The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite and Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW represent compelling options in the mid-range smartphone market, but cater to slightly different priorities. The Mi Note 10 Lite, available at a lower price point, emphasizes fast charging and display brightness, while the A51 5G UW prioritizes 5G connectivity and a slightly newer chipset. This comparison dissects their key differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing value and fast charging, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite emerges as the winner. Its 30W charging significantly outperforms the A51 5G UW’s 15W, and its brighter 596 nit display offers a better viewing experience, despite the A51 5G UW’s 5G capabilities.
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 13, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 30. Released 2020, May 09 | 2020, August 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, August 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm (6.21 x 2.92 x 0.38 in) | 158.8 x 73.4 x 8.6 mm (6.25 x 2.89 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM (pre-installed) |
| Weight | 204 g (7.20 oz) | 188.8 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10, 430 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 E | Android 10, One UI 2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Quad-LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| 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 | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide)
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio | - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 672 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Li-Po 5260 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Black, Glacier White, Nebula Purple | Prism Bricks Blue |
| Models | M2002F4LG, M1910F4G | SM-A516V |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | 1.17 W/kg (head) 0.86 W/kg (body) | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.01 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 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 Note 10 Lite
- 30W Fast Charging: Significantly faster recharge times.
- Brighter Display: 596 nits for better outdoor visibility.
- Potentially Better Value: Lower price point for comparable performance.
- Lacks 5G Connectivity: Limited to 4G LTE networks.
- Camera Specs Unknown: Difficult to assess camera performance without details.
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW
- 5G Connectivity: Access to faster cellular data speeds.
- Newer Chipset: Snapdragon 765G offers a slight performance advantage.
- Samsung Brand Recognition: Established brand with a strong software ecosystem.
- Slower Charging: 15W charging is significantly slower than the Mi Note 10 Lite.
- Display Specs Missing: Difficult to compare display quality without brightness data.
Display Comparison
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite boasts a measured peak brightness of 596 nits, providing excellent visibility in outdoor conditions. While both devices feature an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the A51 5G UW’s display specifications are not provided, making a direct comparison difficult. The Mi Note 10 Lite’s higher brightness is a tangible benefit for users who frequently use their phones in sunlight. Without PWM frequency data for either device, assessing potential screen flicker is impossible, but the Mi Note 10 Lite’s brightness advantage is clear.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a detailed camera comparison is impossible. The prevalence of 2MP macro lenses in this segment suggests both devices likely include one, but these are generally of limited practical use. The chipset’s image signal processor (ISP) will play a crucial role in image quality, but without further data, it’s difficult to determine which device has the edge. The A51 5G UW’s camera performance will likely benefit from Samsung’s established image processing algorithms.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G (7nm), a slight architectural upgrade over the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 765G features a Kryo 475 Prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, offering a potential performance edge over the 730G’s 2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold cores. However, the 8nm process of the 730G may offer better thermal efficiency. Both share the same 1.8 GHz Kryo 470/475 Silver cores for efficiency tasks. The A51 5G UW’s 5G modem is a key differentiator, enabling access to faster cellular networks where available. The 765G’s integrated 5G modem is a significant advantage for users in areas with 5G coverage.
Battery Life
The Mi Note 10 Lite has an endurance rating of 117 hours, indicating strong battery life. Crucially, it supports 30W wired charging, allowing for significantly faster top-ups compared to the A51 5G UW’s 15W charging. While the A51 5G UW’s battery capacity is unknown, the faster charging of the Mi Note 10 Lite mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery. A full charge on the Mi Note 10 Lite will be considerably quicker, offering more convenience for users who frequently need to recharge.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite if you need a phone with exceptional charging speed, a bright and vibrant display for media consumption, and are less reliant on 5G connectivity. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW if you prioritize 5G access for faster data speeds and are willing to trade off charging speed and potentially display brightness for that feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 765G in the A51 5G UW experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 765G is a capable chipset, but its thermal performance can vary depending on the phone's cooling solution. While the 7nm process is more efficient than the 8nm of the 730G, sustained high loads could lead to throttling. Without specific thermal testing data, it's difficult to predict the extent of throttling, but users should expect some performance reduction during prolonged gaming.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the Mi Note 10 Lite compared to the 15W charging on the A51 5G UW in real-world usage?
The 30W charging on the Mi Note 10 Lite will significantly reduce charging times. Expect a 0-100% charge in approximately 60-75 minutes, compared to potentially 120-150 minutes for the A51 5G UW’s 15W charging. This difference is particularly noticeable for users who need a quick top-up before leaving the house.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the A51 5G UW worth the trade-off in charging speed and potentially display brightness?
The value of 5G connectivity depends heavily on your location and carrier coverage. If you live in an area with robust 5G infrastructure and a data-intensive usage pattern, the A51 5G UW’s 5G capabilities may be worthwhile. However, if 5G is unavailable or you primarily use Wi-Fi, the Mi Note 10 Lite’s faster charging and brighter display offer more tangible benefits.