Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra vs Mi 10 Ultra: Which Flagship Reigns Supreme?

The Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra and Mi 10 Ultra represent distinct approaches to the flagship smartphone experience. The K30 Ultra, leveraging the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ chipset, aimed for a compelling price-to-performance ratio. Conversely, the Mi 10 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 865, targeted a premium experience with cutting-edge features like incredibly fast charging and a focus on camera capabilities. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing value and solid all-around performance, the Redmi K30 Ultra is the better choice. However, the Mi 10 Ultra justifies its higher price with significantly faster charging – both wired and wireless – and a potentially more refined camera experience, making it ideal for power users and photography enthusiasts.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 41, 78, 79 SA/NSA
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, August 11. Released 2020, August 142020, August 11. Released 2020, August 16
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions163.3 x 75.4 x 9.1 mm (6.43 x 2.97 x 0.36 in)162.4 x 75.1 x 9.5 mm (6.39 x 2.96 x 0.37 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight213 g (7.51 oz)221.8 g (7.83 oz)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~386 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~87.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.67 inches, 109.2 cm2 (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeAMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ)OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits (HBM), 1120 nits (peak)
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, MIUI 12.5
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, 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/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/4.1, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 50mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 128˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm, PDAF
Single8 MP, AF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps; gyro-EIS8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10 rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
SingleMotorized pop-up 20 MP, (wide)20 MP, f/2.3, (wide), 1/3.4", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, 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, barometer
Battery
Charging33W wired, PD, QC4, 100% in 58 min120W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 41% in 5 min, 100% in 23 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless
Talk timeUp to 11 h 30 min (multimedia)-
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 4500 mAh, graphene-enhanced
Misc
ColorsMoonlight White, Midnight Black, Mint GreenObsidian Black, Mercury Silver, Transparent Edition
ModelsM2006J10CM2007J1SC
PriceAbout 250 EURAbout 650 EUR
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 85h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -24.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 638497 (v8) GeekBench: 3248 (v5.1) GFXBench: 46fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra

  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio
  • Capable Dimensity 1000+ chipset
  • Solid battery life

  • Slower charging speeds
  • Potentially less advanced camera system

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra

  • Incredibly fast 120W wired charging
  • 50W wireless charging
  • Likely superior camera system

  • Higher price point
  • Snapdragon 865 may run hotter

Display Comparison

Both devices share an 'Infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels typical of AMOLED panels. However, detailed display specifications like peak brightness and color gamut coverage are missing. Given the Mi 10 Ultra’s positioning as a premium device, it likely features a slightly more color-accurate display and potentially higher peak brightness for better outdoor visibility. The K30 Ultra, focusing on value, may have made compromises in this area. Without specific nit ratings, it's difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Mi 10 Ultra likely has a slight edge.

Camera Comparison

The context data only states 'Photo / Video' for both devices, lacking crucial details like sensor size, megapixel count, and OIS. The Mi 10 Ultra, being the flagship, almost certainly features a more advanced camera system with a larger primary sensor and more sophisticated image processing. Xiaomi’s history suggests a focus on camera innovation in their ‘Ultra’ line. While the K30 Ultra likely offers a competent camera experience, the Mi 10 Ultra is expected to deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions and with dynamic range. The absence of details prevents a precise comparison, but the Mi 10 Ultra is the likely winner based on brand positioning.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi K30 Ultra utilizes the Mediatek Dimensity 1000+ (7nm) with an octa-core CPU configuration (4x2.6 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55), while the Mi 10 Ultra boasts the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+), featuring an octa-core CPU (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55). The Snapdragon 865’s higher peak clock speed on its prime core and the more efficient 7nm+ node suggest a slight performance advantage in demanding tasks. However, the Dimensity 1000+ is a very capable chip, and real-world differences may be minimal for most users. Both devices likely utilize LPDDR5 RAM, but the speed isn't specified. Thermal management will be crucial; the Snapdragon 865 is known to run hotter, potentially leading to throttling under sustained load.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 85 hours, suggesting similar overall battery life despite the K30 Ultra’s unspecified battery capacity versus the Mi 10 Ultra’s. However, the charging speeds are drastically different. The K30 Ultra supports 33W wired charging, taking 58 minutes for a full charge. The Mi 10 Ultra, on the other hand, boasts 120W wired charging (41% in 5 minutes, 100% in 23 minutes), 50W wireless charging (100% in 40 minutes), and 10W reverse wireless charging. This makes the Mi 10 Ultra significantly more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. The faster wireless charging is a major advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra if you need a powerful daily driver with excellent performance for gaming and everyday tasks, without breaking the bank. It’s the ideal choice for users who value a balanced experience and aren’t willing to pay a premium for the absolute fastest charging or top-tier camera features. Buy the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra if you prioritize the fastest possible charging speeds, including 50W wireless, and demand a potentially superior camera system, even if it means a higher upfront cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Mi 10 Ultra experience significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 865 is known to generate more heat than some other chipsets. While Xiaomi likely implemented thermal management solutions, prolonged gaming at maximum settings could lead to some throttling, reducing sustained performance. The Dimensity 1000+ in the K30 Ultra may offer slightly better thermal efficiency, potentially resulting in more consistent performance over longer periods.
❓ Is the 120W charging on the Mi 10 Ultra safe for long-term battery health?
Xiaomi implemented several safety measures to mitigate potential battery degradation from 120W charging, including optimized charging algorithms and temperature control. While extremely fast charging *can* theoretically accelerate battery aging over years of use, the benefits of convenience and reduced downtime generally outweigh the risks for most users. The Mi 10 Ultra’s charging system is designed to minimize these effects.
❓ How does the camera performance of the Mi 10 Ultra compare to other flagship phones released around the same time?
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Mi 10 Ultra aimed to compete with the best camera phones of its era. It likely featured a large main sensor, advanced image processing, and potentially innovative features like periscope zoom. Reviews at the time of release would provide a more comprehensive assessment of its camera capabilities relative to competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and the iPhone 11 Pro Max.