Xiaomi's flagship-killer Poco F1 v/s Samsung's flagship Galaxy Note 9
What's the story
Comparisons are odious. But at times a comparison lends a perspective we often miss out on.
Today, it is Xiaomi's $300 flagship killer Poco F1 up against Samsung's most advanced smartphone yet - the $1,250 Galaxy Note 9.
And the idea for this faceoff is simple - disruption of the smartphone space by Chinese OEMs.
Here are the finer details.
Perspective
The disruption: Chinese OEMs and their flagship killer smartphones
A flagship killer smartphone is one which has top-end specs, lacks some features but offers value for money.
And Chinese OEMs like OnePlus and Xiaomi's sub-brand Poco have disrupted the smartphone space with their flagship killers, throwing top-end phones out of the water (spoiler alert).
Here, Poco F1 starts at Rs. 20,999 (6GB/64GB) while Galaxy Note 9's base variant costs Rs. 67,900 (6GB/128GB).
Design
At a glance
The Note 9 sports a curved display design with slim top and bottom bezels. On the back, there is a dual-camera setup and a fingerprint sensor housed in a well-crafted glass chassis.
On the other hand, the Poco F1 features the in(famous) notched display and comes with a polycarbonate back-panel which holds a dual rear-camera module and fingerprint sensor.
Winner: Note 9.
Display
All about the screen
Samsung makes the best smartphone displays. Period. But those displays come at a cost (money-wise and battery-wise).
The Note 9 sports a 6.4-inch QHD+ (2,960 x 1,440 pixels) AMOLED display with 516ppi density and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9.
The Poco F1 has a 6.18-inch full-HD+ (2246x1080) display with 403ppi and 18.7:9 aspect ratio.
Winner: Note 9 but Poco F1 is a good second.
Primary Camera
For the shutterbugs
The Poco F1 features a 12-megapixel (f/1.9) primary sensor with dual-pixel autofocus, paired with a 5-megapixel (f/2.0) secondary depth sensor.
Note 9 sports a dual-pixel 12-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture (f/1.5-f/2.4), coupled with a 12-megapixel (f/2.4) telephoto sensor with 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom.
Winner: Note 9 for better optics but again Poco F1 offers really good images in decent lighting.
Selfie Camera
For the love of Selfies
Up front, the Poco F1 has a 20-megapixel camera and comes with AI-based Portrait mode and Scene detection.
On the other hand, the Note 9 has an 8MP f/1.7 sensor and AI-based enhancements.
And while Note 9 has a better sensor to allow for more light, the Poco F1 is no slouch here with the extra pixels and AI-based enhancements.
Winner: Poco F1.
Internals
All the important stuff
The Note 9 gets Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor/Exynos 9810 chipset, paired with 6GB/8GB RAM and 128GB/512GB storage (supports up to 512GB microSD card) and in-built liquid cooling technology.
Similarly, Poco F1 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with dedicated LiquidCool Technology, paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB/256GB of inbuilt storage (expandable up to 256GB).
Winner: Poco F1 (considering price factor).
Sensors & Software
Lifeblood of your smartphone
In terms of sensors, both the phones get a standard array of sensors including an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and gyroscope among others.
Further, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 offers Iris Scanning while Poco F1 has IR-based face unlock feature.
In terms of software, both phones run a forked version of Android Oreo.
Winner: Tie, considering it really is about personal preference here.
Battery & Connectivity
Staying connected
Both the Note 9 and Poco F1 pack a 4,000mAh battery with support for fast charging. However, Samsung has the added benefit of wireless charging which isn't too mainstream yet.
In terms of connectivity, both have all the standard ports and connectivity features as one would expect from high-end flagships.
That said, Note 9 has two advantages - S Pen and inbuilt DeX system.
Our result
How things stack up!
While Note 9 is undoubtedly a top-end smartphone, in terms of pricing, it can't hold ground in front of Poco F1.
F1 may have compromised on a premium-finish, wireless charging, and other tidbits but these aren't really the deciding factors.
With top-end specs, decent cameras, and a fine display, Poco F1 is a no-brainer for those looking for gaming, video streaming, and social networking.