Samsung Galaxy S10+ vs Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro: A Detailed Comparison

Released in different eras, the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The S10+ aimed for premium refinement, while the Mi 9T Pro aggressively targeted value. Now, with the S10+ seeing price drops, the question arises: can it still compete with the Mi 9T Pro's compelling feature set?
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro offers a better overall package. Its Snapdragon 855 chipset delivers consistent performance, coupled with significantly faster 27W charging and superior battery endurance. While the S10+ boasts a more established brand and potentially better display contrast, the Mi 9T Pro provides more for the money.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S10+ Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USAHSDPA 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, 20, 28, 38, 40
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2019, February 20. Released 2019, March 082019, August 21. Released 2019, August 21
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), ceramic back, ceramic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8 mm (6.20 x 2.92 x 0.31 in)156.7 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.17 x 2.93 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight175 g / 198 g (ceramic) (6.17 oz)191 g (6.74 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~522 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 103.8 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)6.39 inches, 100.2 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED, HDR10+Super AMOLED, HDR
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M4 & 2x2.31 GHz Cortex-A75 & 4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA/LATAMOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) - USA/ChinaOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetExynos 9820 (8 nm) - EMEA/LATAMQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) - USA/ChinaQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUMali-G76 MP12 - EMEA/LATAMAdreno 640 - USA/ChinaAdreno 640
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12, One UI 4.1Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlyNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 -UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, AF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.0µm, Super Steady video48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 53mm (telephoto), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video4K@60fps (no EIS), 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Selfie camera
Dual10 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 22mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, depth sensor-
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single-Motorized pop-up 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -Yes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes
 -24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio (USA & Canada only)Yes
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPortUSB 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
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging15W wired, PD2.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless27W wired, QC4
TypeLi-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsPrism White, Prism Black, Prism Green, Prism Blue, Canary Yellow, Flamingo Pink, Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, Cardinal Red, Smoke BlueCarbon black, Red flame, Glacier blue
ModelsSM-G975F, SM-G975U, SM-G975W, SM-G975U1, SM-G9750, SM-G975N, SM-G975X, SC-05LM1903F11G
Price$ 289.88 / C$ 449.97 / € 230.00About 150 EUR
SAR1.06 W/kg (head)     1.03 W/kg (body)1.03 W/kg (head)     0.72 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     1.58 W/kg (body)1.30 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -94.2dB
Battery life-Endurance rating 103h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.9 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 368846 (v7), 437823 (v8) GeekBench: 10684 (v4.4), 2732 (v5.1) GFXBench: 36fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S10+

  • Established Brand Reputation
  • Wireless Charging & Reverse Wireless Charging
  • Potentially Superior Display Contrast in Sunlight

  • Regional Chipset Variation (Exynos vs Snapdragon)
  • Slower Charging Speed (15W)
  • Lower Battery Endurance

Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro

  • Consistent Snapdragon 855 Performance
  • Faster 27W Charging with QC4
  • Superior Battery Endurance (103h)
  • More Affordable Price

  • Less Brand Recognition
  • No Wireless Charging
  • Image processing may not match Samsung's

Display Comparison

Both the Samsung Galaxy S10+ and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro feature displays with 'Infinite' nominal contrast ratios, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the S10+ boasts a reported 4.514 contrast ratio in sunlight, hinting at potentially better outdoor visibility. While both utilize AMOLED technology, Samsung's experience in display calibration may result in slightly more accurate colors out of the box. The S10+’s display tech is likely to be more refined, but the Mi 9T Pro’s large screen size provides an immersive experience.

Camera Comparison

Detailed camera analysis is hampered by a lack of specific sensor information. However, both phones likely feature multi-camera setups. The S10+’s camera reputation is stronger, benefiting from Samsung’s image processing expertise. The Mi 9T Pro, while capable, may not achieve the same level of dynamic range or color accuracy. The presence of OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on the S10+ is likely, contributing to sharper images and smoother video. The usefulness of any 2MP macro lenses on either device is questionable, offering minimal benefit over digital zoom.

Performance

The Mi 9T Pro consistently utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 (7nm), while the S10+ varies by region – EMEA/LATAM receive the Exynos 9820 (8nm), and USA/China get the Snapdragon 855. The 7nm process node of the Snapdragon 855 inherently offers better power efficiency than the 8nm Exynos 9820, potentially leading to less thermal throttling under sustained load. Both CPUs are octa-core, but the Snapdragon 855’s Kryo 485 cores are optimized for performance and efficiency. This translates to a more consistent gaming experience on the Mi 9T Pro, especially for users with the Exynos variant of the S10+.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro clearly wins in battery endurance with a rating of 103 hours, compared to the S10+'s 91 hours. This is further bolstered by the Mi 9T Pro’s 27W wired charging with Quick Charge 4 (QC4) support, allowing for significantly faster charging times than the S10+'s 15W PD2.0 charging. The Mi 9T Pro also offers 4.5W reverse wireless charging, a feature present on the S10+ but less impactful due to the smaller battery capacity. The faster charging speed of the Mi 9T Pro is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to top up their devices.

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S10+ if you prioritize brand recognition, potentially slightly better display quality (though both are 'Infinite' contrast), and wireless charging capabilities. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro if you prioritize raw performance, significantly faster charging, and longer battery life, all at a more competitive price point. Gamers and power users will find the Mi 9T Pro more appealing.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 9820 in the S10+ overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9820 is known to be less thermally efficient than the Snapdragon 855. Users with the Exynos variant of the S10+ may experience thermal throttling during extended gaming, leading to reduced performance. The Mi 9T Pro’s Snapdragon 855 is less prone to this issue.
❓ Is the 27W fast charging on the Mi 9T Pro compatible with all chargers?
While the Mi 9T Pro supports 27W charging, achieving this speed requires a compatible Quick Charge 4 (QC4) power adapter. Using a standard 15W charger will still charge the device, but at a significantly slower rate.
❓ How does the S10+'s wireless charging compare to the Mi 9T Pro's lack of it?
The S10+ offers 15W wireless charging, providing a convenient way to charge the device without cables. The Mi 9T Pro lacks this feature entirely. For users who frequently utilize wireless charging pads, this is a key advantage of the S10+.
❓ Will the S10+ still receive software updates?
Samsung typically provides several years of software updates for its flagship devices. While the S10+ is older, it should continue to receive security patches and potentially some feature updates for a period, though support will eventually end.