1. Specifications Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison of the two phones, focusing on practical impacts:
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 161.8 x 75.3 x 8.9 mm | 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.3 mm | The Redmi Note 10 5G is slightly larger and thicker, potentially feeling bulkier in hand. The Poco M5s is more compact and slightly lighter (178.8 vs 190g). |
| Weight | 190g | 178.8g | The Poco M5s is about 11g lighter, potentially more comfortable for extended use. |
| Build | Standard | Standard | Both are standard smartphone form factors. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.5" | 6.43" | Minimal difference in screen size, not likely noticeable. |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 | 1080 x 2400 | Both offer the same level of sharpness. |
| PPI | 405 | 409 | Virtually identical pixel density; sharpness will be indistinguishable. |
| Technology | IPS LCD | AMOLED | AMOLED offers deeper blacks, better contrast, and more vibrant colors. Significantly better viewing experience for media consumption. |
| Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | 90Hz offers smoother scrolling and animations in the Redmi Note 10 5G. |
| Brightness | 0 nits | 1100 nits | The Poco M5s has dramatically better outdoor visibility in bright sunlight due to its high brightness capability. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7 nm) | Mediatek MT6785V/CD Helio G95 (12 nm) | The Dimensity 700 is on a 7nm process, the Helio G95 is on a 12nm process. Typically the smaller process size is more power efficient. However, this is not the entire picture and other optimizations can play a role. |
| AnTuTu Score | 381,300 | 418,627 | The Poco M5s has slightly better overall performance based on benchmarks. Expect slightly smoother multitasking and gaming performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G57 MC2 | Mali-G76 MC4 | The Poco M5s has a more powerful GPU, which translates to better graphics performance in games and other graphics-intensive applications. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2" | 64MP, f/1.9, 1/2" | The Poco M5s offers higher resolution for more detailed photos. |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP, f/2.0 | 13MP, f/2.4 | The Poco M5s has a higher resolution selfie camera for more detailed selfies. |
| Wide Angle Lens | None | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" | The Poco M5s has an additional ultra-wide lens, offering versatility for landscape and group photos. |
| Portrait (Depth) | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Comparable depth sensors for portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Comparable macro lenses for close-up shots. |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Up to 4K@30fps | The Poco M5s can record higher quality videos, up to 4K resolution. |
| Camera Features | Triple Camera | Quadruple Camera | The Poco M5s offers more camera options with the addition of a wide angle lens. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G | Xiaomi Poco M5s | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5000mAh | Both have similar battery capacity, offering comparable battery life. |
| Charging | 18W Fast Charging | 33W Fast Charging | The Poco M5s charges significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | Reverse Charging | Both phones can act as a power bank to charge other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G Advantages:
- Smoother Display: 90Hz refresh rate provides a noticeably smoother visual experience when scrolling and navigating.
- Newer Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 provides marginal improvements over Bluetooth 5.0
Xiaomi Poco M5s Advantages:
- Superior Display: AMOLED display offers significantly better contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors, making media consumption more enjoyable.
- Brighter Screen: 1100 nits of brightness makes the screen significantly more visible outdoors, especially in bright sunlight.
- Better Performance: Slightly higher AnTuTu score and a more powerful GPU offer better overall performance for gaming and multitasking.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging allows for quicker battery refills.
- More Versatile Camera: Offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for more flexibility in photography.
- Higher Resolution Videos: Can record up to 4K resolution video.
- Stereo Speakers: Provides better audio experience with better sound separation.
- Newer OS: Comes with Android 12 out of the box.
Trade-offs:
- The Redmi Note 10 5G's smoother 90Hz display is traded for the superior contrast and vibrancy of the Poco M5s' AMOLED panel, and better outdoor visibility
- The Redmi Note 10 5G is on an ever so slightly smaller process size but performs less well.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G is ideal for:
- Users who prioritize a smoother display experience.
- Users who don't need the highest video quality.
- Users who prefer the feel of a slightly larger device
- Users that do not care as much about camera versatility.
- Users who need reverse charging to charge other devices.
Use Cases:
- General daily use, browsing, social media.
- Casual gaming where the 90Hz refresh rate enhances smoothness.
- Users who need a basic all round phone.
- Users who need reverse charging.
Xiaomi Poco M5s is ideal for:
- Users who value a high-quality display for media consumption.
- Users who prioritize camera versatility and good image quality.
- Users who need faster charging speeds.
- Users who want the latest Android experience.
- Users who want better audio quality.
Use Cases:
- Watching videos, movies, and playing graphically intensive games.
- Taking photos and videos in a variety of scenarios.
- Users who need a fast charging battery.
- Users who are heavy smartphone users and require a smooth experience.
- Users who require a better media consumption experience due to a superior display and speakers.
Price-to-Value:
- The Poco M5s offers better overall value due to its superior display, faster charging, and more versatile camera, making it the better choice for the majority of users.
4. Decision Framework
Here are key questions to ask when deciding between these two phones:
- Display Preference: Do you prioritize smoother scrolling (90Hz LCD) or better colors, contrast, and outdoor visibility (AMOLED)?
- Camera Needs: Do you need a wide-angle lens and higher-resolution video?
- Charging Speed: Is fast charging important to you?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- For Media Enthusiasts: Choose the Poco M5s for its superior AMOLED display, brighter screen, and higher-resolution video.
- For Casual Users: Choose the Poco M5s for its brighter screen, more versatile camera, faster charging and marginally better overall performance.
- For Gamers: The Poco M5s is slightly better due to having a more powerful GPU. However, the Redmi Note 10 5G may be a better option for more casual gamers.
- For Budget Conscious: Both are similar in price. However the Poco M5s has a better spec sheet and value.
My Choice
I would choose the Xiaomi Poco M5s. Although the 90Hz refresh rate on the Redmi Note 10 5G is a nice feature, the advantages that the Poco M5s provides outweighs this. The AMOLED display offers a much more vibrant and enjoyable viewing experience, especially for media consumption. The significantly brighter screen is also a major advantage for outdoor use. The added versatility of the wide-angle lens is also a big advantage, as well as the ability to shoot 4k videos for a better overall experience. The marginal performance bump as well as the faster charging really tips it to become the better choice. Although the Redmi Note 10 5G is a capable phone, the Poco M5s offers a better overall experience for a similar price point.
