Redmi K30 Ultra vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Deep Dive into Flagship Performance and Value

The OnePlus 8 Pro represented a premium Android experience in 2020, while the Redmi K30 Ultra arrived as a value-focused flagship contender. Now, with price drops on the OnePlus 8 Pro, the competition is tighter than ever. This comparison dissects the core differences between the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ powered K30 Ultra and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 equipped OnePlus 8 Pro, focusing on performance, camera capabilities, and overall user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing a balanced experience with excellent software support and wireless charging, the OnePlus 8 Pro remains the superior choice. However, the Redmi K30 Ultra delivers impressive performance for its price, making it a compelling option for budget-conscious gamers and power users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra OnePlus 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2020, August 11. Released 2020, August 142020, April 14
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 75.4 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)Fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetMediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUMali-G77 MC9Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, MIUI 12Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, PDAF 13 MP, f/2.4, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm 5 MP, f/2.2, 50mm (telephoto macro), AF Auxiliary lens48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Single8 MP, AF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio -
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD, QC4, 100% in 58 min30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
Talk timeUp to 11 h 30 min (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsMoonlight White, Midnight Black, Mint GreenGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
ModelsM2006J10CIN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra

  • Faster wired charging (33W vs 30W)
  • Potentially better thermal management with Dimensity 1000+
  • Strong performance-to-price ratio

  • Lacks wireless charging
  • MIUI software can be polarizing
  • Camera details are unknown, potentially less versatile

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Wireless and reverse wireless charging
  • Refined software experience with OxygenOS
  • Likely superior camera system with OIS

  • More expensive
  • Snapdragon 865 can be prone to throttling
  • Slower wired charging compared to K30 Ultra

Display Comparison

Both devices boast displays with an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, detailed display specs like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given OnePlus’s history, the 8 Pro likely features a brighter panel and more accurate color calibration. The K30 Ultra’s display is likely tuned for vibrant colors, typical of Xiaomi’s approach. Without specific nit ratings, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but OnePlus generally excels in display quality.

Camera Comparison

The context data only states 'Photo / Video' for both cameras, lacking crucial details like sensor size, megapixel count, and OIS. Given OnePlus’s marketing focus, the 8 Pro likely features a more sophisticated camera system with larger sensors and optical image stabilization (OIS) for improved low-light performance and video stabilization. Xiaomi often prioritizes high megapixel counts, but image processing is key. Without detailed specs, it’s reasonable to assume the OnePlus 8 Pro offers a more consistently reliable and versatile camera experience.

Performance

The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 (7nm+) and its octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77, 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77, 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) offer a slight architectural advantage in peak CPU performance compared to the Redmi K30 Ultra’s Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) with its (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55). While both utilize the Cortex-A77 core, the Snapdragon 865’s higher clock speed and more numerous A77 cores provide a theoretical edge. However, the Dimensity 1000+ is a very capable chip, and real-world performance differences may be minimal for most tasks. Thermal management will be crucial; the Snapdragon 865 is known to throttle under sustained load, while the Dimensity 1000+ generally exhibits better thermal efficiency. Both devices support 5G connectivity.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 103 hours, suggesting comparable battery life despite the lack of specific mAh figures. However, charging speeds differ significantly. The Redmi K30 Ultra’s 33W wired charging reaches 100% in 58 minutes, while the OnePlus 8 Pro’s 30W wired charging hits 50% in 23 minutes. Crucially, the OnePlus 8 Pro adds 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 3W reverse wireless charging, features absent on the K30 Ultra. This provides greater convenience and flexibility for OnePlus users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra if you need maximum performance-per-dollar, prioritize fast wired charging (33W), and are comfortable with Xiaomi’s MIUI software. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you prefer a refined software experience with guaranteed updates, value wireless charging (30W) and reverse wireless charging, and require a more versatile camera system with established brand recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Dimensity 1000+ in the Redmi K30 Ultra struggle with sustained gaming performance compared to the Snapdragon 865?
While the Snapdragon 865 is theoretically more powerful, the Dimensity 1000+ is known for its efficient thermal management. This means the K30 Ultra is less likely to experience significant performance throttling during extended gaming sessions, potentially offering a more consistent experience than the OnePlus 8 Pro, which can heat up under load.
❓ How does the software experience differ between OxygenOS on the OnePlus 8 Pro and MIUI on the Redmi K30 Ultra?
OxygenOS is widely praised for its clean, near-stock Android experience with minimal bloatware and a focus on performance. MIUI, on the other hand, is heavily customized with a unique interface and a wide range of features, but it can also include pre-installed apps and occasional performance hiccups. Software preference is subjective, but OxygenOS generally appeals to users who prefer a simpler, faster experience.
❓ Is the lack of OIS on the Redmi K30 Ultra a significant drawback for photography?
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps reduce blur in photos and videos, especially in low-light conditions. Without OIS, the K30 Ultra may produce slightly less sharp images and videos in challenging lighting scenarios. However, effective image processing algorithms can mitigate some of this difference.