Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G: A 2024 Flagship Face-Off

Released in 2019, both the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G represent the peak of pre-foldable flagship design. Now, with price drops making them attractive alternatives to newer devices, we revisit these phones to determine which offers the best blend of performance, features, and value for today's user.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a mature software experience, the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G (Snapdragon variant) is the better choice. While the Mi 9 Pro 5G boasts faster charging and a slightly more powerful processor on paper, the Note10+'s broader feature set and software polish provide a more refined experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 41 - China
5G bands5, 71, 260, 261 NSA/Sub641, 78, 79 NSA
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USACDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA
Launch
Announced2019, August. Released 2019, August2019, September. Released 2019, September
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame (7000 series)
Dimensions162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.31 in)157.2 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm (6.19 x 2.94 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight198 g (6.98 oz)196 g (6.91 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus, 42ms latency (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~498 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.8 inches, 114.0 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Super AMOLED, HDR10
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.9 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/ChinaOcta-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetExynos 9825 (7 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaAdreno 640 (700 MHz)
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4Android 10, MIUI 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.1, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth)48 MP, f/1.8, 27mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.2, 54mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm, AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video4K@30/60fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.1USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)-
Battery
Charging45W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless40W wired, QC4 30W wireless 10W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4300 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsAura Glow, Aura White, Aura BlackDream White, Titanium Black
ModelsSM-N976F, SM-N976U, SM-N976, SM-N976B, SM-N976N, SM-N976V, SM-N9760, SM-N976Q-
PriceAbout 700 EURAbout 600 EUR

Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G

  • Integrated S Pen for enhanced productivity
  • Samsung DeX for desktop-like experience
  • More versatile camera system with telephoto lens

  • Exynos variant can suffer from throttling
  • Slower wired and wireless charging compared to Mi 9 Pro 5G

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 855+ processor
  • Significantly faster 40W wired and 30W wireless charging
  • Potentially lower price point

  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Less refined camera experience compared to Samsung

Display Comparison

Both devices feature excellent AMOLED displays, but key differences exist. While neither specifies refresh rate, the Note10+ 5G's display is likely to have a higher peak brightness, typical of Samsung's panels, offering better visibility in direct sunlight. The Mi 9 Pro 5G utilizes a curved display, which some users find more immersive, but can also introduce accidental touch issues. Color accuracy is likely comparable, with both manufacturers offering display calibration options.

Camera Comparison

The Note10+ 5G’s camera system is more versatile, offering a wider range of lenses and features. While both phones lack detailed sensor size information, the Note10+ 5G’s multi-camera setup, including a dedicated telephoto lens, provides greater flexibility in framing shots. Xiaomi’s image processing tends towards more saturated colors, while Samsung aims for a more natural look. Both phones offer capable low-light performance, but the Note10+ 5G’s larger sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms likely give it a slight advantage in challenging conditions.

Performance

The Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G holds a slight edge in raw processing power thanks to the Snapdragon 855+ (7nm) clocked at 2.96 GHz, compared to the Note10+ 5G’s region-dependent chipset. The Note10+ 5G ships with either the Exynos 9825 (7nm) or the Snapdragon 855 (7nm). The 855+’s higher clock speed and optimized architecture translate to marginally better benchmark scores and potentially smoother performance in demanding games. However, the Exynos 9825’s Mongoose M4 cores offer competitive performance, and the difference is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday tasks. Thermal management is a concern for both, but the 855+ is known to run hotter, potentially leading to more aggressive throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

The Note10+ 5G packs a 4500mAh battery, while the Mi 9 Pro 5G has a 4050mAh cell. However, the Mi 9 Pro 5G compensates with significantly faster charging: 40W wired (QC4) versus the Note10+ 5G’s 45W (PD3.0). This translates to a much quicker 0-100% charge time for the Mi 9 Pro 5G. Both phones support wireless charging, but the Mi 9 Pro 5G’s 30W wireless charging is considerably faster than the Note10+ 5G’s 15W. The Note10+ 5G also offers 4.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature absent on the Mi 9 Pro 5G.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G if you need the S Pen for productivity, value Samsung's DeX desktop experience, or prefer a more established brand with longer software support. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G if you prioritize faster charging speeds, are comfortable with Xiaomi's MIUI software, and want to maximize raw processing power for demanding tasks at a potentially lower price point.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9825 in the Note10+ 5G overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9825 is known to throttle under sustained load, particularly in warmer environments. While not a deal-breaker, users planning on extensive gaming may experience performance dips. The Snapdragon variant of the Note10+ 5G handles heat more effectively.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on the Mi 9 Pro 5G actually useful for detailed close-up shots?
The 2MP macro camera on the Mi 9 Pro 5G is largely a marketing gimmick. Its low resolution and lack of optical image stabilization result in soft, noisy images. It's best to rely on the main sensor for close-up photography.
❓ Does the Note10+ 5G support 90fps gameplay in PUBG Mobile?
The Note10+ 5G can achieve high frame rates in PUBG Mobile, but consistently hitting 90fps depends on the graphics settings and the specific Snapdragon or Exynos variant. Lowering the graphics settings is often necessary to maintain a smooth 90fps experience.
❓ How does Xiaomi's MIUI software compare to Samsung's One UI in terms of updates and bloatware?
MIUI is known for its customization options but often includes pre-installed bloatware. Samsung's One UI is generally considered cleaner and offers more consistent software updates, though both have improved in recent years. The Note10+ 5G will likely receive updates for a longer period.