The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime represent compelling options in the sub-$200 smartphone market. While both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price, they diverge significantly in their core hardware. This comparison dissects these differences, focusing on performance, battery endurance, and overall user experience to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing consistent performance and a slightly more refined display experience, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 665 chipset, while not a powerhouse, offers a smoother experience than the Exynos 9611, and its 108-hour endurance rating provides superior battery life.
| 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, 38, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66 |
| EDGE | - | Yes |
| GPRS | - | Class 10 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat12 600/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2019, August 29. Released 2019, October 16 | 2020, October 14. Released 2020, October 17 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 158.3 x 75.3 x 8.4 mm (6.23 x 2.96 x 0.33 in) | 159.2 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 (6.70 oz) | 191 g (6.74 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, 420 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Exynos 9611 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G72 MP3 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, MIUI 12.5 | Android 10, One UI 2.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Call records | - | Yes |
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Phonebook | - | Yes |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Single | - | 3.15 MP |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS, recording |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| 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 |
|---|
| Games | - | Downloadable |
| Java | - | Yes |
| Messaging | - | SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM |
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, compass |
| | - | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 150 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 1 h 30 min |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 6000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Neptune Blue, Moonlight White, Space Black, Nebula Purple, Cosmic Purple | Ocean Blue, Space Black, Iceberg Blue |
| Models | M1908C3JH, M1908C3JG, M1908C3JI | SM-M315F/DS |
| Price | About 220 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.26 W/kg (head) 1.00 W/kg (body) | 0.38 W/kg (head) |
| SAR EU | 0.19 W/kg (head) 1.09 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -94.0dB / Crosstalk -93.3dB | - |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 108h
| - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1521:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 78dB / Noise 72dB / Ring 81dB
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 141915 (v7), 161572 (v8)
GeekBench: 5590 (v4.4), 1339 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8
- Superior battery endurance (108h rating)
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Faster 18W charging
- Potentially better thermal management
- Likely IPS LCD display (potentially less vibrant than AMOLED)
- Limited camera details available
Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime
- Potentially vibrant AMOLED display (if equipped)
- Higher clocked CPU cores (peak performance)
- Larger display size (assumed)
- Samsung brand recognition
- Slower 15W charging
- Exynos 9611 prone to throttling
- Potentially lower battery endurance
- Limited performance details available
Display Comparison
The Redmi Note 8 boasts a contrast ratio of 1521:1, a respectable figure for its price point, though specific brightness data is unavailable. The M31 Prime’s display specifications are absent, making a direct comparison difficult. However, Samsung typically employs AMOLED panels in this segment, which would offer superior contrast and color vibrancy compared to the Redmi Note 8’s likely IPS LCD. The absence of refresh rate data for both suggests standard 60Hz panels, limiting smoothness during scrolling and gaming. The Redmi Note 8’s contrast ratio suggests a decent viewing experience, but the M31 Prime *potentially* offers a more visually appealing display if it utilizes an AMOLED panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones are listed with 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Without sensor size or aperture information, a detailed comparison is impossible. However, given the market positioning, it’s safe to assume both feature primary sensors capable of decent daylight photography. The inclusion of a 2MP macro camera on both devices is largely a marketing tactic, offering limited practical benefit due to the low resolution. Image processing will likely differ, with Samsung typically favoring more saturated colors and Xiaomi leaning towards a more natural look. The lack of OIS on either device suggests reliance on software stabilization.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi Note 8 utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) while the M31 Prime features the Exynos 9611 (10nm). While both are octa-core processors, the Snapdragon 665’s Kryo cores, though clocked slightly lower (2.0 GHz vs 2.3 GHz on the Exynos), benefit from Qualcomm’s optimized architecture. The Exynos 9611’s Cortex-A73 cores offer higher peak performance, but the 10nm process node doesn’t necessarily translate to better efficiency. The Snapdragon 665’s 11nm process *should* result in better thermal management, potentially reducing throttling during sustained workloads. This means the Redmi Note 8 is likely to maintain consistent performance for longer periods, making it a better choice for moderate gaming and multitasking.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 8 claims an impressive endurance rating of 108 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The M31 Prime’s battery capacity is unknown, but its 15W charging is slower than the Redmi Note 8’s 18W charging. While a larger battery capacity on the M31 Prime could offset the slower charging, the Redmi Note 8’s efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset and 18W charging provide a more balanced approach. The 108-hour endurance rating suggests the Redmi Note 8 can comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the M31 Prime may require more frequent top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 if you need a reliable daily driver with good battery life and a focus on consistent, if not blazing-fast, performance. It’s ideal for users who prioritize efficiency and longevity. Buy the Samsung Galaxy M31 Prime if you prefer a larger display and are willing to trade some performance smoothness for potentially longer screen-on time, though the 15W charging may offset this.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy M31 Prime tend to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611 is known to exhibit some throttling under sustained load. While it boasts higher peak clock speeds, the 10nm process node isn't as efficient as the Snapdragon 665's 11nm node, meaning it's more likely to heat up and reduce performance during extended gaming or demanding tasks.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 8 significantly faster than the 15W charging on the Galaxy M31 Prime in real-world use?
Yes, while 3W may not seem like a large difference, it translates to a noticeable reduction in charging time. The Redmi Note 8 will likely reach a full charge approximately 20-30 minutes faster than the Galaxy M31 Prime, offering greater convenience for users who need a quick power boost.
❓ Are the 2MP macro cameras on either phone worth using for detailed close-up shots?
Generally, no. 2MP macro cameras suffer from low resolution and poor image quality. They are primarily included for marketing purposes and rarely produce usable results. You're better off using the main camera and cropping in for close-up shots.
❓ Which phone is better suited for playing PUBG Mobile?
The Redmi Note 8 is likely to provide a more consistent PUBG Mobile experience. The Snapdragon 665’s better thermal management will help prevent throttling, maintaining smoother frame rates over longer gaming sessions. While the Exynos 9611 has higher peak performance, it's more prone to overheating and performance drops.
