Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 146.6 × 70.6 × 8.3 mm | The Poco X3 Pro is significantly larger and bulkier, making the iPhone 15 Pro easier to handle and pocket. |
| Weight | 215g | 187g | The iPhone 15 Pro is noticeably lighter, which translates to better comfort during prolonged use. |
| Build | Unknown | Unknown | We lack enough details to perform a detailed comparison |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.1" | The Poco X3 Pro offers a larger screen, which is better for media consumption and gaming but makes it less pocketable. The iPhone 15 Pro's smaller screen is more compact and easier for one-handed use. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1179x2556 | The iPhone 15 Pro has a slightly higher resolution which results in slightly sharper images. |
| Pixel Density | 395 ppi | 461 ppi | The higher pixel density of the iPhone 15 Pro results in a noticeably sharper and more detailed display. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | The OLED display on the iPhone 15 Pro offers much better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors compared to the IPS LCD on the Poco X3 Pro, and is more power-efficient. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for fluid scrolling and animations. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2000 nits | The iPhone 15 Pro's significantly higher brightness makes it much easier to view in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Apple A17 Pro (3 nm) | The A17 Pro in the iPhone 15 Pro offers significantly superior processing power and efficiency compared to the older Snapdragon 860, making it much faster for all tasks and providing a more future-proof experience. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 1,641,883 | The iPhone 15 Pro's much higher benchmark score indicates a vastly superior performance, with faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Apple GPU (6-core) | The Apple GPU offers much better graphics performance, leading to a smoother and more detailed gaming experience, especially for graphically intensive games. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 48MP f/1.78, 1/1.3" sensor | The iPhone 15 Pro has a larger sensor and slightly wider aperture, leading to better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, resulting in photos with more detail and better dynamic range. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP f/2.2, 1/3.4" sensor | 12MP f/1.9 | Although the Poco X3 Pro has a higher resolution, the wider aperture on the iPhone 15 Pro may provide better low-light performance for selfies. |
| Telephoto Lens | No | 12MP f/2.8 | The iPhone 15 Pro has a dedicated telephoto lens that allows for optical zoom capabilities without quality loss. The Poco X3 Pro lacks this feature. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP f/2.2, 1/4" sensor | No | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated wide-angle lens, while the iPhone 15 Pro combines a wide-angle lens with a macro function. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | No | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait shots which is not present on the iPhone 15 Pro |
| Macro Lens | 2MP f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | No | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated macro lens which is not present on the iPhone 15 Pro |
| Wide Angle + Macro | No | 12MP f/2.2, 1/2.55" sensor | The iPhone 15 Pro combines the wide-angle and macro lens into one sensor. This results in higher quality macro images when compared to the Poco X3 Pro |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps with EIS, 1080p@up to 960fps | 4K@up to 60fps with HDR, up to 240fps slow motion | The iPhone 15 Pro offers more advanced video features, such as HDR recording, OIS, and Ultra stable video which is not present on the Poco X3 Pro |
| DxOMark Score | N/A | Mobile: 154; Selfie: 149 | The iPhone 15 Pro has a substantially higher DxOMark score, indicating that its camera hardware and processing is superior to the Poco X3 Pro. The Poco X3 Pro has no DxOMark score available. |
| Camera Features | 4K Video, Digital zoom, Quadruple 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 | Cinematic Mode, Noise reduction, Face unlock, Pro Video Mode, 4K Video, Digital zoom, Optical zoom, Triple camera, Digital image stabilization, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, Autofocus, Touch focus, Continuous autofocus, Manual focus, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, Geotagging, Panorama, HDR, Face detection, White balance settings, ISO settings, Exposure compensation, Scene mode, Self-timer, RAW, Night Mode | The iPhone 15 Pro has much more advanced camera features like Cinematic Mode, Optical Zoom and OIS. The Poco X3 Pro offers a Quadruple Camera setup whereas the iPhone 15 Pro uses a Triple camera system. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Apple iPhone 15 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5160 mAh | 3650 mAh | The Poco X3 Pro has a significantly larger battery, which suggests a much longer battery life. However, optimization and chipset efficiency plays an important role in determining actual use time. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 27W Fast Charging | The Poco X3 Pro has faster wired charging, allowing for quicker replenishment of the larger battery. |
| Wireless Charging | No | 15W MagSafe, 7.5W Qi | The iPhone 15 Pro supports wireless charging, while the Poco X3 Pro does not. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages
- Larger Battery: Offers potentially longer battery life due to its 5160 mAh capacity.
- Wired Charging Speed: Faster 33W charging means quicker battery replenishment.
- Larger Display: Provides a more immersive experience for media consumption.
- Wider range of lenses: Dedicated Macro, Depth, Wide and Main lenses.
- Lower Price: The Poco X3 Pro offers a much lower price making it a value-focused device.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Advantages
- Superior Performance: The A17 Pro chipset provides significantly faster processing and graphics, resulting in a smoother, faster, more responsive device, and future-proof performance.
- Better Display: The OLED display technology, coupled with higher brightness and pixel density, provides a much better viewing experience, especially in bright sunlight.
- Superior Cameras: The larger sensor, and wider aperture, combined with enhanced software processing, results in much higher quality photos and videos, particularly in low light.
- Better Video: The iPhone 15 Pro offers much better video recording capabilities with HDR, OIS, and a wider range of codecs.
- Wireless Charging: Convenient wireless charging and MagSafe compatibility.
- Improved Audio Features: Enhanced spatial audio, clearer calls, better audio separation and immersion, better voice capture
- Better Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards
- eSIM Support Offers eSIM for digital carrier switching
Trade-offs
- Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: Trades significantly lower processing power, display quality, and camera capabilities for a lower price and bigger battery.
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Trades higher price and smaller battery for superior performance, display, camera, and overall premium experience.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal User
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those looking for good performance for the price, especially for gaming, and want great battery life
- Media Consumers: Users who prioritize a large display for watching videos and playing games.
- Users who prefer to have many different lens options: Users who like having dedicated macro, portrait, and wide-angle lens options.
- Users who prefer to use two physical SIM cards simultaneously
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Ideal User
- Power Users: Professionals who require top-tier performance for demanding tasks and gaming
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize high-quality camera performance.
- Content Creators: Individuals who need advanced video capabilities and features.
- Users who prefer premium build and features: Individuals looking for a modern design and premium features.
- Users who prefer wireless charging
Specific Use Cases
- Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro: Ideal for gaming on a budget, streaming videos, and general use for those who want a phone that has long battery life.
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Perfect for professional photography, video recording, graphic intensive gaming, and demanding productivity tasks.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Performance Needs: Do you need top-tier performance for demanding tasks, or will mid-range performance suffice?
- Camera Importance: How important is high-quality photography and video recording to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations
- Scenario 1: Budget-Focused User
- If you're on a tight budget and prioritize battery life and a large screen for gaming/media consumption, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is the better option.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Camera Enthusiast
- If you need the best possible performance, top-notch camera quality, and wireless charging capabilities, and have the budget, the Apple iPhone 15 Pro is the clear choice.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User
- If you need solid performance, a decent camera, and a good battery life without breaking the bank, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is a solid choice. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro offers a significantly better experience but at a much higher price point.
Personal Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would pick the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. While the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro has a larger battery and a lower price, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a vastly superior user experience, with it's better display, superior performance, more advanced camera system, and other additional features such as Wireless charging and improved audio capabilities. These factors are worth the extra cost to me.
