1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 165.3 × 76.8 × 9.4 mm | 162.9 × 76 × 8.9 mm | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is slightly more compact and thinner, potentially feeling better in hand. |
| Weight | 215g | 208.4g | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is slightly lighter, which could be more comfortable for prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.67" | 6.67" | Both offer the same screen size, making them equally suitable for media consumption. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both have the same resolution, leading to similar sharpness. |
| PPI | 395 | 395 | Identical pixel density, so display clarity is the same. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | OLED | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ display will have richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast. |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | Both offer smooth scrolling and gaming experiences. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 900 nits | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is significantly brighter, providing much better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 (7 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 1080 (6 nm) | Poco X3 Pro’s Snapdragon 860 scores slightly higher in benchmarks, indicating marginally better processing power for demanding tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 627,869 | 573,100 | Poco X3 Pro offers a small performance edge in benchmarks, but real-world differences may be minimal for most users. |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Mali-G68 MC4 | Poco X3 Pro's GPU is slightly more powerful based on benchmark results, potentially offering better gaming performance. |
| Camera | |||
| Main Camera Resolution | 48MP | 200MP | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ can capture much more detailed images, potentially allowing for more significant cropping. |
| Main Camera Aperture | f/1.79 | f/1.65 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a wider aperture, likely to perform better in low-light conditions. |
| Main Camera Sensor Size | 1/2" | 1/1.4" | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a larger sensor, which means it can collect more light and capture better images overall. |
| Selfie Camera Resolution | 20MP | 16MP | Poco X3 Pro captures slightly higher resolution selfies, potentially resulting in more detail. |
| Selfie Camera Aperture | f/2.2 | f/2.45 | Poco X3 Pro's slightly wider aperture might allow for slightly better low-light selfies. |
| Wide Angle Sensor Size | 1/4" | 1/2.8" | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a larger sensor, which should result in better wide-angle images. |
| Portrait Mode | Yes | No | Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor to improve the portrait mode. |
| Video Stabilization | EIS | OIS + EIS | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has both Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization, which results in much smoother video recordings. |
| DXOMark Camera Score | Not available | 113 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a tested camera score of 113 indicating very good mobile camera performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5160mAh | 5000mAh | Both have very similar battery sizes, suggesting comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 120W Fast Charging | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ charges much faster, which is a significant convenience. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 | Android 12 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ runs on newer Android version and can be upgraded further than Poco X3 Pro. |
| Max Version | 12 | 14 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a better software support. |
| Connectivity | |||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ supports a newer Wi-Fi standard, which can offer faster wireless speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.2 | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has a newer Bluetooth version for better connectivity. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB | Both have similar internal storage options. |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 8GB/12GB | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has more RAM in higher configuration (12GB vs 8GB), resulting in much smoother performance in heavy usage. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports external storage via microSD card. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Redmi Note 12 Pro+ with Dolby Atmos provides more immersive and better quality audio experience. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint Sensor | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both phones have same fingerprint sensor placement and technology. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Gorilla Glass 6 | Gorilla Glass 5 | Poco X3 Pro uses the slightly superior Gorilla Glass 6 for screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Proximity | Poco X3 Pro has an ultrasonic proximity sensor while Redmi Note 12 Pro+ uses a standard proximity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Advantages:
- Marginally Better Performance: The Snapdragon 860 provides slightly better benchmark performance, potentially better for demanding games.
- Slightly better screen protection: Gorilla Glass 6, rather than Gorilla Glass 5 is slightly more resistant to scratching and shattering.
- Portrait mode with a dedicated depth sensor: Offers the ability to take better portrait photos with the dedicated depth sensor.
- Slightly Wider Selfie Camera Aperture: Slightly better in low light conditions for selfies.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Advantages:
- Superior Display: OLED technology offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and better contrast, enhanced by significantly higher brightness for better visibility in sunlight.
- Significantly Faster Charging: 120W charging dramatically reduces charging time, which is a major advantage for convenience.
- Much Better Camera System: The 200MP main camera, combined with OIS, offers superior image quality, low-light performance, and video stability.
- More RAM: Up to 12GB of RAM in higher configurations enhances multitasking capabilities for smoother performance.
- Newer Software: It starts with Android 12 and is upgradable to Android 14, offering better and longer software support.
- Better Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi 6 and newer Bluetooth 5.2, offering potentially faster and more stable connections.
- Dolby Atmos Audio: Provides enhanced spatial audio, higher quality audio playback, better audio separation and immersion for a more enjoyable audio experience.
- Better video stabilization: OIS paired with EIS for smooth video recording.
Trade-offs:
- The Poco X3 Pro has a slightly more powerful chipset on paper, but this difference is not huge. The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ has other significant advantages that make it a better overall choice in most situations.
- The Poco X3 Pro has a dedicated depth sensor for portrait mode, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ does not. However, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ overall better camera system, including a significantly better main camera and OIS, more than compensates for it.
- The Poco X3 Pro has slightly better screen protection with Gorilla Glass 6 compared to Gorilla Glass 5 on Redmi Note 12 Pro+, but the other screen upgrades on Redmi Note 12 Pro+ are more substantial overall.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Gamers: Users who want a decent gaming experience on a tighter budget and would rather sacrifice camera quality.
- Users Prioritizing Raw Performance: Those who primarily value performance and are less interested in superior screen or camera quality.
- Users needing a depth sensor: Those who want a dedicated depth sensor for better portrait photos.
Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive games.
- Everyday tasks and basic media consumption for users who do not prioritize display quality.
- Users who are on a very strict budget and don't need great camera performance.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Ideal User:
- Photography Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize a high-quality camera system with excellent low-light capabilities and video stabilization.
- Media Consumers: Users who want a vibrant, bright display for viewing content, both indoors and outdoors.
- Power Users: Users who multitask heavily and want a phone with sufficient RAM and quick charging for heavy usage.
- Users wanting a more future-proof device: Those who want a newer device with better software support.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+ Use Cases:
- Capturing high-resolution photos and videos in various lighting conditions.
- Watching movies and videos with vibrant colors and deep blacks, even in direct sunlight.
- Running multiple apps simultaneously and playing demanding games without performance issues.
- Quickly charging the phone during breaks for continuous usage throughout the day.
Price-to-Value:
- The Poco X3 Pro is positioned as the budget option.
- The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ justifies its price premium with significant improvements in display, camera, charging, software and general user experience.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- How important is camera quality? If you frequently take photos and videos and want the best possible quality, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
- How important is fast charging? If you hate waiting for your phone to charge and need it topped up quickly, the 120W charging on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a major advantage.
- How important is display quality? If you consume a lot of media and want the best possible experience, the OLED display with higher brightness on Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: If you are a budget-conscious gamer primarily focused on gaming performance and do not care about other aspects, the Poco X3 Pro could be acceptable.
- Scenario 2: If you want a well-rounded phone with an excellent display, fast charging, and a much better camera and are willing to pay more, then Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is the better choice.
- Scenario 3: If camera performance, video recording quality, quick charging and display quality are all significant factors in your decision making, then the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ is a much better choice.
My Choice
If I were choosing between these two phones, I would choose the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro+. Although the Poco X3 Pro offers marginally better benchmark performance, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ offers significant overall improvements in nearly every aspect that's important for modern smartphone users, including a superior OLED display, a significantly better 200MP camera with OIS, 120W super-fast charging, better software, better video recording quality and better connectivity. These upgrades offer a much better overall user experience than the marginal performance gain of the Poco X3 Pro, making the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ worth the extra cost.
