1. Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 | Motorola Edge 30 Pro | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | |||
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 163.1 × 76 × 8.8 mm | Motorola is slightly larger and thicker, less comfortable for smaller hands and pockets, but may offer a more immersive viewing experience |
| Weight | 178.8g | 196g | Xiaomi is noticeably lighter making it more comfortable for extended use and portability. The Edge 30 Pro is heavier, potentially leading to fatigue during prolonged use. |
| Display | |||
| Size | 6.43" | 6.7" | Motorola offers a slightly larger viewing area, beneficial for media consumption and multitasking. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both have the same sharpness, providing crisp images. |
| PPI | 409 | 393 | Similar pixel density meaning practically identical sharpness, differences unnoticeable. |
| Technology | AMOLED | OLED | Both offer vibrant colours, deep blacks, and good viewing angles. Differences in real world image quality would be minimal. |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | Motorola provides significantly smoother animations and scrolling, offering a more fluid experience, especially in gaming and UI navigation. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 0 nits | Xiaomi offers dramatically better visibility in bright outdoor conditions. Motorola display brightness is not available in this spec sheet, making it difficult to make a proper comparison. |
| Performance | |||
| Chipset | Snapdragon 678 (11 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Motorola offers significantly faster processing, better for demanding tasks, gaming, and overall responsiveness. Xiaomi is suitable for basic daily tasks. |
| AnTuTu Score | 277,254 | 1,061,400 | Motorola has over 3x the performance, translating to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance. |
| GPU | Adreno 612 | Adreno 730 | Motorola's GPU provides a massive leap in graphics capabilities, essential for demanding games and graphics-intensive applications, while the Adreno 612 is good for basic gaming. |
| Battery | |||
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 4800mAh | Xiaomi has a slightly larger battery which may translate to marginally better battery life, though real-world results depend on usage patterns. |
| Charging | 33W Fast Charging | 68W Fast Charging | Motorola charges significantly faster, reducing downtime spent charging the phone. |
| Features | Reverse charging | Reverse charging, Wireless 15W, Reverse 5W | Motorola offers additional convenience with wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, the Xiaomi has reverse charging capabilities though not wireless. |
| Camera | |||
| Standard Camera | 48MP, f/1.79, 1/2", 0.8µm | 50MP, f/1.8, 1/1.55", 1.0µm | Motorola has a slightly higher resolution, larger sensor, and larger pixels, generally leading to better low-light performance and image quality, though Xiaomi has a wider aperture. |
| Selfie Camera | 13MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06", 1.12µm | 60MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 0.61µm | Motorola has a significantly higher resolution and larger sensor for better detailed selfies. Xiaomi has a slightly wider aperture, though with a smaller sensor. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8", 1.14µm | N/A | Xiaomi offers a dedicated wide-angle lens for landscape photography, while the Motorola lacks this dedicated lens. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4 | 2MP, f/2.4 | Both phones have similar depth sensors for portrait mode. The Motorola's pixel size for this sensor is missing and a true comparison isn't possible. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5", 1.75µm | N/A | Xiaomi offers a dedicated macro lens for close-up shots, missing on the Motorola. |
| Wide Angle + Macro | N/A | 50MP, f/2.2, 1/2.76", 0.64µm | Motorola offers a dual-purpose wide-angle/macro lens, adding some versatility. |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps | Motorola offers significantly higher video resolution (up to 8K), more frame rate options, and electronic image stabilization (EIS). This makes the Motorola suitable for professional-quality content creation. Xiaomi is more limited in video capabilities. |
| DXOMark Scores | N/A | Main: 101, Photo: 107, Video: 102 | Motorola has a decent camera performance as measured by DXOMark, while the Xiaomi has not been tested. |
| Software | |||
| OS | Android 11 (upgradable to 12) | Android 12 (upgradable to 13) | Motorola has a newer OS out of the box and is upgradeable to a later version. |
| Connectivity | |||
| WiFi | 802.11ac, Wi-Fi MiMO | 802.11ax (WiFi 6) | Motorola features newer WiFi 6 for faster connections and better performance. Xiaomi features Wi-Fi MiMO for increased speeds. |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 LE, EDR, HID, A2DP | 5.2 LE, A2DP, APT-x, LDAC, SBC, AAC | Motorola has newer Bluetooth, better audio codec support for better wireless audio quality, and additional codecs compared to Xiaomi. |
| GPS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, SUPL, GPS (L1+L5), Galileo (E1+E5a) | Both are capable of precise location tracking. Motorola has improved support with dual-band GPS for better accuracy and more advanced support. |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Both allow the use of two SIM cards simultaneously. |
| Storage | |||
| Internal | 64/128GB | 128/256/512GB | Motorola offers much more storage options which is better for users with large media libraries or apps. Neither has expandable storage. |
| RAM | 4/6GB | 8/12GB | Motorola offers significantly more RAM for better multitasking and performance, especially for resource-intensive applications. |
| Expandable Storage | No | No | Neither phone supports expandable storage. |
| Audio | |||
| Quality | Hi-Res Audio, Stereo Speakers | Dolby Atmos, Stereo Speakers, 3 mics | Motorola offers enhanced audio with Dolby Atmos and better voice capture thanks to 3 microphones, while Xiaomi offers Hi-Res audio output. |
| Security | |||
| Features | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Side-mounted fingerprint sensor | Both offer similar side-mounted biometric authentication. |
| Build Quality | |||
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Both phones offer the same scratch and impact resistance for the screen. |
| Sensors | |||
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Ultrasonic proximity virtual | Fingerprint, Proximity, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope | Both feature standard motion sensors and fingerprint sensors, with Xiaomi having an "Ultrasonic proximity virtual" sensor. The Proximity sensor is specifically mentioned on the Motorola, it's a standard sensor on phones. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Advantages:
- Lighter and more compact: More comfortable for extended use and easier to handle, particularly for smaller hands.
- Better Display Brightness: Significantly better visibility in bright sunlight, useful for outdoor use.
- Dedicated Wide Angle & Macro Lenses: Offers more creative flexibility for different photographic needs, without requiring a hybrid lens.
- Hi-Res Audio support: For higher quality music playback for audiophiles using wired headphones.
- Lower price: Generally more affordable than the Edge 30 Pro, offering a budget friendly option.
Practical Implications:
- The Redmi Note 10 is better suited for users who prioritize comfort, portability, and good outdoor screen visibility while still being able to take standard photos in different scenarios. It is a more budget-friendly option.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro Advantages:
- Significantly Higher Performance: Much faster processing and graphics capabilities. Better for gaming, heavy multitasking, and demanding apps and ensuring the device feels smooth and responsive for longer.
- Higher Refresh Rate Display: Much smoother animations, scrolling, and gaming experiences.
- Faster Charging: Significantly faster charging speeds meaning less downtime while charging.
- Better Camera System: Higher resolution and larger sensor on the main camera with better overall image quality, a much better selfie camera and 8K video recording capabilities
- Wireless charging: More convenient charging and wireless reverse charging capabilities.
- Newer Bluetooth version More stable, efficient and higher quality audio connectivity with supported headphones.
- More Storage & RAM: More space for apps and data, and more memory for smoother multitasking.
- Newer OS: Comes with a more up-to-date Android version and upgradable to a later version.
- Better Audio Recording: Features 3 microphones for better audio capture.
- Dual-band GPS: More precise location tracking in supported regions.
Practical Implications:
- The Edge 30 Pro is ideal for users who prioritize performance, camera quality, premium features, and the latest technologies. It is suited for more demanding users who want a powerful phone that excels in many tasks.
Trade-offs:
- Redmi Note 10 sacrifices overall performance, camera quality, and advanced features for better portability, visibility and affordability.
- Motorola Edge 30 Pro is bulkier, heavier and more expensive, but gains a more powerful phone. The lack of information on display brightness on the Motorola Edge 30 Pro also limits its appeal to some users, as it is important to have a good performing display in direct sunlight.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10:
- Ideal User: Casual users, students, budget-conscious consumers who value portability, are happy with basic performance, and enjoy outdoor use of their phone.
- Use Cases:
- Daily social media browsing, casual gaming, music playback, photography with variety of lenses, and outdoor use under bright sunlight
- Good as a secondary phone for a user who needs something portable or as a first phone for students with basic requirements.
- Price-to-Value: Offers good value for a basic smartphone with a good display and camera, but doesn't offer premium performance or advanced features.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro:
- Ideal User: Power users, gamers, content creators, and photography enthusiasts. Those who prioritize performance and advanced features are willing to pay a premium.
- Use Cases:
- Demanding mobile gaming, high quality video recording, professional photography, and using resource-heavy apps, long term usage of the phone and good multitasking.
- Ideal for users who consume lots of media and use the phone heavily during the day.
- Price-to-Value: Offers flagship-level performance and features but comes with a premium price tag. The phone is a good investment for the right user, however a lack of proper brightness specification limits its appeal.
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What are your primary use cases? Do you need a phone mainly for basic daily tasks, or heavy gaming, multitasking and content creation?
- What is your budget? Are you looking for the most affordable option, or are you willing to pay more for premium features and performance?
- How important are the display brightness and camera quality to you? Do you need excellent outdoor visibility and top-tier photo and video capabilities?
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
- Scenario 1: Budget-Conscious User: If you are on a tight budget and prioritize portability and good outdoor visibility the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is the better option.
- Scenario 2: Performance & Photography Enthusiast: If you need a powerful phone that can handle demanding tasks, games, and high-quality photography, the Motorola Edge 30 Pro is the better choice, especially if you can get it at a good price and have a good idea of the display's brightness before purchasing.
- Scenario 3: Balanced User: If you need a decent balance of performance and advanced features but still want a comfortable phone for extended use, you may still be better served by other options that feature a better balance of price and performance, like other models from the Xiaomi Redmi Note lineup, as the Redmi Note 10 is not powerful enough for demanding tasks and the Edge 30 Pro comes with a hefty price tag.
My Choice
If I had to choose between these two, I would choose the Motorola Edge 30 Pro despite the lack of brightness information, for the following reasons:
- Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 provides a noticeable boost in speed and responsiveness, which aligns with my need for a smooth and fast user experience for resource-intensive apps and games.
- Enhanced Camera Capabilities: The much better camera system, especially the front-facing camera for selfies, 8K video recording and better low-light photography, is a significant upgrade over the Redmi Note 10. As someone who takes many photos and videos, this is a crucial upgrade.
- Fast Charging and Wireless Charging: The faster charging speeds are a huge time saver, and the added convenience of wireless charging makes my life easier.
- Higher Refresh Rate: The 144Hz display would also provide a much more fluid and responsive experience compared to the 60Hz on the Xiaomi.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a competent device for its target audience, but the performance, camera, and overall feature set of the Motorola Edge 30 Pro offer a compelling upgrade. Though the price is higher, the improvements justify the expense for me.
The lack of brightness data on the Edge 30 Pro is the biggest drawback, as good brightness is important for my use case, but this is not a dealbreaker when comparing it to the significantly more outdated specifications of the Redmi Note 10.
