The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Realme 8i and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 are two popular contenders. Both offer compelling features at attractive price points, but which one reigns supreme? This detailed comparison will break down every aspect, from display quality to battery life, to help you make the right choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 edges out the Realme 8i thanks to its faster charging, brighter display, and generally more refined software experience. While the Realme 8i boasts impressive battery endurance, the Redmi Note 10's overall package makes it the slightly better pick for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 09 | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, September 14 | Available. Released 2021, March 16 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.1 x 75.5 x 8.5 mm (6.46 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 194 g (6.84 oz) | 178.8 g (6.31 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant (market/region dependent) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (peak) | Super AMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 1100 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6781 Helio G96 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SDM678 Snapdragon 678 (11 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Adreno 612 |
| OS | Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | Panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | FM radio, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 33W wired, 50% in 25 min, 100% in 74 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Space Black, Space Purple | Shadow Black (Onyx Gray), Frost White (Pebble White), Aqua Green (Lake Green) |
| Models | RMX3151 | M2101K7AI, M2101K7AG |
| Price | About 440 EUR | € 159.99 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 131h
|
Endurance rating 110h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.4 LUFS (Average)
|
-26.2 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 218788 (v8)
GeekBench: 2860 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme 8i
- Exceptional battery life
- Smooth performance for everyday tasks
- Good value for money
- Slower charging speed
- Less bright display
- Software could be more refined
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
- Faster charging
- Brighter display
- More polished software experience
- Slightly better performance
- Shorter battery life compared to Realme 8i
- Contrast ratio claim is nominal
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 takes the display crown. While the Realme 8i's 1244:1 contrast ratio is impressive, the Redmi Note 10's significantly higher 682 nits brightness makes it much easier to view outdoors. The Redmi Note 10 also boasts an 'infinite' contrast ratio (though this is a nominal value), suggesting excellent black levels. Both phones feature similar resolutions and refresh rates (typically 60Hz), so the brightness difference is the key factor.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is fairly close. Both phones offer versatile camera setups, but the Redmi Note 10 often produces slightly more vibrant and detailed images, particularly in well-lit conditions. Low-light performance is comparable. Video recording capabilities are similar on both devices.
Performance
The Redmi Note 10's Snapdragon 678 generally offers slightly better performance than the Realme 8i's Helio G96. While both are capable of handling everyday tasks, the Snapdragon 678 tends to be more efficient and provides a smoother experience in demanding apps and games. The CPU architecture differences also contribute to this advantage.
Battery Life
The Realme 8i shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 131 hours, significantly higher than the Redmi Note 10's 110 hours. However, the Redmi Note 10 compensates with its much faster 33W charging, reaching 50% in just 25 minutes and 100% in 74 minutes, while the Realme 8i is limited to 18W charging.
Buying Guide
The Realme 8i is ideal for users prioritizing maximum battery life and a smooth, albeit slightly less feature-rich, experience. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a better choice for those who value faster charging, a brighter display, and a more polished software experience with added features.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone has better gaming performance?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 generally offers slightly better gaming performance due to its Snapdragon 678 chipset.
❓ Is the Redmi Note 10's 'infinite' contrast ratio accurate?
The 'infinite' contrast ratio claim is largely a marketing term and not a measurable value. However, the Redmi Note 10's display still offers excellent black levels.
