The HTC Desire 610 was a popular budget option, but the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro arrived with significantly upgraded specs. This comparison dives deep into both phones to help you decide which one is the better choice for your needs, especially considering their age and current availability.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the clear winner. Its superior processor, better camera, larger battery, and faster charging easily outpace the HTC Desire 610. While the Desire 610 might be found at a lower price, the Redmi Note 5 Pro offers significantly more value.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - EU, EMEA | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 7, 8, 20 - EU, EMEA | 1, 3, 5, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 2, 4, 5, 17 - USA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2014, February. Released 2014, May | 2018, February 14. Released 2018, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143.1 x 70.5 x 9.6 mm (5.63 x 2.78 x 0.38 in) | 158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.24 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 143.5 g (5.04 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) |
| Resolution | 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~234 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~60.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 305 | Adreno 509 |
| OS | Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), Sense UI 5.5 | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9, MIUI 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 1.3 MP | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/operator dependent) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC2 |
| Stand-by | Up to 650 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 16 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Po 2040 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Red, Gray, Green | Black, Champagne Gold, Rose Gold, Lake Blue |
| Models | Desire 610 | MEI7S, MEI7 |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.33 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 107737 (v7)
GeekBench: 4696 (v4.4) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 107737 (v7)
GeekBench: 4696 (v4.4) |
HTC Desire 610
- Compact size
- Simple interface
- Affordable (if found)
- Outdated processor
- Low resolution display
- Poor battery life
- Slow charging
- Basic camera
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
- Powerful processor
- Large and sharp display
- Excellent battery life
- Fast charging
- Good camera
- More RAM and Storage
- Design may feel dated
- MIUI software can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 5 Pro boasts a larger 5.99-inch display compared to the Desire 610's 5.0-inch screen. Both use IPS LCD panels, but the Redmi Note 5 Pro's higher resolution (1080 x 2160) results in a sharper and more vibrant viewing experience. The Desire 610's smaller screen might be preferable for one-handed use.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 5 Pro features a 12MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus and a 5MP front camera. The Desire 610 has a 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. Image quality is noticeably better on the Redmi Note 5 Pro, with more detail, better dynamic range, and improved low-light performance. The Redmi Note 5 Pro also offers features like HDR and portrait mode.
Performance
The Redmi Note 5 Pro's Octa-core Snapdragon 636 is a massive upgrade over the Desire 610's Quad-core Snapdragon 400. The Kryo 260 cores offer significantly better performance in both CPU and GPU intensive tasks. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming on the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a significantly larger 4000mAh battery compared to the Desire 610's 2100mAh battery. This translates to much longer battery life on the Redmi Note 5 Pro, easily lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use. The Redmi Note 5 Pro also supports 18W fast charging, a feature absent in the Desire 610.
Buying Guide
The HTC Desire 610 is suitable for users needing a basic phone for calls, texts, and very light app usage, and who are on an extremely tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is ideal for users who want a smooth experience, a good camera, and all-day battery life without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the HTC Desire 610 still worth buying?
Generally no. Its outdated specs make it difficult to recommend unless you're on an extremely limited budget and only need basic functionality.
❓ Where can I find these phones?
The HTC Desire 610 is likely only available through used marketplaces. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro can also be found on used marketplaces or through importers.