Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 vs OnePlus Nord CE 5G: A Detailed Comparison
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing future-proofing and smoother performance, the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is the better choice. Its Snapdragon 750G offers a noticeable step up in processing power and includes 5G support, while maintaining comparable battery life to the Redmi Note 10. However, the Redmi Note 10 remains a strong contender for those on a tighter budget.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 | OnePlus Nord CE 5G |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 - India | 78 SA/NSA - India | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, March 04 | 2021, June 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, March 16 | Available. Released 2021, June 11 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.33 in) | 159.2 x 73.5 x 7.9 mm (6.27 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 178.8 g (6.31 oz) | 170 g (6.00 oz) |
| IP53, dust and splash resistant (market/region dependent) | - | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~410 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.43 inches, 99.8 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.43 inches, 99.3 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 450 nits (typ), 1100 nits (peak) | Fluid AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 460 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 460 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM678 Snapdragon 678 (11 nm) | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Adreno 619 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 14 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Triple | - | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.0", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| 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, gyro, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Virtual proximity sensing | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 33W wired, 50% in 25 min, 100% in 74 min | 30W wired, 70% in 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Shadow Black (Onyx Gray), Frost White (Pebble White), Aqua Green (Lake Green) | Blue Void, Charkoal Ink, Silver Ray |
| Models | M2101K7AI, M2101K7AG | EB2101, EB2103 |
| Price | € 159.99 | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 1.09 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 110h | Endurance rating 117h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | -26.2 LUFS (Good) | -29.9 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 218788 (v8) GeekBench: 2860 (v5.1) GFXBench: 7.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 318672 (v8) | 391770 (v9) GeekBench: 1812 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10
- Brighter display for outdoor visibility (682 nits)
- Slightly faster initial charging (0-50% in 25 mins)
- Potentially lower price point
- Older Snapdragon 678 chipset
- Lacks 5G connectivity
- Less efficient 11nm process
OnePlus Nord CE 5G
- More powerful Snapdragon 750G chipset
- Integrated 5G modem for future-proofing
- More efficient 8nm process
- Dimmer display (607 nits)
- Slightly slower to full charge (74 mins)
- Generally higher price
Display Comparison
Both devices feature an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, typical for AMOLED or OLED panels, but differ significantly in peak brightness. The Redmi Note 10 boasts a measured 682 nits, offering a noticeably brighter experience in direct sunlight compared to the Nord CE 5G’s 607 nits. While both are perfectly usable outdoors, the Redmi Note 10 provides better visibility. Neither manufacturer specifies refresh rates, implying standard 60Hz panels, which is a common trade-off at this price point. The brightness difference is the key differentiator here, impacting outdoor usability.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. However, the chipset difference suggests the Nord CE 5G’s image signal processor (ISP) will offer faster processing and potentially better low-light performance. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment. The presence of a 5G modem in the Nord CE 5G also allows for faster uploads of high-resolution photos and videos. It's reasonable to assume OnePlus's image processing algorithms are more refined, leading to more consistent results.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Redmi Note 10 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678, built on an 11nm process, while the Nord CE 5G features the Snapdragon 750G, fabricated on a more efficient 8nm node. This process node difference translates to better thermal efficiency for the 750G, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads. The CPU configuration is similar – both have octa-core setups with 2x2.2 GHz performance cores – but the Kryo 570 cores in the 750G offer architectural improvements over the Kryo 460 cores in the 678. This results in a smoother experience with the Nord CE 5G, particularly in multitasking and graphically intensive applications. The 750G also includes an integrated 5G modem, a feature absent in the Redmi Note 10.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve similar endurance ratings – 110 hours for the Redmi Note 10 and 117 hours for the Nord CE 5G. This suggests comparable real-world battery life despite the Redmi Note 10’s slightly lower charging wattage (33W vs 30W). The Nord CE 5G charges to 70% in 30 minutes, while the Redmi Note 10 reaches 50% in 25 minutes and 100% in 74 minutes. While the Redmi Note 10 is slightly faster to 50%, the Nord CE 5G’s faster initial charge is more practical for quick top-ups. The 8nm process of the Snapdragon 750G likely contributes to the Nord CE 5G’s comparable endurance despite the added power draw of 5G connectivity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 if you need a reliable, long-lasting phone with a bright display and are less concerned with 5G connectivity or demanding gaming. It’s ideal for everyday tasks and media consumption on a budget. Buy the OnePlus Nord CE 5G if you prioritize 5G access, smoother multitasking, and a more responsive user experience, even if it means spending slightly more. This phone is better suited for users who enjoy mobile gaming or plan to utilize 5G networks.