Smartphone Comparison: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 vs. Blackview A96
1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 | Blackview A96 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 161.8 × 74.2 × 8.6 mm | Blackview A96 is slightly taller and thicker, but these differences are minor. |
| Weight | 178.8g | 193.9g | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is noticeably lighter, making it more comfortable for one-handed use and prolonged holding. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.5" | Minimal size difference, unlikely to be noticeable. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same sharpness of visuals. |
| Pixel Density | 409 PPI | 405 PPI | Practically identical sharpness, very minor difference. |
| Technology | AMOLED | IPS LCD | Xiaomi's AMOLED offers deeper blacks, superior contrast, vibrant colors, and better power efficiency for dark themes. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | Blackview A96 has a smoother display, making scrolling and animations appear more fluid. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is significantly brighter, offering much better visibility outdoors under sunlight. Blackview A96 brightness is unknown. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 678 (11 nm) | Helio G99 (6 nm) | Blackview A96's Helio G99 is more powerful, offering snappier app launches, better multitasking, and smoother gaming. |
| AnTuTu Score | 277,254 | 423,393 | Blackview A96 has a significantly higher performance, making it faster for demanding tasks and gaming. |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Mali-G57 MC2 | Blackview A96's GPU offers better gaming performance. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4380mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 likely offers longer battery life due to its larger capacity. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 18W Fast Charging | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 charges considerably faster. |
| Features | Reverse Charging | None | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 can charge other devices, useful in a pinch. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Lens | 48MP, f/1.79 | 48MP, f/1.6 | Blackview A96's slightly wider aperture may perform better in low light. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06" Sensor | 16MP, 1/3" Sensor | Blackview A96 should capture slightly sharper and detailed selfies. |
| Wide-Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2 | 8MP, f/2.4 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10's wider aperture should result in slightly brighter wide-angle shots. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP | None | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 can capture depth information for better bokeh effect in portrait mode. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, 1/5" Sensor | 2MP | Both have similar macro cameras, but Xiaomi has sensor information which may result in slightly better quality. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps | 1440p@30fps, 1080p@30fps | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 offers higher resolution video recording (4K) and 60 fps for smoother footage. |
| Camera Features | 4K, Quad Cam, DIS, Night Mode | Triple Cam, PDAF, Panorama, Front Flash | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 provides more robust video features. Blackview A96 has PDAF and Panorama which is useful for capturing fast moving scenes and wider scenes. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 13 | Blackview A96 has a more up-to-date Android version. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac, MiMO | 802.11ac | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 offers slightly faster connection. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE, EDR, HID | 5.0 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 has slightly more advanced bluetooth features. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 may offer more accurate location tracking. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64 GB/128 GB | 256 GB | Blackview A96 has significantly more storage, suitable for users who store many files and apps. |
| RAM | 4 GB/6 GB | 8 GB/12 GB | Blackview A96 has more RAM, better suited for multitasking and heavy usage. |
| Expandable | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Audio Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Stereo Speakers | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 has slightly better audio quality for headphones. |
| Security | |||
| Fingerprint | Side-mounted | Side-mounted | Both phones have similar fingerprint sensor technology for convenient unlocking. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Unknown | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 provides better screen protection. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Ultrasonic Proximity Virtual | Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Fingerprint, Proximity | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 has ultrasonic proximity sensor while the Blackview A96 has a basic proximity sensor. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Advantages:
- Superior Display Technology: AMOLED screen offers better contrast, deeper blacks, and vibrant colors, providing a richer viewing experience, especially in dark environments.
- Higher Brightness: The 1100 nits brightness makes it much more usable outdoors in bright sunlight.
- Faster Charging: 33W fast charging replenishes the battery much quicker compared to the Blackview's 18W charging.
- Larger Battery: 5000mAh battery offers a noticeable increase in battery life compared to the Blackview A96's 4380 mAh battery.
- Reverse Charging: Can charge other devices.
- Better Video Recording: Supports 4K video recording and 60fps for smoother footage.
- More robust Video features: Features Digital Image Stabilization and Night mode in the camera.
- Slightly Better Audio Quality: Features Hi-Res Audio
- Better Screen Protection: Features Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
- More Advanced Sensors: Features Ultrasonic Proximity Virtual sensor.
Blackview A96 Advantages:
- Significantly Better Performance: The Helio G99 chipset offers much better performance, making it faster and smoother for daily tasks, multitasking, and gaming, as indicated by its higher Antutu score.
- Smoother Display: 120Hz refresh rate provides a much smoother user experience.
- More RAM and Storage: Comes with 256 GB of storage and 8GB or 12GB of RAM, which means better multitasking and more space for files, apps, and games.
- Newer Android Version: Ships with Android 13, providing the latest features and security updates.
- Better Selfie Camera: Features a 16MP selfie camera with a larger sensor size.
- Wider Aperture on Main Camera: Features a slightly wider aperture on the main camera.
- PDAF and Panorama: Features PDAF for autofocus and Panorama for wide-angle shots.
Trade-offs:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: Sacrifices performance and smoother scrolling for a superior display, brightness, better video capabilities, charging speed, and slightly better battery life.
- Blackview A96: Trades display quality, brightness, charging speed and battery life for significantly better performance, a smoother display, more storage and ram, and a more up-to-date software version.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Ideal User:
- Media Consumers: Users who frequently watch videos, movies, or browse social media and value display quality and outdoor visibility.
- Casual Photographers: Users who take lots of videos and want more robust video capabilities.
- Users Who Value Battery Life: Users who prioritize battery longevity and faster charging.
- Budget-Conscious Users: Users looking for a phone that balances screen quality with battery life and basic functionality.
Specific Use Cases:
- Watching videos on the go in bright sunlight.
- Long commutes where battery life is critical.
- Casual photography and video recording of everyday moments.
- Reading in low light or dark environments.
Blackview A96 Ideal User:
- Performance Enthusiasts: Users who value speed and responsiveness, and often run demanding apps or play mobile games.
- Multitaskers: Users who often switch between multiple apps and need a device that can handle heavy workloads.
- Users Who Want More Storage: Users who store lots of files, apps, and media.
- Users Who Want a Smoother UI: Users who value a fluid user interface due to the 120Hz refresh rate.
- Selfie Enthusiasts: Users who prioritize selfie quality.
Specific Use Cases:
- Playing graphically intensive mobile games.
- Working on multiple documents or apps simultaneously.
- Storing lots of photos, videos, and music on their device.
- Wanting a smoother user experience while scrolling and navigating the UI.
Price-to-Value Ratio:
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 typically offers better value for users who prioritize display quality, video quality and battery life and don't need the highest performance or a very smooth UI.
- The Blackview A96 is a better value for users who value performance, multitasking, large storage, and prefer a smoother display.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What do you prioritize most? Is it display quality and brightness (Xiaomi), or performance and smoothness (Blackview)?
- How important is battery life and charging time to you? Do you need long battery life or fast charging?
- Do you need a lot of storage space, and how much RAM is sufficient? Do you store a lot of media or need to multitask heavy apps?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Outdoor User: If you often use your phone outdoors in bright sunlight, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a better choice due to its higher brightness.
- Scenario 2: Power User: If you frequently play games or use demanding apps, the Blackview A96 with its superior performance would be the better fit.
- Scenario 3: Media Enthusiast: If you value high display quality for media consumption, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10's AMOLED is the better choice.
- Scenario 4: Multitasker: If you switch between multiple apps constantly, the Blackview A96 with its higher RAM would be more suitable.
My Choice
If I were to choose, I would pick the Blackview A96. While the AMOLED display on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is certainly appealing, my priority is smooth performance and a fluid user experience. The 120Hz refresh rate and the superior processing power of the Helio G99 chipset would make the Blackview A96 feel faster and more responsive in daily use, which is my priority. I do also think that 256 GB of storage is more suitable for the kind of media that I consume. I also appreciate the larger RAM capacity for smoother multitasking. While the Xiaomi wins in battery life and charging speed, the performance and modern Android version on the Blackview A96 outweigh these benefits for my personal usage.
