The smartphone landscape in India offers a compelling choice between established value and newer performance. We're comparing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India), a long-standing champion of affordability, against the OnePlus Nord 5, which brings a more modern chipset and faster charging to the table. This comparison isn't about raw specs; it's about understanding which phone delivers the best experience for *your* needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing speed and future-proofing, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and 80W charging significantly outperform the Redmi Note 9 Pro's Snapdragon 720G and 18W charging. However, the Redmi Note 9 Pro remains a compelling option for budget-conscious buyers who don't demand top-tier performance.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, March 12. Released 2020, March 17 | 2025, July 08 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2025, July 08 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.53 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 735 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, Ultra HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | Panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min
5W reverse wired
Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Aurora Blue, Glacier White, Interstellar Black | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands |
| Models | M2003J6A1I | CPH2709 |
| Price | About 280 EUR | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 |
| SAR | 0.90 W/kg (head) 0.48 W/kg (body) | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Pricing |
|---|
| 128GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 14,499 | - |
| 64GB 4GB RAM | ₹ 14,499 | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 127h
| - |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1389:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-27.8 LUFS (Good)
| - |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 254000 (v8)
GeekBench: 1785 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 26fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
| EU LABEL |
|---|
| Battery | - | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India)
- Excellent battery endurance (127h)
- More affordable price point
- Reliable performance for basic tasks
- Significantly slower charging (18W)
- Outmatched by the Nord 5 in performance
- Older chipset may limit future software support
OnePlus Nord 5
- Blazing-fast 80W charging
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
- Brighter display for better visibility
- Superior thermal management
- Higher price tag
- Shorter battery endurance rating (49:12h) compared to Redmi Note 9 Pro
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1330 nits peak brightness, compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s nominal 1389:1 contrast ratio. While the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s contrast ratio is respectable, it lacks the sheer visibility of the Nord 5 in direct sunlight. The Nord 5’s higher brightness translates to a more enjoyable viewing experience, especially for outdoor use. We lack refresh rate data for the Redmi Note 9 Pro, but the Nord 5’s likely higher refresh rate (assumed based on the chipset) contributes to smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, the chipset difference suggests the Nord 5 will have a more powerful image signal processor (ISP), enabling faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s camera system is likely optimized for good lighting conditions, but will fall behind in challenging scenarios. The absence of information on sensor sizes and OIS makes a definitive judgment impossible, but the Nord 5’s processing power gives it an edge.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G (8nm). The 8s Gen 3 features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, alongside A720 and A520 cores, offering a significant leap in CPU and GPU performance. The 4nm process node also provides better thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Kryo 465 cores are capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with demanding games and multitasking compared to the Nord 5.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 5 offers a compelling battery package. While the Redmi Note 9 Pro boasts a 127-hour endurance rating, the Nord 5 counters with 49:12h endurance and a remarkable 80W wired charging capability, achieving a full charge in just 54 minutes. The Nord 5 also supports 33W PPS and 18W PD, alongside 5W reverse wired charging. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 18W charging is significantly slower, requiring considerably more time to replenish the battery. The Nord 5’s bypass charging feature also allows for charging while using the phone, minimizing heat buildup.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (India) if you need a reliable, affordable smartphone for everyday tasks, prioritize long battery endurance (127h rating), and are comfortable with slower charging speeds. Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you prefer a significantly faster processor for gaming and demanding apps, value incredibly fast 80W charging, and want a phone that will remain responsive for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in the OnePlus Nord 5 get hot during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3’s 4nm process and the Nord 5’s thermal design are optimized to minimize throttling. While some heat is inevitable during extended gaming, the Nord 5 is expected to maintain higher sustained performance levels compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 9 Pro slow enough to be a major inconvenience?
For users accustomed to fast charging, the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 9 Pro will feel noticeably slower. A full charge will take significantly longer than the Nord 5’s 54-minute charge time. However, if you typically charge your phone overnight, the slower charging speed may not be a significant issue.
❓ How does the Redmi Note 9 Pro's battery endurance translate to real-world usage?
The 127-hour endurance rating suggests the Redmi Note 9 Pro can easily last a full day of moderate use on a single charge. However, heavy users engaging in gaming or video streaming will likely see battery life decrease significantly.
❓ Does the OnePlus Nord 5 support wireless charging?
The provided context data does not mention wireless charging support for the OnePlus Nord 5. It focuses on the fast wired charging capabilities (80W, 33W PPS, 18W PD).
