Xiaomi Mi Note 10 vs. Google Pixel 5a 5G: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and overall value, the Google Pixel 5a 5G emerges as the better choice. Its superior battery endurance (122h vs 95h) and more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset, coupled with Google’s software optimizations, provide a smoother, longer-lasting experience despite the Mi Note 10's faster charging.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 | Google Pixel 5a 5G |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40 | 1, 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 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat15 800/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2019, November 06. Released 2019, November 11 | 2021, August 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 26 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back |
| Dimensions | 157.8 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) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) | 183 g (6.46 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| 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 (~415 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.47 inches, 102.8 cm2 (~87.8% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10, 600 nits (typ) | OLED, HDR |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| 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 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 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 |
| Features | Laser AF, Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Five | 108 MP (7P 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 8 MP, 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) | - |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, 58% in 30 min, 100% in 65 min | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Po 5260 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4680 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Aurora Green, Glacier White, Midnight Black | Mostly Black |
| Models | M1910F4G | G1F8F, G4S1M |
| Price | About 380 EUR | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 1.11 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -92.3dB / Crosstalk -89.7dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 95h | Endurance rating 122h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -29.6 LUFS (Average) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 213566 (v7), 256717 (v8) GeekBench: 6737 (v4.4) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Mi Note 10
- Faster 30W wired charging
- Potentially more versatile camera system (depending on lens configuration)
- Generally lower price point (depending on current market conditions)
- Shorter battery life (95h endurance)
- Less efficient Snapdragon 730G chipset
- Older model with potentially limited software support
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Longer battery life (122h endurance)
- More efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset with 5G support
- Superior camera processing and software features
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Potentially higher price point
- Display brightness is the only major advantage
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a contrast ratio described as 'Infinite (nominal)', suggesting deep blacks typical of OLED panels. However, the Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching 861 nits measured, compared to the Mi Note 10’s unspecified peak brightness. This translates to better visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both likely employ PWM dimming for low-brightness control, the specific frequency isn’t provided, making it difficult to assess potential flicker-related eye strain. The Pixel 5a’s higher brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are advertised as having capable photo and video capabilities, but the specifics are limited. Without detailed sensor size information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, Google’s strength lies in its computational photography, leveraging software algorithms to enhance image quality. The Pixel 5a 5G likely excels in dynamic range and low-light performance due to Google’s HDR+ and Night Sight modes. The Mi Note 10 may offer more versatility with potentially more lens options (not specified in the data), but image processing is likely less refined. The absence of details regarding OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) on either device makes it impossible to assess video stabilization capabilities.
Performance
The Google Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) represents a generational improvement over the Xiaomi Mi Note 10’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 7nm process node generally leads to better power efficiency and thermal performance. While both CPUs feature an octa-core configuration with similar Kryo Silver cores running at 1.8 GHz, the Pixel 5a 5G has a faster Kryo 475 Prime core at 2.4 GHz versus the Mi Note 10’s 2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold core. This translates to snappier performance in demanding tasks and a more responsive user experience. The 5G modem in the 765G is also a key differentiator, enabling access to next-generation cellular networks.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 5a 5G delivers a substantial advantage in battery endurance, achieving a 122-hour rating compared to the Mi Note 10’s 95 hours. This difference is likely attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset and Google’s software optimizations. While the Mi Note 10 supports faster 30W wired charging (reaching 58% in 30 minutes and 100% in 65 minutes), the Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging, though slower, is sufficient given its longer battery life. The Pixel 5a 5G’s superior efficiency means you’ll spend less time tethered to a charger.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 if you absolutely need the fastest possible charging speeds and are willing to trade some processing power and software support for it. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize battery life, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and excellent camera performance powered by Google’s image processing algorithms.