vivo NEX 3S 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 865 Flagships

Launched in the early days of widespread 5G adoption, both the vivo NEX 3S 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G represent ambitious attempts to deliver cutting-edge technology. While both are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, they diverge significantly in areas like charging speed, display capabilities, and overall user experience. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G emerges as the stronger contender. Its significantly faster 50W wired charging, coupled with 30W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless, provides a substantial convenience advantage. While the NEX 3S is a capable device, Xiaomi’s superior display brightness and charging ecosystem offer a more compelling package.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo NEX 3S 5G Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 20, 25, 28, 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/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China
Launch
Announced2020, March 10. Released 2020, March 142020, February 13. Released 2020, February 18
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm (6.59 x 3.00 x 0.37 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
Weight219.5 g (7.76 oz)208 g (7.34 oz)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2256 pixels (~363 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.89 inches, 119.3 cm2 (~93.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, HDR10+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, Funtouch 10.0Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 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
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
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.5, 52mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 16 MP, f/2.1, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm20 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
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (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
Charging44W wired50W wired, PD3.0 30W wireless 5W reverse wireless
Type4500 mAhLi-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, OrangeAlpine White, Solstice Grey
ModelsV1950AM2001J1G
PriceAbout 630 EURAbout 930 EUR
SAR-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 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -25.2 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 595246 (v8) GeekBench: 3331 (v5.1) GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

vivo NEX 3S 5G

  • Clean and streamlined software experience
  • Capable Snapdragon 865 performance
  • 5G connectivity

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Mi 10 Pro
  • Lack of wireless charging
  • Limited display brightness information

Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G

  • Significantly faster 50W wired charging
  • 30W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless
  • Brighter display with infinite contrast ratio

  • More customized Android skin (MIUI)
  • Potential for software bloat
  • May run warmer under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro boasts a notably brighter display, reaching a measured peak brightness of 858 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the NEX 3S. This difference translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. While both likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors, the Mi 10 Pro’s infinite contrast ratio (nominal) suggests deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience. The NEX 3S’s display specifications are less detailed, making a direct comparison of color accuracy and refresh rate difficult, but the Mi 10 Pro’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is limited. The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both. Given Xiaomi’s focus on camera technology, the Mi 10 Pro likely features a more sophisticated camera array with larger sensors and more advanced image processing algorithms. The absence of specific details regarding sensor sizes, apertures, and OIS on the NEX 3S makes it difficult to assess its photographic capabilities accurately. It’s reasonable to assume the Mi 10 Pro offers a more versatile and higher-quality camera experience, particularly in low-light conditions.

Performance

Both the vivo NEX 3S 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU configuration with the same core arrangement: 1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55. This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. However, the Mi 10 Pro benefits from potentially more aggressive thermal management solutions, given Xiaomi’s history of optimizing for sustained performance. While both utilize LPDDR5 RAM, the specific speed isn’t detailed, making it difficult to assess a performance edge. Real-world performance will likely be similar, with minor variations based on software optimization.

Battery Life

Both phones share an endurance rating of 101 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life. However, the charging capabilities are where the Mi 10 Pro truly shines. It supports 50W wired charging, significantly faster than the NEX 3S’s 44W charging. Furthermore, the Mi 10 Pro adds 30W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging, offering unparalleled convenience. While the NEX 3S lacks wireless charging, the Mi 10 Pro’s faster wired charging means a quicker return to 100% even with similar battery capacities. This charging advantage is a major differentiator.

Buying Guide

Buy the vivo NEX 3S 5G if you prioritize a clean, streamlined software experience and are less concerned with the absolute fastest charging speeds. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro 5G if you demand rapid charging – both wired and wireless – a brighter, more vibrant display, and a feature-rich software suite, even if it means navigating a more customized Android skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro's 50W charging generate excessive heat during prolonged use?
While 50W charging is fast, Xiaomi incorporates thermal management technologies to mitigate heat buildup. Reviews at the time of release indicated that the phone manages heat effectively, though it can become warm to the touch during extended gaming sessions or video recording. The charging speed is intelligently managed to prevent damage to the battery.
❓ Is the lack of a headphone jack on either device a significant drawback?
Both the vivo NEX 3S 5G and the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro omit the 3.5mm headphone jack, aligning with the industry trend towards wireless audio. This means users will need to rely on USB-C headphones or Bluetooth connectivity. The Mi 10 Pro's support for Hi-Res Audio codecs partially compensates for this omission, offering a higher-quality wireless audio experience.
❓ How does the software experience differ between vivo's Funtouch OS and Xiaomi's MIUI?
vivo's Funtouch OS is generally considered to be a cleaner and more minimalist Android skin compared to Xiaomi's MIUI. MIUI is known for its extensive customization options and feature set, but it can also feel more cluttered and include pre-installed apps (bloatware). The NEX 3S offers a more stock-Android-like experience, while the Mi 10 Pro provides a highly customizable, albeit more complex, software environment.