Being underdogs, there’s no denying that Xiaomi and Realme are two of the biggest rivals in the smartphone industry. And just recently, the former launched a new mid-range device, and it’s just apt to compare it with one of Realme’s.
The new device we’re talking about is the POCO X3 GT. As you already know, it packs a lot of whopping features for under Php20,000.
While we’re aware a more capable Realme device is being sold in the gray market, the closest Realme Philippines officially offers is the Realme 8 Pro.
Like the former, Realme’s bet has a couple of bang-for-the-buck features like the camera and charging speed. But how does it stack up with Xiaomi’s? We find out.
So, without further ado, here’s our POCO X3 GT versus Realme 8 Pro specifications and features comparison.
| POCO X3 GT | Realme 8 Pro | |
| Operating System | Android 11 MIUI 12.5 for POCO | Android 11 Realme UI 2.0 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual stand-by | Dual SIM Dual stand-by |
| Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 399ppi 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate DCI-P3 360-degree ambient light sensor | 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 409ppi 180Hz touch sampling 60Hz refresh rate 1000-nits brightness |
| Processor | 2.6GHz MediaTek Dimensity 1100 octa-core LiquidCool Technology 2.0 | 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB |
| GPU | Mali-G77 MC9 | Adreno 618 |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 non-expandable | 128GB UFS 3.1 expandable via microSD |
| Front Camera | 16-megapixel | 16-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 64-megapixel (f/1.8) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro, f/2.4) LED flash | 108-megapixel (HM2, f/1.8, PDAF) 8-megapixel (ultra-wide, f/2.2) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (mono) LED flash |
| Audio | No headphone jack Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res audio Hi-Res wireless audio X-axis haptic | Headphone jack Single loudspeaker Hi-Res audio Dirac Sound |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor AI Face Unlock | In-display fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS NFC USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS NFC USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 163.3 x 75.9 x 8.9mm | 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1mm |
| Weight | 193g | 176g |
| Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus Back: Glass Frame: Aluminum | Front: Glass Back: Plastic Frame: Plastic |
| Colors | Wave Blue Cloud White Stargaze Black | Infinite Blue Infinite Black |
| Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable 67W Turbo Charging | 4,500mAh non-removable 50W SuperDart Charge support 65W charger included |
| Price | 8GB/128GB: Php15,990 8GB/256GB: Php17,990 | Php16,990 |
Design and Hardware
Both Xiaomi and Realme went with a pretty straightforward look on their smartphones. They both share shiny back panels with subtle shiny paint jobs and familiar camera placements.
However, the Realme 8 Pro has a bold look with a large “Dare to Leap” logo embossed on the back.
Meanwhile, the POCO X3 GT has a more subtle textured surface and a simple accent highlighting the main camera.
Where the POCO device dominates is in the build. It has a sturdy Corning Gorilla Glass Victus that we only saw on high-end phones before. It also has a glass back, and aluminum build, while the latter settles with plastic.
Display and Audio
If you like binge-watching on Netflix, then the Realme 8 Pro is for you. It features a Super AMOLED panel that offers more vibrant colors than the IPS screen of the former.
But if you’re all about performance and gaming, you’re better off with the POCO X3 GT. It features an ultra-fast 120Hz refresh rate and a very responsive 240Hz touch sampling rate. As a bonus, there’s the secondary ambient light sensor at the back for 360-coverage.
However, since it’s only an IPS panel, it uses a less-fancy side-mounted fingerprint scanner instead of the in-display one on the Realme device. But in daily use, the difference shouldn’t be noticeable.
Also, POCO went above and beyond in the audio department. There’s a stereo speaker setup, Dolby Atmos, and Hi-Res audio, which the Realme device lacks. Sadly, it can’t accommodate wired headphones, unlike the Realm 8 Pro.
Hardware and Performance
This is where the POCO X3 GT easily beats the Realme 8 Pro. As you can see, it has a flagship-level Dimensity 1100 octa-core processor that offers a much stronger processing and gaming performance than the Snapdragon 720G chip of the Realme 8 Pro. It also has a liquid cooling technology to keep temps down.
Of course, the chipset also brings 5G connectivity to the device, which the competition lacks. This makes the X3 GT more future-proof than the Realme 8 Pro.
The MediaTek chip also offers a more advanced WiFi 6 technology and Bluetooth 5.2. On the downside, it lacks a microSD card slot. Thankfully, there’s a larger 256GB option if you like hoarding media.
Cameras
This is where the Realme 8 Pro shines. As you can see, it has a whopping 108-megapixel primary camera — not only beating the POCO X3 GT but also a lot of phones in this category.
For an extra touch, it also has a dedicated mono sensor to claim the quad-camera title. The rest are the same, though. They both have 16-megapixel selfie cameras, 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel macro lens.
Related
Battery
Here’s another win for the POCO X3 GT. It can support and has a 67W Turbo charger on the box. Beating the Realme 8 Pro’s still not-too-shabby 65W charger, albeit the device itself only supports 50W.
The POCO device also has a bigger battery. However, the 500mAh difference may be negligible as battery life may be similar since, despite having a bigger capacity, the X3 GT could be more power-hungry due to its faster display and less-efficient chipset.
Conclusion
Well, I guess we have a clear winner here. While the Realme 8 Pro is a good all-around smartphone, it may not be the right competitor to the POCO X3 GT.
As you can see, Xiaomi’s device has a smoother screen, a much capable processor, faster charging, 5G connectivity, and even extras like stereo speakers. The best part is, it’s actually cheaper. The X3 GT starts at only Php15,990, Php1,000 more affordable than the 8 Pro’s Php16,990.
That said, POCO defeated Realme in this price range. However, the Realme 8 Pro is already ripe for a follow-up, so let’s see how Realme’s successor on this price range stack up against Xiaomi.