1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 163.7 × 76.4 × 7.8 mm | 164 × 76.4 × 8.9 mm | Red Magic 9S Pro is thicker by 1.1mm and has a slightly larger overall volume, making it less pocketable. |
| Weight | 196g | 229g | Poco F3 is significantly lighter (33g), leading to more comfortable extended use. Red Magic 9S Pro is heavier. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard, non-foldable phones. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.8" | Red Magic 9S Pro has a slightly larger screen; better for media consumption and gaming, though the difference is not massive. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1116x2480 | Red Magic 9S Pro has a moderately sharper display, resulting in slightly crisper images but may not be noticeable to the casual eye. |
| PPI | 395 | 400 | Both have very similar pixel density, resulting in comparable sharpness in daily use. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Identical display technology, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both provide smooth scrolling and animations, suitable for gaming and fast-paced content. |
| Brightness | 1300 nits | 0 nits | Poco F3 offers much higher peak brightness, ensuring better outdoor visibility, while the Red Magic 9S Pro's brightness is unknown, hindering outdoor usage. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Red Magic 9S Pro has a significantly newer and more powerful chipset, leading to better performance and power efficiency. |
| AnTuTu Score | 800,216 | 2,369,542 | Red Magic 9S Pro has 196% higher benchmark score. It will perform significantly better in demanding apps and games, ensuring faster loading and smoother multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 750 (1 GHz) | Red Magic 9S Pro has a much faster GPU, providing superior graphics rendering for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4520mAh | 6500mAh | Red Magic 9S Pro has a much larger battery, suggesting significantly longer battery life for typical use. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 80W fast charging | Red Magic 9S Pro charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable, QC3+/PD3.0 | Non-removable | Both have non-removable batteries; Poco F3 additionally supports QC3 + / PD3.0 fast charging protocol. The practical impact is that Poco F3 is versatile with chargers while Red Magic 9S Pro may have a faster charge. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco F3 | ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582, 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.88, 1/1.57", Samsung GN5, 1.0µm | Red Magic 9S Pro has a slightly higher resolution and larger sensor with larger pixels potentially resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.45, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2, 0.8µm | 16MP, f/2.0, 1/3.06", Omnivision OV16A1Q, 1.12µm | Red Magic 9S Pro has a wider aperture and larger pixels, which might result in better low-light selfies. Xiaomi has a higher resolution but a smaller sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76", Samsung S5KJN1, 0.64µm | Red Magic 9S Pro offers a dedicated wide-angle camera for capturing wider scenes, a capability missing on the Poco F3. |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", GalaxyCore GC02M1, 1.75µm | Red Magic 9S Pro has a macro lens for close-up shots; missing on the Poco F3. |
| Video | 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p various, EIS; No Stabilisation | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p various; Yes Stabilisation | Red Magic 9S Pro offers much higher video recording capabilities including 8k, higher frame rate options and stabilization. Poco F3 offers no stabilization. |
| 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, 8K Video, Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Gimbal, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Laser autofocus (LAF), Under display camera, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, Night Mode | Red Magic 9S Pro has a more complete set of camera features, including Optical Stabilisation (OIS), Gimbal, Continuous autofocus, Laser autofocus (LAF), Under display camera, and Night mode for superior flexibility and quality. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco F3 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: At 196g, it’s significantly lighter than the Red Magic 9S Pro, making it more comfortable for long usage periods and easier to carry.
- Higher Screen Brightness: With a peak brightness of 1300 nits, it offers much better outdoor visibility, which is crucial in bright sunlight.
- More diverse fast charging protocol: The Poco F3 supports QC3 + / PD3.0 fast charging protocol, making it more versatile with different chargers.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 provides significantly better performance compared to the Snapdragon 870, leading to smoother and faster experience for gaming and demanding apps.
- Larger Battery: A 6500mAh battery offers much longer battery life, a crucial advantage for heavy users.
- Faster Charging: 80W fast charging is much faster than 33W, significantly reducing charging times.
- Advanced Camera System: Offers a more versatile camera setup including a wide angle and macro lens along with better video quality, stabilization, and additional features like OIS, gimbal, and 8K recording.
- Advanced Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards provide faster speeds, lower latency, and enhanced reliability.
- More RAM: It has more RAM (12/16GB) which allows better multitasking capabilities.
Trade-offs:
- Poco F3: The trade-off is lower performance, a smaller battery, and a less versatile camera system in exchange for a lighter and potentially more affordable device.
- Red Magic 9S Pro: The trade-off is its heavier and bulkier design due to the larger battery, along with unknown screen brightness.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco F3 Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those seeking a well-rounded device with good performance for the price.
- Everyday Users: Those who prioritize a lightweight device for daily tasks, media consumption, and social media.
- Users Concerned With Screen Visibility: Those needing high screen brightness for usage in bright environments.
Use Cases:
- Daily browsing, social media, and communication.
- Casual gaming, streaming videos, and music.
- Users who need good portability, fitting into a pocket easily, and having a comfortable grip.
ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro Ideal Users:
- Hardcore Gamers: Those who prioritize top-tier performance, smooth graphics, and a long-lasting battery for extended gaming sessions.
- Power Users: Those who require a device that can handle heavy multitasking, video editing, and other demanding tasks.
- Users Focused on Versatile Camera Capabilities: Those who want a wide range of photography features, including a wide-angle and macro lens.
- Users Concerned With Video Quality: Those wanting the highest resolution recording with higher frame rates.
Use Cases:
- High-end gaming, video editing, and running resource-intensive apps.
- Content creators seeking better video recording capabilities.
- Users wanting advanced features, latest connectivity standards, and the best overall performance.
Price-to-Value Ratio
- Poco F3: Likely offers a better value if budget is the primary concern and if high gaming performance isn't a must.
- Red Magic 9S Pro: Justifies its higher cost with significantly superior performance, a larger battery, a more versatile camera system, and better connectivity features.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Poco F3 likely comes at a lower price point.
- Do you prioritize gaming and performance, or everyday usage and portability? The Red Magic 9S Pro excels in gaming and demanding tasks while the Poco F3 is more suitable for daily tasks.
- How important is camera versatility and video recording capabilities to you? The Red Magic 9S Pro offers a significantly better camera system with a wide-angle lens, macro lens, and higher resolution videos along with stabilization.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget Gaming): If you're on a budget but want decent gaming performance, the Poco F3 is a good choice, it handles most games smoothly at medium settings.
- Scenario 2 (Hardcore Gaming and Power User): For the best possible gaming experience, a long battery, and top-tier performance, the Red Magic 9S Pro is the clear winner. It ensures smooth gameplay even with graphic-intensive titles.
- Scenario 3 (Balanced Daily Use and Camera Focused): If you are a casual user who wants a more versatile camera, the Red Magic 9S Pro offers a much more comprehensive camera system, and still offers superior performance for daily tasks.
- Scenario 4 (Daily User With Budget Restraints): If you prioritize portability, lightweight use, and having a great screen with outdoor visibility, the Poco F3 will be a better choice, even if the performance is not on par with Red Magic 9S Pro.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the ZTE nubia Red Magic 9S Pro. Despite being heavier and bulkier, the Red Magic 9S Pro's superior performance, larger battery, faster charging, and much more versatile camera system make it a clear winner for my needs. I am a power user who engages in heavy multitasking, media consumption, and gaming. I value the superior performance and longer battery life that the Red Magic 9S Pro can offer. I also value good photography and the ability to capture high-resolution videos, and the extra camera features on the Red Magic 9S Pro will help improve my photographs and video content. The higher refresh rate and better connectivity are added bonuses. While the Poco F3 might be lighter and a better value for casual users on a budget, the Red Magic 9S Pro's sheer power and capabilities would justify the extra cost for my needs and preferences, therefore making it my choice.
