The vivo S1 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro represent a critical juncture in the mid-range smartphone market, both relying on Mediatek chipsets to deliver performance without breaking the bank. While both phones target budget-conscious consumers, they diverge in their approach to processing power and overall feature set. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. Its Helio G90T chipset, featuring Cortex-A76 cores, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the vivo S1’s Helio P65, making it better suited for gaming and demanding applications. While both offer 18W charging, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s superior processing power justifies its slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41 - Asia | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, July 17. Released 2019, July | 2019, August 29. Released 2019, September 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 159.5 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm (6.28 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) | 161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.35 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179 g (6.31 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD, HDR, 500 nits (typ) |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.7 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6768 Helio P65 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CC Helio G90T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Triple | 16 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.8", 1.12µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, recording |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | 4500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Diamond Black, Skyline Blue, Cosmic Green | Black, Red, Blue, White, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Blue, Electric Blue, Twilight Orange |
| Models | 1907, V1907, 1907_19, V1913A | 2015105, M1906G7I, M1906G7G |
| Price | About 230 EUR | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.15 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.00 W/kg (head) 1.47 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 17,200 | - |
| 128GB 6GB RAM | ₹ 17,200 | - |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | ₹ 17,990 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -91.9dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 114h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1326:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 64dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 224759 (v7), 279355 (v8)
GeekBench: 6999 (v4.4), 1622 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo S1
- Potentially lower price point (depending on configuration)
- Streamlined user experience
- Sufficient for basic tasks
- Inferior chipset performance
- Less capable for gaming
- Likely lower camera quality
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
- Superior chipset (Helio G90T)
- Better gaming performance
- Potentially better camera quality
- Slightly higher price
- May experience more heat under sustained load
- Larger size and weight (potentially)
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 8 Pro boasts a measured peak brightness of 640 nits and a 1326:1 contrast ratio, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display, especially outdoors. While the vivo S1’s display specifications aren’t provided, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for users who consume a lot of media in bright environments. Both likely utilize IPS LCD panels, common in this price bracket, but the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s contrast ratio indicates potentially better black levels.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s market positioning suggests a greater emphasis on camera performance. While sensor size and aperture details are missing, the Redmi Note 8 Pro often featured a 64MP main sensor in its variants, a significant advantage over what was typically found in the vivo S1. The G90T’s image signal processor (ISP) also likely offers more advanced image processing capabilities, resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing gimmick and shouldn’t heavily influence purchasing decisions.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Redmi Note 8 Pro’s Helio G90T utilizes two Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.05 GHz, alongside six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. This is a significant step up from the vivo S1’s Helio P65, which features two Cortex-A75 cores at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.7 GHz. The A76 architecture offers improved IPC (Instructions Per Clock) compared to the A75, translating to faster application loading and smoother multitasking. The Redmi Note 8 Pro is therefore better equipped for demanding games and applications. Both phones feature 12nm process nodes, so thermal efficiency differences will be less pronounced, but the G90T’s superior architecture will still deliver better sustained performance.
Battery Life
Both the vivo S1 and Redmi Note 8 Pro support 18W wired charging. Both phones have an endurance rating of 114 hours, suggesting similar battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (not specified for the vivo S1). The actual 0-100% charging time will likely be comparable, around 2 hours, given the 18W charging standard. The Redmi Note 8 Pro’s more efficient chipset might slightly extend battery life during intensive use, but the difference is unlikely to be substantial.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo S1 if you prioritize a streamlined user experience and are primarily focused on everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light photography. It’s a solid choice for users who don’t require intensive gaming or heavy multitasking. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro if you’re a mobile gamer, frequently edit photos or videos, or simply want a phone that feels more responsive and future-proof. The G90T chipset provides a significant performance advantage for power users.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Helio G90T in the Redmi Note 8 Pro get noticeably hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known to generate more heat than the Helio P65, especially during extended gaming. While Xiaomi implemented cooling solutions, some throttling may occur during very demanding games. However, the performance gains generally outweigh the thermal concerns for most users.
❓ What RAM configuration (4GB vs 6GB) should I choose for the vivo S1 or Redmi Note 8 Pro?
For the vivo S1, 6GB of RAM is recommended for smoother multitasking. With the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s more powerful chipset, 6GB is also preferable, especially if you plan on gaming or using multiple apps simultaneously. 4GB may suffice for basic use, but you’ll likely experience slowdowns with heavier workloads.
❓ Is the camera on the Redmi Note 8 Pro significantly better for low-light photography?
Yes, the Redmi Note 8 Pro likely offers superior low-light performance due to its potentially larger sensor and more advanced image processing capabilities. The G90T’s ISP is better equipped to handle noise reduction and dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions.
