Xiaomi is releasing a Lite version of the world’s first 108MP smartphone, the Mi Note 10. When it was announced, we noticed that it shared a lot of similarities with the Redmi Note 9 Pro. It’s equipped with a 7-series Snapdragon chipset, LPDDR4X RAM, UFS 2.1, identical cameras, and connectivity features. Is the more expensive Mi Note 10 Lite worth the extra cost? Find out here!
| Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite | Redmi Note 9 Pro |
|---|---|
| 6.47-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080) 3D Curved AMOLED display HDR10 | 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080) DotDisplay |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core CPU |
| Adreno 618 GPU | Adreno 618 GPU |
| 6GB, 8GB LPDDR4x RAM | 6GB LPDDR4x RAM |
| 64GB, 128GB UFS 2.1 | 64GB, 128GB UFS 2.1 |
| - | microSD up to 512GB (dedicated slot) |
| Quad-rear cameras: • 64MP Sony IMX686 4-in-1 Super Pixel F1.89 main • 8MP F2.2 ultra-wide • 5MP F2.4 depth • 2MP F2.4 macro | Quad-rear cameras: • 64MP F1.89 4-in-1 Super-Pixel (main) • 8MP F2.2 (ultra-wide) • 5MP F2.4 (macro) • 2MP F2.4 (depth) |
| 16MP F2.48 front camera | 16MP F2.48 front camera |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM |
| 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| NFC | NFC |
| GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BDS |
| IR Blaster | IR Blaster |
| USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| 3.5mm audio jack | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Hi-Fi, Hi-Res audio | |
| Fingerprint scanner (in-display) | Fingerprint scanner (side-mounted) |
| MIUI 11 (Android 10) | MIUI 11 (Android 10) |
| 5,260mAh battery w/ 30W fast charging | 5,020mAh battery w/ 30W fast charging (33W charger included) |
| 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.67 mm | 165.75 x 76.68 x 8.8 mm |
| 204 g | 209 g |
| Nebula Purple, Glacier White, Midnight Black | Glacier White, Interstellar Black, Aurora Blue |
Table of Contents
Display
Starting with the display, both devices sport a large Full HD+ screen with the Mi Note 10 Lite measuring 6.47 inches and the Note 9 Pro measuring 6.67 inches. When it comes to the panel type, the Mi Note 10 Lite is superior thanks to its AMOLED display with HDR 10 compatibility, while the Note 9 Pro only uses an IPS display.
Processor
When it comes to the chipset, the Mi Note 10 Lite comes with the newer Snapdragon 730G, while the Note 9 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 720G. While we doubt you’d see any difference in performance between the two in real-world scenarios, the 720G is slightly better thanks to its additional 100MHz clock speed.
Memory
Both the Mi Note 10 Lite and Note 9 Pro use LPDDR4X and UFS 2.1 for its RAM and storage. The main difference is that the Mi Note 10 Lite can be configured with 8GB of RAM (whereas the Note 9 Pro only comes with 6GB), while the Note 9 Pro’s storage can be expanded via MicroSD. Since different people have different needs, we’re giving this section a tie.
Cameras
Both phones sport a quad-rear camera setup with a 64MP primary, 8MP ultra-wide, and a 16MP front shooter. The difference lies in the depth and macro cameras. The Mi Note 10 Lite comes with a 5MP depth sensor and 2MP macro shooter, while the Note 9 Pro comes with a 5MP macro shooter and a 2MP depth sensor. We’re giving both devices another tie in this department, as it is up to the user which type of photos they like taking more.
Furthermore, do remember that the image processing software plays a significant role in the outcome of photos. This means that these two devices could produce pictures of varying quality despite having the same resolution.
Features
Connectivity-wise, both devices are similar, with support for 4G LTE, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, IR Blaster, and GPS features. Both devices also come with a 3.5mm audio jack; however, the Mi Note 10 Lite is HiFi and Hi-Res certified.
As for biometrics, the Note 10 Lite employs an in-display fingerprint scanner thanks to its use of an AMOLED panel, while the Note 9 Pro comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.
In terms of its OS, both devices ship out with MIUI 11 based on Android 10 out of the box.
Battery
In terms of battery, the Note 10 Lite comes with an impressive 5,260mAh battery, while the Note 9 Pro comes with a 5,020mAh battery. Both devices are also capable of 30W fast charging, and the Note 9 Pro ships out with the 33W charger inside the box.
Price
Xiaomi Philippines has confirmed that both devices will be launching on May 26, and its local pricing is yet to be revealed. For reference, here are the phones’ international prices:
- Mi Note 10 Lite 6GB + 64GB – EUR 349
- Mi Note 10 Lite 8GB + 128GB – EUR 399
- Redmi Note 9 Pro 6GB + 64GB – USD 268
- Redmi Note 9 Pro 6GB + 128GB – USD 299
Which one to get?
As you can tell, the Mi Note 10 Lite will be more expensive than the Redmi Note 9 Pro. As we’ve seen, the only real upgrade it offers is in the display, RAM size, and battery. If you’re an avid media consumer or prefer AMOLED displays, then the Note 10 Lite would be the better choice.
That being said, if you’re on a budget, you’re not really missing out on a lot of features when you purchase the Note 9 Pro. You still get a smartphone that’s capable of any task you throw at it, with decent cameras, a large display, and enough battery to last you more than a day.
You’ve mixed up the processor. The Mi Note 10 Lite comes with the 730g, not 720g.
Corrected, thanks!
Baligtad po ung sa Processor summary nyo.
Thanks for spotting.