Samsung Galaxy A51 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G and Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver 5G connectivity at an accessible price point, they diverge significantly in battery endurance and charging capabilities, making them suitable for different user priorities. This comparison dives deep into their specifications to reveal which device offers the best overall experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G emerges as the winner. Its significantly superior 116-hour endurance rating, coupled with 33W fast charging, outweighs the A51 5G’s slightly brighter display. However, those heavily invested in the Samsung ecosystem may find the A51 5G a more comfortable fit.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy A51 5G Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SM-A516B/DSHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - SM-A516B/DS1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41
5G bands41, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - SM-A516B/DS1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 71 - SM-A516U-
Launch
Announced2020, April 082020, September 30. Released 2020, October 13
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, April 29Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions158.9 x 73.6 x 8.7 mm (6.26 x 2.90 x 0.34 in)165.4 x 76.8 x 9 mm (6.51 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight187 g (6.60 oz)214.5 g (7.58 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDIPS LCD, 120Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A77 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex A55)Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570)
ChipsetExynos 980 (8 nm)Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP5Adreno 619
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5Android 10, MIUI 12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.164GB 6GB RAM - UFS 2.1 128GB 6GB RAM - UFS 2.2
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide) 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LEYes
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio, RDS, recordingFM radio
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
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 (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass
 ANT+Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging15W wired33W wired
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4820 mAh
Misc
ColorsPrism Cube Black, Prism Cube White, Prism Cube PinkAtlantic Blue, Pearl Gray, Rose Gold Beach
ModelsSM-A516F, SM-A516F/DSN, SM-A516N, SM-A516B/DS, SM-A516B, SM-A516U, SC-54A, SM-A516U1, SCG07, SM-A5160M2007J17G
PriceAbout 180 EURAbout 190 EUR
SAR-1.06 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.50 W/kg (head)     1.55 W/kg (body)0.59 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 90h Endurance rating 116h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: 1368:1
Loudspeaker -29.5 LUFS (Average) -25.3 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 316007 (v8) GeekBench: 1867(v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 318882 (v8) GeekBench: 2009 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy A51 5G

  • Slightly brighter display for outdoor use
  • Samsung One UI software experience
  • Established brand reputation

  • Inferior battery life compared to Mi 10T Lite 5G
  • Slower 15W charging
  • Lower contrast ratio

Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G

  • Exceptional battery life (116h endurance)
  • Faster 33W charging
  • Superior contrast ratio for vibrant visuals

  • Slightly dimmer display
  • Xiaomi’s MIUI software may not appeal to all
  • Potentially less refined camera processing

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 642 nits, offering better visibility in direct sunlight compared to the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G’s 596 nits. However, the Mi 10T Lite 5G counters with a superior contrast ratio of 1368:1, resulting in richer, more vibrant colors and deeper blacks, a noticeable advantage over the A51 5G’s ‘Infinite’ (nominal) contrast ratio. Both displays utilize similar technologies, but the contrast difference will be more apparent in everyday use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The focus should be on image processing and software features, where Samsung traditionally excels. Without specific sensor size or aperture data, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner. The inclusion of 'Photo/Video' capabilities on both suggests a similar feature set, but the Mi 10T Lite 5G’s image processing algorithms may lean towards a more vibrant, saturated look, while Samsung often aims for more natural color reproduction.

Performance

Both devices employ 8nm process technology, with the Samsung A51 5G utilizing the Exynos 980 and the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G. While both CPUs share a similar core configuration (2x2.2 GHz and 6x1.8 GHz), the Snapdragon 750G’s Kryo 570 cores are architecturally more efficient than the Exynos 980’s Cortex-A77/A55 combination. This translates to potentially better sustained performance and thermal management under heavy loads for the Mi 10T Lite 5G, though real-world differences may be subtle for typical usage.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G decisively wins in battery endurance, achieving a remarkable 116-hour rating compared to the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G’s 90-hour rating. This translates to a full day or more of extra usage on a single charge. Furthermore, the Mi 10T Lite 5G supports 33W wired charging, allowing for significantly faster top-ups – likely achieving a 0-100% charge in under an hour – while the A51 5G is limited to a slower 15W charging speed.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G if you prioritize a slightly brighter display for outdoor visibility and prefer the Samsung One UI software experience. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G if you value exceptional battery life, significantly faster charging speeds, and a more aggressive price point, even if it means sacrificing some display brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 980 in the A51 5G tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Exynos 980 is a capable chip, it's known to exhibit some thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads. The Mi 10T Lite 5G’s Snapdragon 750G, with its more efficient architecture, is likely to maintain better performance for longer gaming sessions, though both phones are mid-range devices and won't match flagship cooling capabilities.
❓ Is the 33W charging on the Mi 10T Lite 5G compatible with Power Delivery (PD) chargers?
The Mi 10T Lite 5G utilizes Xiaomi’s proprietary fast charging protocol, which is not fully compatible with standard Power Delivery (PD) chargers. While a PD charger *may* provide some charging, it won’t deliver the full 33W speed. Using the included charger is recommended for optimal charging performance.
❓ How does the software experience differ between Samsung's One UI and Xiaomi's MIUI?
Samsung’s One UI is generally considered cleaner and more intuitive, with a focus on ease of use and a more polished aesthetic. Xiaomi’s MIUI is highly customizable and feature-rich, but can sometimes feel cluttered with pre-installed apps and aggressive battery management. Preference is subjective, but One UI is often favored by users seeking a simpler experience.