More and more budget 5G phones are coming up. Here we have two of the latest ones that arrived in the Philippines, the Realme 8 5G and POCO M3 5G.
The new Realme 8 5G is the brand’s second 5G phone here in the country. Quite fitting since the X50 Pro is a flagship release and exclusive to postpaid plans. It’s nice to see a more accessible 5G phone.
We’ll be comparing that device to the POCO M3 Pro 5G, which arrived locally a few weeks earlier.
Like the former, this one is sitting in the sub-Php10,000 price range and already offers 5G connectivity and other modern features.
So the question is, which between the two should you get? We’ll answer that question in our Realme 8 5G versus POCO M3 Pro 5G specs and features comparison.
| Realme 8 5G | POCO M3 Pro 5G | |
| Operating System | Android 11 Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11 MIUI 12 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual standby | Dual SIM Dual standby |
| Display | 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 405ppi 90Hz refresh rate 600-nits | 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 404ppi DynamicSwitch refresh rate (30Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz) 1500:1 contrast ratio 1100-nits 360-degree ambient light sensor |
| Processor | 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G octa-core | 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G octa-core |
| RAM | 8GB | 4GB/6GB |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| Storage | 128GB UGS 2.2 expandable via microSD | 64GB/128GB UFS 2.2 expandable via microSD |
| Front Camera | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) BnW 2-megapixel (macro) LED flash | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) LED flash |
| Audio | Headphone jack | Headphone jack Hi-Res audio |
| Security | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 GPS, A-GPS, GALILEO, QZSS, GLONASS, BDS NFC USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 GPS, A-GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS NFC IR Blaster USB Type-C |
| Dimensions | 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5mm | 161.81 x 75.34 x 8.92mm |
| Weight | 185g | 190g |
| Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass Back: Plastic Frame: Plastic | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Back: Plastic Frame: Plastic |
| Colors | Supersonic Black Supersonic Blue | Power Black Cool Blue POCO Yellow |
| Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable 18W fast charging | 5,000mAh non-removable 18W fast charging |
| Price | Php11,990 | 4GB/64GB: Php8,990 6GB/128GB: Php11,990 |
Design and Build Quality
Build-wise, both smartphones are equally the same. They both have plastic back panels and frames. They also have Gorilla Glass protection, but the version used on the Realme device was not mentioned.
Design is subjective, but we’ll let you decide. Personally, we like the POCO M3 Pro 5G’s more expressive design with the large POCO logo, edgy colors, and black paint that accents the camera glass on the back.
The Realme 8 5G went for a cleaner look. The 2×2 camera layout is similar to the other Realme 8 models. It looks fine, but then again, it’s up to you to decide on this one.
Display and Sound Quality
Both the Realme 8 5G and POCO M3 Pro 5G have similar display specs. They’re both FHD+ IPS panels on a 6.5-inch size. They also share the same 90Hz refresh rate.
The POCO device overtakes the Realme one with its dynamic refresh rate that switches from 30Hz to 90Hz, depending on the task on hand to save battery.
It also has a brighter 1100-nits peak brightness. Plus, a secondary ambient light sensor for 360-degree coverage can adjust the right screen brightness depending on your surroundings.
Hardware and Performance
It’s almost a draw on this one. As you can see, the duo is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor, which is actually the same chip we’re seeing in a lot of budget 5G phones in the market today.
However, the Realme device was able to one-up the competition by having a larger 8GB of RAM instead of 6GB for the same price.
Realme is also giving users a 4GB/64GB option if they want a cheaper alternative.
Cameras
Here’s another round where the Realme 8 5G slightly surpasses the POCO M3 Pro 5G. As you can see, it has a sharper 16-megapixel selfie camera versus the 8-megapixel of the latter.
Other than that, everything is almost the same. They both have a 48-megapixel main shooter with two 2-megapixel auxiliary sensors. Sadly, neither have ultra-wide cameras.
Battery
It’s a tie on this round. Both devices share the same 5,000mAh battery, which is actually standard on smartphones at this price. However, unlike 4G-only phones, battery life may be shorter on these devices, especially if you plan to browse via 5G a lot.
They also share the same 18W charger which is, again, common for the price.
Verdict
Basing on the specs comparison table above, it appears that the Realme 8 5G won this battle. They may be similar in key areas, but Realme’s bet managed to overtake the POCO device by having a sharper selfie camera and a bigger RAM capacity for the same price.
To POCO’s credit, the M3 Pro 5G does have a better design and extra display features. Although, they are overshadowed by the extra perks you can get with the Realme 8 5G.
With that said, the Realme 8 5G is now available for Php11,990 and comes with an 8GB/128GB configuration. The POCO M3 Pro is also available for the same price but only comes with 6GB of RAM.
On the upside, if money is an issue, the POCO device also comes with a 4GB/64GB option for a cheaper price of Php8,990.