Meizu 16T vs Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium: Which Snapdragon 855 Phone Reigns Supreme?

The Meizu 16T and Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium represent a fascinating point in smartphone history – the twilight of the Snapdragon 855 era. Both devices offered flagship performance at increasingly competitive prices. However, subtle but significant differences in chipset, charging, and overall design separate these two contenders, making the choice less straightforward than it appears.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium is the better buy. Its Snapdragon 855+ chipset provides a noticeable performance edge, and the 27W fast charging significantly reduces downtime. While the Meizu 16T offers a clean software experience, the K20 Pro Premium’s superior power and charging capabilities outweigh this advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Meizu 16T Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMACDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2019, October. Released 2019, October2019, September. Released 2019, September
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions159.6 x 78.2 x 8.3 mm (6.28 x 3.08 x 0.33 in)156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight183 g (6.46 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2232 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~382 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 106.3 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 430 nits (typ)Super AMOLED, HDR10
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 640 (700 MHz)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), Flyme 8Android 10, MIUI 11
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm, PDAF48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µmMotorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoYes
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired27W wired, QC4
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsOrange, Blue, GreenCarbon black, Flame red, Glacier blue, Summer Honey, Pearl White
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 450 EUR

Meizu 16T

  • Potentially cleaner software experience (Meizu Flyme OS)
  • Sleek and minimalist design
  • Competitive price point

  • Slower 18W charging
  • Less powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset
  • Potentially limited software updates

Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium

  • More powerful Snapdragon 855+ chipset
  • Faster 27W charging with QC4
  • Feature-rich MIUI software

  • MIUI can be bloated with pre-installed apps
  • Pop-up camera mechanism adds a potential point of failure
  • Software updates can be inconsistent

Display Comparison

Both devices likely feature AMOLED panels, common for this price point. However, detailed display specs (resolution, peak brightness, color gamut) are missing. The Meizu 16T’s design emphasizes slim bezels, potentially offering a slightly more immersive viewing experience. The K20 Pro Premium, with its pop-up camera, achieves a similar effect, but the mechanism introduces a potential point of failure. Without specific nit ratings, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the K20 Pro Premium’s larger screen size (based on typical K20 Pro variants) could translate to a more comfortable viewing experience for media consumption.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera specs are unavailable, but both phones likely feature multi-camera setups. The K20 Pro Premium, being the 'Premium' variant, may have a larger main sensor or a more sophisticated image processing pipeline. The Snapdragon 855+’s improved ISP (Image Signal Processor) also contributes to better image quality, particularly in low-light conditions. Without knowing sensor sizes and lens apertures, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the K20 Pro Premium’s superior processing power gives it an edge in computational photography.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipset: the Meizu 16T utilizes the Snapdragon 855, while the K20 Pro Premium boasts the Snapdragon 855+. The ‘+’ variant features a slightly higher clock speed (2.96 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the Kryo 485 prime core) and an improved GPU. This translates to a roughly 15% performance uplift in GPU-intensive tasks like gaming. While both phones share the same CPU core configuration (1x2.84/2.96 GHz, 3x2.42 GHz, 4x1.78/1.8 GHz), the 855+’s enhanced thermal management allows it to sustain peak performance for longer periods, reducing throttling during extended gaming sessions. The K20 Pro Premium’s advantage is further amplified by potentially faster RAM speeds (LPDDR5 vs LPDDR4X, though not explicitly stated).

Battery Life

The Meizu 16T’s 18W charging is significantly slower than the K20 Pro Premium’s 27W charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support. This means the K20 Pro Premium can replenish its battery much faster, a crucial advantage for power users. While battery capacity isn’t specified, the faster charging speed effectively mitigates any potential capacity difference. The K20 Pro Premium’s QC4 support also offers wider compatibility with various chargers, ensuring optimal charging speeds.

Buying Guide

Buy the Meizu 16T if you prioritize a minimalist software experience and a potentially more refined user interface, and are willing to trade some raw performance and charging speed. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro Premium if you demand the best possible performance from the Snapdragon 855 family, need faster charging to keep you going throughout the day, and appreciate a feature-rich MIUI experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Will the Redmi K20 Pro Premium’s Snapdragon 855+ overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 855+ can generate heat, the K20 Pro Premium’s improved thermal management system (compared to the standard 855) and larger chassis help to dissipate heat more effectively. You may experience some throttling after extended periods of intense gaming, but it will be less severe than on the Meizu 16T.
❓ Does the Meizu 16T’s Flyme OS offer a significantly different experience compared to Xiaomi’s MIUI?
Yes, Flyme OS is known for its minimalist design and focus on simplicity, offering a cleaner user interface than MIUI. However, MIUI provides a wider range of customization options and features. The choice depends on your preference for a streamlined or feature-rich experience.
❓ Is the difference in performance between the Snapdragon 855 and 855+ noticeable in everyday tasks?
In everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and video playback, the difference is minimal. However, the 855+ shines in demanding applications like gaming, video editing, and multitasking, providing a smoother and more responsive experience.