Xiaomi Poco M3 vs Apple iPhone 15 Pro - Detailed Phone Comparison

Detailed Comparison

Specification

General

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

Physical

Volume 120.44 cm³ 85.9 cm³
Screen Size to Weight Ratio 3.3 "/g 3.26 "/g
Weight 198 g 187 g
Height 162.3 mm 146.6 mm
Width 77.3 mm 70.6 mm
Thickness 9.6 mm 8.3 mm
Foldable Design No No
Available Colors
  • Cool Blue
  • Poco Yellow
  • Power Black
  • Black Titanium
  • White Titanium
  • Blue Titanium
  • Natural Titanium

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 % 88.2 %
Pixel Density 395 PPI 461 PPI
Refresh Rate N/A 120 Hz
Typical Brightness 400 nits 1000 nits
HBM Brightness N/A 2000 nits
Peak Brightness N/A N/A

Hardware

Battery Capacity per Screen Area 140.71 mAh/in² 87.99 mAh/in²
Battery Density 49.82 mAh/cm³ 38.11 mAh/cm³
Battery Capacity 6000 mAh 3274 mAh
NFC Support No Yes
Chipset Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)
CPU Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) Hexa-core (2x3.78 GHz + 4x2.11 GHz)
GPU Adreno 610 Apple GPU (6-core graphics)

Connectivity

USB Version 2.0 3.2
OTG Support 1
DisplayPort 1
DisplayPort Version N/A N/A
USB Features USB Type-C 2.0, OTG USB Type-C 3.2, Gen 2, DisplayPort

Software

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

Comparison Summary

1. Specifications Comparison

Design

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Dimensions162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm146.6 x 70.6 x 8.3 mmThe Poco M3 is larger and thicker, making it less pocketable and harder to use one-handed. The iPhone 15 Pro is more compact and easier to handle.
Weight198g187gThe iPhone 15 Pro is slightly lighter, potentially feeling more comfortable during extended use.
BuildGorilla Glass 3 frontUnknownThe Poco M3 offers known screen protection from scratches and minor impacts. The iPhone 15 Pro's glass protection is unknown.
FoldableStandardStandardBoth are traditional slab-style smartphones.

Display

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Size6.53"6.1"The Poco M3 has a larger display, better for media consumption and multi-tasking, while the iPhone 15 Pro is more compact for easier use.
Resolution1080 x 23401179 x 2556The iPhone 15 Pro offers a sharper display due to its higher resolution. Text and images appear more detailed.
Pixel Density (PPI)395461The iPhone 15 Pro has a significantly sharper display, making images and text look crisper.
TechnologyIPS LCDOLEDThe iPhone 15 Pro has superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the Poco M3's LCD.
Refresh Rate60Hz120HzThe iPhone 15 Pro has smoother animations and transitions, making scrolling and gaming feel more fluid.
Brightness0 nits2000 nitsThe iPhone 15 Pro is much more visible outdoors under bright sunlight due to the higher brightness level.

Performance

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
ChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm)Apple A17 Pro (3 nm)The iPhone 15 Pro has vastly superior processing power. It's significantly faster and more responsive in all tasks.
AnTuTu Score185,0281,641,883The iPhone 15 Pro has significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, better gaming performance and is more future-proof.
GPUAdreno 610Apple GPU (6-core graphics)The iPhone 15 Pro has a much more powerful GPU, enabling superior gaming and graphics performance.

Camera

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Main Camera Resolution48MP (f/1.79)48MP (f/1.78)While both have 48MP main cameras, the iPhone 15 Pro captures more light with a larger sensor and wider aperture, resulting in better low-light performance.
Main Camera Sensor Size1/2"1/1.3"The iPhone 15 Pro's larger sensor allows it to capture more light for better image quality.
Main Camera Pixel Size0.80 µm1.22 µmThe iPhone 15 Pro's larger pixels result in better low-light image quality.
Selfie Camera Resolution8MP (f/2.0)12MP (f/1.9)The iPhone 15 Pro produces higher-resolution and brighter selfies.
Telephoto LensNone12MP (f/2.8)The iPhone 15 Pro offers optical zoom for better close-up shots.
Wide Angle + Macro LensNone12MP (f/2.2)The iPhone 15 Pro captures ultrawide photos and macro shots.
Video Recording1080p@30fpsUp to 4K@60fps, HDR, Stereo SoundThe iPhone 15 Pro offers superior video quality, with higher resolutions, better dynamic range, and stereo sound recording.
Video StabilizationNoYesThe iPhone 15 Pro offers better video stability, reducing shaky footage.
Slow-motion120 fps240 fpsThe iPhone 15 Pro captures more detailed slow-motion footage.
DxOMark ScoresN/AMobile: 154, Selfie: 149The iPhone 15 Pro's cameras have been independently tested and verified to be excellent. The Poco M3 was not tested on DxOMark.
Camera FeaturesBasic featuresAdvanced features, including RAW, Night Mode, Cinematic Mode, OISThe iPhone 15 Pro offers more versatile and advanced shooting modes for professional results.

Battery

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Capacity6000mAh3650mAhThe Poco M3 has a larger battery, potentially resulting in longer battery life on a single charge. However, actual endurance depends on usage and optimizations.
Charging Speed18W27WThe iPhone 15 Pro charges faster than the Poco M3, despite having a smaller battery.
Charging FeaturesReverse charging, 22.5W charger included15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi wireless chargingThe Poco M3 can act as a power bank for other devices. The iPhone 15 Pro offers the convenience of wireless charging.
Battery TypeLi-PolymerLi-IonThere's not much practical difference between these two battery types.

Software and Connectivity

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Operating SystemAndroid 10iOS 17The iPhone offers a different ecosystem experience compared to Android. Android is more open and customizable, while iOS is known for ease of use and tighter security.
Wi-FiWi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)The iPhone 15 Pro has faster Wi-Fi speeds and better performance on crowded networks.
Bluetooth5.05.3The iPhone 15 Pro has newer and more efficient Bluetooth.
GPSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC SystemGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, QZSS, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5)Both have similar accuracy and capabilities with different satellite support.
SIMDual Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIMThe iPhone 15 Pro offers eSIM for digital carrier switching and the Poco M3 can use two sim cards simultaneously.

Storage and Audio

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
Internal Storage64GB/128GB128GB/256GB/512GB/1TBThe iPhone 15 Pro offers far more storage options for users with larger media libraries.
RAM4GB/6GB8GBThe iPhone 15 Pro has more RAM for better multitasking and smoother performance.
Expandable StorageNoNoNeither phone offers expandable storage.
Audio QualityHi-Res Audio, Stereo SpeakersDolby Atmos, Stereo SpeakersThe iPhone 15 Pro offers slightly better audio quality due to the addition of Dolby Atmos and noise cancellation microphone, while the Poco M3 offers Hi-Res Audio for wired headphones.

Security and Sensors

FeatureXiaomi Poco M3Apple iPhone 15 ProPractical Impact
SecuritySide-mounted fingerprint sensorFace unlockThe Poco M3 offers fingerprint authentication, while the iPhone 15 Pro utilizes a face unlock system.
SensorsFingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic proximity virtual sensorAccelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Barometer, Proximity sensorThe iPhone 15 Pro has an environmental sensor, while the Poco M3 has a biometric sensor.

2. Key Differences Analysis

Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages

  • Larger Battery: The 6000 mAh battery provides potentially longer battery life between charges.
  • Larger Display: The 6.53-inch screen is better for media consumption.
  • Reverse Charging: Can be used as a power bank.
  • Lower Price: Typically costs significantly less than the iPhone 15 Pro.
  • Included Charger: 22.5W charger included in box.
  • Fingerprint Sensor: Offers a physical biometric unlock.
  • Dual SIM: Can use two SIM cards simultaneously.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Advantages

  • Significantly Superior Performance: The A17 Pro chip is incredibly powerful and faster.
  • Much Better Display Quality: OLED with 120Hz refresh rate, superior brightness, and higher resolution.
  • Superior Camera System: Better photo and video quality, more features, optical zoom, wide-angle, and macro capabilities.
  • Wireless Charging: Convenient MagSafe and Qi charging.
  • Enhanced Audio: Dolby Atmos, noise-canceling mics, and better voice capture.
  • More Storage Options: Comes in up to 1TB.
  • Software Ecosystem: Access to iOS and Apple services.
  • Newer Technologies: Including Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
  • Premium Build: More durable materials and better feel in hand.

Trade-offs

  • Poco M3: The trade-off for the large battery and bigger display is a less powerful processor, lower quality screen and camera, and bulkier design.
  • iPhone 15 Pro: The trade-off for premium features is a higher price and a smaller battery, though the superior efficiency can mitigate this.

3. User Profiles & Recommendations

Ideal Users for Xiaomi Poco M3

  • Budget-Conscious Users: Those who want a functional phone without breaking the bank.
  • Media Consumers: Users who prioritize a large screen for watching videos and browsing.
  • Users Seeking Long Battery Life: Individuals who don't want to worry about charging often.
  • Users who prefer physical fingerprint sensor: Prefer a physical scanner for unlocking.
  • Users with two SIM cards: Needs dual SIM slots to use two carriers.

Use Cases:

  • Casual gaming and social media use.
  • Watching videos and browsing the web.
  • Everyday communication.
  • As a backup phone or for travel.

Ideal Users for Apple iPhone 15 Pro

  • Power Users: Individuals who demand top performance for demanding tasks, gaming, and creative work.
  • Photography and Videography Enthusiasts: Users who need the best camera quality and video recording capabilities.
  • Apple Ecosystem Users: Those who are invested in the Apple ecosystem.
  • Professionals: Users who rely on a smooth and reliable experience with high-end features.
  • Users seeking portability and quality display: Prefer compact designs and high-quality viewing experience.
  • Users who prefer Wireless Charging: Prefer wireless charging and magnetic accessories.

Use Cases:

  • High-performance mobile gaming.
  • Professional photography and videography.
  • Video editing and graphic design.
  • Business and productivity tasks.
  • Seamless integration with Apple services.

Price-to-Value Ratio

  • Poco M3: Offers very good value for the price, providing a large battery and decent display for basic tasks.
  • iPhone 15 Pro: Offers the highest performance and camera quality but at a premium price. Value is in the advanced features and overall user experience.

4. Decision Framework

Key Questions for Buyers

  1. What is your budget? The Poco M3 is a very budget-friendly option, while the iPhone 15 Pro is a premium device.
  2. How important is performance and camera quality? If these are key, the iPhone 15 Pro is the clear winner.
  3. Do you prioritize battery life or a premium user experience? The Poco M3 has better battery life, while the iPhone 15 Pro has a better overall experience.

Scenario-Based Recommendations

  • Scenario 1: Tight budget, basic phone needs. If you need a phone for basic tasks and have a strict budget, the Xiaomi Poco M3 is the better choice.
  • Scenario 2: Need best performance and camera, price not a barrier. If you need top-of-the-line performance, camera, and video capabilities and have the budget, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is the only choice.
  • Scenario 3: Balance of price and performance, but more on camera. If you need a balance of price and performance, but with a better focus on camera quality you would look at another mid-range phone (neither of these).
  • Scenario 4: Battery life is key and have no budget Go with the Poco M3 for the long battery.

My Choice

If I had to choose, I would pick the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. While the Xiaomi Poco M3 offers a compelling budget option with a large battery and usable display, the iPhone 15 Pro's vastly superior performance, exceptional camera system, and significantly higher quality screen make it the clear winner for my priorities. I also like the compact form factor and additional features such as wireless charging and MagSafe. I value the seamless user experience provided by iOS and the ecosystem, making it worth the higher price. I would prefer a more portable and robust phone, which the iPhone 15 Pro offers.

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
  • Digital media communication
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Bridging technical complexity with engaging, accessible narratives.