The POCO M3 Pro 5G went official in India on Wednesday. It shares the title for “the most affordable 5G smartphone in India” with the Realme 8 5G, as both the phones come with a starting price of Rs 13,999. Apart from being priced similarly, the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G feature identical displays, cameras, processors, and battery capacities. So, no doubt that it is a tough choice between the two smartphones. So, which affordable 5G phone should you buy? Well, let us compare the POCO M3 Pro 5G and Realme 8 5G prices in India and specifications to see which one is worth your money.
POCO M3 Pro 5G vs Realme 8 5G: prices in India
The POCO M3 Pro 5G price in India is Rs 13,999 for the base variant which comes with 4GB RAM + 64GB storage. The phone is also available in a 6GB+128GB configuration and it is priced at Rs 15,999. On the other hand, the Realme 8 5G price in India is Rs 13,999 for the 4GB+64GB version. The 4GB+128GB model of the Realme 8 5G is priced at Rs 14,999 and the 8GB+128GB configuration costs Rs 16,999. As you can see, both phones come with similar starting prices, but the Realme 8 5G is available with up to 8GB RAM, while the POCO M3 Pro offers a 6GB RAM model that is a good middle-ground.
POCO M3 Pro 5G vs Realme 8 5G: specifications
Display
The POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G have a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with a full-HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. So the main aspects of their displays are the same. The only difference between the screen of the two phones is that the one on the POCO M3 Pro 5G has centre-aligned Dot Display, while Realme 8 5G has a corner punch-hole. Since the screens of both smartphones are basically the same, it is a tie between the two smartphones in this round.
Camera
The POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G have the same rear camera setup. Both devices feature a 48MP primary camera, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. Considering that both smartphones have similar camera sensors, you can expect the image quality to be more or less the same. In addition to hardware, software plays an important role as well when it comes to photography, and we can only call a winner here after an in-depth camera comparison.
Things are different in the selfie camera department. While the POCO M3 Pro 5G has an 8MP front camera, the Realme 8 5G has a 16MP selfie snapper. While the resolution of a camera doesn’t always decide the image quality, what we have seen so far is the 16MP sensor from Realme offers better pictures than the 8MP camera from Xiaomi/POCO. So, it is fair to say that Realme 8 5G will get you better selfies.
Performance
The POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G have the same processor, the MediaTek Dimensity 700. The similarly-priced, base variants of these smartphones also offer the same 4GB/64GB configuration. So, you can expect the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G to offer similar performance. However, there is one difference.
While the POCO M3 Pro 5G maxes out at 6GB RAM, the Realme 8 5G can be had with up to 8GB RAM. While the extra RAM capacity doesn’t necessarily mean that the phone will offer you a faster performance, it will certainly allow the device to hold a higher number of apps in memory. Due to this slight advantage, the Realme 8 5G wins the performance round.
Battery
The POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G have the same battery capacity as well. Both smartphones pack a 5,000mAh battery. Plus, the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G have the same, 18W charging speed. Considering that these smartphones have a similar display, same processor, and the same battery capacity, you can expect the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G to offer a similar battery life.
Connectivity and other features
When it comes to connectivity, the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G once again have the same features. The two smartphones come with dual-SIM 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth v5.1, GPS, NFC, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Both smartphones also have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The POCO M3 Pro 5G, however, does one better. It comes with an IR Blaster as well, which allows you to control electronic devices easily.
POCO M3 Pro 5G vs Realme 8 5G: verdict
As you can see it is a very close call between the POCO M3 Pro 5G and the Realme 8 5G. Both smartphones offer you the same display and battery life experience. While the Realme 8 5G is slightly better in terms of cameras and performance, on paper, the POCO M3 Pro 5G takes the lead when it comes to connectivity options.
With all said and done, we think that you should go with the Realme 8 5G as it offers a better front camera. We take selfies frequently and having the Realme 8 5G over the POCO M3 Pro 5G will make a difference. That being said, if you are not a fan of selfies, the POCO M3 Pro is also a great option.
While you wait for the POCO M3 Pro to go on sale in India, you can check out more news about the upcoming smartphones as well as popular product recommendations on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and head to our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
