Xiaomi Mi 9 SE vs Realme 3 Pro specs comparison

As expected, we see more capable mid-range smartphones in the market, and just this month, two smartphone brands have released their latest offerings – the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE and the Realme 3 Pro. Given their specs and pricing, let’s find out which one looks better on paper.

Summary of advantages

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE:
• Higher screen PPI count
• Slightly higher CPU clock speed
• UFS 2.1 storage
• Triple rear cameras w/ higher resolution
• NFC
• IR Blaster
• USB Type-C
• In-display fingerprint scanner

Realme 3 Pro:
• Larger screen
• 4GB RAM model
• Expandable storage w/ dedicated microSD card slot
• Higher front camera resolution
• 3.5mm audio port
• Larger battery
• More affordable

Display

It looks like both smartphones have plenty of advantages over the other. When it comes to the display, the Realme 3 Pro’s IPS screen is larger, which is good for those who want the biggest screen possible for watching videos or gaming. Although Mi 9 SE’s Super AMOLED is smaller, it has a higher pixel count but only by a mere 23ppi. Both have notched screens and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Quality is different on both, but if you want punchier colors and deeper blacks, you can go with the Mi 9 SE, for more natural colors, you can go with the Realme 3 Pro.

Camera

For the cameras, the Mi 9 SE has the advantage of having three rear cameras, providing users with more versatile shooting experiences. The cameras also have a higher resolution compared to the Realme 3 Pro. For selfies, the Realme 3 Pro wins for having a higher front camera resolution. As for the quality, we’ll know which one is better once we’re done reviewing the Mi 9 SE.

Memory

When it comes to storage, both units are available in 64GB and 128GB capacities, but the Mi 9 SE has UFS 2.1 for faster read/write speeds. However, the Realme 3 Pro wins for expandability as it supports microSD cards with a dedicated slot. For the RAM, the Realme 3 Pro is offered in 4GB and 6GB capacities, while the Mi 9 SE only has 6GB. The Realme 3 Pro’s lower RAM offering gives it an advantage in pricing, which we’ll discuss later.

Performance

Snapdragon chipsets power the two devices. The Mi 9 SE has the Snapdragon 712 while the Realme 3 Pro has the Snapdragon 710. They also have the same Adreno 616 GPU. The only difference between them is that the 712 has a slightly higher clock speed.

Looking at the benchmark scores of both devices, Both have almost the same level of performance with the Mi 9 SE scoring higher in most aspects.

Battery

This is the part where the part has a disparity. The Mi 9 SE has a 3,070mAh battery with an 18W Fast Charge while the Realme 3 Pro has a larger 4,045mAh battery with 20W VOOC 3.0 Flash Charge. Although the Realme 3 Pro wins in capacity, it’s a different story when it comes to our battery test. As the Mi 9 SE got 17 hours and 10 minutes worth of playback, while the Realme 3 Pro got 12 hours and 44 minutes. This can be attributed to the type of panel used and software.

Other features

When it comes to features, the Mi 9 SE has NFC, IR blaster, and USB Type-C, which are convenient to have. The Realme 3 Pro, on the other hand, has a 3.5mm audio port, which is handy if you don’t like dongles to use your favorite wired headphones. Both have fingerprint scanners, but we like the in-display type on the Mi 9 SE.

Price

Lastly, the price. Take a look at them below.

Mi 9 SE:
• 6GB + 64GB: PHP 15,990USD 272INR 23,099EUR 260CNY 1,984
• 6GB + 128GB: PHP 17,990USD 307INR 25,988EUR 292CNY 2,233

Realme 3 Pro:
• 4GB + 64GB: PHP 12,990USD 221INR 18,765EUR 211CNY 1,612
• 6GB + 128GB: PHP 14,990USD 255INR 21,655EUR 243CNY 1,860

The Realme 3 Pro is the most accessible of the two starting at PHP 12,990USD 221INR 18,765EUR 211CNY 1,612 for the 4GB + 64GB configuration which is a good starting point for a casual user. Plus, you can enjoy all the features such as expandable storage and higher selfie camera resolution. Even with the 6GB + 128GB model, it’s still priced below the Mi 9 SE’s starter. But if you have a bigger budget, and want the triple rear cameras, USB Type-C, and in-display fingerprint scanner, among others, then you can’t go wrong with the Mi 9 SE.