Xiaomi Poco M3 vs Apple iPhone 14 Plus - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date November 27, 2020 October 7, 2022
Release Year 2020 2022

Physical

Volume 120.44 cm³ 97.96 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.3 "/g 3.3 "/g
Weight 198 g 203 g
Height 162.3 mm 160.8 mm
Width 77.3 mm 78.1 mm
Thickness 9.6 mm 7.8 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Cool Blue
  • Poco Yellow
  • Power Black
  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Purple
  • Starlight
  • Midnight

Display

Screen Size 6.53 " 6.7 "
Resolution 1080 x 2340 1284 x 2778
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 83.4 % 87.8 %
Pixel Density 395 PPI 458 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A N/A
Typical Brightness 400 nits N/A
HBM Brightness N/A 800 nits
Peak Brightness N/A 1200 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 140.71 mAh/in² 96.30 mAh/in²
Battery Density 49.82 mAh/cm³ 44.13 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 6000 mAh 4323 mAh
NFC Support No Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) Hexa-core (2x3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard)
GPU Adreno 610 Apple GPU (5-core graphics)

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 2.0
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0, OTG Lightning 2.0

Software

Operating System Android iOS
Initial OS Version 10 16
Maximum OS Version 18

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 14 PlusPractical Impact
Dimensions162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm160.8 x 78.1 x 7.8 mmPoco M3 is slightly taller and thicker; iPhone 14 Plus is slightly wider but significantly thinner. iPhone 14 Plus will feel more sleek and pocketable.
Weight198g203gBoth are similar in weight, difference of 5g is unlikely to be noticeable day to day.
BuildGorilla Glass 3 (screen), unknown frame and backUnknown screen, frame and backXiaomi Poco M3 offers a known screen protection level, whereas information for the iPhone 14 Plus is missing.
FoldableStandardStandardBoth are standard non-foldable phones.

Display

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 14 PlusPractical Impact
Size6.53"6.7"iPhone 14 Plus offers a slightly larger viewing area, making media consumption and multitasking more comfortable.
Resolution1080 x 23401284 x 2778iPhone 14 Plus provides significantly sharper and more detailed images, especially for text and high-resolution content.
PPI395458iPhone 14 Plus's higher pixel density results in noticeably crisper text and images.
TechnologyIPS LCDOLEDiPhone 14 Plus delivers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors.
Refresh Rate60Hz60HzBoth offer a standard 60Hz refresh rate, suitable for typical use cases.
Brightness0 nits1200 nitsiPhone 14 Plus offers vastly superior outdoor visibility, especially under bright sunlight.

Performance

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 14 PlusPractical Impact
ChipsetSnapdragon 662 (11 nm)Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm)iPhone 14 Plus provides much faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and significantly better gaming performance due to a superior processor with lower nm.
AnTuTu Score185,0281,330,312iPhone 14 Plus offers dramatically superior performance across the board, making it future-proof and smoother overall.
GPUAdreno 610Apple GPU (5-core graphics)iPhone 14 Plus offers superior graphical capabilities for gaming and graphic-intensive applications.

Camera

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 14 PlusPractical Impact
Main Camera48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.8µm12MP, f/1.5, 1/1.66", 1.9µmiPhone 14 Plus captures more light due to the wider aperture and larger pixels, resulting in superior low-light performance. Xiaomi offers a higher MP sensor for detail in good light.
Selfie Camera8MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm12MP, f/1.9, Unknown µmiPhone 14 Plus's selfie camera will likely offer better low-light and sharper images, particularly in video.
Wide Angle LensN/A12MP, f/2.4, 1/2.55", 1.4µmiPhone 14 Plus provides a secondary wide angle lens, enabling wider field of view and more creative shot options.
Video1080p@30fps; No stab; 120fps slow motionUp to 4K@60fps with HDR, stab; 240fps slow motioniPhone 14 Plus offers far more versatile video recording capabilities, including higher resolution, HDR, better stabilization, and a higher slow-motion capture rate.
DXOMarkN/AMobile: 133, Selfie: 144iPhone 14 Plus demonstrates a significantly better camera performance based on the DXOMark scores.

Battery

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 14 PlusPractical Impact
Capacity6000mAh4325mAhPoco M3's larger battery should allow for longer usage between charges, although the efficiency of the A15 chip might make up some of the difference.
Charging18W fast, Li-PolymerLi-IonPoco M3 supports 18W fast charging, which is relatively slow by today's standards, the iPhone is missing the supported charging spec..
FeaturesReverse charge, 22.5W fast charger in box15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi, wirelessPoco M3 has reverse charging capability, and includes a fast charger in-box; iPhone 14 Plus offers wireless charging.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: The 6000mAh battery provides a significantly longer battery life for extended usage and less frequent charging.
  • Reverse Charging: The ability to charge other devices.
  • Included Fast Charger: Comes with a 22.5W fast charger in the box, so you don't need to purchase an additional charger.
  • Fingerprint Sensor: Offers a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure access.
  • Lower Price: Usually sold at a significantly lower price point, making it a budget-friendly option.

Apple iPhone 14 Plus Advantages:

  • Superior Performance: The A15 Bionic chip delivers blazing-fast speeds and smooth operation, making it ideal for demanding applications and multitasking.
  • High-Quality Display: OLED display with higher resolution and brightness offers an excellent visual experience with vibrant colors and great outdoor visibility.
  • Better Cameras: Superior image quality, especially in low light, and higher video capabilities, with features like OIS and 4K HDR recording.
  • Wireless Charging: MagSafe and Qi wireless charging capabilities add convenience.
  • Enhanced Audio: Superior audio features such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS/DTS X, and noise cancellation for calls and videos.
  • Software Ecosystem: iOS and the Apple ecosystem offer a smoother, more secure, and feature-rich experience.
  • Wide Angle Camera: The presence of a wide-angle lens adds versatility to the camera system.

Trade-offs

  • The Xiaomi Poco M3 compromises on display quality, performance, and camera capabilities to provide a long battery life and a low price.
  • The Apple iPhone 14 Plus compromises on battery capacity to offer superior performance, cameras and a high-quality display, in addition to a significantly higher price.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Xiaomi Poco M3: Ideal User

  • Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for an affordable smartphone with good battery life.
  • Casual Users: Individuals who primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and basic tasks.
  • Users who prioritize battery life: Users who need a phone that will last all day with heavy usage.
  • Users who don't need advanced processing: Those that don't require high-performance for gaming or editing.

Use Cases:

  • Long travel days with limited access to charging.
  • Basic mobile gaming.
  • Extended social media browsing and media consumption.
  • A secondary/backup device.

Apple iPhone 14 Plus: Ideal User

  • Power Users: Individuals who demand high performance, a premium user experience and prefer the iOS ecosystem.
  • Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value high-quality photos and videos with advanced camera features.
  • Multimedia Consumers: Those who appreciate a vivid display, stereo sound, and enjoy media consumption.
  • Ecosystem Users: Those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem who desire seamless device integration.

Use Cases:

  • Mobile gaming on the go.
  • High-quality video recording and editing.
  • Demanding mobile productivity applications.
  • Seamless experience with other Apple devices.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions:

  1. What is your budget? The Poco M3 is significantly cheaper, while the iPhone 14 Plus is a premium device.
  2. What are your priorities? Is it a long battery life, performance, camera quality, or overall experience?
  3. What ecosystem are you in? Are you invested in the Apple ecosystem or do you prefer Android?

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Long Battery: Choose the Xiaomi Poco M3 for excellent battery life and essential smartphone features at a lower price.

  • Scenario 2: Performance and Camera, Budget not a primary concern: Choose the Apple iPhone 14 Plus for its superior performance, outstanding display, and versatile camera system.

  • Scenario 3: Balanced Needs, Moderate Budget: Neither of these phones would be the perfect choice. The Xiaomi will lack a quality display, decent camera and fast performance. The iPhone will be way out of budget. It would be best to look at options from the midrange category.

My Choice

If I had to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Apple iPhone 14 Plus. Although it is significantly more expensive, the superior performance, high-quality display, much better camera system, wireless charging capabilities, and better video capabilities are worth the investment for a long term usage. I highly prioritize performance and camera quality over battery life, so I would gladly compromise battery capacity for the mentioned aspects. Additionally, the iOS ecosystem is a large benefit for me, with its consistent updates, seamless cloud integration, and smooth performance across devices. The higher price is the only major downside for the iPhone 14 Plus. If my budget was very tight, the Poco M3 would be a good option but only to fulfill the basic tasks required from a smartphone.

Emily Harper
Emily Harper

Technology Insights Specialist

Dedicated technology writer specializing in mobile device analysis and technology communication. Expert at translating complex smartphone features into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.

Key Strengths:

  • Mobile technology analysis
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.