The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW represent compelling options in the mid-range 5G smartphone space, but cater to different priorities. The Mi Note 10, though older, boasts exceptional battery life, while the A51 5G UW offers the appeal of 5G connectivity and a more modern chipset. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device delivers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and value, the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is the superior choice. Its 95-hour endurance rating significantly outpaces the A51 5G UW, and the Snapdragon 730G provides ample performance for everyday tasks. While the A51 5G UW offers 5G, the Mi Note 10’s battery and charging speed are more impactful for most users.
| 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 | 2, 4, 5, 13, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 260, 261 mmWave |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat15 800/150 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, November 06. Released 2019, November 11 | 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 | 208 g (7.34 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, 600 nits (typ) | Super AMOLED |
| | 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 10, One UI 2 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.0 | UFS 2.1 |
| 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 | - | 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@30/60/120/240fps, 720p@960fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 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 | 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, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD, 58% in 30 min, 100% in 65 min | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 672 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 5 h |
| Type | Li-Po 5260 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Green, Glacier White, Midnight Black | Prism Bricks Blue |
| Models | M1910F4G | SM-A516V |
| Price | About 380 EUR | About 470 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | 0.70 W/kg (head) 1.25 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.11 W/kg (head) 1.39 W/kg (body) | 0.59 W/kg (head) 1.32 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 95-hour battery life
- 30W fast charging with PD support
- Potentially superior camera system (based on brand history)
- Older chipset (Snapdragon 730G)
- Lacks 5G connectivity
Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Newer chipset (Snapdragon 765G) for improved performance
- Modern CPU configuration
- Significantly lower battery endurance
- Slower 15W charging
- Potentially less impressive camera performance
Display Comparison
Both devices lack detailed display specifications in the provided data, but given their market positioning, we can infer similarities. Both likely utilize AMOLED panels for vibrant colors. The Mi Note 10’s 'Infinite' contrast ratio suggests a well-optimized display, but without nits or color gamut data, a direct comparison is impossible. The A51 5G UW’s display likely prioritizes size and viewing angles for media consumption, while the Mi Note 10 may focus on color accuracy.
Camera Comparison
The provided data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities for both devices, making a detailed camera comparison impossible. However, Xiaomi historically emphasizes camera technology, and the Mi Note 10 was known for its impressive camera system. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details, it’s difficult to assess the A51 5G UW’s camera performance. We can assume the A51 5G UW will offer a versatile camera setup, but the Mi Note 10 likely holds an edge in image quality and low-light performance based on brand reputation.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW’s Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G (7nm) represents a generational leap over the Xiaomi Mi Note 10’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 7nm process node generally translates to improved power efficiency and thermal performance. The A51 5G UW’s CPU configuration – 1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime, 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold, and 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver – offers a slight clock speed advantage over the Mi Note 10’s 2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver. This means the A51 5G UW will likely exhibit faster app loading times and smoother multitasking, particularly in 5G-enabled scenarios. However, the real-world difference may be minimal for typical usage.
Battery Life
This is where the Mi Note 10 truly shines. Its 95-hour endurance rating is a significant advantage over what we’d expect from the A51 5G UW. The Mi Note 10’s 30W wired charging with PD support is also considerably faster than the A51 5G UW’s 15W charging. The Mi Note 10 can reach 58% charge in 30 minutes and 100% in 65 minutes, while the A51 5G UW will take considerably longer to fully charge. This faster charging capability minimizes downtime and maximizes usability.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 if you need exceptional battery life, fast 30W charging, and a phone that will reliably last a full day (and then some) on a single charge. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A51 5G UW if you prioritize 5G connectivity and a slightly newer chipset, understanding that you’ll trade off significant battery endurance and charging speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 765G in the A51 5G UW offer a noticeable gaming improvement over the Snapdragon 730G in the Mi Note 10?
While the Snapdragon 765G is a more powerful chipset, the difference in gaming performance between the two devices will likely be modest. Both chips can handle most mobile games at medium settings. However, the A51 5G UW may offer slightly higher frame rates and better sustained performance in demanding titles, especially when connected to a 5G network.
❓ How much does the faster charging of the Mi Note 10 impact daily usability?
The Mi Note 10’s 30W charging is a game-changer. Being able to gain 58% charge in just 30 minutes significantly reduces downtime. If you frequently find yourself needing to top up your phone quickly, the Mi Note 10 is the clear winner. The A51 5G UW’s 15W charging will require considerably more time to achieve a similar charge level.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity of the A51 5G UW worth the trade-off in battery life?
That depends on your 5G coverage and usage patterns. If you live in an area with robust 5G infrastructure and frequently stream high-bandwidth content or download large files, the A51 5G UW’s 5G connectivity may be beneficial. However, if 5G coverage is limited or you primarily use Wi-Fi, the Mi Note 10’s superior battery life is likely a more valuable feature.