Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro vs. Motorola Edge 20 Pro
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Motorola Edge 20 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 163 × 76 × 8 mm | Xiaomi is slightly taller and thicker, may feel bulkier. Motorola is slimmer and potentially more pocketable. |
| Weight | 215g | 190g | Motorola is significantly lighter, more comfortable for extended use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.7" | Very similar screen sizes, negligible real-world difference. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness; no noticeable difference in clarity. |
| PPI | 395 | 385 | Very similar pixel density, both will appear sharp. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | OLED offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors for enhanced viewing experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | Motorola provides slightly smoother scrolling and animations; may be noticeable in fast-paced games. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is identical, but since the numbers are zero it's not useful. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) | Snapdragon 870 offers better overall performance, leading to faster app loading and smoother multitasking. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 813,800 | Motorola exhibits significantly higher benchmark scores, translating to better performance in demanding tasks. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 delivers better graphics performance for smoother gameplay and video editing. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", Sony IMX582 | 108MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52", Samsung S5KHM2 | Motorola has higher resolution for more detailed photos and larger prints; wider aperture of Xiaomi allows better performance in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4", Samsung S5K3T2 | 32MP, f/2.3 | Motorola offers higher resolution for selfies. The wider aperture in Xiaomi could help in low light situations for selfies |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP, f/3.4 | Motorola offers optical zoom capabilities for better zoomed shots, a feature that Xiaomi lacks. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4", Omnivision OV8856 | None | Xiaomi has a dedicated wide-angle lens, which provides a wider field of view for landscape and group photos |
| Portrait Mode | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", Omnivision OV02B1B | None | Xiaomi includes a depth sensor for portrait photography. Motorola may use AI processing for portrait effects |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", Hynix HI-259 | None | Xiaomi includes a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots |
| Wide Angle + Macro | None | 16MP, f/2.2 | Motorola has a combined wide and macro lens |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps, EIS | Up to 8K@24fps, EIS | Motorola offers 8K video recording for higher-quality video capture, while both feature stabilization. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 4500mAh | Xiaomi has a larger battery, likely providing longer battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 30W Fast Charging | Xiaomi charges slightly faster. |
| Features | Non-removable | Reverse Charging, Non-removable | Motorola can charge other devices, a feature Xiaomi lacks. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11, upgrade to 12 | Android 11 | Xiaomi offers upgrade to Android 12 |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Motorola supports the newer standard offering faster speeds and better performance. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.1 | Motorola offers slightly better range and efficiency with a newer version. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2) | Motorola provides better location accuracy via more satellite systems. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB or 256GB | 128GB or 256GB | Both have similar storage options. |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB | 12GB | Motorola has significantly more RAM, which greatly benefits multitasking and gaming. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither supports external memory cards. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio features | Xiaomi offers superior audio quality, making it a better option for media consumption. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Similar biometric security on both. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Xiaomi provides slightly better screen protection |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Xiaomi includes an ultrasonic proximity sensor, which could be beneficial in certain use cases. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Larger Battery: Offers better battery life.
- Wider Main Camera Aperture: Better low-light performance.
- Dedicated Wide Angle Lens: Captures wider landscapes and group photos.
- Dedicated Macro Lens: Captures detailed close-up shots.
- Stereo Speakers and Hi-Res Audio: Superior audio quality.
- Slightly better screen protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 6 offers superior protection compared to Corning Gorilla Glass 5
- Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor: Offers more precise proximity detection compared to standard proximity sensor.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Advantages:
- Slimmer and Lighter: More comfortable for extended use and portability.
- Superior OLED Display: Better colors, contrast, and deeper blacks for a more immersive viewing experience.
- Faster Processor (Snapdragon 870): Provides noticeably better performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Higher AnTuTu Benchmark Score: Overall faster and smoother experience.
- Higher Resolution Main Camera: Captures more detail.
- Telephoto Lens with Optical Zoom: Enables better zoomed shots with less quality loss.
- 8K Video Recording: Supports higher video resolution, excellent for professional use.
- Significantly More RAM (12GB): Enhanced multitasking and overall system responsiveness.
- Reverse Charging: Can charge other devices on-the-go.
- Newer WiFi standard (WiFi 6): Faster wireless speeds and better network performance.
- More precise GPS: Supports more satellite systems for better location accuracy
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi has a larger battery, but it is thicker and heavier.
- The Motorola is lighter and has a better display, but its battery capacity is smaller, and it has basic audio.
- The Xiaomi has more cameras overall, but the Motorola includes a telephoto lens, and a better main sensor.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal User:
- Budget-conscious users looking for maximum performance on a budget.
- Multimedia consumers who prioritize audio quality, especially for videos, music, and gaming with stereo speakers and high resolution audio.
- Photography enthusiasts interested in wide-angle and macro photography.
- Users who prioritize battery life over other features.
Use Cases for Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro:
- Daily multimedia consumption (video, music, etc.)
- Casual gaming
- Landscape and macro photography
- Users who need a phone to last a full day on a single charge.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro Ideal User:
- Performance-oriented users who want the best performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Users who prioritize display quality with OLED's vibrant colors and deeper blacks.
- Those who need telephoto lens for versatile photography options.
- Mobile photographers who need higher resolution and professional-grade video capture up to 8K.
- Users who value a light, slim phone for comfortable daily use and portability
- Users who need best-in-class Wi-Fi
Use Cases for Motorola Edge 20 Pro:
- High-end mobile gaming.
- Professional photography and videography.
- Users who value a slim and stylish phone design.
- Users who require a phone for extensive multitasking and need good performance
- Users that benefit from a more accurate GPS.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Consider:
- Is Display Quality a Priority? If so, the Motorola's OLED is significantly better.
- Is Battery Life Essential? Xiaomi offers better battery endurance.
- What Type of Photography is Important? Motorola offers optical zoom and higher resolution main camera, while Xiaomi offers wider angle and macro.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Budget Gamer: Choose the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro for its robust chipset on a budget and bigger battery.
- Mobile Photographer: Choose the Motorola Edge 20 Pro for its higher-resolution camera, telephoto lens, and 8K video.
- Multimedia Enthusiast: The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro is better for superior sound quality and battery life.
- Power User: The Motorola Edge 20 Pro for its better performance, RAM, and display quality.
- On-the-Go Professional: Choose the Motorola for reverse charging capabilities and a lighter design.
My Choice
Given my preferences, I would choose the Motorola Edge 20 Pro. While the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro offers a better battery, better sound, and macro and ultrawide lens, the Motorola's superior OLED display, significantly better performance thanks to the Snapdragon 870 and 12GB of RAM, the telephoto lens, and lighter design are more important to me. The benefits of the Motorola outweigh the features I'd be giving up, making it the better all-around package for my needs. While I do enjoy the better sound quality of Xiaomi, the Motorola better fits my needs.
