The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent compelling options in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. While both aim to deliver a feature-rich experience without breaking the bank, they take different approaches. The Redmi Note 9 Pro prioritizes exceptional battery life and a solid all-around experience, while the Nord N10 5G focuses on bringing 5G connectivity and a higher refresh rate display to a wider audience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is the better choice. Its significantly superior battery endurance (123h vs 99h) and capable Snapdragon 720G chipset offer a more reliable daily experience, despite the Nord N10 5G's 5G advantage.
| 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, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 28, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat18 1024/150 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, April 30 | 2020, October 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, May 05 | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 165.8 x 76.7 x 8.8 mm (6.53 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 163 x 74.7 x 9 mm (6.42 x 2.94 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 209 g (7.37 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| 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 (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7125 Snapdragon 720G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, MIUI 11 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro), AF
Auxiliary lens | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.3, 119˚ (ultrawide)
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
| Video | 1080p@30/120fps | 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with dual speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, recording | No |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 30W wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Tropical Green, Glacier White, Interstellar Gray | Midnight Ice |
| Models | M2003J6B2G | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | € 136.00 / £ 164.28 | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 0.87 W/kg (head) 0.71 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.66 W/kg (head) 1.02 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 123h |
Endurance rating 99h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1285:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-28.6 LUFS (Average) |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 279625 (v8)
GeekBench: 1785 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
AnTuTu: 279579 (v8)
GeekBench: 1848 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
- Exceptional battery life (123h endurance)
- More powerful Snapdragon 720G chipset
- Potentially better image processing
- Lower contrast ratio compared to Nord N10 5G
- Lacks 5G connectivity
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- 5G connectivity for faster data speeds
- Higher display contrast ratio (1447:1)
- Brighter display (440 nits)
- Significantly shorter battery life (99h endurance)
- Less powerful Snapdragon 690 chipset
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a higher contrast ratio of 1447:1 compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s 1285:1, resulting in deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Furthermore, the Nord N10 5G achieves a measured peak brightness of 440 nits, which is likely to provide better visibility in direct sunlight. However, the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s display, while having a lower contrast ratio, still delivers a respectable visual experience, and the difference in real-world usage may not be drastic for all users. The lack of refresh rate information for the Redmi Note 9 Pro suggests it operates at the standard 60Hz, while the Nord N10 5G's higher contrast ratio is more immediately noticeable.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed sensor information is missing. Without specifics on sensor size, aperture, or image stabilization, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s chipset generally supports more advanced image signal processing (ISP) features, potentially leading to better image quality in challenging conditions. The absence of details on the Nord N10 5G’s camera system makes it hard to assess its capabilities beyond basic photography. We can assume both phones will offer acceptable image quality for social media sharing, but the Redmi Note 9 Pro likely has an edge in overall image processing.
Performance
Both devices utilize 8nm process technology, but the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G in the Redmi Note 9 Pro and the Snapdragon 690 5G in the Nord N10 5G represent different tiers of performance. The Snapdragon 720G features a more powerful CPU configuration – octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 465 Silver) versus the Nord N10’s octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver). This translates to a noticeable advantage in CPU-intensive tasks for the Redmi Note 9 Pro. While the Snapdragon 690 offers 5G connectivity, it sacrifices some raw processing power. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s chipset is better suited for demanding applications and sustained workloads.
Battery Life
The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s endurance rating of 123 hours significantly surpasses the OnePlus Nord N10 5G’s 99 hours. This difference is substantial and indicates the Redmi Note 9 Pro will last considerably longer on a single charge. Both devices support 30W wired charging, suggesting similar charging speeds (approximately 65-70 minutes for a full charge). However, the larger battery capacity and more efficient chipset in the Redmi Note 9 Pro combine to deliver a far superior battery life experience. The Nord N10 5G’s 5G connectivity will also contribute to faster battery drain when actively using 5G networks.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro if you need a phone that will comfortably last a full day, even with heavy use, and value a balanced feature set. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if 5G connectivity is a must-have and you prioritize a smoother scrolling experience thanks to the higher contrast ratio, accepting the trade-off in battery life and potentially slightly less consistent performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G struggle with graphically demanding games like PUBG or Call of Duty?
The Snapdragon 690 is capable of running these games, but you may need to lower graphics settings to maintain a smooth frame rate. The Redmi Note 9 Pro’s Snapdragon 720G offers a more comfortable gaming experience with higher sustained performance and fewer compromises on visual fidelity.
❓ How much faster is 5G on the Nord N10 5G compared to 4G, and is it worth the battery trade-off?
5G speeds can be significantly faster than 4G, potentially offering download speeds several times higher. However, 5G coverage is still limited, and the battery drain associated with 5G connectivity is substantial. If you live in an area with strong 5G coverage and frequently download large files, the Nord N10 5G’s 5G capability may be worthwhile. Otherwise, the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s superior battery life is likely a more valuable benefit.
❓ Does the Redmi Note 9 Pro support VoLTE and VoWiFi for improved call quality?
While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Xiaomi typically includes VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and VoWiFi (Voice over Wi-Fi) support in their Redmi Note series. It's highly probable the Redmi Note 9 Pro supports these features, ensuring clear call quality even in areas with weak cellular signals.
