The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and Huawei nova 7 SE 5G Youth represent compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range 5G smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a premium experience without the flagship price tag, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving this goal, primarily through their chipset choices and charging implementations. This comparison dissects these differences to help you determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and battery longevity, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 emerges as the stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 730G, coupled with a 95-hour endurance rating, offers a more balanced experience than the Huawei nova 7 SE 5G Youth’s faster charging but potentially less efficient Dimensity 800U.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 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, 8, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat15 800/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, November 06. Released 2019, November 11 | 2020, October 16. Released 2020, October 16 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | - |
| Dimensions | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm (6.21 x 2.92 x 0.38 in) | 162.3 x 75 x 8.6 mm (6.39 x 2.95 x 0.34 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 208 g (7.34 oz) | 189 g (6.67 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | - |
| 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 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, HDR10, 600 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| | Always-on display | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 800U (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G57 MC3 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR | LED flash, Panorama, HDR |
| 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) | - |
| Quad | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 17mm (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@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 | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, 58% in 30 min, 100% in 65 min | 40W wired, 70% in 30 min
5W reverse wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5260 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Green, Glacier White, Midnight Black | Crush Green, Space Silver, Midnight Black, Purple |
| Models | M1910F4G | CND-AN00 |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| 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
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
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) | - |
Xiaomi Mi Note 10
- Exceptional battery life (95h endurance)
- Efficient Snapdragon 730G chipset
- Potentially superior camera system (based on brand history)
- Slower charging speed (30W)
- Lack of reverse wireless charging
Huawei nova 7 SE 5G Youth
- Faster 40W charging
- 5W reverse wired charging
- Potentially higher peak CPU performance (Dimensity 800U)
- Potentially lower battery life
- Dimensity 800U may exhibit more thermal throttling
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications beyond contrast ratio (infinite for the Mi Note 10). However, given the Mi Note 10’s positioning, it likely utilizes an AMOLED panel, offering superior contrast and color vibrancy compared to the nova 7 SE 5G Youth, which likely employs an LCD. The absence of refresh rate data suggests neither phone prioritizes a high-refresh-rate experience, focusing instead on power efficiency. Bezels and color accuracy are unknown, but the Mi Note 10’s overall premium positioning suggests a more refined display experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the Mi Note 10’s historical context suggests a focus on camera quality, potentially including a multi-lens setup with a high-resolution main sensor (though not specified here). The nova 7 SE 5G Youth’s camera system is less defined. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess image quality, but the Mi Note 10 likely holds an advantage due to its brand reputation and potential for more advanced image processing.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm) versus MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U (7nm). While the Dimensity 800U boasts a higher clock speed (2.4 GHz Cortex-A76 vs 2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold), the Snapdragon 730G benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized software and GPU. The 7nm process node of the Dimensity 800U *should* offer better efficiency, but the Snapdragon 730G’s architecture and software integration often translate to smoother, more consistent performance in real-world usage. The Dimensity 800U’s Cortex-A76 cores will provide a performance boost in CPU-intensive tasks, but the Snapdragon 730G’s Adreno 618 GPU is a strong contender for gaming.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 boasts an impressive 95-hour endurance rating, indicating exceptional battery life. While the capacity isn’t specified, this rating suggests a large battery combined with the efficient Snapdragon 730G. The Huawei nova 7 SE 5G Youth compensates with faster 40W charging (70% in 30 minutes), compared to the Mi Note 10’s 30W charging (58% in 30 minutes). The nova 7 SE 5G Youth also includes 5W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Mi Note 10. This trade-off means the nova 7 SE 5G Youth prioritizes quick top-ups, while the Mi Note 10 focuses on lasting power.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 if you need exceptional battery life and a consistently smooth experience for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. Its focus is on efficiency and longevity. Buy the Huawei nova 7 SE 5G Youth if you prioritize rapid charging and potentially higher peak performance for short bursts, and frequently find yourself needing to top up quickly. It's geared towards users who value speed over stamina.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Dimensity 800U in the nova 7 SE 5G Youth get hot during extended gaming sessions?
The Dimensity 800U is a capable chipset, but its 7nm process and higher clock speeds can lead to thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding gaming. While it will handle most games, expect potential frame rate drops or reduced performance after extended play. The Snapdragon 730G in the Mi Note 10 is generally more efficient and manages heat better.
❓ How does the 40W charging on the nova 7 SE 5G Youth compare to the 30W charging on the Mi Note 10 in real-world use?
The nova 7 SE 5G Youth’s 40W charging is noticeably faster, reaching 70% charge in 30 minutes, compared to the Mi Note 10’s 58% in the same timeframe. This means you can get a significant charge boost in a shorter period with the nova 7 SE 5G Youth, making it ideal for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs on both phones a cause for concern?
Yes, it is. However, Xiaomi has a stronger track record of delivering competitive camera performance in the mid-range segment. While the nova 7 SE 5G Youth may offer decent image quality, the Mi Note 10 is more likely to provide a more versatile and feature-rich camera experience.
