The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two popular contenders against each other: the Realme Q5 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro. Both promise a compelling experience, but which one truly reigns supreme?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Redmi Note 10 Pro offers a superior display, excellent battery life, and a more established camera reputation. However, the Realme Q5 boasts significantly faster charging and a newer chipset. Ultimately, the Redmi Note 10 Pro provides a more well-rounded package, especially for media consumption and photography.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 19, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 20 | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 28 | Available. Released 2021, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) | 164 x 76.5 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 195 g (6.88 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| | - | IP53, dust and splash resistant |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~400 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.8 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz, 600 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) | Qualcomm SM7150 Snapdragon 732G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 618 |
| OS | Android 12, Realme UI 3.0 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | - |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| 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 | 65W wired, 100% in 48 min | 33W wired, 59% in 30 min |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5020 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver, Yellow | Onyx Gray, Glacier Blue, Gradient Bronze |
| Models | RMX3478 | M2101K6G, M2101K6R |
| Price | About 200 EUR | $ 107.43 / £ 163.94 / € 144.87 |
| SAR | - | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.60 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 189.99 |
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 209.99 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 221.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 348.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.7 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 295442 (v8)
GeekBench: 1780 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme Q5
- Faster Charging (65W)
- Newer Chipset (Snapdragon 695 5G)
- Slightly better performance
- Less impressive display
- Battery life not as good
- Camera not as refined
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
- Excellent Display (AMOLED, High Brightness)
- Outstanding Battery Life
- Reputable Camera System
- Competitive Pricing
- Slower Charging (33W)
- Older Chipset (Snapdragon 732G)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 Pro takes the display crown with its 725 nits max brightness and impressive contrast ratio. While the Realme Q5 has a decent display, it lacks the same level of vibrancy and outdoor visibility. The Redmi's AMOLED panel also offers richer colors and deeper blacks.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 Pro has a reputation for its versatile camera system. While specific megapixel counts are similar, Xiaomi's image processing and software optimization are generally considered superior. The Realme Q5's camera is competent, but doesn't quite match the Redmi's overall quality.
Performance
The Realme Q5's Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, built on a 6nm process, offers a slight edge in raw performance compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro's Snapdragon 732G (8nm). This translates to slightly smoother multitasking and potentially better gaming performance, though both are capable for everyday use.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 10 Pro shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 118 hours. The Realme Q5, while offering significantly faster 65W charging, has a smaller battery and likely won't match the Redmi's longevity.
Buying Guide
The Realme Q5 is ideal for users prioritizing fast charging and a slightly more modern chipset for smoother performance in demanding apps. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is a better choice for those who value a vibrant display, long battery life, and a proven camera system, especially if budget is a key factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Realme Q5's newer chipset and slightly faster performance give it a marginal advantage for gaming, but both phones can handle most games at reasonable settings.
❓ Is the Redmi Note 10 Pro still a good buy in [current year]?
Yes, the Redmi Note 10 Pro remains a compelling option due to its excellent display, battery life, and camera, especially considering its often-discounted price.
