Xiaomi Redmi 10 vs. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G: A Deep Dive into Budget 5G Contenders
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G emerges as the better choice. Its more efficient Snapdragon 695 chipset, coupled with 33W fast charging, provides a smoother user experience and quicker top-ups, outweighing the Redmi 10’s slightly superior endurance rating.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi 10 | OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 18 | 2022, April 28 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 20 | Available. Released 2022, April 30 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm (6.47 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) | 1080 x 2412 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.59 inches, 104.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | LCD, 90Hz | IPS LCD, 120Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 660 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 660 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769H Helio G88 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G (6 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide) 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/4.0”, 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired 9W reverse wired | 33W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Carbon Gray, Pebble White, Sea Blue | Black Dusk, Blue Tide |
| Models | 21061119AG, 21061119DG, 21061119AL | CPH2381, CPH2409 |
| Price | € 104.99 / $ 139.99 / £ 107.27 | About 220 EUR |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) |
Xiaomi Redmi 10
- Exceptional battery endurance (127h)
- 9W reverse wired charging for accessories
- Competitive price point
- Less efficient Helio G88 chipset
- Slower 18W charging
- No 5G connectivity
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
- More efficient Snapdragon 695 5G chipset
- Faster 33W wired charging
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Potentially shorter battery life compared to Redmi 10
- No reverse wired charging
- May be slightly more expensive
Display Comparison
The Redmi 10 boasts a contrast ratio of 1494:1 and a peak brightness of 477 nits, providing a reasonably vibrant viewing experience. However, the Nord CE 2 Lite’s display specifications are not provided, but OnePlus typically prioritizes color accuracy in this segment. The Redmi 10’s brightness is adequate for indoor use, but may struggle in direct sunlight. Without knowing the Nord CE 2 Lite’s panel technology, it’s difficult to assess potential advantages like higher refresh rates or improved color gamut coverage, but OnePlus often includes features not found in Xiaomi’s budget offerings.
Camera Comparison
Both phones’ camera details are limited. The Redmi 10’s camera is listed as 'Photo / Video' without specifics. The Nord CE 2 Lite’s camera specs are also missing. Given the price point, it’s likely both phones rely on primary sensors around the 50MP mark. Without knowing aperture sizes or the presence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. However, OnePlus’s image processing algorithms generally lean towards more natural-looking photos, while Xiaomi often employs more aggressive sharpening and saturation. The absence of detailed camera information makes a direct comparison challenging.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Redmi 10 utilizes the Mediatek Helio G88 (12nm), featuring an octa-core configuration with 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 and 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores. The Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, however, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm). This 6nm process node is significantly more efficient than the Helio G88’s 12nm, translating to better thermal management and sustained performance. While the Redmi 10’s Cortex-A75 cores offer a slight clock speed advantage, the Snapdragon 695’s architecture and efficiency provide a more consistent and responsive experience, particularly in demanding applications. The Snapdragon 695 also unlocks 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the Redmi 10.
Battery Life
The Redmi 10 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 127 hours, suggesting excellent battery life. However, the Nord CE 2 Lite compensates with significantly faster charging – 33W wired versus the Redmi 10’s 18W. While the Redmi 10 may last longer on a single charge, the Nord CE 2 Lite’s faster charging minimizes downtime. A full charge on the Redmi 10 will take considerably longer than on the Nord CE 2 Lite. The Redmi 10 also offers 9W reverse wired charging, a niche feature for topping up accessories, which the Nord CE 2 Lite lacks.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi 10 if you prioritize maximum battery life and are comfortable with a slightly less responsive processor for everyday tasks. It’s ideal for users who primarily browse, message, and make calls. Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G if you value faster performance, quicker charging, and 5G connectivity, making it a better fit for social media enthusiasts, casual gamers, and those who need a more responsive device.