Xiaomi is slowly building steady ground here in the Philippines. The company has already put up two physical stores, with a third one coming soon. And of course, they also brought some of their hottest smartphones in the country like the Poco F1.
Other than the Poco F1, Xiaomi is also expected to launch the Mi Max 3 here in the local market. This device will appeal to those who are looking for a midrange device for productivity and entertainment use.
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 has a large screen and battery, a distinct feature for the entire Max line.
However, the competition in this price segment is already massive way before it even gets here. In the last few weeks, leading smartphones brands have already introduced their midrange offerings in the country.
For one, the Huawei Nova 3i became available in the Philippines for more than a month now. This device also has a set of interesting specs, design, and a ripped marketing muscle — making it one of the toughest competitor in this category.
Can the Mi Max 3 take on devices like the Nova 3i? That’s what we’re about to see in our Xiaomi Mi Max 3 versus Huawei Nova 3i specifications and features comparison.
| Xiaomi Mi Max 3 | Huawei Nova 3i | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo MIUI 9 | Android 8.1 Oreo EMUI 8.2 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby Hybrid | Dual SIM Dual Standby Hybrid |
| Display | 6.9-inch Full HD+ 18:9 IPS 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution ~349ppi 84% NTSC color gamut | 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution ~409ppi 19:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 1.8GHz octa-core Snapdragon 636 octa-core | 2.2GHz HiSilicon Kirin 710 octa-core |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Mali-G51 GPU Turbo Technology |
| Storage | 64GB expandable via microSD up to 256GB | 128GB expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel f/2.0 | 24-megapixel + 2-megapixel f/2.0 AR Lens/ 3D Qmoji |
| Rear Camera | 12-megapixel + 5-megapixel f/1.9 Dual-pixel AF AI scene detection LED flash | 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel f/2.2 PDAF AI scene detection LED flash |
| Audio | Stereo speakers | Single loudspeaker Headphone Jack |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner Face Unlock | Fingerprint scanner Face Unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS FM Radio Infrared Blaster USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS FM Radio microUSB |
| Dimensions | 176.15 × 87.4 × 7.99mm | 157.6 x 75.2 x 7.6mm |
| Weight | 221g | 169g |
| Colors | Black Champagne Gold Blue | Iris Purple Pearl White Black |
| Battery | 5,500mAh non-removable Quick Charge 3.0 | 3,340mAh non-removable |
| Price | Php14,990 | Php15,990 |
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is really an interesting, blown-up-in-some-areas kind of smartphone. However, the table above shows that the Huawei Nova 3i has more compelling specs overall.
Let’s talk about the Mi Max 3 first. As you can see, one of its “biggest” strengths is its gigantic 6.9-inch FHD+ screen, which is obviously bigger than the 6.3-inch screen of the Nova 3i.
Partnered with its stereo speaker setup, watching movies and videos on this thing is a sure treat.
Since it has a bigger chassis, Xiaomi was able to cram in a large 5,500mAh battery. That’s almost 60% more than what the Nova 3i has. Also, its decent Snapdragon 636 processor can absolutely handle most mobile games today at decent frame rates.
So if you’re all about media consumption, saving that extra Php1,000 for the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is a viable option.
But if you don’t care much about the said features, then spending a bit more for the Nova 3i is a no-brainer. Its screen, despite being smaller, is still one of the best in its class. In addition, the 3,340mAh battery powering it can last for a day or two, provided that you just use it sparingly.
The Huawei Nova 3i also comes with a more powerful Kirin 710 processor. It’s partnered with a Mali-G51 graphics chip, and with the imminent release of the GPU Turbo update for this device, we expect it to have even better gaming performance.
Of course, one of its biggest strengths is the cameras. This handset has four cameras all around. On the front, there’s a 24-megapixel + 2-megapixel setup, while on the back is a 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel configuration.
This last one might not be part of the table above, but the Nova 3i obviously has a more attractive design. The glass material, together with the flashy color tones, is a real stunner. You can learn more about this device and its overall performance in our full review.
The Huawei Nova 3i has a retail price of Php15,990, while the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will be available for Php14,990.