The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 and OnePlus Nord N10 5G represent compelling options in the crowded budget smartphone market. While both aim to deliver value, they take distinctly different approaches: Xiaomi focuses on maximizing battery life and offering a solid all-around experience, while OnePlus prioritizes 5G connectivity and faster charging, albeit with some compromises elsewhere.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing longevity and consistent performance, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 emerges as the better choice. Its significantly superior battery endurance (125h vs 99h) and respectable display quality outweigh the Nord N10 5G’s faster charging and 5G capabilities for everyday tasks.
| 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 12 | Available. Released 2020, November 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 162.3 x 77.2 x 8.9 mm (6.39 x 3.04 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 | 199 g (7.02 oz) | 190 g (6.70 oz) |
| | Water-repellent coating | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~406 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.53 inches, 104.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.49 inches, 101.7 cm2 (~83.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 450 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, 90Hz |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Kryo 560 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 560 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6769Z Helio G85 (12 nm) | Qualcomm SM6350 Snapdragon 690 5G (8 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G52 MC2 | Adreno 619L |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 12, MIUI 13 | Android 10, OxygenOS 10.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | - | 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), 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 | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.3, 29mm (standard), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 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 (market/region dependent)M2003J15SG (Yes); M2003J15SS (No) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio, built-in antenna | 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired
9W reverse wired | 30W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5020 mAh | Li-Po 4300 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Forest Green, Midnight Grey, Polar White | Midnight Ice |
| Models | M2003J15SC, M2003J15SG, M2003J15SS | BE2029, BE2025, BE2026, BE2028 |
| Price | € 88.99 / $ 85.68 / £ 136.28 | About 250 EUR |
| SAR | 0.84 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.80 W/kg (head) 1.14 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 125h |
Endurance rating 99h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1242:1 (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker |
-30.1 LUFS (Below average) |
-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 200414 (v8)
GeekBench: 1292 (v5.1) |
AnTuTu: 279579 (v8)
GeekBench: 1848 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
- Exceptional battery life (125h endurance)
- More efficient chipset (Helio G85)
- 9W reverse wired charging
- Slower charging speed (18W)
- Lacks 5G connectivity
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
- Faster 30W wired charging
- 5G connectivity via Snapdragon 690
- Brighter display (440 nits)
- Significantly shorter battery life (99h endurance)
- Less efficient chipset (Snapdragon 690)
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G boasts a brighter display, reaching 440 nits compared to the Redmi Note 9’s 370 nits, making it more usable outdoors. However, the Redmi Note 9’s 1242:1 contrast ratio is respectable, and while both displays are adequate, the Nord N10 5G’s higher brightness provides a noticeable advantage in direct sunlight. Neither manufacturer specifies panel technology, but both are likely IPS LCDs, lacking the advanced features like variable refresh rates found in higher-end devices.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are absent. Given the market positioning, expect both to rely on multi-camera setups with a primary sensor, ultrawide, and potentially macro/depth sensors. The absence of sensor size or aperture information makes a direct comparison difficult. However, OnePlus typically emphasizes image processing and software enhancements, while Xiaomi often focuses on hardware specifications. Without further data, it’s reasonable to assume the Nord N10 5G might offer slightly more refined image processing, but the Redmi Note 9 could potentially have a larger main sensor.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The OnePlus Nord N10 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G (8nm), built on a more efficient process node than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9’s MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm). This translates to potentially better thermal management and efficiency for the Nord N10 5G, despite both CPUs featuring a similar octa-core configuration with 2x2.0 GHz performance cores. The Snapdragon 690 also unlocks 5G connectivity, a feature absent in the Redmi Note 9. However, for typical daily tasks, the Helio G85 provides sufficient performance, and the difference will be most noticeable in demanding games or sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Battery life is where the Redmi Note 9 truly shines. Its endurance rating of 125 hours significantly surpasses the Nord N10 5G’s 99 hours. This difference is partially attributable to the more efficient Helio G85 chipset and potentially a more optimized software experience. While the Nord N10 5G compensates with 30W wired charging – a substantial upgrade over the Redmi Note 9’s 18W – the larger battery capacity of the Redmi Note 9 still provides a longer overall usage time. The Redmi Note 9 also offers 9W reverse wired charging, a feature absent on the Nord N10 5G.
Buying Guide
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 if you need a phone that will reliably last a full day – or even two – on a single charge, and value a balanced feature set. Buy the OnePlus Nord N10 5G if you frequently stream video, download large files, or live in an area with strong 5G coverage and prioritize faster data speeds and quicker top-ups, even at the expense of battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Snapdragon 690 in the Nord N10 5G get noticeably hotter during extended gaming sessions compared to the Helio G85 in the Redmi Note 9?
The Snapdragon 690, while built on a more efficient 8nm process, can still generate heat under sustained load. However, the Redmi Note 9’s 12nm Helio G85 is inherently less efficient. While both phones will likely experience some throttling, the Nord N10 5G *should* manage heat slightly better, but the difference may not be dramatic.
❓ How much faster is the 30W charging on the Nord N10 5G compared to the 18W charging on the Redmi Note 9 in real-world usage?
The 30W charging on the Nord N10 5G will significantly reduce charging times. While exact 0-100% times aren't provided, expect the Nord N10 5G to charge considerably faster – potentially shaving off 30-60 minutes compared to the Redmi Note 9. However, this speed comes at the cost of overall battery endurance.
❓ Is the 5G connectivity on the Nord N10 5G worth the trade-off in battery life if I don't live in an area with widespread 5G coverage?
If 5G coverage is limited in your area, the 5G capability of the Nord N10 5G offers minimal benefit. In such cases, the Redmi Note 9’s superior battery life becomes a much more valuable asset, as you’ll be relying on 4G LTE for connectivity regardless.
