially offering better sustained performance and power efficiency.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 144Hz display provides a slightly smoother visual experience, especially noticeable in gaming.
- Larger Battery & Faster Charging: The 5080mAh battery combined with 67W fast charging offers potentially longer battery life and faster top-ups.
- More Versatile Cameras: The inclusion of a wide-angle and macro lens provides more flexibility in shooting options.
- Better Video/Camera Features: The X4 GT has additional features: Ultra stable video, Continuous autofocus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), RAW, Night Mode.
- Newer Bluetooth Standard: Bluetooth 5.3 offers improved connectivity and power efficiency.
- Additional Microphone: The X4 GT has a secondary microphone for better audio recording.
- Newer Android OS Out of Box: Ships with Android 12 and receives updates.
Trade-offs:
- Display: The F3 offers a better display in terms of technology and brightness, but the X4 GT has a slightly higher refresh rate.
- Camera: The X4 GT offers more shooting flexibility with additional lenses, but the F3 features a higher resolution front camera, and might offer better results in certain conditions.
- GPS: F3 has more comprehensive satellite support, while X4 GT supports other GPS systems.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3:
- Ideal User: Media consumers, anyone who values an exceptional screen (especially for HDR content), and users who prioritize outdoor visibility and need accurate GPS.
- Use Cases: Watching movies and TV shows, playing graphically intense games, navigating using GPS, outdoor photography, users who want good overall performance without needing all the camera bells and whistles.
Xiaomi Poco X4 GT:
- Ideal User: Gamers, power users who prioritize battery life and fast charging, users who need versatile cameras, those who want a more modern device with the latest software updates.
- Use Cases: Mobile gaming, all-day heavy usage without worrying about battery life, capturing various types of photos and videos, vloggers, users who want the latest Bluetooth standards and Android version.
Price-to-Value:
- The price of both devices will vary depending on market conditions, but these phones offer great value in the mid-range market.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- How important is display quality for you? (Do you prefer AMOLED with high brightness or an IPS LCD with a higher refresh rate?)
- Which is more important to you: camera versatility or battery life? (Do you need a wide-angle lens, or do you need the larger battery and fast charging?)
- Do you need the latest software and connectivity standards? (Do you require the latest Android version or the latest Bluetooth connectivity?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- If you prioritize display quality for media consumption and outdoor visibility, choose the Xiaomi Poco F3.
- If you are a gamer and/or prioritize battery life and versatile cameras, choose the Xiaomi Poco X4 GT.
- If you want the newest software out of the box, choose the Xiaomi Poco X4 GT.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Poco X4 GT. While the Poco F3 has an excellent display, the X4 GT offers a more well-rounded package for my needs. The combination of the newer, more efficient chipset, larger battery, faster charging, more versatile camera system with RAW support and the additional Bluetooth and Android version advantages make it more appealing. As someone who values performance, battery life, and capturing a variety of photos and videos on the go, the X4 GT better suits my typical usage scenarios, making it the more practical choice.