Xiaomi Poco M3 vs Apple iPhone 15 - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

Launch Date November 27, 2020 September 22, 2023
Release Year 2020 2023

Physical

Volume 120.44 cm³ 82.43 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.3 "/g 3.57 "/g
Weight 198 g 171 g
Height 162.3 mm 147.6 mm
Width 77.3 mm 71.6 mm
Thickness 9.6 mm 7.8 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Cool Blue
  • Poco Yellow
  • Power Black
  • Black
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink

Display

Screen Size 6.53 " 6.1 "
Resolution 1080 x 2340 1179 x 2556
Aspect Ratio 19.5:9 19.5:9
Screen-to-Body Ratio 83.4 % 86.4 %
Pixel Density 395 PPI 461 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A N/A
Typical Brightness 400 nits N/A
HBM Brightness N/A 1000 nits
Peak Brightness N/A 2000 nits

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 140.71 mAh/in² 90.00 mAh/in²
Battery Density 49.82 mAh/cm³ 40.63 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 6000 mAh 3349 mAh
NFC Support No Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth)
GPU Adreno 610 Apple GPU (5-core graphics)

Connectivity

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

Software

Operating System Android iOS
Initial OS Version 10 17
Maximum OS Version 18

Comparison Summary

Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco M3 vs. Apple iPhone 15

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15Practical Impact
Dimensions162.3 × 77.3 × 9.6 mm147.6 × 71.6 × 7.8 mmPoco M3 is larger and thicker, less pocketable, while iPhone 15 is more compact and easier to handle.
Weight198g171giPhone 15 is noticeably lighter, enhancing comfort during extended use.
Build Material(Not Specified)(Not Specified)Build materials aren't specified, making it difficult to comment on the feel and durability
FoldableStandardStandardBoth are standard, non-folding smartphones.

Display

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15Practical Impact
Size6.53"6.1"Poco M3 has a larger screen, better for media consumption; iPhone 15 more suitable for one-handed use.
Resolution1080x23401179x2556iPhone 15 has higher resolution, leading to sharper visuals.
Pixel Density (PPI)395461iPhone 15 has a visibly sharper display with more detail due to higher pixel density.
TechnologyIPS LCDOLEDiPhone 15’s OLED offers deeper blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors.
Refresh Rate60Hz60HzBoth have standard 60Hz refresh rate, resulting in similar scrolling smoothness.
Brightness0 nits2000 nitsiPhone 15 is significantly brighter, providing excellent outdoor visibility in direct sunlight.
Screen ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3UnknownXiaomi Poco M3 has known screen protection while the iPhone 15's is unknown.

Performance

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15Practical Impact
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm)iPhone 15's chip is significantly faster, offering smoother performance, quicker app loading, and better gaming.
AnTuTu Score185,0281,470,000iPhone 15 shows a huge performance advantage, it handles resource intensive tasks with ease.
GPUAdreno 610Apple GPU (5-core)iPhone 15's GPU is more powerful, leading to better graphics performance in games and other demanding tasks.
RAM4GB or 6GB6GBBoth have 6GB RAM but iPhone 15’s RAM will perform much faster. Both are sufficient for general tasks, but iPhone 15 handles multitasking more efficiently.

Camera

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15Practical Impact
Main Camera Resolution48MP48MPBoth offer 48MP main cameras, but quality depends on the sensor and processing.
Main Camera Aperturef/1.79f/1.6iPhone 15's wider aperture allows more light, potentially leading to better low-light photos.
Main Camera Sensor Size1/2"1/1.5"iPhone 15 has a larger sensor, which should result in better light sensitivity and lower noise in images.
Main Camera Pixel Size0.80µm1.00µmiPhone 15 has larger individual pixels which can improve low-light performance and dynamic range.
Selfie Camera Resolution8MP12MPiPhone 15 has a higher resolution for sharper self-portraits.
Selfie Camera Aperturef/2.0f/1.9iPhone 15’s wider aperture allows more light into the selfie camera improving low-light shots.
Wide Angle CameraNone12MPiPhone 15 offers an extra wide angle lens for greater versatility in capturing photos.
Video Recording1080p@30fpsUp to 4K@60fps with HDRiPhone 15 offers far superior video quality, offering HDR, 4K and higher frame rate.
Video StabilizationNoYesiPhone 15 has optical image stabilization (OIS), it produces far smoother and less shaky videos.
Slow-motion120 fps240 fpsiPhone 15 can record slow-motion at a higher framerate, leading to better slo-mo footage.
Camera FeaturesDigital 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-timerCinematic Mode, Noise reduction, Face unlock, Pro Video Mode, 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Dual camera, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Dual PDAF, Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night ModeiPhone 15 has more advanced camera features such as OIS, RAW, and Pro Video Mode
DxOMark ScoreNot tested145iPhone 15 has a very high DxOMark score which shows impressive camera quality.

Battery

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15Practical Impact
Capacity6000mAh3877mAhPoco M3 has significantly larger capacity, but actual battery life depends on optimization.
Charging18W Fast Charging20W Fast ChargingiPhone 15 has slightly faster charging, but the Poco M3's large battery may last longer, despite the slower charge.
Battery FeaturesReverse charging, Non-removable, 22.5W fast charger in-boxNon-removable, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging, Battery capacity rumoredPoco M3 has reverse charging, while the iPhone 15 offers MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages:

  • Larger Battery: 6000mAh capacity offers the potential for longer battery life.
  • Reverse Charging: Allows the phone to charge other devices via cable, offering extra utility.
  • Lower Price: Significantly more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option.
  • Screen Protection: Has Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
  • More GPS Systems: Supports more satellite systems for improved location accuracy.

Apple iPhone 15 Advantages:

  • Superior Performance: A16 Bionic chip is drastically more powerful, resulting in a faster, smoother experience.
  • Better Display: OLED technology, higher resolution, higher pixel density, and significantly higher brightness for better visuals.
  • Superior Camera: Larger sensor, wider aperture, optical image stabilization, and 4K video recording for much better photo and video quality.
  • Wireless Charging: Supports convenient MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.
  • Software and Ecosystem: iOS offers a smooth and refined experience, seamless integration with other Apple devices and longer software support.
  • Build Quality: While not specified, iPhones are known to have premium build quality.
  • Connectivity: The iPhone 15 supports newer WiFi standards and Bluetooth version.

Trade-offs:

  • Xiaomi Poco M3: While it has a bigger battery and is more affordable, it compromises on performance, display quality, and camera capabilities.
  • Apple iPhone 15: While offering high performance and quality, it comes at a significantly higher price point and with a smaller battery capacity.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Xiaomi Poco M3 Ideal User:

  • Budget-conscious users: Those looking for a cost-effective smartphone with a decent feature set.
  • Users prioritizing battery life: Those needing a phone that can last a full day or more without needing a charge.
  • Users with basic smartphone needs: Suitable for browsing, social media, and light app usage.

Use Cases:

  • Long commutes without access to charging.
  • Primary phone for users who prioritize long battery life.
  • Secondary phone for specific tasks due to its lower price.

Apple iPhone 15 Ideal User:

  • Users prioritizing performance: Gamers and power users who need smooth, fast performance.
  • Users who value display quality: Those wanting vibrant, clear, and sharp visuals.
  • Photography enthusiasts: Those seeking high-quality photos and videos.
  • Users in the Apple ecosystem: Those who want seamless integration with other Apple devices.

Use Cases:

  • High-quality photography and video recording.
  • Mobile gaming with demanding graphics.
  • Productivity tasks requiring powerful processing.

Price-to-Value Ratio:

  • Xiaomi Poco M3: Offers good value for its very low price. It is designed as a budget friendly smartphone.
  • Apple iPhone 15: While more expensive, it offers more advanced technology, a superior user experience, and a higher camera quality. The higher price tag is justified by its high performance and features.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers:

  1. Budget: How much am I willing to spend on a smartphone?
  2. Primary Use: What will I mainly use the phone for (e.g., photography, gaming, basic usage)?
  3. Ecosystem Preferences: Am I invested in the Apple ecosystem, or do I prefer Android flexibility?

Scenario-Based Recommendations:

  • Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Long Battery Life: Choose the Xiaomi Poco M3. It is affordable and has long battery life.
  • Scenario 2: Premium Performance, High-Quality Camera: Choose the Apple iPhone 15. It is far superior in these aspects.
  • Scenario 3: Balanced User, Moderate Budget: The Xiaomi Poco M3 might be sufficient if the user understands the performance and display limitations.

Personal Recommendation

If I were choosing, I would pick the Apple iPhone 15. While the Poco M3 has a larger battery and is significantly cheaper, the iPhone 15 offers a substantially superior experience in almost every other aspect that I prioritize: display quality, performance, camera, and overall user experience. The higher price is an investment in a device that will perform excellently for years, and will also have better resale value. The OLED display is much more vivid, the faster processor will allow me to multitask with ease, and the much better camera will allow me to capture memorable moments in higher quality. The integration with Apple’s ecosystem is also a significant draw, offering a more seamless experience with my other Apple devices. The build quality, while not specified, is likely to be much higher as well.

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.