1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | The Poco X3 Pro is slightly taller and thicker, making the ROG Phone 8 a bit more pocketable and sleeker. |
| Weight | 215g | 225g | The Poco X3 Pro is slightly lighter, which might be noticeable during extended use, however, the difference is minimal. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.78" | The ROG Phone 8 offers a marginally larger display for more immersive viewing. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both phones offer similar sharpness and detail for daily use. |
| Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 388 PPI | Both phones have very similar pixel density. Not a noticeable difference |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The ROG Phone 8's AMOLED display provides superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, resulting in a better viewing experience, especially for media consumption. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | The ROG Phone 8's higher refresh rate makes animations and scrolling significantly smoother, especially noticeable in fast-paced games and navigation. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 2500 nits | The ROG Phone 8 has significantly better outdoor visibility and is much more usable in bright sunlight. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | The ROG Phone 8's newer chipset provides vastly superior performance, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 2,020,000 | The ROG Phone 8 demonstrates significantly higher performance capabilities, which translates to a smoother and faster user experience overall. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 750 | The ROG Phone 8's newer GPU offers better graphics performance for gaming and graphically intensive apps. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" Sony IMX582 | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" Sony IMX890 | The ROG Phone 8 has a slightly higher resolution and a larger sensor, potentially resulting in better image quality, especially in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4" Samsung S5K3T2 | 32MP | The ROG Phone 8's front camera offers a higher resolution for sharper selfies, however, the sensor information is missing |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" Omnivision OV8856 | None | The Poco X3 Pro offers a dedicated wide-angle lens, allowing for wider perspective shots. The ROG Phone 8 has a combined ultrawide/macro lens instead. |
| Portrait Mode (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" Omnivision OV02B1B | None | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" Hynix HI-259 | 5MP, f/2.4 | The ROG Phone 8 offers slightly higher resolution for dedicated macro shots |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 13MP, f/2.2 | The ROG Phone 8 combines ultrawide and macro into one lens |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps with EIS, multiple 1080p options | 8K@24fps with HDR, EIS, multiple 4K and 1080p options | The ROG Phone 8 can record in 8K resolution, offering far more details in video. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Digital Stabilization, etc. | Triple camera, OIS, Gimbal, Laser AF, etc | The ROG Phone 8 has optical image stabilization and gimbal support, which will result in less blurry video. It also features more advanced autofocus system. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 5500mAh | The ROG Phone 8 has a slightly larger battery, potentially leading to longer usage time. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 65W fast charging | The ROG Phone 8 charges much faster, allowing for quicker top-ups and less downtime. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Lower Price: The Poco X3 Pro is significantly more affordable.
- Slightly Lighter: May be more comfortable for extended handheld use.
- Dedicated wide-angle, portrait, and macro cameras: offers versatile camera system.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset is a massive upgrade, providing a much faster, smoother experience for all tasks.
- Superior Display: The AMOLED screen with a higher refresh rate, and significantly higher brightness is far better for media consumption and gaming.
- Better Camera: The larger main camera sensor, the combined ultrawide/macro, and 8K video recording offers better quality images and video, especially in challenging conditions.
- Faster Charging: The 65W charging will greatly reduce charging times.
- Newer Software and Connectivity: Includes newer versions of Android, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
- Better Build Quality: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides better screen protection.
- Better Audio: The inclusion of DTS / DTS X, and 3 microphones makes the audio output and input better than the X3 Pro
- More RAM: The ROG Phone 8 has more RAM, especially good for multitasking and future proofing.
Practical Implications and Trade-offs:
- Performance: The ROG Phone 8 will perform much better in all tasks, especially heavy use cases like gaming and video editing. The Poco X3 Pro will feel slow and less responsive in comparison.
- Display: The ROG Phone 8's display is better in almost every way. The IPS panel of the Poco X3 Pro will appear washed out in comparison.
- Camera: The ROG Phone 8 offers better quality images and video in most situations, but is more limited when it comes to the amount of lenses, lacking a dedicated portrait lens.
- Price: The ROG Phone 8 is significantly more expensive, making it a premium option while the Poco X3 Pro offers a budget friendly alternative.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize essential smartphone features and basic camera capabilities.
- Use Cases:
- Everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, and casual gaming.
- Users who prioritize having a dedicated wide angle, portrait and macro lenses.
- Users who want a lighter phone for day to day use.
- Price-to-Value: Offers a solid price-to-value ratio for users seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a range of camera lenses.
Asus ROG Phone 8:
- Ideal User: Performance enthusiasts, gamers, and users who want the best possible display and camera performance.
- Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming with smooth graphics and responsive controls.
- Demanding tasks like video editing and heavy multitasking.
- Users who value a premium display experience with high brightness and vibrant colors.
- Users who want to take high-quality photos and videos with advanced features.
- Price-to-Value: The high cost is justified by the ROG Phone 8's superior performance, display, and camera capabilities, making it worthwhile for users who are able to spend on a premium mobile experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on a smartphone?
- Primary Use Cases: What will you use your phone for the most (e.g., gaming, social media, photography)?
- Performance Needs: How important is fast performance and responsiveness for your usage?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If you are on a tight budget, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is a solid choice for its affordability and adequate performance for daily tasks. It also has more camera lenses to play around with.
- Scenario 2: High-Performance User: If you prioritize top-tier performance, gaming, and a premium display, the Asus ROG Phone 8 is the clear winner, justifying its higher price with superior hardware and features.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you want better performance and camera than the Poco X3 Pro while spending less than the ROG Phone 8, there may be other alternatives, which are not the focus of this comparison.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would go with the Asus ROG Phone 8. Although it is significantly more expensive, the massive performance boost from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, along with the vastly superior display, camera, and charging speeds, makes it a much better device.
While the Poco X3 Pro offers a good value proposition for budget users, the difference in overall experience with the ROG Phone 8 is night and day. I prioritize performance, display quality, and camera capabilities, so I would be willing to pay the extra money. The ROG Phone 8 will offer a much smoother, responsive, and enjoyable experience for all tasks, making it the better option for my needs.
