iQOO 3 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance

Launched in early 2020, both the vivo iQOO 3 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represented aggressive attempts to deliver flagship-level performance at competitive prices. While both leverage the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, key differences in battery technology, charging speeds, and subtle design choices create distinct user experiences. This comparison dissects these nuances to determine which device offers the best value today.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and rapid charging, the vivo iQOO 3 5G emerges as the winner. Its 55W charging significantly outperforms the Mi 10 Pro’s 50W, and the slightly superior endurance rating provides a tangible benefit in daily use. However, the Mi 10 Pro’s wireless charging capabilities offer added convenience.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo iQOO 3 5G 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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global
5G bands1, 3, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5G (3.3 Gbps DL)HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 41, 77, 78 - India1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, February 25. Released 2020, March 042020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions158.5 x 74.9 x 9.2 mm (6.24 x 2.95 x 0.36 in)162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight214.5 g (7.58 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ)Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, iQOO UI 1.0Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Triple-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Quad48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), AF Auxiliary lens108 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
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps; gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single16 MP, f/2.5, (wide)20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 32-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYes (market/region dependent)Yes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, 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, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer
 -Virtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging55W wired, 50% in 15 min50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type4400 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsVolcano Orange, Tornado Black, Quantum SilverAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsV1955A, I1927, I1928M2001J1G
PriceAbout 480 EURAbout 930 EUR
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     0.59 W/kg (body)1.09 W/kg (head)     1.02 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.69 W/kg (head)     0.99 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 118h Endurance rating 101h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.3 LUFS (Good) -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 575601 (v8) GeekBench: 13325 (v4.4), 3402 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo iQOO 3 5G

  • Faster 55W wired charging
  • Slightly better battery endurance (118h)
  • Potentially more aggressive cooling for sustained performance

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • Limited camera details in provided data

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Wireless charging (30W) and reverse wireless charging
  • Slightly brighter display (858 nits)
  • Potentially more advanced camera system (based on 'Pro' designation)

  • Slower wired charging (50W)
  • Lower battery endurance (101h)

Display Comparison

Both the iQOO 3 5G and Mi 10 Pro 5G feature displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels. However, the Mi 10 Pro edges out the iQOO 3 with a measured peak brightness of 858 nits versus 848 nits. While the difference is subtle, it translates to slightly better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays likely utilize a 120Hz refresh rate, a common feature for flagship phones of this era, though this isn't explicitly stated in the provided data. The lack of information on PWM dimming frequencies prevents a definitive assessment of flicker-related eye strain, but both brands have historically employed high frequencies to mitigate this issue.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, offering minimal insight. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Mi 10 Pro’s positioning as a ‘Pro’ model suggests a more sophisticated camera system, potentially including larger sensors and more advanced features like periscope zoom. The iQOO 3 likely focuses on delivering a solid, all-around camera experience, while the Mi 10 Pro aims for enthusiast-level photography. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) is a significant omission.

Performance

At the heart of both devices lies the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+). The CPU configuration is identical – an octa-core setup with 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. This means raw processing power will be nearly indistinguishable between the two. The real-world performance difference will likely hinge on thermal management and sustained clock speeds. While data on cooling solutions is absent, iQOO has a history of prioritizing gaming performance, suggesting potentially more aggressive cooling on the iQOO 3. Both devices utilize LPDDR5 RAM, ensuring fast memory access for demanding tasks.

Battery Life

The iQOO 3 5G boasts an endurance rating of 118 hours, surpassing the Mi 10 Pro’s 101 hours. This suggests a more efficient power management system or a slightly larger battery capacity, despite the lack of specific mAh figures. Crucially, the iQOO 3 supports 55W wired charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 15 minutes. The Mi 10 Pro offers 50W wired charging with PD3.0, 30W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The iQOO 3’s faster wired charging is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery, while the Mi 10 Pro’s wireless charging adds convenience.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo iQOO 3 5G if you need the fastest possible wired charging and prioritize maximizing screen-on time for gaming and demanding applications. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you value wireless charging convenience and appreciate the flexibility of reverse wireless charging to top up accessories. Both are excellent choices for power users, but cater to slightly different priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the iQOO 3 5G's 55W charging generate excessive heat during prolonged use?
While 55W charging is fast, iQOO typically implements thermal management solutions to mitigate heat buildup. The phone likely employs charge limiting and intelligent temperature control to prevent overheating and preserve battery health. However, sustained high-speed charging will inevitably generate some heat.
❓ Is the Mi 10 Pro's 30W wireless charging speed comparable to wired charging?
No, 30W wireless charging is significantly slower than the Mi 10 Pro’s 50W wired charging. Expect a full wireless charge to take considerably longer – likely over 90 minutes. It's best suited for overnight charging or convenient top-ups.
❓ Given both phones have the Snapdragon 865, will I notice a difference in gaming performance?
While the core processing power is similar, the iQOO 3 5G may offer slightly better sustained gaming performance due to potentially more aggressive cooling. This can prevent thermal throttling, allowing the CPU and GPU to maintain higher clock speeds for longer periods.