Released in late 2019, both the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T and Samsung Galaxy A50s represented compelling options in the increasingly competitive mid-range smartphone market. The Redmi Note 8T focused on delivering solid all-around performance and exceptional battery life, while the Galaxy A50s aimed to provide a more refined experience with a larger display and Samsung’s software ecosystem. This comparison revisits these devices to determine which holds up better today, and for whom.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and efficiency, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T emerges as the better choice. Its Snapdragon 665 chipset, coupled with a remarkable 108-hour endurance rating, provides a more reliable and sustained experience than the Galaxy A50s, despite the latter’s slightly faster processor.
| 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 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| 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, November 06. Released 2019, November 08 | 2019, August 22. Released 2019, September |
| 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 | 161.1 x 75.4 x 8.6 mm (6.34 x 2.97 x 0.34 in) | 158.5 x 74.5 x 7.7 mm (6.24 x 2.93 x 0.30 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 200 g (7.05 oz) | 169 g (5.96 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 (~80.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~85.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED |
| 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 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC | 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, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Triple | - | 48 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 32 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (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 | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 15W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Starscape Blue, Moonlight White, Moonshadow Grey | Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Green, Prism Crush Violet2 |
| Models | M1908C3XG | SM-A507F, SM-A507FN, SM-A5070 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | About 290 EUR |
| SAR | 1.02 W/kg (head) 1.18 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.74 W/kg (head) 1.30 W/kg (body) | 0.43 W/kg (head) 1.55 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.9dB / Crosstalk -93.7dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 108h | - |
| Camera |
Photo / Video | - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1360:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 78dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 79dB | - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 141077 (v7), 167395 (v8)
GeekBench: 5620 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 5.9fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 154761 (v7)
GeekBench: 5295 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 9.2fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T
- Exceptional battery life (108h endurance)
- Faster 18W charging
- More efficient Snapdragon 665 chipset
- Display brightness may be limited in direct sunlight
- CPU performance lags behind the A50s on paper
Samsung Galaxy A50s
- Potentially faster CPU performance (Exynos 9611)
- Likely a more vibrant display (Samsung Super AMOLED)
- Integration with Samsung ecosystem
- Slower 15W charging
- Potentially lower battery life
- Exynos 9611 may be prone to throttling
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A50s lacks specific display data, but Samsung historically prioritizes vibrant displays. The Redmi Note 8T features a display with a measured maximum brightness of 450 nits and a 1360:1 contrast ratio. While 450 nits is adequate for indoor use, it may struggle in direct sunlight. The contrast ratio suggests a decent, though not exceptional, viewing experience. Without comparable data for the A50s, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels typically offer superior contrast and color accuracy, potentially giving it an edge if it utilizes such a panel.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but lack detailed camera specifications in the provided data. Given the market positioning, it’s likely both feature multi-camera setups. However, without sensor size, aperture, or OIS information, a meaningful comparison is impossible. It’s reasonable to assume Samsung’s image processing algorithms would lean towards more saturated and vibrant colors, while Xiaomi’s might aim for a more natural look. The presence of a 2MP macro camera on either device is likely a marketing gimmick with limited practical utility.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Redmi Note 8T utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) while the Galaxy A50s employs the Exynos 9611 (10nm). The Exynos 9611, with its Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.3 GHz, boasts a theoretical CPU performance advantage over the Snapdragon 665’s Kryo 260 cores at 2.0 GHz. However, the Snapdragon 665 benefits from Qualcomm’s optimized software and a more efficient 11nm process. The 10nm Exynos 9611, while faster on paper, may be more prone to thermal throttling under sustained load, potentially negating its CPU advantage in real-world scenarios. The Snapdragon 665’s efficiency contributes significantly to the Redmi Note 8T’s superior battery life.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 8T’s standout feature is its exceptional 108-hour endurance rating. This suggests a highly optimized power consumption profile. The Galaxy A50s, with its 15W charging, charges slower than the Redmi Note 8T’s 18W charging. While the A50s’ battery capacity isn’t specified, the Redmi Note 8T’s endurance rating indicates a significant advantage in real-world usage, allowing for multi-day use for moderate users. The faster charging on the Redmi Note 8T also helps mitigate any potential downtime.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T if you need a phone that consistently lasts through a full day of heavy use and offers a dependable, if not blazing-fast, performance profile. It’s ideal for users who prioritize battery life and value for money. Buy the Samsung Galaxy A50s if you prefer a larger display and are invested in the Samsung ecosystem, and are willing to trade some battery life for a potentially snappier, though less efficient, processor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 9611 in the Galaxy A50s overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Exynos 9611, built on a 10nm process, is more susceptible to thermal throttling than the Redmi Note 8T’s Snapdragon 665 (11nm) during extended gaming. While it offers a CPU performance advantage in benchmarks, this advantage may diminish as the chip heats up and reduces clock speeds to prevent overheating.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 8T a significant improvement over the Galaxy A50s’ 15W charging?
Yes, the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 8T provides a noticeable improvement in charging speed. While not a massive difference, it translates to a faster top-up, reducing downtime and complementing the phone’s exceptional battery life.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 665 handle everyday tasks like social media and web browsing?
The Snapdragon 665 is more than capable of handling everyday tasks such as social media, web browsing, and video streaming. While not a flagship processor, it provides a smooth and responsive experience for typical smartphone usage, and its efficiency contributes to longer battery life.
