The Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Youth 5G represent different approaches to the 5G smartphone market. The Mi 10 aimed for flagship status with top-tier specs, while the Mi 10 Youth 5G targeted a more budget-conscious audience with a focus on style and 5G connectivity. This comparison dissects the key differences to determine which device offers the best experience for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G remains the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers significantly higher performance, and the inclusion of 30W wireless charging adds convenience. While the Mi 10 Youth 5G offers a compelling value proposition, the performance gap is too substantial to ignore for power users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40 - Global |
| 5G bands | 1, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA | 1, 3, 7, 28, 77, 78 Sub6 - Global |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G (2+ Gbps DL) |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA - China |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 27. Released 2020, May 04 | 2020, February 13. Released 2020, February 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 164 x 74.8 x 7.9 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.31 in) | 162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm (6.40 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 192 g (6.77 oz) | 208 g (7.34 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.57 inches, 104.2 cm2 (~85.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, HDR10+, 430 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 650 |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 3.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/3.4, 122mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro) | 108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
13 MP, f/2.4, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps; gyro-EIS | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 20 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3", 0.9µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a) |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, PD3.0, QC4 | 30W wired, PD3.0
30W wireless
5W reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4160 mAh | Li-Po 4780 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Blue, White, Black, Green, Orange/Peach | Coral Green, Twilight Grey, Peach Gold |
| Models | M2002J9E | M2001J2G, M2001J2I, Mi 10 |
| Price | About 270 EUR | About 290 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 109h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 578056 (v8)
GeekBench: 3322 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 42fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G
- Superior performance with Snapdragon 865
- Faster 30W wired and 30W wireless charging
- Likely better camera quality due to flagship positioning
- Potentially higher price
- May be heavier and bulkier than the Youth model
Xiaomi Mi 10 5G
- More affordable price point
- Potentially lighter and more stylish design
- 5G connectivity at a lower cost
- Significantly lower performance with Snapdragon 765G
- Slower 20W wired charging only
- Likely a less capable camera system
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi 10 boasts a measured peak brightness of 854 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the Mi 10 Youth 5G’s display specs aren’t provided, it’s likely to be lower, impacting outdoor usability. Both phones feature an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, typical of AMOLED panels, delivering deep blacks and vibrant colors. The absence of refresh rate information for the Youth model suggests it likely operates at a standard 60Hz, while the Mi 10 may have supported higher refresh rates depending on the region.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed sensor information is lacking for both. However, the Mi 10’s flagship positioning suggests a more sophisticated camera system, likely with a larger main sensor and more advanced image processing algorithms. The Mi 10 Youth 5G, being a more affordable option, likely features a more modest camera setup. Without specific details, it’s reasonable to assume the Mi 10 captures higher-quality images and videos, particularly in low-light conditions. The absence of OIS information for either device makes it difficult to assess video stabilization capabilities.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Mi 10 5G is powered by the Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 2.84 GHz. This architecture prioritizes peak performance. Conversely, the Mi 10 Youth 5G utilizes the Snapdragon 765G (7nm), with a slightly slower Kryo 475 prime core at 2.4 GHz. The 765G is designed for efficiency and balanced performance, making it suitable for less demanding tasks. The Mi 10’s superior chipset translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive gaming experience. The 7nm+ process node of the 865 also offers better thermal efficiency, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Youth 5G achieve an endurance rating of 109 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the Mi 10’s more powerful processor. This indicates efficient power management on both devices. However, the Mi 10 offers significantly faster charging with 30W wired, 30W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The Mi 10 Youth 5G is limited to 20W wired charging with PD3.0 and QC4. This means the Mi 10 can be fully charged much quicker, and the wireless charging option provides added convenience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G if you prioritize a lighter, more stylish design and are willing to compromise on raw processing power for a lower price. It's ideal for everyday tasks, social media, and casual gaming. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 5G if you demand the best possible performance for demanding games, video editing, or multitasking, and value faster charging speeds and wireless charging capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 765G in the Mi 10 Youth 5G capable of running demanding games like Genshin Impact?
While the Snapdragon 765G can run Genshin Impact, you'll likely need to lower the graphics settings to medium or low to achieve a consistently smooth frame rate. The Mi 10's Snapdragon 865 provides a much more comfortable gaming experience with higher settings and sustained performance.
❓ Does the Mi 10 5G's wireless charging work with all Qi-compatible chargers?
Yes, the Mi 10 5G supports the Qi wireless charging standard, meaning it will work with any Qi-certified wireless charger. However, to achieve the full 30W charging speed, you'll need a charger that specifically supports Xiaomi's 30W wireless charging protocol.
❓ How does the thermal performance of the Mi 10 Youth 5G compare to the Mi 10 during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Mi 10 Youth 5G, with its less powerful Snapdragon 765G, is likely to exhibit better thermal performance under sustained load. The Mi 10's Snapdragon 865, while more powerful, can generate more heat, potentially leading to throttling and reduced performance over extended gaming sessions.
