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ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB: Which is the best?

Created date: 2020-07-23 12:46:51

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

How are the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" different? We have tested and evaluated their differences. We also explain which one may be best for you.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

General rating:

82.1/100

(The 3005th of all smartphones)

79.1/100

(The 5243th of all smartphones)

Grip
40/100
56/100
Screen quality
80/100
80/100
Performance
100/100
99/100
Storage size
93/100
90/100
Battery
100/100
94/100
Rear-camera resolution
100/100
100/100
Front-camera resolution
100/100
100/100

What is the difference between the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"? See a detailed comparison of ease of use and performance

Comparison of weight and size of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The design of ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" is 171.0mm long, 78.0mm wide, and 9.9mm thick. It weighs 240.0g.

The design of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is 157.5mm long, 74.7mm wide, and 7.6mm thick. It weighs 173.0g.

Which is the better design to use?

In comparison, the size difference is 13.5mm in length, 3.2mm in width, and 2.3mm in thickness. Those who are looking for a phone they can use one-handedly will find the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" easier to use and carry around. "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is bigger than "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB", which makes it easier to type on it via flick input. Also, "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is more compact than "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and less bulky for the user to carry around.

The difference in weight is 67g. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is much lighter, putting less burden on the hand.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Ease of holding it in one hand54/10066/100
How much it does not feel heavy to hold in one hand0/10037/100
Ease of carrying around55/10060/100

Compare the display of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Display of the ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" uses a AMOLED liquid crystal. The resolution is 1080 x 2340, and the pixel density is 391ppi. The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" has a 6.59inch screen size.

Display of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" uses a Super AMOLED liquid crystal. The resolution is 1080 x 2340, and the pixel density is 403ppi. The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has a 6.39inch screen size.

Which has a better screen?

This makes a 0.2inch difference in the display sizes. When actually viewing the two phones' onscreen displays, it is obvious that they are roughly the same size. For doing internet research using systems such as SNS, there is not much difference between the two phones. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose. The gaming screens of these two phones are roughly the same size. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

There is very little difference in the clarity of the displays of "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when used for research, gaming, or other similar purposes. When using the smartphone as a VR, the screen is generally held much closer to the face than when using the smartphone for other purposes, and so the clarity of the screen becomes a rather important factor. When you compare how easy it is to see the VR on the two phones, it is pretty much the same.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

How suited is the screen for usual usage?80/10079/100
How suited is the screen to play games on?85/10083/100

Compare the camera performances of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Camera performance of ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

The main camera of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" has 64.0MP. The front camera has 24.0MP.

Camera performance of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The main camera of the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has 48.0MP. The front camera has 20.0MP.

Which camera performance is better?

The back cameras thus have a 16MP difference in comparison. There is very little difference in the performance (or pixel count) of "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when shooting distant objects or Instagrammable landscapes. Also, when using the rear camera to snap close shots of photogenic sweets or meals, there is very little difference between the pixel counts of the two phones. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

There is a 4MP difference in front camera pixel number. When shooting objects or people with the front phone camera from a short distance, such as taking a selfie with a selfie-stick, there is very little difference between the pixel counts of the two phones, even when it comes to the scenery in the background of such photographs. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose. There is not much difference between the pixel counts of "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when it comes to taking close-up photographs such as selfies or profile pics with the front phone camera.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Is is suited to taking far away objects with the rear camera?100/100100/100
Is it suited for taking close objects with the built-in camera?100/100100/100

Comparison of the processing capabilities of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The processing capability of the ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Performance is defined by the chipset, and the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" uses the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865+ SoC. The CPU performance is 3.1GHz+2.42GHz+1.8GHz×8(8.0-cores). The memory capacity is 16.0GB.

The processing capability of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Performance is defined by the chipset, and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" uses the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 SoC. The CPU performance is 2.84GHz+2.42GHz+1.78GHz×8(8.0-cores). The memory capacity is 12.0GB.

Which has the better processing capability?

The CPU specs are the same for both phones. This is a 4GB difference in memory capacity. There is very little difference in memory capacity. Both phones are similarly efficient as multitasking tools.

For phone calls, emails, messaging, using SNS or most fundamental features, the differences between the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" are not large at all. For people who mainly use their phones to look things up online, watch videos and play games occasionally I can recommend the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" equally. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

There is basically no difference between "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" when playing 2D games or basic 3D games. Functionality is about the same for full-scale 3D games, no matter which phone model is used. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the CPU capbility and memory capacity when using Social Networks or the Internet100/100100/100
Review on the CPU speed and the memory capacity while playing 3D games100/10099/100

Comparison of the battery life of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

Battery performance of ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" has a battery capacity of 6000.0mAh.

Battery performance of Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has a battery capacity of 3300.0mAh.

Which battery perfomances is better?

This makes a difference in battery capacity of 2700mAh, but it is not enough to only compare the capacity. With a high-performance CPU, the battery drains faster, and a larger screen also uses more battery.

The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" is also a great choice for those who only use their phone for occasional phone calls or for checking the time. For average daily use, for example looking things up online, SNS, gaming or occasionally checking your screen I can recommend the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" slightly more. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

The battery life of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" is well equipped to handle long hours of gaming, video playback, and other kinds of frequent daily use. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the battery life of a phone mainly using Social Networks and the Internet100/10094/100
Review on the battery life of a phone mainly using mainly games and videos100/10085/100

Compare the storage capacity of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

The storage capacity of the ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

The "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" has 512.0GB of internal memory.

The storage capacity of the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

The "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" has 256.0GB of internal memory.

Which has the easier storage to use?

The difference in internal memory is about 256GB. If you are only downloading a few games and apps (such as SNS) to use on your phone, it really doesn't matter if you choose "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". If you are hoping to install many different games on their phone, the amount of storage is the same no matter which of these two devices you choose to buy. Both the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" can be easily used for this kind of purpose.

Because the speed of loading from or saving to the SD card is slow, it is suited for saving pictures or videos.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Review on the storage capacity when playing many games93/10090/100
Review on when you store many pictures and videos - -

Which to buy, the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"

At the end of the day which is better, the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" or "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB"?

If you're looking for something that's easy to hold, the compact "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is a great choice. If choosing based on screen size, there is hardly any difference between "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". There isn't much difference between "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" in terms of performance or specifications. Because both have advantages and disadvantages, I think that it is best to stick to the most important points that you want to emphasize.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB

Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB

Handling40/10056/100
Display80/10080/100
CPU specs100/10099/100
General rating84/10084/100

Is it recommended to buy the ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB, compared with other smartphones?

Compared to other smartphones, the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" is averagely easy to hold. Although it can be a little difficult, it is the right size to be able to operate with one hand. The screen size is larger than that of standard smartphones. It is suited for typing long texts and so can be used to read or edit office texts. In addition, its processing capability is quite excellent compared to the average smart phone. It is suitable for almost all uses, including games and VR. It may be a bit extravagant for normal use. Looking at the overall specifications, the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" is a high-end smart phone.

Is it recommended to buy the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB, compared with other smartphones?

Compared to other smartphones, the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is averagely easy to hold. Although it can be a little difficult, it is the right size to be able to operate with one hand. The screen size is larger than that of standard smartphones. It is suited for typing long texts and so can be used to read or edit office texts. In addition, its processing capability is quite excellent compared to the average smart phone. It is suitable for almost all uses, including games and VR. It may be a bit extravagant for normal use. Looking at the overall specifications, the "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" is a high-end smart phone.

What are the spec differences between the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB" ?

A summary of the technical specifications of the "ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GB" and "Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB". Functions and performance variations on the same model will be highlighted in red.

ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
ROG Phone 3 ZS661KS 512GBXiaomi Mi 9 Explorer 256GB
ColorBlack GlareTransparent Black
OSAndroidAndroid
Dimensions (width x height x thickness)78.0mm x 171.0mm x 9.9mm74.7mm x 157.5mm x 7.6mm
Weight240.0g173.0g
Display size6.59inch6.39inch
Display typeAMOLEDSuper AMOLED
Screen resolution (width x height)1080 x 23401080 x 2340
Pixel density391ppi403ppi
Battery capacity6000.0mAh3300.0mAh
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865+Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855
CPU specs3.1GHz+2.42GHz+1.8GHz×8(8.0-cores)2.84GHz+2.42GHz+1.78GHz×8(8.0-cores)
RAM size16.0GB12.0GB
Storage size512.0GB256.0GB
Rear-camera resolution64.0MP48.0MP
Front-camera resolution24.0MP20.0MP

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