Looking for a phone with a massive display and long-lasting battery? The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 and Honor Note 10 both offer compelling options in the large-screen smartphone market. But which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Honor Note 10 edges out the Mi Max 3 thanks to its significantly more powerful Kirin 970 chipset, offering noticeably better performance. While the Mi Max 3 boasts incredible battery life, the Note 10's faster charging and overall speed make it the more appealing choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO / TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, July. Released 2018, July | 2018, July. Released 2018, August |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 176.2 x 87.4 x 8 mm (6.94 x 3.44 x 0.31 in) | 177 x 85 x 7.7 mm (6.97 x 3.35 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 230 g (8.11 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | To be confirmed | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~350 ppi density) | 1080 x 2220 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~355 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.9 inches, 122.9 cm2 (~79.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.95 inches, 122.6 cm2 (~81.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | AMOLED, HDR10 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM636 Snapdragon 636 (14 nm) | Kirin 970 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 509 | Mali-G72 MP12 |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 8.1 (Oreo), EMUI 8.2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 12 MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 16 MP, f/1.8, PDAF
24 MP B/W, f/1.8, PDAF |
| Features | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 720p/1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@120fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with dual speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 4.2, A2DP, EDR, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | 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, QC3 | 22.5W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 5500 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, Champagne Gold, Blue | Midnight Black, Phantom Blue |
| Models | M1804E4A | RVL-AL09, rv |
| Price | About 310 EUR | About 400 EUR |
| SAR | 1.58 W/kg (head) 1.42 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -94.0dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 115h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1462 (nominal), 3.061 (sunlight) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 68dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 83dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 119229 (v7)
GeekBench: 4907 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 6fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Mi Max 3
- Exceptional battery life
- Excellent sunlight display contrast
- Large display for media consumption
- Affordable price
- Slower performance compared to competitors
- Outdated chipset
- Camera performance is average
Honor Note 10
- Powerful Kirin 970 chipset
- Faster charging (22.5W)
- Good overall performance
- Large display
- Battery life not as impressive as Mi Max 3
- Design may not appeal to everyone
- Availability can be limited
Display Comparison
Both phones feature large displays, but the Honor Note 10's panel is generally considered to have slightly better color accuracy and brightness. The Mi Max 3's contrast ratio is impressive, particularly in sunlight, but the Note 10's overall visual quality is a step up. Both offer a good viewing experience for media consumption.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is a mixed bag. While specific camera specs are limited in the provided data, the Kirin 970 generally has a more capable image signal processor (ISP) which can lead to better image processing. Both phones likely offer decent photo and video capabilities, but the Note 10 likely has a slight edge in low-light conditions and overall image quality.
Performance
This is where the Honor Note 10 shines. The Kirin 970 chipset is considerably more powerful than the Snapdragon 636. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Note 10. The Mi Max 3 is adequate for everyday tasks, but struggles with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is the clear winner here. Its endurance rating of 115h is exceptional, suggesting it can easily last for multiple days on a single charge. The Honor Note 10, while offering good battery life, doesn't match the Mi Max 3's longevity. The Note 10's 22.5W charging does offer faster top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life above all else and who don't need the absolute fastest performance. The Honor Note 10 is a better fit for those who want a smoother, more responsive experience, especially for gaming and demanding apps, while still enjoying a large display.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Honor Note 10 is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Kirin 970 chipset.
❓ How long will the Mi Max 3's battery last?
The Mi Max 3's battery is exceptional, potentially lasting for 2-3 days with moderate usage.
❓ Is the Honor Note 10 still worth buying?
Yes, the Honor Note 10 remains a good value option, especially if you prioritize performance and a large display, despite being an older model.