Xiaomi consistently delivers impressive value in the budget smartphone market. Today, we're pitting two popular models against each other: the older Redmi 3 Pro and the newer Redmi Note 10 5G. Which one offers the best bang for your buck in 2024?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Redmi Note 10 5G is the clear winner. While the Redmi 3 Pro boasts incredible battery life, the Note 10 5G’s superior performance, brighter display, faster charging, and 5G connectivity make it a more compelling choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, March. Released 2016, April | 2021, March 04 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, April 28 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, aluminum back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 139.3 x 69.6 x 8.5 mm (5.48 x 2.74 x 0.33 in) | 161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm (6.37 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Micro-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 144 g (5.08 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~405 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~71.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~83.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 400 nits (typ), 500 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.2 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939v2 Snapdragon 616 (28 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
| OS | Android 5.1 (Lollipop), MIUI 7.3 | Android 11, MIUI 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, PDAF | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2 | 8 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 | 4.1, A2DP | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired |
| Type | Li-Ion 4100 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Dark Gray, Silver, Gold | Chrome Silver, Graphite Gray, Nighttime Blue, Aurora Green |
| Models | - | M2103K19G, M2103K19C |
| Price | About 130 EUR | € 96.62 / £ 107.59 |
| SAR | - | 0.94 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 1.33 W/kg (head) | 0.54 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -92.3dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 104h
|
Endurance rating 121h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1145:1 (nominal), 2.803 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1795:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 67dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 74dB
|
-27.0 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 5427Basemark X: 262 | - |
Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro
- Exceptional battery life
- Very affordable
- Decent contrast ratio display
- Outdated chipset
- Slow charging
- Lower display brightness
- Older camera technology
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G
- 5G connectivity
- Modern chipset and CPU
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster charging
- Improved camera performance (likely)
- Slightly higher price than the Redmi 3 Pro
- Battery life is comparable, not significantly better
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 10 5G features a significantly improved display. Its 1795:1 contrast ratio is excellent, and the measured 492 nits brightness is a major upgrade over the Redmi 3 Pro's 2.803 sunlight rating (likely a misprint, suggesting good visibility but lacking brightness data). The Note 10 5G's display offers a more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the Redmi Note 10 5G likely has a more modern camera sensor and image processing algorithms. The Redmi 3 Pro's camera is adequate for basic photography, but the Note 10 5G should deliver sharper images with better dynamic range and low-light performance. Specific megapixel counts and features are missing from the provided data, but the newer hardware generally indicates an advantage for the Note 10 5G.
Performance
The Redmi Note 10 5G’s Mediatek Dimensity 700 chipset (7nm) and octa-core CPU (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) provide a substantial performance boost compared to the Redmi 3 Pro's Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 (28nm) and its octa-core Cortex-A53 CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the Note 10 5G.
Battery Life
The Redmi 3 Pro surprisingly holds its own with an endurance rating of 104 hours, which is impressive for its age. The Redmi Note 10 5G matches this with 121 hours. However, the Note 10 5G also benefits from 18W wired charging, a significant improvement over the Redmi 3 Pro's 10W charging.
Buying Guide
The Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro is a good option for users prioritizing extreme battery life and are on a very tight budget. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G is ideal for those seeking a modern smartphone experience with 5G, better performance, and a brighter display, without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Redmi 3 Pro still worth buying in 2024?
Only if you absolutely prioritize battery life above all else and are on a very limited budget. Otherwise, the Redmi Note 10 5G offers a much better overall experience.
❓ What is the difference between the chipsets in these phones?
The Redmi Note 10 5G's Mediatek Dimensity 700 is a newer and more efficient chipset built on a 7nm process, offering significantly better performance and power efficiency compared to the Redmi 3 Pro's older 28nm Snapdragon 616.
