1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Realme C35 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 164.4 × 75.6 × 8.1 mm | The Realme C35 is slightly more compact and thinner, making it potentially more comfortable for one-handed use. The Poco X3 Pro is bulkier. |
| Weight | 215g | 189g | The Realme C35 is significantly lighter, reducing hand fatigue during extended usage. The Poco X3 Pro is heavier. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.6" | Both displays are large and immersive, with a negligible 0.07" difference. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2408 | Both offer similar sharpness; differences are imperceptible in daily use. |
| PPI | 395 | 401 | Both displays have similar pixel density, ensuring crisp text and images. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | Both use the same panel technology. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | The Poco X3 Pro's 120Hz refresh rate provides significantly smoother scrolling, animations, and gaming, enhancing the visual experience. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Both phones have the same max brightness value of 0, indicating missing data. Outdoor visibility may vary depending on the panels used. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7nm) | Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm) | The Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro is significantly more powerful, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 230,726 | The Poco X3 Pro demonstrates much higher performance, indicating a significant difference in overall speed and responsiveness. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G57 MP1 | The Adreno 640 in the Poco X3 Pro is superior for gaming and graphically intensive tasks. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar battery life for typical usage; the slightly larger capacity of the Poco X3 Pro might result in marginally longer usage. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 18W fast charging | The Poco X3 Pro charges much faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens (Rear) | 48MP (f/1.79) | 50MP (f/1.8) | Both offer similar main camera capabilities, but the Poco X3 Pro boasts a wider aperture. |
| Selfie Lens | 20MP (f/2.2) | 8MP (f/2.0) | The Poco X3 Pro offers a higher resolution selfie camera. The Realme C35 has a slightly wider aperture. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP (f/2.2) | None | The Poco X3 Pro provides more versatile photography with an ultrawide lens; Realme C35 lacks this feature. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP (f/2.4) | None | The Poco X3 Pro offers enhanced portrait photography with a dedicated depth sensor. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP (f/2.4) | 2MP (f/2.4) | Both have a macro lens for close-up shots. |
| Black & White lens | None | 2MP (f/2.8) | The Realme C35 has a dedicated black and white sensor. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p options | 1080p@30fps | The Poco X3 Pro offers higher quality video recording with 4K support. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 11 (no upgrade specified) | The Poco X3 Pro has an upgrade path, which may improve the user experience. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac Dual Band | 802.11ac | Both support similar WiFi standards, but the Poco X3 Pro has more advanced Wi-Fi features (Direct, Display and MIMO). |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Bluetooth 5.0 LE | Both use Bluetooth 5.0 LE; the Poco X3 Pro has more audio codec support. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | The Poco X3 Pro has broader satellite support for better location accuracy. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128/256GB | 64/128GB | The Poco X3 Pro has larger storage options for storing more files and data. |
| RAM | 6/8GB | 4GB | The Poco X3 Pro offers more RAM, resulting in improved multitasking and overall responsiveness. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Basic audio features | The Poco X3 Pro offers superior audio experience with higher quality output and stereo speakers. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both offer similar fingerprint sensor implementations. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Unknown | The Poco X3 Pro provides better screen durability with Gorilla Glass 6. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic Proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | The Poco X3 Pro has additional sensors for more advanced features. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 860 chipset provides a dramatically faster experience, ideal for demanding apps, gaming, and multitasking. The higher AnTuTu score of 627,869 vs 230,726 demonstrates the huge performance gap.
- Smoother Display: The 120Hz refresh rate offers a much more fluid and responsive visual experience compared to the Realme C35's 60Hz display.
- Better Camera System: The Poco X3 Pro has more versatile rear camera setup (with Wide Angle and Portrait lens) and superior selfie camera, along with support for 4K video recording.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging refills the battery much quicker than the Realme C35's 18W charging.
- Superior Audio: Hi-Res Audio and Stereo Speakers provide a noticeably better sound experience, great for media consumption and gaming.
- More RAM and Storage Options: Larger RAM and Storage options are offered on the Poco X3 Pro, which provides more multitasking and storage capabilities.
Realme C35 Advantages:
- Lighter and Thinner Design: The Realme C35 is more compact and lighter, making it more comfortable to hold and use for extended periods.
- Black & White Sensor: Realme C35 offers a black & white lens for artistic photography.
- Newer Release: Being released later (2022 vs 2021), the Realme C35 might benefit from certain improvements that the older Poco X3 Pro does not have. However, this does not mean it is superior.
- Slightly wider aperture on front facing camera: This helps with slightly better low-light photography.
Trade-offs:
- The Poco X3 Pro trades a heavier and bulkier design for significantly better performance, camera features, and display smoothness.
- The Realme C35 trades performance and features for a more compact design and potentially a lower price.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal User:
- Gamers: The superior processor, GPU, and 120Hz refresh rate make it excellent for mobile gaming.
- Power Users: Those who multitask heavily, use demanding apps, and want a responsive device.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who want more camera options, including an ultrawide lens, portrait mode and 4K recording capabilities.
- Media Consumers: Those who prioritize high-quality audio output for music, videos, and gaming.
- Users Seeking Future-Proofing: The more powerful hardware ensures the phone will remain performant for a longer period.
Realme C35 Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Buyers: Those who prioritize affordability and want a decent, reliable smartphone for basic tasks.
- Users Prioritizing Comfort: Those who want a lightweight and slim phone for comfortable daily use.
- Casual Users: Individuals who mainly use their phone for browsing, social media, and basic photography.
- Users who want the black and white photography
Specific Use Cases:
- Poco X3 Pro:
- Playing graphically intensive games such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile.
- Editing photos and videos on the go.
- Watching high-resolution movies and videos with excellent audio.
- Multitasking between various apps smoothly.
- Capturing high quality videos of daily events.
- Realme C35:
- Browsing the web and social media.
- Making calls and sending messages.
- Taking casual photos and videos.
- Listening to music with headphones.
- Daily tasks like checking emails or playing simple mobile games.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is performance for your daily usage? If you want a high performance experience, choose the Poco X3 Pro. If you need it only for basic tasks, the Realme C35 is enough.
- Do you prioritize a smooth display experience and mobile gaming? The 120Hz refresh rate of the Poco X3 Pro is a huge advantage for these use cases.
- What's your budget and how do you value the design and feel of the phone in your hand? The Realme C35 may appeal to more budget-minded users or those who prefer a more compact design, while the Poco X3 Pro is more focused on performance.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Gamer/Power User: Choose the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro for its superior performance, smoother display, and enhanced camera capabilities.
- Scenario 2: Casual User/Budget Conscious: The Realme C35 is a solid option for basic use, offering a comfortable design and reliable performance, especially if you are on a budget.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast: The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro offers better overall photography capabilities with 4K video recording, a more versatile rear camera system, and a higher-resolution selfie lens.
My Choice
If I were to choose between these two phones, I would choose the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro. While it's slightly bulkier, the performance difference is significant for my use cases. I prioritize smooth, responsive performance for multitasking and gaming, and the 120Hz display is a huge advantage. Additionally, the Poco X3 Pro offers a better camera system for photography, which is important to me. The faster charging and superior audio features are also valuable additions. While the Realme C35 is lighter and may be more appealing to those seeking a slim form factor, the Poco X3 Pro is the clear winner for overall value, performance, and feature set. The slightly bigger size is a tradeoff I am willing to make for the substantial improvements in the display, performance, camera system and audio.
