The entry of Chinese vendor Xiaomi into the Indian smartphone arena is a major happening and it will be a great competitor to the already existing devices with its impressive specs and reasonable price tag. Another handset that has made a twist in the market is the previous generation Nexus smartphone – Nexus 5. If you are looking for a powerful smartphone, here we come up with a detailed spec comparison between the two handsets.
Display and Processor
Like most of the other yesteryear flagship smartphones, both the Nexus 5 and Xiaomi Mi3 flaunt 5 inch displays that carry FHD screen resolutions of 1920×1080 pixels resulting in an identical pixel density of 441 pixels per inch. While the display on the Xiaomi phone is an IPS LCD panel, the one in the Nexus 5 is a True HD IPS+ display renders more information at a glance, sharper and crisper text, true natural colors and automatic color adjustments. Furthermore, both the displays are layered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection that makes them scratch resistant.
Both phones come with the same processor, which is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC housing 2.3 GHz quad-core Krait 400 processor and Adreno 330 graphics unit. This processor is one of the most powerful chipsets available in the market powering mobile devices. Both devices feature the same amount of RAM as well standing at 2 GB, which means both will deliver above average multi-tasking experience. Hence, in terms of processing power, both the smartphones will deliver similar performance without much difference.
Camera and Internal Storage
In terms of photography capabilities, the Nexus 5 arrives with an 8 MP primary snapper with auto focus, LED flash, optical image stabilization, HDR, dual recording and FHD 1080p video recording with optical stabilization. This is paired with a 1.3 MP front-facer for video conferencing and selfies. In comparison, the Xiaomi Mi3 packs a 13 MP primary shooter with auto focus, dual LED flash for better performance under low ambient light conditions, HDR and FHD 1080p video recording. Also onboard is a 2 MP front-facer with the ability to make FHD 1080p video calls.
While the Nexus 5 offers 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage options, the Xiaomi phone packs only 16 GB of native storage capacity. Moreover, both the smartphones are devoid a micro SD card slot ruling out the option to expand the storage using a micro SD card.
Battery and Features
Another segment dominated by the Xiaomi Mi3 is the battery power as the handset houses a 3,050 mAh battery that delivers an impressive 25 hours of talk time and 500 hours of standby time. In comparison, the Nexus 5 features a 2,300 mAh battery that can pump in a backup of 17 hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby time.
Both the handsets have received the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system that is the most recent flavor of Android with sufficient resources and latest features. Otherwise, both the phones have similar connectivity aspects including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 3G and USB OTG for easier transfer of content between two devices without a host.
Key Specs
| Model | Google Nexus 5 | Xiaomi Mi3 |
| Display | 5 inch, FHD | 5 inch, FHD |
| Processor | 2.3 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 800 | 2.3 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 800 |
| RAM | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Internal Storage | 16 GB/ 32 GB, Non-Expandable | 16 GB GB, Non-Expandable |
| OS | Android 4.4 KitKat | Android 4.4 KitKat based MIUI |
| Camera | 8 MP/ 1.3 MP | 13 MP/ 2 MP |
| Batteryappa | 2,300 mAh | 3,050 mAh |
| Price | approx 28,000 INR | Rs 13,999 |
Price and Conclusion
The pricing is one of the greatest advantages of the Xiaomi Mi3 as the device is priced reasonably at Rs 14,999 despite of its advanced specifications. Also, the handset takes advantage of its hardware with the inclusion of a juicy battery with long hours of backup and a better camera with dual LED flash. On the other hand, the Nexus 5 being a Google product will receive prompt updates from the firm making it feature rich.
