Samsung Galaxy S20+ vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G: Which Flagship Still Reigns?

Released in early 2020, both the Samsung Galaxy S20+ and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represented the pinnacle of Android flagship technology. Now, with prices significantly reduced, they offer compelling value. This comparison dissects their key differences, focusing on performance, battery life, camera capabilities, and charging speeds to determine which device holds up best in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger choice. Its consistently faster Snapdragon 865 chipset, significantly superior battery endurance (101h vs 87h), and blazing-fast 50W charging outweigh the S20+'s potential display advantages. The S20+ remains a viable option, but only for those prioritizing the Samsung ecosystem.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S20+ Xiaomi Mi 10 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, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, February 112020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusAvailable. Released 2020, March 06Discontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions161.9 x 73.7 x 7.8 mm (6.37 x 2.90 x 0.31 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight186 g (6.56 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1440 x 3200 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~525 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 108.0 cm2 (~90.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeDynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
 Always-on display 120Hz@FHD/60Hz@QHD refresh rate-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.73 GHz Mongoose M5 & 2x2.50 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) - GlobalOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - USAOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 990 (7 nm+) - GlobalQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) - USAQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77 MP11 - GlobalAdreno 650 - USAAdreno 650
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 13, One UI 5Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal128GB 8GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, auto-HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8 MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm
Triple12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55" 1.4µm, Super Steady video 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, f/1.0, (depth)-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.24", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioFM radio (Snapdragon model only; market/operator dependent)No
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
 Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging25W wired, PD3.0 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Ion 4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsCosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, Cloud Blue, Cloud White, Aura Red, Aura BlueAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsSM-G985, SM-G985F, SM-G985F/DSM2001J1G
Price€ 299.97 / $ 189.60 / £ 234.21About 930 EUR
SAR0.72 W/kg (head)     1.03 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.38 W/kg (head)     1.57 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM$ 400.90-
RENEWED$ 288.00-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 87h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -24.4 LUFS (Very good) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 500114 (v8) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S20+

  • More refined software experience (One UI)
  • Stronger brand recognition and ecosystem integration
  • Potentially brighter display for outdoor use

  • Exynos 990 chipset prone to throttling
  • Slower charging speeds (25W wired, 15W wireless)
  • Lower battery endurance (87h)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Faster Snapdragon 865 chipset for superior performance
  • Exceptional battery life (101h)
  • Blazing-fast 50W wired charging

  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Less established brand reputation in some markets
  • Potentially less refined camera color science

Display Comparison

Both devices boast 'Infinite' contrast ratios, typical of OLED panels. However, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G edges out the S20+ with a measured peak brightness of 858 nits compared to the S20+'s 797 nits. This translates to better visibility in direct sunlight. While both offer excellent color reproduction, the S20+ may benefit from Samsung’s established display calibration expertise, though the difference is likely subtle. Neither device specifies refresh rate, implying a standard 60Hz panel.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are equipped with versatile camera systems, but the Mi 10 Pro’s larger sensor size and more aggressive image processing give it an edge. While both offer photo and video capabilities, the Mi 10 Pro’s 5G modem allows for faster uploads and streaming of high-resolution video. Details on specific sensor sizes and apertures are missing, but Xiaomi’s focus on camera technology in the Mi 10 Pro is evident in its marketing and real-world results. The S20+ likely offers a more natural color profile, while the Mi 10 Pro tends towards more saturated images.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipset. The global S20+ utilizes the Exynos 990, while the US variant and the Mi 10 Pro both feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G. The Snapdragon 865 consistently demonstrates superior sustained performance and thermal management compared to the Exynos 990, which is known to throttle under prolonged load. Both utilize an octa-core CPU configuration with a 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 cores, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, but the Snapdragon’s fabrication process and architecture provide a clear advantage. Both phones feature 8GB of RAM, but the S20+ is available with 128GB storage, while the Mi 10 Pro offers multiple storage options.

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G boasts a significant advantage in battery endurance, achieving a measured 101 hours compared to the S20+'s 87 hours. This is coupled with dramatically faster charging: 50W wired charging on the Mi 10 Pro can fully charge the device in under 40 minutes, while the S20+'s 25W charging takes considerably longer. The Mi 10 Pro also supports 30W wireless charging, far exceeding the S20+'s 15W wireless charging. Both offer reverse wireless charging, but at a significantly lower wattage (5W vs 4.5W).

Buying Guide

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S20+ if you prioritize a more refined software experience, tighter integration with Samsung’s ecosystem of devices, and a potentially brighter display for outdoor visibility. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you value raw performance, exceptional battery life, incredibly fast charging, and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Exynos 990 in the Galaxy S20+ overheat during demanding tasks like gaming?
Yes, the Exynos 990 is known to throttle under sustained load, leading to reduced performance during extended gaming sessions or video recording. The Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 Pro handles heat much more efficiently, maintaining higher clock speeds for longer periods.
❓ How does the 50W charging on the Mi 10 Pro compare to the S20+'s 25W charging in real-world use?
The Mi 10 Pro's 50W charging is significantly faster. A full charge from 0-100% takes approximately 35-40 minutes, while the S20+ requires over an hour. This makes a substantial difference for users who need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
While both displays are excellent, the Mi 10 Pro's higher peak brightness (858 nits) is particularly beneficial in direct sunlight. The S20+'s 797 nits is still adequate, but the Mi 10 Pro offers better readability outdoors.
❓ How does Xiaomi's MIUI software compare to Samsung's One UI in terms of user experience?
Samsung's One UI is generally considered more polished and user-friendly, with a cleaner interface and tighter integration with Samsung services. MIUI offers more customization options but can be more cluttered and include pre-installed bloatware.