1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 163.1 × 75.9 × 8.6 mm | Xiaomi 12T is slightly smaller and thinner, making it more pocketable and comfortable to hold for extended periods. The Poco X3 Pro is larger and bulkier. |
| Weight | 215g | 202g | Xiaomi 12T is lighter, potentially making it more comfortable to use for long durations. The Poco X3 Pro, being heavier, may feel more substantial but less convenient to carry. |
| Build Quality (Screen Protection) | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro has superior screen protection (Gorilla Glass 6) compared to the Xiaomi 12T (Gorilla Glass 5) which may offer slightly better scratch and shatter resistance. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.67" | Both have the same screen size, offering a similar viewing area for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1220x2712 | Xiaomi 12T has a noticeably sharper display due to its higher resolution, resulting in clearer text and more detailed images. This means more detail visible on-screen. |
| PPI | 395 | 446 | Xiaomi 12T has higher pixel density, resulting in a sharper, clearer display, making it better for detailed content and avoiding pixelation. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | Xiaomi 12T's AMOLED display offers superior contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors, which is much more enjoyable for media consumption and general usage. The Poco X3 Pro has an IPS LCD which offers an okay experience. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer the same smooth scrolling and animations thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 0 nits | Peak brightness is the same, which is not provided, limiting the ability to compare outdoor visibility. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Ultra (5 nm) | The Xiaomi 12T's newer chipset is more powerful and power-efficient, resulting in faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. The Poco X3 Pro's chipset is older and less efficient. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 835,913 | Xiaomi 12T has a 33% higher AnTuTu score, indicating it will perform significantly better in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Poco X3 Pro is adequate for general use but shows performance limitation in heavier applications. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G610 MC6 | Xiaomi 12T has a newer and more powerful GPU, translating to better gaming and graphics performance, particularly in modern 3D games. The Adreno 640 in the Poco X3 Pro is good but is outclassed by the Mali-G610 MC6. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 108MP, f/1.7, 1/1.67" sensor | Xiaomi 12T's higher resolution, larger sensor, and wider aperture result in superior low-light performance and more detailed photos. The Poco X3 Pro offers a decent camera but cannot match the quality of the 12T. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4" sensor | 20MP, f/2.24, 1/2" sensor | Xiaomi 12T has a slightly smaller aperture but a bigger sensor on the selfie camera resulting in better performance, especially in low light compared to the Poco X3 Pro. |
| Wide Angle | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" sensor | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4" sensor | Comparable wide-angle camera performance on both devices. |
| Depth Sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | Not Available | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor, which may assist in better portrait mode. The Xiaomi 12T is likely relying on software. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | Both phones have similar macro camera capabilities. |
| Video Recording | Up to 4K@30fps (EIS) | Up to 4K@30fps (HDR) | Xiaomi 12T supports HDR recording, providing better dynamic range, and improved video quality compared to the Poco X3 Pro. Xiaomi 12T uses video stabilization while Poco X3 Pro uses no stabilization. |
| Camera Features | Quadruple camera, Digital image stabilization | Triple camera, Optical Stabilization (OIS), Ultra stable video, RAW, Night Mode | The Xiaomi 12T has OIS, Ultra stable video, RAW, and night mode which is a huge advantage. The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro comes with a Quadruple camera while the Xiaomi 12T comes with a Triple camera setup, however, the features are more important here. |
| DxOMark Score | N/A | 115 (Mobile), 120 (Photo), 127 (Video) | Xiaomi 12T has a DxOMark rating, indicating its image quality is very good, whereas the Poco X3 Pro does not have any DxOMark score. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 5000mAh | Battery capacity is very similar, and with the different chipsets, this would translate to a very similar battery life. |
| Charging | 33W | 120W | Xiaomi 12T has significantly faster charging, reducing downtime and offering more convenience. The Poco X3 Pro charges at a slower 33W rate, which can be a lot more inconvenient. |
Software
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to 12 | Android 12, upgradable to 14 | Xiaomi 12T has a newer version of Android and will receive more updates. The Poco X3 Pro is older and likely to receive less future support. |
Connectivity
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| WiFi | 802.11ac | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) | Xiaomi 12T supports the faster WiFi 6 standard, offering better speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded networks compared to the Poco X3 Pro. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 | Xiaomi 12T features the newer Bluetooth 5.3 standard, which provides improvements in range, power efficiency, and latency for wireless devices. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BeiDou (B1), Galileo (E1+E5a), BeiDou (B2), NavIC System, QZSS (L1 + L5) | Xiaomi 12T offers more accurate and reliable location tracking due to the support of more satellite systems. |
| SIM | Dual SIM | Dual SIM | Both phones allow dual SIM usage. |
Storage & Audio
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Internal Storage | 128/256 GB | 128/256 GB | Both phones offer the same storage options and storage amounts. |
| RAM | 6/8 GB | 8 GB | The Xiaomi 12T comes with 8 GB of RAM which will be suitable for multitasking. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone has expandable storage, which means you should buy the right amount of storage at purchase. |
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Both phones have high-quality audio and stereo speakers, with Xiaomi 12T additionally featuring Dolby Atmos for a slightly more immersive audio experience. |
Security
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | basic fingerprint sensor | The Poco X3 Pro features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is considered to be faster, more reliable, and convenient compared to the Xiaomi 12T basic fingerprint sensor. |
Sensors
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi 12T | Practical Impact |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity, RGB | Both phones have the basic sensors. Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro features ultrasonic proximity virtual while Xiaomi 12T features proximity and RGB sensors. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Potentially Lower Price: The Poco X3 Pro is generally more affordable than the Xiaomi 12T, making it a good value option for budget-conscious buyers.
- Side-mounted fingerprint sensor: Side-mounted fingerprint sensors are considered to be more convenient and faster compared to the standard fingerprint sensor.
- Slightly better build quality protection on the screen: The screen has Gorilla Glass 6 protection which is a better version compared to Gorilla Glass 5 found on the Xiaomi 12T.
Xiaomi 12T Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED screen with higher resolution and pixel density provides significantly better visual quality.
- Much Better Performance: The Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Ultra chipset offers substantially higher performance in all tasks.
- Enhanced Camera Quality: Higher resolution main camera with a larger sensor, plus OIS, ultra-stable video, and superior video features, offers far better picture and video capabilities.
- Faster Charging: 120W charging allows for incredibly fast battery top-ups.
- More Up-to-date Software: It comes with a newer version of Android and will receive more software updates, extending the phone's lifespan.
- Better Connectivity: WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 offer faster and more efficient wireless connectivity.
- Dolby Atmos: Dolby Atmos provides a more immersive audio experience.
- Better Selfie Camera: The selfie camera is equipped with a larger sensor resulting in better performance, especially in low light conditions.
Trade-offs:
- The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro offers better screen protection for a lower price but sacrifices performance and camera quality.
- The Xiaomi 12T offers higher performance, and better display/cameras but is priced higher and the screen is slightly less protected.
- The Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor while the Xiaomi 12T relies on software for depth detection.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro:
- Ideal User: Budget-conscious users who prioritize performance over camera and display quality, and those who don't mind the older Android version. Users who like the side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
- Use Cases:
- Casual gaming
- Everyday social media and browsing
- Users who don't require high-end camera features.
- Users who prioritize a more secure and convenient fingerprint reader.
Xiaomi 12T:
- Ideal User: Users who want a premium smartphone experience with great performance, high-quality cameras, fast charging, and an excellent display.
- Use Cases:
- Mobile Photography and Videography
- Demanding gaming
- Media consumption (streaming videos, movies)
- Users who want faster charging speeds.
- Users who like to keep their phones for long periods of time and would like to get all of the latest software updates.
- Users who prefer an OLED display.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Poco X3 Pro has a strong price-to-value if you prioritize performance on a budget but sacrifices features like the camera, screen and charging.
- The Xiaomi 12T is the better phone and is worth the price if you want the better overall phone experience due to the significantly better features, especially the cameras, display, performance and charging.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions to Ask Before Buying:
- What's more important - price or features? Are you on a strict budget, or can you afford to spend more for higher-end features?
- How important are camera quality and display to you? Are you looking for great photos and a beautiful screen, or is that secondary to other factors?
- How do you value performance and speed of charging? Do you need top-tier gaming performance and the fastest battery top-ups?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1 (Budget Gamer): If you prioritize gaming performance on a tight budget, and don't mind the older cameras and the IPS screen, the Poco X3 Pro is a good option, however, the Xiaomi 12T is much better when it comes to gaming due to the superior processor and GPU.
- Scenario 2 (Mobile Photographer/Videographer): The Xiaomi 12T is the clear choice due to its vastly superior camera and video capabilities, especially the inclusion of OIS, better stabilization, RAW, and Night Mode.
- Scenario 3 (Casual User): The Xiaomi 12T is better due to the superior display, camera, speed and features, but the Poco X3 Pro is an okay option for everyday usage if you don't mind the trade-offs for the lower price.
- Scenario 4 (Long Term Phone User): The Xiaomi 12T should be picked because of the more up-to-date software and extended software update support, which will allow you to use this phone for a long period of time, and you will receive all of the latest software updates.
My Choice and Why:
If I had to choose, I would go with the Xiaomi 12T. While the Poco X3 Pro is a decent budget phone, the Xiaomi 12T offers a vastly superior experience in several key areas that are important to me, especially with the better display, performance, cameras and battery charging speeds. The better quality AMOLED screen, the more powerful processor, the high-quality cameras, and the 120W charging, far outweigh the advantages of the Poco X3 Pro, making it a better choice for a long-term smartphone purchase.
