Xiaomi Mi 2S vs Mi Note 10 Lite: A Clash of Generations

Xiaomi has consistently delivered impressive smartphones at competitive prices. Today, we're pitting two of their devices against each other: the older, but historically significant, Mi 2S and the more modern Mi Note 10 Lite. Let's see how these phones stack up.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mi Note 10 Lite is the clear winner. While the Mi 2S holds a place in Xiaomi history, the Note 10 Lite’s superior performance, modern features like 30W charging, and significantly improved camera make it the better choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Mi 2S	Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2013, April. Released 2013, April	2020, April 30. Released 2020, May 09
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	126 x 62 x 10.2 mm (4.96 x 2.44 x 0.40 in)	157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm (6.21 x 2.92 x 0.38 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	145 g (5.11 oz)	204 g (7.20 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~342 ppi density)	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)
Size	4.3 inches, 51.0 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio)	6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	AMOLED, HDR10, 430 nits (typ)

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300	Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro	Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm)
GPU	Adreno 320	Adreno 618
OS	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.4.4 (KitKat), MIUI 5	Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 E

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM	64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM
	-	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, HDR	Laser AF, Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad	-	64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens
Single	8 MP, f/2.2 (16 GB version) 13 MP, f/2.2, AF (32 GB version)	-
Video	1080p@30fps, 720p@90fps, HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR, panorama
Single	2 MP	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port	-	Yes
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
Radio	FM radio	FM radio, recording
USB	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG	USB Type-C 2.0
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass

Battery
Charging	-	30W wired
Music play	Up to 45 h	-
Stand-by	Up to 450 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 15 h (3G)	-
Type	Li-Ion 2000 mAh, removable	Li-Po 5260 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black/white, black/blue, black/yellow, black/green, black/pink	Midnight Black, Glacier White, Nebula Purple
Models	-	M2002F4LG, M1910F4G
Price	About 250 EUR	About 110 EUR
SAR	-	1.17 W/kg (head) 0.86 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	-	1.01 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body)

Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM	-	€ 367.55
64GB 6GB RAM	-	$ 249.99
RENEWED	-	€ 229.00

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 117h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-29.2 LUFS (Average)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 253271 (v8) GeekBench: 1694 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi 2S

Historically significant Snapdragon S4 Pro
Compact size (for its time)
Relatively affordable on the used market

Outdated chipset
Low resolution display
Limited camera capabilities
No modern features like fast charging

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite

Modern Snapdragon 730G chipset
Bright and vibrant display
Improved camera system
30W fast charging
Long battery life

May lack flagship features
Plastic build (depending on variant)

Display Comparison

The Mi Note 10 Lite boasts a brighter display (596 nits vs. estimated 400-450 nits for the Mi 2S) and a theoretically infinite contrast ratio, offering richer colors and deeper blacks. While the Mi 2S had a respectable display for its time, the Note 10 Lite’s panel is noticeably superior.

Camera Comparison

The Mi Note 10 Lite’s camera system is a major advantage. While specific details are missing, the Note 10 Lite likely offers improved image quality, more features, and better low-light performance compared to the Mi 2S. The Mi 2S camera was adequate for its time, but it simply can't compete with modern smartphone cameras.

Performance

The Mi Note 10 Lite’s Snapdragon 730G is a significant upgrade over the Mi 2S’s Snapdragon S4 Pro. The 730G’s octa-core architecture and 8nm process provide considerably faster processing speeds and better power efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking and gaming on the Note 10 Lite.

Battery Life

Both phones boast impressive battery life, with the Mi Note 10 Lite achieving an endurance rating of 117 hours. The Mi 2S likely offered a similar endurance rating for its era, but the Note 10 Lite benefits from more efficient components and a larger battery capacity, and also features 30W fast charging.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi 2S? Primarily enthusiasts or collectors interested in experiencing an early Snapdragon powerhouse. Who should buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite? Anyone seeking a well-rounded smartphone with a good camera, decent performance, and long battery life at a reasonable price.