1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G | ZTE nubia Z50S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 165.1 × 76.4 × 9.3 mm | 163.9 × 76.3 × 8.3 mm | The Nubia is slightly smaller and thinner, potentially making it more comfortable to hold and carry, particularly for those with smaller hands. The Mi 10T Pro is slightly taller and thicker. |
| Weight | 218g | 228g | The Mi 10T Pro is marginally lighter, which could be noticeable during extended use, reducing hand fatigue. |
| Build Quality (Screen Protection) | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Unknown | The Mi 10T Pro has a known and reputable screen protection, offering better scratch and impact resistance compared to the Nubia Z50S Pro whose screen protection is unknown. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G | ZTE nubia Z50S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.67" | 6.8" | The Nubia's larger screen offers a more immersive viewing experience for multimedia consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1260x2800 | The Nubia's higher resolution results in a sharper, more detailed image, making text and images appear clearer, especially noticeable when viewing high-resolution content. |
| Pixel Density | 395 PPI | 452 PPI | The higher pixel density on the Nubia translates to a visibly sharper display, particularly beneficial for reading and viewing intricate details. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | The AMOLED display on the Nubia offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors compared to the IPS LCD on the Mi 10T Pro. AMOLED is also more power-efficient when using dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | The Mi 10T Pro's slightly higher refresh rate could provide slightly smoother scrolling and animations, although the difference may not be noticeable to all users. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1500 nits | The Nubia's significantly higher brightness makes it much easier to view the screen in bright sunlight, improving outdoor usability considerably. The brightness of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro is unknown. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G | ZTE nubia Z50S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 (4 nm) | The Nubia's newer and more powerful chipset provides significantly faster performance, smoother multitasking, and better gaming capabilities. It's also more power-efficient due to its smaller manufacturing process. |
| AnTuTu Score | 750,829 | 1,579,720 | The significantly higher AnTuTu score of the Nubia indicates a substantial performance advantage, resulting in snappier app launches, smoother gameplay, and better overall responsiveness. |
| GPU | Adreno 650 | Adreno 740 | The Adreno 740 in the Nubia offers superior graphics performance, enabling higher frame rates and more detailed visuals in demanding games and applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G | ZTE nubia Z50S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 108MP, f/1.69, 1/1.33" | 54MP, f/1.6, 1/1.49" | The Mi 10T Pro has higher megapixel count, but the Nubia has a wider aperture and larger pixels. In practice, both should produce good quality images, but the Nubia might have better low-light performance due to the wider aperture. |
| Telephoto + Portrait | N/A | 8MP, f/2.4 | The Nubia offers a dedicated telephoto lens for zoomed-in shots and portrait photography, which the Mi 10T Pro lacks, providing more versatility in shooting scenarios. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 13MP, f/2.4, 1/3.06", 1.12 µm | 50MP, f/2.0, 1/2.88", 0.61 µm | The Nubia offers a higher-resolution wide-angle lens with a wider aperture, resulting in more detailed and brighter wide-angle shots, particularly in low-light conditions. |
| Macro Lens | 5MP, f/2.4 | N/A | The Mi 10T Pro has a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, which the Nubia lacks. |
| Selfie Camera | 20MP, f/2.2, 1/3.4" | 16MP, f/2.5, 1/3.06" | While the Mi 10T Pro has a higher megapixel count, the Nubia has larger sensor which may translate to slightly better low-light performance. |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@60fps | 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps | Both phones offer excellent video recording capabilities, but the Nubia's 4K@120fps provides more options for high-quality slow-motion footage. |
| Features | OIS, EIS, 8K Video | OIS, EIS, Gimbal, 8K Video | The Nubia's gimbal stabilization, alongside OIS and EIS, could provide significantly smoother video recording, especially in dynamic situations. The Mi 10T Pro has "AF assist Beam" while the Nubia has a flicker sensor, optical zoom, digital image stabilization, Ultra stable video, Phase detection autofocus (PDAF), Continuous shooting, and Exposure compensation. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G | ZTE nubia Z50S Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5100mAh | The battery capacity is negligibly different and should offer similar battery life under similar usage patterns. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 80W Fast Charging | The Nubia's significantly faster charging allows for quicker top-ups, reducing downtime and providing more convenience. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G Advantages:
- Slightly Lighter: A minor advantage for those prioritizing a lighter device.
- Known Screen Protection: The use of Gorilla Glass 5 provides a known level of durability.
- Macro Lens: Dedicated macro lens for taking close-up photos.
ZTE nubia Z50S Pro Advantages:
- Newer and Significantly More Powerful Chipset: The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 offers vastly superior performance compared to the Snapdragon 865, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming.
- Superior Display: AMOLED technology with higher resolution and brightness provides a significantly better viewing experience, especially outdoors.
- Faster Charging: 80W charging allows for much quicker battery top-ups.
- Telephoto Lens: Offers more versatile camera options with its dedicated telephoto lens.
- Better Video Stabilization: The gimbal stabilization system, along with OIS and EIS, results in smoother and more stable video recording.
- Newer Software: Comes with a more up-to-date version of Android, offering the latest features and security updates.
- More Internal Storage and RAM Options: Offers a 1TB storage option and up to 16GB of RAM for power users.
Trade-offs:
- The Nubia is slightly heavier and thicker.
- The Mi 10T Pro has a macro lens while the Nubia does not.
- The screen protection of the Nubia is unknown.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G Ideal User:
- Users on a very tight budget looking for a reliable phone with 5G connectivity.
- Those who specifically need a macro lens for close-up photography.
- Users who prefer a slightly lighter phone.
Use Cases for Mi 10T Pro 5G:
- Basic daily tasks such as calling, texting, and browsing social media.
- Casual gaming.
- Close-up photography.
ZTE nubia Z50S Pro Ideal User:
- Gamers and power users who demand the highest performance.
- Photography enthusiasts who want a versatile camera system with telephoto and wide-angle lenses.
- Users who value display quality and need excellent outdoor visibility.
- Those who appreciate fast charging.
Use Cases for ZTE nubia Z50S Pro:
- Demanding mobile gaming.
- High-quality photography and videography.
- Multimedia consumption (movies, videos, and games).
- Outdoor use in bright sunlight.
4. Decision Framework
Here are three key questions to consider when choosing between these two phones:
- How important is performance to you? If you prioritize smooth multitasking, fast app loading, and high-end gaming, the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro is the clear winner.
- How important is display quality and outdoor visibility? The ZTE nubia Z50S Pro's AMOLED display with high brightness offers a superior viewing experience, particularly in bright sunlight.
- What is your budget? If budget is a major constraint, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G might be the more accessible option.
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Mobile Gamer - Choose the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro for its superior chipset, GPU, and display.
- Scenario 2: Budget-Conscious User - The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G may be the only viable option, but understand you are sacrificing significant performance and display quality.
- Scenario 3: Photography Enthusiast - The ZTE nubia Z50S Pro, with its telephoto and wide-angle lenses, is the better choice for versatility.
My Choice
I would choose the ZTE nubia Z50S Pro. While the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G is an older but still capable device, the advantages offered by the Nubia Z50S Pro are substantial and impactful on the overall user experience. The significantly faster processor, superior display, versatile camera system, and faster charging make it a much better choice for my usage patterns.
