The Realme X3 and Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G represent a fascinating intersection of value and performance. Both devices aimed to deliver a flagship experience without the flagship price tag, but they approached this goal with different chipsets and feature sets. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best overall package in today's market.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset provides a noticeable performance uplift over the Realme X3’s Snapdragon 855+, and the 118-hour endurance rating offers significantly better battery life. While the X3 remains a capable device, the Mi 10T Pro’s advantages justify the slightly higher price.
| 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 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 25. Released 2020, June 30 | 2020, September 30. Released 2020, October 13 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163.8 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.98 x 0.35 in) | 165.1 x 76.4 x 9.3 mm (6.5 x 3.01 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 202 g (7.13 oz) | 218 g (7.69 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~399 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 105.2 cm2 (~84.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | IPS LCD, 144Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 650 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 (700 MHz) | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.5, 51mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Triple | - | 108 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
8 MP, f/2.2, 105˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | - |
| Features | Panorama | HDR |
| Single | - | 20 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, 100% in 55 min | 33W wired, PD3.0 |
| Type | 4200 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Glacier Blue, Arctic White | Cosmic Black, Lunar Silver, Aurora Blue |
| Models | RMX2142, RMX2081, RMX2085, RMX2083 | M2007J3SG, M2007J3SP, M2007J3SI, M2007J17C |
| Price | About 290 EUR | € 141.52 / £ 169.99 |
| SAR | - | 0.97 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.57 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 385.00 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | - | $ 415.00 |
| RENEWED | - | £ 564.00 |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 118h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1185:1 |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.4 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 563961 (v8)
GeekBench: 3311 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Realme X3
- Potentially more compact design (data unavailable)
- Fast 30W charging
- Competitive price point (depending on current deals)
- Older Snapdragon 855+ chipset
- Likely shorter battery life
- Lacks integrated 5G
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 865 chipset
- Excellent 118-hour battery endurance
- Integrated 5G connectivity
- Faster 33W charging with PD3.0
- Potentially larger and heavier form factor (data unavailable)
- Slightly higher price
- May experience thermal throttling under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G boasts a display capable of reaching 630 nits of peak brightness, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Realme X3 (brightness data unavailable). Both displays share a 1185:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar levels of black depth and color pop. However, the Mi 10T Pro’s larger screen size and 5G connectivity likely contribute to a higher overall power draw, potentially impacting battery life despite the larger capacity.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer a 'Photo / Video' experience, but detailed sensor information is lacking. The Mi 10T Pro’s advantage likely stems from its more modern image signal processor (ISP) integrated within the Snapdragon 865, enabling better noise reduction and dynamic range. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Mi 10T Pro’s chipset provides a foundation for superior image processing capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Realme X3 utilizes the Snapdragon 855+, while the Mi 10T Pro 5G features the Snapdragon 865. The 865, built on a 7nm+ process, offers improvements in CPU and GPU performance, as well as integrated 5G connectivity. The Mi 10T Pro’s CPU, with its Cortex-A77 cores, provides a more efficient architecture than the Kryo 485 cores in the X3. While both phones offer 8GB of RAM, the Mi 10T Pro’s superior chipset will translate to smoother multitasking and a more responsive gaming experience.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G claims an impressive endurance rating of 118 hours, suggesting significantly better battery life than the Realme X3. While the X3 offers 30W wired charging, reaching 100% in 55 minutes, the Mi 10T Pro’s 33W charging with PD3.0 support provides a slight edge in charging speed and compatibility. The larger battery capacity combined with the more efficient Snapdragon 865 chipset in the Mi 10T Pro results in a substantial advantage in real-world usage.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme X3 if you prioritize a more compact form factor and are seeking a solid performer for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, especially if you find it at a significantly discounted price. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G if you demand the best possible performance for demanding games and applications, require extended battery life, and value 5G connectivity for future-proofing.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10T Pro 5G experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 865 is a powerful chipset, it is known to generate heat under sustained load. The Mi 10T Pro 5G incorporates thermal management solutions, but users may experience some throttling during prolonged gaming. However, the overall performance advantage over the Snapdragon 855+ in the Realme X3 will likely still be noticeable.
❓ Does the Mi 10T Pro 5G's 5G connectivity actually provide a noticeable benefit in real-world usage?
The benefit of 5G depends heavily on network availability and your carrier plan. In areas with robust 5G coverage, you can expect significantly faster download and upload speeds. However, if 5G is unavailable, the phone will fall back to 4G LTE, and the 5G modem will have minimal impact on performance.
❓ Is the 30W charging on the Realme X3 sufficient for quick top-ups throughout the day?
30W charging is reasonably fast and can provide a significant charge in a short amount of time (full charge in 55 minutes). However, the Mi 10T Pro’s 33W charging with PD3.0 offers a slight advantage in charging speed and compatibility with a wider range of chargers.
