1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 77.3 × 9.6 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | Asus ROG Phone 8 is slightly taller and thinner, potentially feeling more modern and comfortable in hand. Poco M3 is more voluminous. |
| Weight | 198g | 225g | Xiaomi Poco M3 is lighter, which can be more comfortable for extended use. Asus is slightly heavier, but may feel more premium |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.53" | 6.78" | Asus ROG Phone 8 provides a slightly larger viewing area, which is beneficial for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1080x2400 | Both are sharp enough for daily use, with the Asus ROG having a negligible increase in vertical pixels. |
| Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 388 PPI | Effectively identical pixel density making both screens equally sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Asus ROG Phone 8's AMOLED offers deeper blacks, better contrast, more vibrant colors, and superior power efficiency with dark modes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | Asus ROG Phone 8 provides much smoother scrolling and animations, ideal for gamers and daily use. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | Asus ROG Phone 8's vastly higher brightness provides excellent visibility in bright sunlight, whereas the Xiaomi Poco M3 is likely to be difficult to see. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | Asus ROG Phone 8 has a significantly more powerful and modern chipset, leading to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and superior gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 185,028 | 2,020,000 | The Asus ROG Phone 8's benchmark score indicates it will provide drastically better performance, being far more future proof. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 750 | Asus ROG Phone 8's GPU provides significantly better graphics performance, crucial for demanding games and graphics-intensive tasks. |
| Camera | |||
| Rear Camera (Main) | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56", 1.0µm | Asus ROG Phone 8 has a slightly larger sensor and higher resolution, likely resulting in better low-light performance and more detailed images. |
| Front Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm | 32MP | Asus ROG Phone 8's front camera captures significantly more detail for selfies and video calls. |
| Macro Lens | N/A | 5MP, f/2.4 | Asus ROG Phone 8's dedicated macro lens allows for close-up photography. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | N/A | 13MP, f/2.2 | Asus ROG Phone 8's wide angle lens allows more of the scene to be captured in a single photo. |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@240fps | Asus ROG Phone 8 provides far greater video recording capabilities, offering significantly higher resolution and frame rates, with video stabilization on all recording modes. |
| Camera Features | Basic features | Advanced features incl. Optical zoom, OIS, Gimbal | Asus ROG Phone 8 offers a plethora of advanced camera features, leading to enhanced versatility. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 6000mAh | 5500mAh | Xiaomi Poco M3 has a larger battery on paper, potentially providing longer battery life. However, the Asus ROG Phone 8 may have more efficient power management. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | Asus ROG Phone 8 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Battery Features | Reverse Charging, 22.5W charger in-box | None | Xiaomi Poco M3 can act as a power bank for other devices and ships with a faster charger. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 14 | Asus ROG Phone 8 has the latest Android operating system with the newest features, and is guaranteed to receive additional updates. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 7 | Asus ROG Phone 8 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards for higher speed, better stability and lower latency. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Asus ROG Phone 8 has the latest Bluetooth for faster, more reliable connections, and supports advanced codecs for audio devices. |
| GPS | Basic GPS | Advanced GPS | Asus ROG Phone 8 supports more satellite systems for more accurate location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64GB/128GB | 256GB | Asus ROG Phone 8 offers more base storage for apps, media and files. |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB | 12GB/16GB | Asus ROG Phone 8 has drastically more RAM for smoother multitasking and running resource intensive apps. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither support expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | Asus ROG Phone 8 offers enhanced surround sound and better voice capture, while the Xiaomi Poco M3 only offers Hi-Res Audio output. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic | Xiaomi Poco M3 has a more advanced sensor, usually preferred for its ergonomics. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 3 | Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Asus ROG Phone 8 offers significantly better protection against drops and scratches. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Ultrasonic proximity virtual, Fingerprint | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Asus ROG Phone 8 features gyroscope, more relevant for gaming, whilst the Xiaomi Poco M3 contains an ultrasonic proximity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages:
- Lighter Weight: At 198g, it's more comfortable for extended use than the ROG Phone 8.
- Potentially Longer Battery Life: Larger 6000mAh battery might offer better endurance for casual users.
- Reverse Charging: Can charge other devices via cable, which can be a lifesaver if you forget a power bank.
- Side-mounted Fingerprint sensor: More ergonomically placed than a basic front facing fingerprint sensor.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED with a 165Hz refresh rate and 2500 nits brightness offers a much better visual experience, particularly outdoors.
- Significantly More Powerful Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides a drastic performance increase, making it ideal for gaming and heavy app usage.
- Enhanced Camera System: The 50MP main camera, coupled with a higher-resolution front camera and additional lenses, provides better photo quality and video recording.
- Faster Charging: 65W fast charging allows quicker recharging times.
- Latest Software: Android 14 with future updates guarantees a modern user experience.
- Superior Audio: Higher quality surround sound and better voice capture.
- Much Higher Ram: Drastically more RAM.
- Advanced Connectivity: Supports the latest Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, providing faster and more reliable connections.
- Better Build Quality: More robust screen protection with Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi Poco M3: Trades overall performance, display quality, and camera capabilities for potentially better battery life and a lower weight.
- Asus ROG Phone 8: Trades a slight amount of battery capacity and increased weight for significantly higher performance, a superior display, advanced camera features, faster charging, and better build quality.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M3 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious User: Users seeking an affordable device for basic tasks.
- Casual Users: Individuals who primarily browse the web, use social media, and make calls.
- Battery Life Focused Users: Users who prioritize long battery life for basic daily use.
Use Cases:
- Daily commuting and basic communication
- Media consumption on the go, where a larger battery is valued
- Basic photography for social media
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal User:
- Gaming Enthusiasts: Users who demand the highest performance for mobile gaming.
- Power Users: Individuals who need fast performance for resource-intensive tasks like video editing or heavy multitasking.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want high-quality photos and videos with various shooting options.
- Tech Enthusiasts: Users who want the latest features and best-in-class technology.
Use Cases:
- Playing demanding mobile games with high refresh rates.
- Video recording and editing on the go
- Multi-tasking with several apps simultaneously
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos
- Streaming movies and media with excellent picture quality
Price-to-Value:
- The Xiaomi Poco M3 is positioned as a budget phone offering a good battery and basic functionality at a lower price.
- The Asus ROG Phone 8 is a premium phone with high-end specs, justifying its higher cost.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is my primary use case for a smartphone? (e.g., gaming, basic communication, photography, general media consumption)
- What is my budget? (Are you seeking the most affordable option or willing to invest in top-tier specs?)
- How important are display quality, performance, and camera capabilities? (Do you prioritize a vibrant screen, fast performance, and advanced camera features over battery life or a lighter phone?)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Tight Budget, Basic Needs
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Poco M3. It provides essential functions, a large battery and a lighter build at an affordable price.
- Scenario 2: Gaming & Performance Priority
- Recommendation: Asus ROG Phone 8. Its top-tier processor, advanced display and advanced features make it ideal for gamers and demanding users.
- Scenario 3: Camera and Media Consumption
- Recommendation: Asus ROG Phone 8. Its advanced camera system and superior AMOLED display provides a far better experience than the Xiaomi.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would opt for the Asus ROG Phone 8. While the Xiaomi Poco M3 offers a larger battery and is lighter, the ROG Phone 8 simply excels in all areas that are most important to me: performance, display quality, camera versatility, and software features. As someone who uses their phone heavily for multiple different purposes, from heavy multitasking to gaming and content consumption, the performance and superior visual experience of the ROG Phone 8 is a better fit for my needs. Furthermore, I value the much faster charging capabilities, as well as the premium and more durable build quality of the ROG Phone 8.
While the larger battery and lighter build of the Xiaomi Poco M3 are appealing, they are not enough to outweigh the numerous benefits of the ROG Phone 8 for my usage scenario.
