1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro, focusing on their practical implications:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 164.3 × 74.6 × 8.5 mm | The Mi 11 Pro is slightly smaller and thinner, making it more comfortable for one-handed use and pocketable. The Poco X3 Pro is bulkier and may feel less refined. |
| Weight | 215g | 208g | The Mi 11 Pro is slightly lighter, which may make it more comfortable to hold for extended periods. |
| Build Quality (Screen Protection) | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | The Mi 11 Pro's Victus glass offers significantly better scratch and drop resistance, making it more durable for daily use. |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Basic in-display | Side-mounted sensors are often faster and more reliable than basic in-display sensors; In-display is often considered a premium feature. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.81" | The Mi 11 Pro has a slightly larger screen, offering a more immersive viewing experience. This may be preferable for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1440x3200 | The Mi 11 Pro's higher resolution results in significantly sharper text and images, making it noticeably clearer for reading, viewing photos, and video. |
| PPI | 395 | 515 | Higher pixel density on the Mi 11 Pro provides sharper, more detailed images. This will be noticeable when viewing detailed content such as photos. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The AMOLED display on the Mi 11 Pro offers superior blacks, higher contrast, and more vibrant colors compared to the LCD on the Poco X3 Pro. It is better for media and gaming. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both phones offer a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations feel fluid. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1700 nits | The Mi 11 Pro has much higher peak brightness, offering better outdoor visibility in direct sunlight compared to Poco X3 Pro. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) | The Snapdragon 888 in the Mi 11 Pro provides significantly faster performance, better efficiency, and supports newer 5G standards than the Snapdragon 860 in the Poco X3 Pro. Expect faster app loading and smoother gameplay. |
| Antutu Score | 627,869 | 854,267 | Higher score on the Mi 11 Pro indicates noticeably better performance for demanding applications and games. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 | The Adreno 660 GPU in the Mi 11 Pro offers much better gaming performance and graphics rendering capabilities than the Adreno 640. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 50MP | Mi 11 Pro has slightly higher resolution and larger sensor size, capturing more details and better low-light performance. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.95 | The Poco X3 Pro has a slightly wider aperture, allowing for more light to enter the sensor. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.12" | Larger sensor on the Mi 11 Pro captures significantly more light and detail, resulting in superior image quality, especially in low-light. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2 | 20MP, f/2.3 | The Poco X3 Pro has a slightly wider aperture. Both are comparable selfie cameras. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 13MP, f/2.2 | The Mi 11 Pro captures wider, more detailed wide-angle shots with higher resolution, offering better versatility. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, while the Mi 11 Pro doesn't, which may impact depth estimation on the Mi 11 Pro. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | None | The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated macro camera, which the Mi 11 Pro lacks. |
| Telephoto Lens | None | 8MP | The Mi 11 Pro offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed shots, which the Poco X3 Pro does not have. |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps | 8K@24fps, 4K@60fps | The Mi 11 Pro provides a significantly higher video recording resolution at 8K, making it suitable for professional-grade video needs. It also records at 4K 60FPS with HDR compared to 4K 30FPS on the Poco X3 Pro. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | EIS, OIS | The Mi 11 Pro offers both electronic (EIS) and optical (OIS) image stabilization for smoother, less shaky videos, while the Poco X3 Pro has only EIS. |
| DxOMark Score | None | 124 (Mobile), 118 (Photo), 132 (Video) | The Mi 11 Pro has a strong DxOMark score, indicating excellent image and video quality and is clearly superior to the Poco X3 Pro. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 5000mAh | Both offer similar capacity which translates to comparable battery life. Minor difference not significant. |
| Charging | 33W fast charging | 67W fast charging, 67W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging | The Mi 11 Pro charges significantly faster with 67W wired and wireless charging and can also charge other devices wirelessly. The Poco X3 Pro has slower 33W wired charging. |
Other
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | The Mi 11 Pro supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard, offering faster speeds and better performance on compatible networks. |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.2 | The Mi 11 Pro has a newer version of Bluetooth with slightly better range and stability. |
| RAM | 6 GB or 8 GB | 8 GB or 12 GB | The Mi 11 Pro offers more RAM in its higher-end variant, ensuring smoother multitasking and better performance with demanding apps. |
| OS | Android 11 (upgradeable to 12) | Android 11 (upgradeable to unknown) | No significant difference here, both offer modern Android experiences with room for upgrades. |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB | Both phones offer the same storage options, so storage is not a key factor in choosing between the two phones. |
| Audio | Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers, 3 microphones | The Mi 11 Pro has 3 microphones for better noise cancellation during calls and recordings. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Here's a breakdown of the major advantages and disadvantages of each phone:
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Slightly Wider Aperture Main Camera: While the sensor is smaller, the wider aperture may help in specific low-light situations.
- Dedicated Depth and Macro Lens: Useful for specific use-cases like portrait and close-up photography, though quality is not as high as a dedicated telephoto sensor.
- Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Generally faster and more reliable than in-display fingerprint sensor on the Mi 11 Pro.
- Lower Price: Significantly more affordable.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Disadvantages:
- Inferior Display: LCD vs AMOLED, lower resolution, lower brightness; inferior viewing experience.
- Slower Performance: Older chipset and GPU leads to slower performance.
- Inferior Camera System: Smaller main sensor, no telephoto, less capable video; overall less versatile and lower image quality.
- Slower Charging: 33W charging, no wireless charging; less convenient for users on-the-go.
- Bulky design: less sleek than the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED, higher resolution, greater brightness; superior viewing experience.
- Faster Performance: Newer, more powerful chipset and GPU; much smoother and faster experience.
- Better Camera System: Larger main sensor, telephoto lens, superior video capabilities; more versatile and superior image quality.
- Faster Charging: 67W wired and wireless charging, reverse wireless charging; significantly faster and more convenient.
- Sleeker design: The Mi 11 Pro is thinner, lighter, and generally more premium-feeling in the hand.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Disadvantages:
- Higher Price: Significantly more expensive.
- No dedicated Depth or Macro Cameras: Lacks these specific lenses, although its other features make up for this shortcoming.
Significant Trade-offs:
- Price vs. Performance/Features: The Poco X3 Pro is a budget-friendly option sacrificing high-end features for affordability. The Mi 11 Pro is premium, offering cutting-edge technology but at a higher price point.
- Camera Versatility vs. Quality: The Poco X3 Pro includes dedicated macro and depth sensors but their quality pales in comparison to the single lens quality of the Mi 11 Pro.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal Users:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Those who prioritize price over cutting-edge features.
- Casual Gamers: Can handle most games at medium settings.
- Users Prioritizing Battery Life: Decent battery life for all-day use.
Users Who Want to Take Basic Close-Up Shots and Portraits: For users who want a little extra flexibility in their photography.
Use Cases:
- Daily social media use and browsing.
- Playing less demanding mobile games.
- Budget photography and video recording.
- Long battery life for everyday use.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Ideal Users:
- Power Users: Those who demand top-tier performance for gaming and demanding apps.
- Photography Enthusiasts: Those who prioritize high-quality photos and videos.
- Media Consumers: Users who value a high-quality display for watching movies and videos.
- Users Who Require Fast Charging and Convenience: Users who prioritize fast and wireless charging for their phones.
Those willing to invest in a premium device.
Use Cases:
- High-end mobile gaming with demanding titles.
- Professional-quality photography and videography.
- Immersive media consumption with superior visual quality.
- Heavy multitasking and productivity apps.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your budget? The Poco X3 Pro is significantly cheaper, while the Mi 11 Pro is a premium device with a higher price tag.
- How important is camera quality and versatility to you? The Mi 11 Pro's camera system is significantly better, particularly if you want high-quality photos or videos.
- How important is performance, display quality, and fast charging to you? The Mi 11 Pro provides a superior user experience in these areas, while the Poco X3 Pro is more budget-friendly.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: If you're on a tight budget but still want a decent phone for daily tasks, the Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro offers a good balance of performance and features at an affordable price.
Scenario 2: If you are a power user who wants the best experience for gaming, photography, and media, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro is the superior choice with a faster chipset, superior display, and more advanced camera system.
- Scenario 3: If you value battery life, then both phones offer a similar experience.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two phones, I would pick the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro. Here's why:
- Superior Display Experience: As someone who consumes a lot of media on their phone, the AMOLED display with its higher resolution, brightness, and color accuracy is a major draw. The enhanced visual experience is a significant upgrade.
- Uncompromising Performance: I often use my phone for multitasking, running multiple apps, and playing the occasional game. The Snapdragon 888 and Adreno 660 in the Mi 11 Pro provide a noticeably faster and smoother experience, making it a more enjoyable device to use.
- Camera Quality: I value having a versatile camera system that takes excellent photos in a variety of conditions. The Mi 11 Pro's larger main sensor, telephoto lens, and advanced video features far outweigh the convenience of the macro and depth cameras on the X3 Pro, making it a better photography tool overall.
- Charging Convenience: The 67W fast wired and wireless charging on the Mi 11 Pro make it much more convenient for my busy lifestyle.
- Premium build: The build quality feels much more premium.
While the Poco X3 Pro is a capable budget phone, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro delivers a premium experience that is well worth the higher price, especially for users who prioritize performance, camera quality, and display experience.
