The vivo Z5x (2020) and Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro represent a pivotal moment in the mid-range smartphone market – a time when performance and features previously reserved for flagships became accessible to a wider audience. Both devices aimed to deliver a compelling experience without breaking the bank, but they took different approaches. The Z5x prioritized Qualcomm’s efficiency, while the Redmi Note 8 Pro leaned into MediaTek’s gaming prowess. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which phone offers the best overall package.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro emerges as the stronger contender. While both phones share 18W charging and similar battery endurance ratings, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s Helio G90T chipset provides a noticeable performance edge in gaming and demanding tasks, justifying its slight advantage.
| 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, 4, 5, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, June 09. Released 2020, June 09 | 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 | 162.4 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 x 0.35 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 | 204.1 g (7.20 oz) | 200 g (7.05 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.05 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM712 Snapdragon 712 (10 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CC Helio G90T (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 616 | Mali-G76 MC4 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, Funtouch 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | 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, AF
8 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (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, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 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, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | No | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue, White, Dark Blue | Black, Red, Blue, White, Deep Sea Blue, Midnight Blue, Electric Blue, Twilight Orange |
| Models | - | 2015105, M1906G7I, M1906G7G |
| Price | About 160 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) |
| 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 Z5x (2020)
- More power-efficient chipset (Snapdragon 712)
- Potentially better sustained performance due to thermal efficiency
- Smooth and stable software experience (typical of vivo)
- Less powerful CPU and GPU compared to the Helio G90T
- Display likely less bright than the Redmi Note 8 Pro
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
- More powerful CPU and GPU (Helio G90T) for gaming
- Brighter display for better outdoor visibility
- Potentially more advanced camera features
- Less power-efficient chipset (Helio G90T)
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro boasts a brighter display, reaching a measured 640 nits compared to the vivo Z5x’s unspecified peak brightness. Both share a 1326:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar color depth and black levels. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s higher brightness translates to better outdoor visibility, a significant advantage for users who spend considerable time under direct sunlight. While neither display is confirmed to have high refresh rates, the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s superior brightness makes it the more visually comfortable option in most scenarios.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised with capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information beyond 'Photo / Video' is lacking. The Redmi Note 8 Pro’s marketing focused heavily on its camera capabilities, suggesting a more refined image processing pipeline. Without specific details on sensor size or aperture, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. However, given Xiaomi’s history of camera innovation, the Redmi Note 8 Pro likely offers a more versatile and feature-rich camera experience, even if the raw hardware is comparable. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses on both devices suggests limited utility for serious photography.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the vivo Z5x utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 (10nm), while the Redmi Note 8 Pro features the MediaTek Helio G90T (12nm). The Helio G90T, with its Cortex-A76 performance cores clocked at 2.05 GHz, offers a theoretical performance advantage over the Snapdragon 712’s Kryo 360 Gold cores at 2.3 GHz. The 12nm process of the Helio G90T, however, is less efficient than the Snapdragon 712’s 10nm node, potentially leading to more heat generation and throttling under sustained load. This means the Z5x might maintain consistent performance for longer periods during extended gaming sessions, while the Redmi Note 8 Pro could deliver higher peak performance but at the cost of thermal management.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Z5x (2020) and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro share an endurance rating of 114 hours, indicating similar real-world battery life. Both also support 18W wired charging, suggesting comparable charging speeds. The Snapdragon 712’s superior power efficiency might slightly offset the Redmi Note 8 Pro’s more power-hungry chipset, but the difference is likely negligible in everyday use. The battery life will largely depend on individual usage patterns and screen-on time.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Z5x (2020) if you prioritize a smooth, efficient daily driver with a focus on power management and a generally stable software experience. Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro if you’re a mobile gamer or frequently engage in resource-intensive applications, and you value raw processing power and a brighter display for enhanced visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the MediaTek Helio G90T in the Redmi Note 8 Pro suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Helio G90T is known to generate more heat than the Snapdragon 712. While it delivers higher peak performance, it's likely to experience some degree of thermal throttling after 30-60 minutes of intensive gaming. This means performance will decrease slightly as the phone heats up, but it shouldn't render gaming unplayable.
❓ Is the 18W charging on either phone considered fast charging by today's standards?
18W charging is relatively slow compared to modern fast charging standards (30W, 65W, or higher). Expect a full charge to take around 2-3 hours. While adequate, it's not a standout feature for either device.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs, should I assume the camera quality is similar between the two phones?
Not necessarily. While the core hardware might be comparable, Xiaomi typically invests more in image processing algorithms and software features. The Redmi Note 8 Pro likely offers a more polished and versatile camera experience, even if the sensor size is similar.
