Realme 8 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G: A Detailed Showdown

The mid-range 5G smartphone market is heating up, and the Realme 8 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G are two strong contenders. Both offer 5G connectivity and a compelling feature set at an affordable price. But which one comes out on top? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G edges out the Realme 8 5G thanks to its brighter display and slightly better battery endurance. Both offer similar performance and camera capabilities, making the display the deciding factor for most users. Ultimately, both are excellent value for money.

PHONES
Phone Names Realme 8 5G Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66
5G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India-
Launch
Announced2021, April 212021, March 04
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, April 28Available. Released 2021, April 28
Body
BuildGlass front, plastic frame, plastic backGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.96 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight185 g (6.53 oz)190 g (6.70 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, 90Hz, 480 nits (typ), 600 nitsIPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 500 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G57 MC2Mali-G57 MC2
OSAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0Android 11, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Triple48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR-
Single16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes
 24-bit/192kHz audio24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioUnspecifiedFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired18W wired
Type5000 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsSupersonic Blue, Supersonic BlackChrome Silver, Graphite Gray, Nighttime Blue, Aurora Green
ModelsRMX3241M2103K19G, M2103K19C
PriceAbout 170 EUR€ 96.62 / £ 107.59
SAR-0.94 W/kg (head)     1.06 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.54 W/kg (head)     0.90 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 118h Endurance rating 121h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1413:1 (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1795:1 (nominal)
Loudspeaker -27.8 LUFS (Good) -27.0 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 302059 (v8), 361505 (v9) GeekBench: 1784 (v5.1) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Realme 8 5G

  • Slightly more compact design
  • Potentially lower price
  • Decent performance

  • Lower display brightness
  • Slightly shorter battery life
  • 18W charging is slow

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G

  • Brighter display
  • Slightly longer battery life
  • Good value for money

  • Larger size
  • 18W charging is slow
  • Average low-light camera performance

Display Comparison

The Redmi Note 10 5G boasts a significant advantage in display quality. While both offer a respectable contrast ratio (1413:1 for Realme, 1795:1 for Xiaomi), the Redmi Note 10 5G's measured peak brightness of 492 nits is noticeably higher than the Realme 8 5G's, resulting in better visibility in outdoor conditions. Both use similar LCD panels, so color accuracy is comparable, but the Redmi's brightness makes a difference.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is expected to be comparable. Both phones feature a primary camera setup likely around 48MP, along with ultrawide and macro lenses. Image quality in good lighting should be similar, with both phones capable of capturing decent photos and videos. Low-light performance will likely be average for this price range. Software processing will be a key differentiator.

Performance

Both phones share the same Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset and CPU configuration, meaning performance will be very similar in everyday tasks and gaming. Expect smooth multitasking and decent gaming performance at medium settings. There are no significant performance differences to report.

Battery Life

Battery life is a close call. The Redmi Note 10 5G has a slightly higher endurance rating (121h) compared to the Realme 8 5G (118h). In real-world usage, this translates to a few extra hours of battery life on the Redmi Note 10 5G. Both phones support 18W wired charging, which is relatively slow by modern standards.

Buying Guide

The Realme 8 5G is a great choice for users prioritizing a slightly more compact design and potentially a lower price point (depending on retailer). The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G is ideal for those who value a brighter, more vibrant display and a marginally longer battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What is the difference in camera quality between the two phones?
While both phones have similar camera hardware, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G's software processing might offer slightly better results. However, overall camera quality is comparable in good lighting conditions.
❓ Is 18W charging slow?
Yes, 18W charging is relatively slow compared to the faster charging speeds offered by many other smartphones. Expect a full charge to take around 2-3 hours.