Released in close proximity, the Meizu Note 8 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 represent a pivotal moment in the budget smartphone market. Both devices aimed to deliver a compelling experience without breaking the bank, but they took slightly different approaches. This comparison dissects the key differences between the Snapdragon 632-powered Meizu Note 8 and the Snapdragon 660-equipped Redmi Note 7, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and slightly faster charging, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 emerges as the better choice. The Snapdragon 660 offers a noticeable CPU performance uplift, and Quick Charge 4 support provides a more versatile charging experience, despite both phones having similar endurance ratings.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 - China | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA - China | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, October. Released 2018, November | 2019, January 10. Released 2019, February 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 153.6 x 75.5 x 7.9 mm (6.05 x 2.97 x 0.31 in) | 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 168 g (5.93 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM632 Snapdragon 632 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 512 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), Flyme 7.3 | Android 9.0 (Pie), planned upgrade to Android 10, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens
or
12 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60/120fps, (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 а/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 24W wired | 18W wired, QC4 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3600 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, Red, Pink | Blue, Black, Twilight Gold, White |
| Models | - | M1901F7G, M1901F7H, M1901F7I |
| Price | About 200 EUR | About 170 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.17 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -90.7dB / Crosstalk -94.5dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 108h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1338:1 (nominal), 2.893 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 69dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 90dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 139075 (v7)
GeekBench: 5411 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 7.7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Meizu Note 8
- Potentially cleaner software experience (Meizu OS)
- 24W wired charging (though QC support is unknown)
- May appeal to users seeking a less mainstream brand
- Snapdragon 632 offers lower CPU performance
- Camera specifications are unknown, likely inferior to Redmi Note 7
- Less widespread community support and software updates
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
- Snapdragon 660 provides a noticeable performance boost
- 18W charging with Quick Charge 4 support
- Larger user base and MIUI ecosystem
- MIUI can be resource-intensive and include bloatware
- Similar display specifications to the Meizu Note 8
- May not appeal to users seeking a minimalist software experience
Display Comparison
Both the Meizu Note 8 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 share the same nominal contrast ratio of 1338:1 and a sunlight contrast ratio of 2.893, suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, detailed panel specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the era, both likely utilized IPS LCD panels. The absence of high refresh rate technology on either device is typical for this price point, focusing instead on delivering a functional and visually acceptable display experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but specifics are lacking. The Redmi Note 7 gained notoriety for its 12MP main sensor, which, while not groundbreaking, delivered solid image quality for its price. The Meizu Note 8’s camera specifications are unknown, making a direct comparison difficult. However, given the market positioning, it’s unlikely to surpass the Redmi Note 7 in image quality. The presence of a 2MP depth sensor on the Redmi Note 7 suggests portrait mode functionality, but the quality would be limited. Without detailed sensor information, it’s safe to assume the Redmi Note 7 offers a more consistently reliable camera experience.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7’s Snapdragon 660 boasts a CPU clocked up to 2.2 GHz, utilizing Kryo 260 Gold cores, compared to the Meizu Note 8’s Snapdragon 632 with its 1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold cores. This translates to a tangible performance advantage for the Redmi Note 7 in CPU-intensive tasks and multitasking. While both are 14nm chips, the 660’s architecture provides a performance edge. The GPU within the 660 will also offer a better gaming experience, though neither phone is designed for demanding titles. RAM configurations are not specified, but the 660’s superior processing power will be more effectively utilized with adequate RAM.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 108 hours, indicating comparable battery life under similar usage conditions. However, the Redmi Note 7 benefits from 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support, offering faster and more versatile charging options compared to the Meizu Note 8’s 24W wired charging. While 24W sounds higher, the lack of QC support on the Meizu Note 8 means it may not consistently deliver that wattage with all chargers. The Redmi Note 7’s QC4 compatibility allows it to negotiate optimal charging speeds with a wider range of power adapters.
Buying Guide
Buy the Meizu Note 8 if you prioritize a clean, minimalist software experience and are comfortable with potentially less widespread community support. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 if you value proven performance, a more robust camera system, and the benefits of Xiaomi’s extensive MIUI ecosystem and Quick Charge compatibility. The Redmi Note 7 is the safer bet for users seeking a well-rounded, reliable device.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 660 in the Redmi Note 7 experience significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 660 isn't a flagship chip, it generally manages thermal throttling reasonably well for its class. Expect some performance reduction after extended gaming, but it shouldn't be severe enough to render games unplayable. The Redmi Note 7’s larger chassis likely aids in heat dissipation compared to more compact devices.
❓ Is the 24W charging on the Meizu Note 8 actually faster than the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 7, given the lack of Quick Charge support?
Despite the higher wattage, the Meizu Note 8’s 24W charging is unlikely to be consistently faster than the Redmi Note 7’s 18W charging with Quick Charge 4. Quick Charge allows the Redmi Note 7 to negotiate higher voltages and currents with compatible chargers, resulting in faster charging speeds in practice. Without QC, the Meizu Note 8 may be limited by the charging protocol.
❓ Which phone is more likely to receive software updates and security patches over time?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is significantly more likely to receive continued software updates and security patches. Xiaomi has a much larger development team and a stronger track record of supporting its devices compared to Meizu, which has faced financial difficulties and reduced software support in recent years.
