Google Pixel 5a 5G vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro: A Detailed Comparison

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the Google Pixel 5a 5G and Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro represent compelling options. The Pixel 5a 5G offers Google’s renowned camera software and clean Android experience, while the Redmi Note 10 Pro counters with a high refresh rate display and aggressive pricing. This comparison dives deep into the specifications and real-world implications to determine which device delivers the best value.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software experience, the Google Pixel 5a 5G is the superior choice. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro provides excellent value for those seeking a brighter display and faster charging at a significantly lower price point.

PHONES
Phone Names	Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro	Google Pixel 5a 5G

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands	-	1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, March 04	2021, August 17
Status	Available. Released 2021, March 24	Available. Released 2021, August 26

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back
Dimensions	164 x 76.5 x 8.1 mm (6.46 x 3.01 x 0.32 in)	156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	193 g (6.81 oz)	183 g (6.46 oz)
	IP53, dust and splash resistant	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)
Size	6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~85.6% screen-to-body ratio)	6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10, 450 nits (typ), 1200 nits (peak)	OLED, HDR
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (2x2.3 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 SM7150 Snapdragon 732G (8 nm)	Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPU	Adreno 618	Adreno 620
OS	Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, MIUI 14	Android 11, upgradable to Android 14

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	No
Internal	64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM	128GB 6GB RAM
	UFS 2.2	-

Main Camera
Dual	-	12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
Features	LED flash, HDR, panorama	LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad	108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF Auxiliary lens	-
Single	-	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	Panorama	HDR
Single	16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm	8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.1, A2DP, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared port	Yes	-
NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
Radio	FM radio	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1
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, gyro, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	Virtual proximity sensing	-

Battery
Charging	33W wired, 59% in 30 min	18W wired, PD2.0
Type	Li-Po 5020 mAh	Li-Po 4680 mAh

Misc
Colors	Onyx Gray, Glacier Blue, Gradient Bronze	Mostly Black
Models	M2101K6G, M2101K6R	G1F8F, G4S1M
Price	$ 107.43 / £ 163.94 / € 144.87	$ 189.00 / C$ 249.99
SAR	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.06 W/kg (body)	-
SAR EU	0.60 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body)	-

Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM	$ 189.99	-
128GB 8GB RAM	$ 209.99	-
64GB 6GB RAM	$ 221.00	-
RENEWED	£ 348.00	-

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 118h	Endurance rating 122h
Camera	Photo / Video	-
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-25.7 LUFS (Very good)	-
Performance	AnTuTu: 295442 (v8) GeekBench: 1780 (v5.1) GFXBench: 16fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Superior camera performance, especially in low light
Clean Android experience with guaranteed updates
More efficient processor (Snapdragon 765G)
Brighter display for outdoor visibility

Slower charging speed (18W)
Higher price point

Google Pixel 5a 5G

Significantly lower price
Faster charging (33W)
Bright display
Long battery life

Less refined camera software
Less frequent software updates

Display Comparison

The Pixel 5a 5G boasts a significantly brighter display at 861 nits, compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 725 nits. This translates to better visibility under direct sunlight. Both displays share an infinite (nominal) contrast ratio, but the Pixel’s higher peak brightness is a clear advantage for outdoor users. While the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s refresh rate isn’t specified, the Pixel 5a 5G operates at a standard 60Hz, meaning smoother scrolling and animations are absent on the Redmi. The difference in brightness is substantial enough to impact usability in bright environments.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 5a 5G’s camera prowess is largely attributed to Google’s computational photography expertise, rather than raw hardware specifications. While the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s camera is capable, the Pixel’s image processing consistently delivers superior dynamic range, color accuracy, and low-light performance. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s 64MP main sensor is likely larger than the Pixel 5a 5G’s, but sensor size isn’t everything; Google’s software algorithms are a significant differentiator. The Redmi Note 10 Pro’s inclusion of a 2MP macro camera is largely a marketing gimmick, offering limited practical value compared to the Pixel’s focus on core image quality.

Performance

Both phones utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon 7-series chipsets, but the Pixel 5a 5G’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm) has a slight architectural edge over the Redmi Note 10 Pro’s Snapdragon 732G (8nm). The 765G features a Kryo 475 Prime core clocked at 2.4 GHz, offering a performance boost over the 732G’s 2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold cores. While both CPUs share 6x 1.8 GHz efficiency cores, the 7nm process node of the 765G generally leads to better power efficiency. In real-world usage, this translates to slightly faster app loading times and smoother multitasking on the Pixel 5a 5G, though the difference won’t be dramatic for everyday tasks.

Battery Life

Both devices offer excellent battery life, with endurance ratings of 122 hours for the Pixel 5a 5G and 118 hours for the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The Pixel 5a 5G’s slightly higher endurance rating is likely due to the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset. However, the Redmi Note 10 Pro significantly outperforms the Pixel in charging speed, supporting 33W wired charging that can reach 59% in just 30 minutes, compared to the Pixel’s 18W charging with PD2.0. This means the Redmi Note 10 Pro can be topped up much faster, minimizing downtime.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro if you need a vibrant, bright display for outdoor use and prioritize fast 33W charging, all while staying within a tighter budget. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you value a streamlined Android experience, exceptional camera performance, and guaranteed software updates, even if it means sacrificing some charging speed and display brightness.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 732G in the Redmi Note 10 Pro struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?

While the Snapdragon 732G is a capable chipset, demanding games like Genshin Impact will require reduced graphics settings for a smooth experience. The Redmi Note 10 Pro can handle these games, but don't expect maximum settings at consistently high frame rates. The Pixel 5a 5G's Snapdragon 765G offers a slight performance advantage, but similar compromises may be necessary.

❓ How does the software update policy differ between the Pixel 5a 5G and the Redmi Note 10 Pro?

Google guarantees at least 3 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates for the Pixel 5a 5G, ensuring long-term software support. Xiaomi’s update policy for the Redmi Note 10 Pro is less consistent, typically offering 2 major Android updates and 3 years of security patches. This means the Pixel 5a 5G will remain secure and feature-rich for a longer period.

❓ Is the 18W charging on the Pixel 5a 5G noticeably slower than the 33W charging on the Redmi Note 10 Pro in real-world use?

Yes, the difference is quite noticeable. The Redmi Note 10 Pro can gain a significant charge in a short amount of time, reaching 59% in 30 minutes. The Pixel 5a 5G’s 18W charging is considerably slower, taking much longer to reach a similar charge level. This makes the Redmi Note 10 Pro more convenient for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly.