1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 162.3 × 77.3 × 9.6 mm | 162.9 × 74.5 × 7.5 mm | Honor X8a is thinner and narrower, making it more comfortable to hold and pocket, Poco M3 is bulkier. |
| Weight | 198g | 179g | Honor X8a is noticeably lighter, which improves long-term comfort. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.53" | 6.7" | Honor X8a offers a slightly more immersive viewing experience with its larger screen. |
| Resolution | 1080x2340 | 1080x2388 | Both offer similar sharpness; difference is negligible in daily use. |
| PPI | 395 | 391 | Negligible difference; both provide sharp displays. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Identical viewing experience in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | Honor X8a has smoother scrolling and animations, making the phone feel more responsive. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both have the same peak brightness, outdoor visibility will likely be comparable. Missing info |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm) | Mediatek Helio G88 (12 nm) | Honor X8a offers better performance in everyday tasks and gaming due to the newer and more powerful chipset. |
| AnTuTu Score | 185,028 | 253,700 | Honor X8a is significantly faster in app loading and multitasking. |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G52 MC2 | Honor X8a will handle gaming and graphics-intensive tasks better. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.80µm pixel size | 100MP, f/1.9, pixel size unknown | Honor X8a has higher resolution for more detailed photos, while the Poco M3 has a slightly wider aperture for better low-light. Missing sensor details for X8a |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1/4", 1.12µm pixel size | 16MP, f/2.45, pixel size unknown | Honor X8a offers higher resolution for sharper selfies. Xiaomi Poco M3 has better low-light selfie performance due to wider aperture. Missing sensor details for X8a |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 5MP, f/2.2, pixel size unknown | Honor X8a offers a wider field of view for group shots or landscapes. Missing sensor details for X8a |
| Macro Lens | None | 2MP, f/2.4, pixel size unknown | Honor X8a can take close-up shots of small objects. Missing sensor details for X8a |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, Slow-motion: 120fps | 1080p@30fps, Slow-motion: 120fps | Both record similar quality videos. |
| Camera Features | Digital 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-timer | Digital zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus, Touch focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Contrast detection autofocus (CDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer | Both have a lot of features, Honor X8a has more focus options (PDAF & CDAF), while Poco M3 has manual focus |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco M3 | Honor X8a | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6000mAh | 4500mAh | Xiaomi Poco M3 offers significantly longer battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging. |
| Charging | 18W fast charging | 22.5W fast charging | Honor X8a charges faster, reducing time spent plugged in. |
| Features | Reverse charging, 22.5W fast charger in-box | None | Xiaomi Poco M3 can be used as a power bank and comes with a faster charger. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco M3 Advantages:
- Significantly Larger Battery: The 6000mAh battery provides a much longer battery life, a major advantage for users who are often away from a power source.
- Hi-Res Audio & Stereo Speakers: Enhanced audio experience with better sound quality and immersive audio with stereo speakers.
- Reverse Charging: Can be used as a power bank to charge other devices, a valuable extra feature.
- Screen Protection: Comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen protection.
- More Satellite Systems: More accurate GPS with NavIC System
- Wider Aperture on Main and Selfie Camera: Allows more light, resulting in potentially better low-light photography.
Honor X8a Advantages:
- More Powerful Processor: The Helio G88 offers superior performance for gaming and multitasking, resulting in a smoother and more responsive experience.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: The 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and animations smoother.
- Higher Resolution Cameras: Both the main and front cameras have higher resolution resulting in sharper and more detailed pictures in good light.
- Additional Camera Lenses: Inclusion of wide-angle and macro lenses for versatile photography.
- Faster Charging: The 22.5W fast charging reduces charging times.
- Newer Android Version: Runs on Android 12 vs Android 10.
- More Internal Storage Options: comes in 256GB variant, while Poco M3 maxes out at 128GB.
- More RAM Options: comes with an 8 GB variant
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi Poco M3 sacrifices some performance and camera versatility for significantly longer battery life.
- The Honor X8a prioritizes performance and camera versatility but has a smaller battery and no stereo speakers or reverse charging.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco M3 Ideal User:
- Power Users: Users who need a phone that can last all day or multiple days on a single charge.
- Multimedia Consumers: Users who enjoy watching videos or listening to music, valuing stereo speakers and audio quality.
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Users looking for a reliable device with good battery life without breaking the bank.
Specific Use Cases for Poco M3:
- Long commutes without access to charging.
- Extended outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
- Heavy media consumption on the go.
- Users who don't require the absolute fastest performance.
Honor X8a Ideal User:
- Gamers: Users who enjoy playing graphically intensive games on their phone and need a smoother experience.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who value versatile camera systems with wide-angle and macro options.
- Users Who Need Fast Charging: Users who dislike long charging times and appreciate the benefits of fast charging
- Users who Need Multitasking: Users who need a phone that handles multiple apps at once due to more RAM
- Users who Need More Storage: Users who download a lot of content.
Specific Use Cases for Honor X8a:
- Mobile gaming
- Photography for social media or casual use, including wide-angle and close-up shots.
- Frequent charging opportunities throughout the day
- Users who desire a phone with a more up-to-date operating system.
Price-to-Value:
- The Poco M3 offers excellent value for its battery life and audio features, making it an affordable choice for power users.
- The Honor X8a provides good value for those prioritizing performance and camera versatility, but at a potentially higher price point.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Battery Life: Is long battery life the most important factor, or can you live with a smaller battery in exchange for better performance?
- Performance Needs: Will you be playing a lot of games or using resource-intensive apps? Or will you be using the phone primarily for calls, web browsing and media consumption?
- Camera Versatility: Do you need multiple camera lenses (wide-angle, macro), or is a standard main camera with good low-light performance enough?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Long Trips/Outdoors If you frequently travel or spend extended periods outdoors without a charger, the Xiaomi Poco M3 is the clear winner due to its massive battery.
- Scenario 2: Gaming/Multitasking: If you're a frequent gamer or need a phone that can handle multiple apps simultaneously, the Honor X8a's more powerful processor is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: Casual Photography/Social Media: If you value versatile cameras and take a lot of different types of pictures, and can deal with a smaller battery, the Honor X8a would be a better pick.
My Choice and Why
If I had to choose between the two, I would personally lean towards the Honor X8a. Here's why:
While the Poco M3's battery life is undeniably impressive, the performance benefits and overall experience of the Honor X8a are more compelling for my use case. I value a smoother UI and faster app loading, and the X8a provides that with its better processor and 90Hz refresh rate. I also like the addition of the wide angle and macro cameras, as I like to take a variety of pictures. While the battery might be smaller, the faster charging helps mitigate that. While the Poco M3 has better speakers and more accurate GPS, these aren't as important to me as the improved performance and camera of the X8a. Finally, having a newer Android version is beneficial for security and getting future software updates. Overall, while both phones have their strengths, the X8a is more aligned with what I need in a phone.
