1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor 70 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 77.3 × 9.6 mm | 161.4 × 73.3 × 7.9 mm | Honor 70 is slimmer and narrower, likely more comfortable for one-handed use. Poco M3 is noticeably thicker and wider, which can be less ergonomic. |
| Weight | 198g | 178g | Honor 70 is 20g lighter, making it more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.53" | 6.67" | Honor 70 offers slightly more screen real estate for media consumption and browsing. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1080x2400 | Both offer a sharp display, negligible difference in daily use. |
| PPI | 395 | 395 | Identical sharpness, no practical difference |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | Honor 70 has superior color reproduction, deeper blacks, and better contrast, leading to a richer viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Honor 70's 120Hz refresh rate provides much smoother scrolling and animations, improving overall responsiveness. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have the same peak brightness. This value is clearly incorrect and should be ignored, real world brightness will vary by model. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G (6 nm) | Honor 70's chipset is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| AnTuTu Score | 185,028 | 600,525 | Honor 70 demonstrates far superior performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Adreno 642L | Honor 70's GPU offers superior graphics performance, enabling smoother gameplay in demanding games. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera Resolution | 48MP | 54MP | Honor 70 captures slightly more detail due to higher resolution |
| Standard Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.9 | Poco M3's slightly wider aperture could allow slightly better low-light performance, but its the overall sensor performance that counts. |
| Standard Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.49" | Honor 70's larger sensor captures more light, leading to better image quality and low-light performance. |
| Standard Camera Sensor Model | Samsung S5KGM1 | Sony IMX800 | Sony's IMX800 sensor is generally considered to perform better overall. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 8MP | 32MP | Honor 70 takes much more detailed selfies. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.4 | Poco M3's wider aperture may perform slightly better in low light, but this is marginal given the difference in the overall sensor and pixel size |
| Selfie Camera Sensor Size | 1/4" | 1/3.2" | Honor 70 has slightly bigger sensor size, but not very significant. |
| Wide Angle Lens | No | 50MP | Honor 70 has an ultrawide camera which adds versatility |
| Macro Lens | No | 2MP | Honor 70 has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots |
| Video Recording | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | Honor 70 offers significantly better video quality including 4K recording |
| Camera DXOMark | N/A | 115 (Mobile), 115 (Photo), 129 (Video) | Honor 70 is a significantly better camera system, specifically in video |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 6000mAh | 4800mAh | Poco M3's larger battery should offer longer battery life, though real world performance is affected by efficiency |
| Charging | 18W | 66W | Honor 70 charges much faster, significantly reducing charging times. |
| Charger Included | 22.5W | N/A | Xiaomi Poco M3 comes with a slightly more powerful charger in the box. The Honor 70 will need a 66W charger or higher for maximum charging speed |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 10 | Android 12 | Honor 70 has a newer version of Android, offering more recent features and security patches. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Honor 70 offers faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Honor 70 offers more reliable and power-efficient Bluetooth connections with broader codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | Poco M3 supports NavIC which is helpful for the Indian region. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both support dual SIM |
| Storage | |||
| Internal Storage | 64GB or 128GB | 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB | Honor 70 offers significantly more storage options |
| RAM | 4GB or 6GB | 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB | Honor 70 offers more RAM for better multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone offers storage expansion via microSD. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Both phones are similar in audio capabilities |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | Xiaomi Poco M3 has a more advanced, faster sensor and more convenient location. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Poco M3 offers better screen protection from scratches and light damage. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages:
- Larger Battery: The 6000mAh battery should provide longer battery life, particularly beneficial for users who prioritize endurance. However, real world performance could vary due to the less efficient processor and software
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: The side-mounted fingerprint sensor offers a more convenient unlocking experience compared to a basic sensor
- Screen Protection: Inclusion of Gorilla Glass 3 will provide better protection against scratches.
- Slightly Wider Aperture Standard Lens: The slightly wider aperture in its standard camera could provide marginally better low-light performance, but its generally outclassed in the sensor technology itself.
Honor 70 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 778G+ 5G chipset offers significantly faster performance, making it ideal for demanding tasks, gaming, and smoother overall use.
- OLED Display with 120Hz Refresh Rate: The OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and smooth animations, leading to a better user experience.
- Better Camera System: The higher-resolution main camera with a larger sensor and dedicated ultrawide lens results in better image quality and versatility. Its video capabilities, including 4K recording, are superior.
- Faster Charging: The 66W fast charging support significantly reduces charging times, making it more convenient for daily use.
- More Storage and RAM: The Honor 70 comes with higher storage and RAM options, making it more capable of handling large files, multiple apps, and heavy multitasking.
- Newer Software: The use of Android 12 with newer security patches is an advantage.
- Modern Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 offer faster and more reliable connections with broader codec support
- Better Camera Scores: Significantly better video and photo capabilities based on DXOMark scores.
Significant Trade-offs:
- The Poco M3 trades performance and display quality for battery life. The Honor 70 sacrifices some battery capacity for the benefits of faster performance and display capabilities.
- The Honor 70 does not have a rugged screen protector like the Poco M3 with Gorilla Glass 3
- Poco M3 includes a charger in the box, while the Honor 70 requires a faster charger for maximum performance.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M3 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Individuals looking for a reliable smartphone with a focus on battery life at a lower price point.
- Light Users: Those who primarily use their phones for basic tasks like browsing, social media, and calls.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Users who need a phone that can last through a full day or more with moderate use, and who might not have consistent access to charging.
- Indian region based users: Users who might require the NavIC System functionality will require the Xiaomi Poco M3
Specific Use Cases for Poco M3:
- A secondary phone for travel or outdoor activities
- A phone for those who need long battery life over high performance
- A basic smartphone for users who are not heavy gamers or media consumers
Honor 70 Ideal User:
- Performance Seekers: Users who demand fast and responsive performance for gaming, multitasking, and demanding apps.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Those who enjoy watching videos, playing games, and consuming content on their phone, and value high quality displays
- Photography Lovers: Users who want a versatile camera system with good image quality and 4K video recording capabilities.
- Users needing Fast Charging: Users who prefer convenience and want a phone that can charge quickly, minimizing downtime.
- Modern Feature Users: Users who prefer more modern connectivity and higher software versions
Specific Use Cases for Honor 70:
- Mobile gaming with demanding titles
- Capturing high-quality photos and videos
- Multi-tasking between various resource intensive apps
- Mobile content creation for social media
- Frequent travel and those who are always on the go and require fast charge
- Users who require the latest and greatest software features and updates
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case for the smartphone? (e.g., gaming, content creation, basic use, battery-focused)
- How important is performance versus battery life to you?
- What is your budget?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Budget is the most important criteria and battery life is critical. If price is the most important aspect, and long battery life trumps performance, the Xiaomi Poco M3 may be the better choice.
Scenario 2: Performance, display quality, and camera are most important. If having a smooth user experience with high-quality video and photographic capabilities is a higher priority over battery life, the Honor 70 is the recommended device despite being at a higher price point.
Scenario 3: Need for a more future proof device: The Honor 70 has significantly more RAM, storage and a much better chipset that will ensure the device lasts longer and runs more demanding tasks without a performance drop. The Poco M3 would be unable to cope with modern app requirements after a couple of years.
My Choice
Based on the provided specs and real world requirements, I would choose the Honor 70. While the Xiaomi Poco M3 offers a larger battery and a more rugged screen (though this is not mentioned for the Honor 70), the Honor 70 is a better all-rounder.
The Honor 70's superior performance, much higher quality display, and significantly better camera capabilities make it a better choice for my needs and the typical use case. The fast charging capability will ensure the lower battery capacity is not much of an issue. While the Poco M3 has a long-lasting battery, it sacrifices too much in terms of performance and overall usability. The modern connectivity options such as Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6 are also compelling. For anyone not primarily concerned with budget, the Honor 70 provides a superior and more rounded user experience overall.
