OnePlus Nord 5 vs Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset delivers significantly faster performance and improved efficiency, complemented by blazing-fast 80W charging. While the Mi Note 10 Lite remains a viable option for budget-conscious buyers, the Nord 5’s advancements justify the price difference.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite | OnePlus Nord 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 30. Released 2020, May 09 | 2025, July 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, July 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm (6.21 x 2.92 x 0.38 in) | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10, 430 nits (typ) | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 735 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 E | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | Laser AF, Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Ultra 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 | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min 5W reverse wired Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Po 5260 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Glacier White, Nebula Purple | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands |
| Models | M2002F4LG, M1910F4G | CPH2709 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 |
| SAR | 1.17 W/kg (head) 0.86 W/kg (body) | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 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) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
- Significantly more affordable
- Decent battery life (117h endurance)
- Competent for everyday tasks
- Outdated Snapdragon 730G chipset
- Dimmer display (596 nits)
- Slower 30W charging
OnePlus Nord 5
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
- Extremely bright display (1330 nits)
- Blazing-fast 80W charging
- Reverse wired charging
- Higher price point
- Battery endurance rating slightly lower than Mi Note 10 Lite (though active use is higher)
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1330 nits compared to the Mi Note 10 Lite’s 596 nits. This translates to vastly improved visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both displays have an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the Nord 5’s higher peak brightness is the defining factor. The Nord 5’s panel likely utilizes more advanced technology, potentially including LTPO for variable refresh rate, though this isn’t explicitly stated, contributing to better power efficiency. The Mi Note 10 Lite’s display, while adequate, feels dated in comparison.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack specific details. Given the market positioning, we can infer the Nord 5 likely features a more advanced camera system. While sensor size and aperture data are missing, the newer chipset on the Nord 5 enables more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Mi Note 10 Lite’s camera is likely competent in good lighting conditions, but will fall behind in low-light scenarios. Without detailed specs, a definitive camera comparison is difficult, but the Nord 5’s processing power gives it a likely advantage.
Performance
The performance gap between these two phones is substantial. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is a generational leap over the Mi Note 10 Lite’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 8s Gen 3 features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, alongside A720 and A520 cores, offering a significant boost in CPU and GPU performance. The 4nm process node also provides superior thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The Mi Note 10 Lite’s Snapdragon 730G is capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and multitasking. The Nord 5 is clearly the winner for users who prioritize performance.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 5’s battery endurance is rated at 49:12h, with an active use score of 13:47h, while the Mi Note 10 Lite achieves 117h. However, this comparison isn’t straightforward. The Nord 5’s endurance rating is likely based on a more rigorous testing methodology. Crucially, the Nord 5’s 80W charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 54 minutes, alongside 33W PPS and 18W PD support, and even 5W reverse wired charging. The Mi Note 10 Lite’s 30W charging is considerably slower. The Nord 5’s faster charging effectively mitigates any potential disadvantage in raw battery capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite if you prioritize affordability and a decent all-around experience, and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It’s ideal for everyday tasks and casual photography. Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you demand smoother performance for gaming and demanding apps, require significantly faster charging, and value a brighter, more vibrant display. It’s the better choice for power users and those who want a phone that will stay relevant longer.