Xiaomi recently introduced two new budget phones with 5G.
The Redmi Note 10 5G and the POCO M3 Pro 5G shocked the Philippine market with their next-gen specs and incredibly affordable price tags.
Besides 5G, both devices have interesting cameras, large batteries, attractive designs, and other features that definitely speak more than their asking price.
So the question is, what is the difference between these identical sub-Php10,000 smartphones? Which one is right for you? We find out in our Redmi Note 10 5G versus POCO M3 Pro 5G specs and features comparison.
Redmi Note 10 5G | POCO M3 Pro 5G | |
Operating System | Android 11 MIUI 12 | Android 11 MIUI 12 |
SIM | Dual SIM Dual standby | Dual SIM Dual standby |
Display | 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS display 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 405ppi Adaptive Sync refresh rate (30Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz) 1500:1 contrast ratio 360-degree ambient light sensor | 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution 404ppi DynamicSwitch refresh rate (30Hz/50Hz/60Hz/90Hz) 1500:1 contrast ratio 360-degree ambient light sensor |
Processor | 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G octa-core | 2.2GHz MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G octa-core |
RAM | 4GB/8GB | 4GB/6GB |
GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G57 MC2 |
Storage | 128GB UFS 2.2 expandable via microSD | 64GB/128GB UFS 2.2 expandable via microSD |
Front Camera | 8-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
Rear Camera | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) | 48-megapixel (f/1.8, PDAF) 2-megapixel (macro) 2-megapixel (depth sensor) |
Audio | Headphone jack Hi-Res audio | Headphone jack Hi-Res audio |
Security | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock |
Connectivity | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 GPS, A-GPS, BDS, GLONASS, GALILEO NFC IR Blaster USB Type-C | HSPA+, 4G LTE, 5G WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band Bluetooth 5.1 GPS, A-GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BDS NFC IR Blaster USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9mm | 161.81 x 75.34 x 8.92mm |
Weight | 190g | 190g |
Body | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Back: Plastic Frame: Plastic | Front: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Back: Plastic Frame: Plastic |
Colors | Aurora Green Chroma Silver Graphite Gray Nighttime Blue | Power Black Cool Blue POCO Yellow |
Battery | 5,000mAh non-removable 18W fast charging | 5,000mAh non-removable 18W fast charging |
Price | 4GB/128GB: Php9,990 8GB/128GB: Php11,490 | 4GB/64GB: Php8,990 6GB/128GB: Php11,990 |
Processor and Hardware
As you can see, both the Redmi Note 10 5G and POCO M3 Pro 5G are powered by the latest MediaTek Dimensity 700 chipset. We’ve been waiting so long for these budget-oriented 5G chips from MediaTek to arrive in the Philippines, and finally, they are here.
Both models will also have the same Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. So, performance-wise, they should offer the same power.
But if you think you’re a hardcore multitasker, you can get the Note 10 5G with 8GB of RAM for extra headroom when running multiple applications at once.
They also have dual SIM card slots that can accommodate two 5G SIM cards simultaneously.
Display and Audio
Besides the performance, both models also share the same displays. They have 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS screens with 2400 x 1080 pixel resolution.
They also have cool tricks up their sleeves. The adaptive refresh rates can intelligently switch from 30Hz to 90Hz, depending on the task on hand. This optimization can greatly help battery consumption.
There’s also the 360-degree ambient light sensor. The additional sensor on the back can detect how bright the device’s surroundings are to adjust to the right brightness.
Sadly, as for audio, neither have stereo speaker setup. On the upside, the 3.5mm headphone jack do offer Hi-Res audio for better sound quality over headphones.
Cameras
The POCO M3 Pro 5G and Redmi Note 10 5G has the same 48-megapixel main cameras, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth sensors. On the front, there’s an 8-megapixel camera for selfies. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a more usable ultra-wide camera.
Since they both run on the latest Android 11-based MIUI 12 interface, camera software features should be the same. There’s the AI Beautify, Movie frame, front camera time-lapse, AI Video Beautify, and so on.
Battery and Charging
The duo shares the same 5,000mAh battery, which is large enough for a normal phone but may not last as long if you’re constantly browsing over 5G.
They also come with 18W charger, a standard inclusion on most budget phones today.
Conclusion
Well, it’s quite obvious that the Redmi Note 10 5G and POCO M3 Pro 5G are essentially the same devices. They use the same processor, screens, cameras, charging, and more.
Even their prices are similar. The Redmi Note 10 5G base model costs Php1,000 more at Php9,990 since it has 128GB of storage, while the POCO M3 Pro’s 64GB costs Php8,990.
It’s kind of weird that the M3 Pro’s top-tier model costs Php500 more since it only has 6GB of storage, while the former has 8GB. Still, knowing Xiaomi, you can get them at lower prices with their periodic price drops.
I guess it will now depend on your design preference. As you can see, the Redmi Note 10 5G has a more elegant, clean, but slightly familiar look. On the other hand, the POCO M3 Pro has a bold and fresh design with its large logo on the back, a black accent surrounding the camera, and the unique-looking Cool Blue and POCO Yellow colorways.
If you want a more feature-packed phone with sharper cameras, faster charging, and more, but you don’t care about 5G, you can check the Redmi Note 10S for Php11,990.