Choosing between older and newer Android devices can be tricky. The Samsung Galaxy Grand I9080 was a popular mid-range phone in its time, while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro offered a significant upgrade. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which one holds up best today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the clear winner. Its significantly more powerful processor, improved camera, and modern features like fast charging make it a far superior choice despite the Galaxy Grand I9080's potential nostalgia factor. The Redmi Note 5 Pro offers much better value.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, December. Released 2013, April | 2018, February 14. Released 2018, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 143.5 x 76.9 x 9.6 mm (5.65 x 3.03 x 0.38 in) | 158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.24 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Mini-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 162 g (5.71 oz) | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass (unspecified version) |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~187 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 71.2 cm2 (~64.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.99 inches, 92.6 cm2 (~77.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | TFT | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) |
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Broadcom VideoCore IV | Adreno 509 |
| OS | Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI | Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9, MIUI 11 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12 MP, f/2.2, 1/2.9", 1.25µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash | Dual-LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec. | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | LED flash |
| Single | 2 MP | 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC2 |
| Music play | Up to 46 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 440 h | - |
| Talk time | Up to 10 h 10 min | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Black, Champagne Gold, Rose Gold, Lake Blue |
| Models | GT-I9080, GT-I9080L | MEI7S, MEI7 |
| Price | About 210 EUR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.33 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.27 W/kg (head) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 107737 (v7)
GeekBench: 4696 (v4.4) |
Samsung Galaxy Grand I9080
- Affordable
- Compact size
- Simple to use
- Outdated processor
- Low RAM
- Poor camera
- Short battery life
- Limited software updates
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
- Powerful processor
- Excellent battery life
- Good camera
- Fast charging
- Larger display
- Modern design
- May feel slightly large for some
- MIUI software can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 5 Pro boasts a larger 5.99-inch display (18:9 aspect ratio) compared to the Galaxy Grand I9080's 5.0-inch screen. While both offer HD resolution, the Redmi Note 5 Pro's larger size and modern aspect ratio provide a more immersive viewing experience. Color accuracy and brightness are also generally better on the Redmi Note 5 Pro.
Camera Comparison
The Redmi Note 5 Pro features a dual-camera setup (12MP + 5MP) with improved image processing, resulting in sharper, more detailed photos with better low-light performance. The Galaxy Grand I9080's 8MP camera is adequate for basic shots but struggles in challenging conditions. The Redmi Note 5 Pro also offers features like portrait mode and HDR.
Performance
This is where the Redmi Note 5 Pro truly shines. Its Octa-core Kryo 260 processor and Snapdragon 636 chipset offer a massive performance advantage over the Galaxy Grand I9080's Dual-core Cortex-A9. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a more responsive user experience on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Gaming performance is also significantly better.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 5 Pro's 4000mAh battery provides significantly longer battery life than the Galaxy Grand I9080's 2500mAh battery. Coupled with its more efficient processor, the Redmi Note 5 Pro can easily last a full day of moderate to heavy use. The 18W fast charging support is another advantage.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Grand I9080? Primarily those seeking a very basic, affordable phone for simple tasks and who are comfortable with an older operating system. Who should buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro? Anyone looking for a reliable, capable Android phone with good performance, a decent camera, and a longer software support lifespan.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy Grand I9080 still worth buying?
Only if you need a very basic, inexpensive phone and are comfortable with its limitations. Otherwise, there are much better options available for a similar price.
❓ What Android version does the Galaxy Grand I9080 run?
It originally shipped with Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) and received updates to Android 4.4.4 (KitKat). It is no longer receiving updates.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 5 Pro have NFC?
No, the Redmi Note 5 Pro does not have NFC.
