Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: A Detailed Comparison

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro and Google Pixel 5a 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range 5G smartphone market. The Mi Note 10 Pro, released earlier, focuses on delivering a feature-rich experience at a competitive price, while the Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes Google’s renowned software experience and camera capabilities. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a smooth, reliable experience and excellent camera processing, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the better choice. While the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro boasts faster charging, the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G and optimized software provide a more consistent and enjoyable daily experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro Google Pixel 5a 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 401, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands-1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat15 800/150 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2019, November 06. Released 2019, November 112021, August 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back
Dimensions157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm (6.21 x 2.92 x 0.38 in)156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight208 g (7.34 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~398 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)
Size6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, HDR10, 600 nits (typ)OLED, HDR
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-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)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 618Adreno 620
OSAndroid 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, MIUI 12Android 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.0-
Main Camera
Dual-12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesLaser AF, Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDRLED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Five108 MP (8P lens), f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 8MP, f/2.0, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.7x optical zoom, 5x hybrid zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm 2 MP (macro)-
Single20.7 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.12µm, AF8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD, 58% in 30 min, 100% in 65 min18W wired, PD2.0
Music playUp to 81 h-
Stand-byUp to 530 h (2G) / Up to 510 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 12 h (2G) / Up to 21 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5260 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4680 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora Green, Glacier White, Midnight BlackMostly Black
ModelsM1910F4SG1F8F, G4S1M
PriceAbout 480 EUR$ 189.00 / C$ 249.99
SAR1.19 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.11 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 122h
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Performance- AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro

  • Significantly faster 30W charging
  • Potentially lower price point (depending on market)
  • May offer more RAM/storage options

  • Older chipset (Snapdragon 730G)
  • Less consistent software updates
  • Unknown display quality compared to Pixel

Google Pixel 5a 5G

  • Superior software experience (clean Android)
  • Excellent camera processing and image quality
  • More efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset

  • Slower 18W charging
  • Potentially higher price point
  • Limited customization options compared to Xiaomi

Display Comparison

The Google Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 861 nits, compared to the Mi Note 10 Pro’s unspecified peak brightness. This translates to better outdoor visibility for the Pixel 5a 5G. Both displays feature an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, without knowing the panel technology used in the Mi Note 10 Pro (OLED vs. LCD), it’s difficult to assess color accuracy and viewing angles definitively. The Pixel 5a 5G’s brightness advantage is a clear win for users who frequently use their phones in direct sunlight.

Camera Comparison

While the Mi Note 10 Pro’s camera specifications aren’t provided, the Pixel 5a 5G excels in computational photography thanks to Google’s image processing algorithms. The Pixel 5a 5G’s strength lies in its ability to produce consistently excellent photos in various lighting conditions, even without relying on massive sensor sizes. Without knowing the main sensor size and aperture of the Mi Note 10 Pro, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison. However, Google’s software optimizations often outperform hardware advantages in this price range. The Pixel 5a 5G’s focus on software processing makes it the more reliable choice for point-and-shoot photography.

Performance

The Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) offers a slight architectural advantage over the Mi Note 10 Pro’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 765G features a Kryo 475 Prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, providing a performance boost over the 730G’s 2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold cores. While both utilize the same 1.8 GHz Kryo 470/475 Silver cores, the 7nm process node of the 765G generally leads to better power efficiency. This means the Pixel 5a 5G is likely to maintain performance under sustained loads more effectively, benefiting gamers and multi-taskers. The 765G also includes an integrated 5G modem, a feature the Mi Note 10 Pro may lack depending on regional variants.

Battery Life

Both the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro and Google Pixel 5a 5G achieve an endurance rating of 122 hours, indicating similar overall battery life. However, their charging capabilities differ significantly. The Mi Note 10 Pro supports 30W wired charging, reaching 58% in 30 minutes and 100% in 65 minutes, while the Pixel 5a 5G is limited to 18W wired charging with PD2.0. This means the Mi Note 10 Pro can replenish its battery much faster, a crucial advantage for users who frequently need a quick power boost. Despite the slower charging, the Pixel 5a 5G’s efficient Snapdragon 765G helps maintain its endurance rating.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro if you need exceptionally fast charging and aren't heavily reliant on the latest software updates or Google's computational photography. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prefer a clean Android experience, guaranteed software support, and a consistently strong camera performance, even if it means sacrificing charging speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 730G in the Mi Note 10 Pro struggle with demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact?
The Snapdragon 730G can handle PUBG at medium settings, but may experience frame drops during intense battles. Genshin Impact is likely to require lower settings and may still exhibit occasional lag. The Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G offers a more consistent gaming experience, allowing for higher settings and smoother gameplay.
❓ How does Google's software support compare to Xiaomi's update schedule for the Mi Note 10 Pro?
Google guarantees at least 3 years of software updates and security patches for the Pixel 5a 5G, ensuring long-term security and access to new features. Xiaomi's update schedule for the Mi Note 10 Pro is less predictable and typically shorter, meaning it may not receive updates as frequently or for as long.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 5a 5G slow enough to be a significant inconvenience?
While 18W charging is slower than the Mi Note 10 Pro's 30W, it's still adequate for overnight charging. A full charge will take approximately 2-3 hours. However, users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery will find the Mi Note 10 Pro's faster charging more convenient.