1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 5 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 172.8 × 77.3 × 10.3 mm | The ROG Phone 5 is noticeably larger and thicker, making it less pocketable. The Poco X3 Pro is more compact and easier to handle. |
| Weight | 215g | 238g | The Poco X3 Pro is lighter, making it more comfortable for long periods of use, while the ROG Phone 5 feels more substantial but heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | The ROG Phone 5 offers a slightly larger screen, beneficial for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2448 | Both are very similar, offering a sharp viewing experience. The difference is negligible. |
| PPI | 395 | 395 | Both offer identical pixel density, resulting in similar sharpness. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than IPS LCD. The ROG Phone 5 has a visually superior display. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | The ROG Phone 5 offers slightly smoother visuals, especially noticeable in gaming and scrolling. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Note: The value of 0 nits is likely an error, as it is impossible for a phone display to have no brightness. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | The Snapdragon 888 in the ROG Phone 5 is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 883,000 | The ROG Phone 5's higher score indicates a noticeable performance advantage, particularly in graphically intensive tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 | The Adreno 660 provides better graphics performance, leading to smoother gameplay and better handling of demanding graphical applications. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 6000mAh | The ROG Phone 5 has a larger battery, offering longer usage between charges. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 65W Fast Charging | The ROG Phone 5 charges significantly faster, reducing downtime. |
| Features | Non-removable | Bypass Charging, Reverse charging, Non-removable | The ROG Phone 5 has additional charging features like bypass charging for gaming and reverse charging for other devices. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 64MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7" sensor | The ROG Phone 5 has a higher resolution sensor that is also larger and allows more light, capturing more detailed images with better low-light performance. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4" sensor | 24MP, f/2.45, 1/2.8" sensor | The ROG Phone 5 has a higher resolution sensor that is also larger, capturing more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" sensor | 13MP, f/2.5 | The ROG Phone 5's wide angle lens captures more details with higher resolution. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Poco X3 Pro includes a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 5MP, f/2.0 | The ROG Phone 5 has a higher resolution macro lens with a wider aperture, capturing more detailed macro images. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@30fps | The ROG Phone 5 offers significantly higher video resolution options, allowing for more professional-grade video recording. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple Camera, Digital image stabilization, Autofocus etc. | Triple camera, Phase detection autofocus, Optical zoom, Night mode | The ROG Phone 5 has a better overall camera system due to PDAF, OIS, night mode and its 8k recording capability. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgrade to 12 | Android 11, upgrade to 12 | Both ship with Android 11 and can be upgraded to Android 12. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad/ax | The ROG Phone 5 supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard offering faster and more stable connections. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | The ROG Phone 5 has a newer Bluetooth version with more features for better connectivity. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | The ROG Phone 5 supports more satellite navigation systems, for better location accuracy. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both offer dual SIM functionality. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB | The ROG Phone 5 offers a larger storage option, for users who need more space for files, media and games. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB/16GB/18GB | The ROG Phone 5 offers significantly more RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and improved gaming performance. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone offers expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | DTS / DTS X, Hi-Res Audio, Noise cancellation microphone, Stereo Speakers, 4 microphones | The ROG Phone 5 offers a more immersive audio experience due to DTS:X support, noise cancellation and having four microphones. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Basic fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor tends to be slightly more ergonomic and faster in practice than a basic sensor. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 6 | Gorilla Glass 6 | Both have the same level of screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Hall | The ROG phone has a more complete sensor suite, including a dedicated hall sensor which can be used for gaming triggers. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- More Compact and Lighter: Easier to handle and more pocketable.
- Lower Price: Generally more affordable, making it a budget-friendly option with good performance for the price.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Often more ergonomic than back-mounted sensors.
- Dedicated portrait depth sensor: Allows for dedicated portrait shots with better background blur.
Asus ROG Phone 5 Advantages:
- Superior Performance: Significantly faster processor, GPU, and more RAM for smoother gaming and multitasking.
- Better Display: AMOLED screen with 144Hz refresh rate provides superior visuals.
- Larger Battery and Faster Charging: Longer battery life and quicker charging, reducing downtime.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution main and selfie cameras, and includes a wide angle and macro lens for added versatility
- More Advanced Audio: Features DTS:X, noise cancellation microphone, and four microphones for better sound and recording quality.
- Better Connectivity: Supports newer Wi-Fi 6 standard, resulting in faster and more stable connections.
- Comprehensive Sensor Suite: Includes a hall sensor, which can be used for gaming triggers.
- 8k Video Recording: Allows for professional grade recording and capturing of high resolution videos.
- Bypass Charging & Reverse Charging: Added features for a better charging experience.
Trade-offs:
- The ROG Phone 5 is heavier, larger, and more expensive, compromising on portability and affordability.
- The Poco X3 Pro, while cheaper, has a less vibrant LCD screen and lower performance, particularly for graphically intensive games.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Gamers: Users who want decent gaming performance without spending a fortune.
- Everyday Users: Individuals who prioritize practicality, portability, and battery life for daily tasks.
- Casual Photographers: People who want a decent camera for capturing everyday moments with decent clarity.
- Users Who value a comfortable and ergonomic design: Those who prefer a lighter and more manageable phone.
Use Cases:
- Playing moderate games on medium graphics settings
- Social media browsing and video streaming
- Daily communication and productivity tasks
- Everyday photography
- Comfortable handling for extended use
Asus ROG Phone 5 Ideal User:
- Hardcore Gamers: Users who want the absolute best gaming performance and features.
- Power Users: Individuals who require top-tier performance for demanding tasks like video editing, high-end multitasking and other CPU/GPU intensive tasks.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize display and audio quality for media consumption and creation.
- Users who value camera capabilities: Those who need higher resolution, sharper images, with 8k video recording.
Use Cases:
- Playing high-end, graphically intensive games at maximum settings
- Demanding multimedia editing and processing
- Multitasking between resource-heavy applications
- Enjoying high-fidelity media content
- Recording professional quality videos
- Utilizing advanced audio features for gaming and content creation
- Taking photos with great clarity and details.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions:
- What is your budget? The Poco X3 Pro offers good value at a lower price point.
- How important is gaming performance? The ROG Phone 5 is the superior choice for hardcore gamers.
- How important is camera performance? The ROG Phone 5 has more features and takes higher resolution images than the X3 Pro
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget is primary concern: The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is the recommended choice. It offers a decent experience for the price and will still be able to handle most applications and games, even if not at the highest graphical settings.
- Scenario 2: Gaming and performance are top priority: The Asus ROG Phone 5 is the clear winner. It offers the best gaming experience, along with superior multimedia capabilities and top-tier performance for demanding applications.
- Scenario 3: Balanced usage with good performance, display, and camera: The Asus ROG Phone 5 offers a great experience all around, but is costly. If cost is not a concern, then the ROG Phone 5 is better than the Poco X3 Pro in almost every aspect.
My Choice:
Given my preference for high performance, I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 5. The significant upgrade in processing power, the superior AMOLED display, significantly better camera system and advanced audio capabilities make it a much better choice for me, even considering the higher price and increased size. I prioritize having the smoothest experience possible when using my phone, and the ROG Phone 5 will offer that for my typical use cases and demanding tasks. While the Poco X3 Pro offers great value, the ROG Phone 5's overall better features outweigh the price difference in my personal use case.
