1. Specifications Comparison
Design
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 160.5 × 74.5 × 8.3 mm | 163.8 × 76.8 × 8.9 mm | ROG Phone 8 is larger and thicker, potentially less comfortable for smaller hands or pockets. |
| Weight | 178.8g | 225g | Redmi Note 10S is significantly lighter, making it more comfortable for extended use. ROG Phone 8's added weight is due to increased hardware for performance and cooling. |
| Build | Not specified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 front | ROG Phone 8 has superior screen protection. The Redmi Note 10S uses Gorilla Glass 3. |
Display
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.43" | 6.78" | ROG Phone 8 provides a larger viewing area, better for media consumption and gaming. |
| Resolution | 1080x2400 | 1080x2400 | Both offer the same clarity in terms of pixel density |
| PPI | 409 | 388 | Redmi Note 10S has a slightly sharper display due to higher pixel density but the difference is hardly noticeable. |
| Technology | AMOLED | AMOLED | Both provide vibrant colors and deep blacks |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | ROG Phone 8 provides significantly smoother scrolling and animations, especially beneficial for gaming. |
| Brightness | 1100 nits | 2500 nits | ROG Phone 8 is much more usable outdoors in bright sunlight with much higher peak brightness. |
Performance
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Mediatek Helio G95 (12 nm) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm) | ROG Phone 8 offers vastly superior performance, handling demanding tasks and games with ease. |
| AnTuTu Score | 409,874 | 2,020,000 | ROG Phone 8 provides a much faster experience with better app loading, multitasking, and gaming performance. |
| GPU | Mali-G76 MC4 | Adreno 750 | ROG Phone 8 provides a superior graphics experience for graphically intensive tasks and games. |
Camera
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Lens | 64MP, f/1.79, 1/2" sensor | 50MP, f/1.9, 1/1.56" sensor | ROG Phone 8, despite lower resolution, has a larger sensor and pixels which perform better in low light, overall the quality is better than Redmi. |
| Selfie Lens | 13MP, f/2.45, 1/3.06" sensor | 32MP | ROG Phone 8 offers higher resolution selfies for sharper and more detailed pictures. Sensor size not specified. |
| Wide Angle Lens | 8MP, f/2.2, 1/2.8" sensor | None | Redmi Note 10S can capture a wider field of view in photos. |
| Portrait Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | None | Redmi Note 10S can capture depth information for portrait shots. |
| Macro Lens | 2MP, f/2.4, 1/5" sensor | 5MP, f/2.4 | ROG Phone 8 provides more detailed macro shots. Sensor size not specified. |
| Wide Angle + Macro Lens | None | 13MP, f/2.2 | ROG Phone 8 provides better flexibility with a combined wide and macro lens. Sensor size not specified. |
| Video | Up to 4K@30fps | Up to 8K@24fps | ROG Phone 8 has much higher video recording quality, suitable for professional content creation. |
| Video Stabilization | No | Yes | ROG Phone 8 provides Electronic Image Stabilization. |
| Features | Quad camera | Triple camera, Optical zoom, OIS, Gimbal | ROG Phone 8 has more advanced features including Optical zoom, OIS and Gimbal for superior image quality. |
Battery
| Feature | Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S | Asus ROG Phone 8 | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5000mAh | 5500mAh | ROG Phone 8 offers slightly longer battery life, especially with its more power-efficient chip. |
| Charging | 33W | 65W | ROG Phone 8 charges significantly faster, minimizing downtime. |
| Features | Reverse charging | None | Redmi Note 10S can charge other devices. |
2. Key Differences Analysis
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Advantages:
- Lighter and More Compact: More comfortable for one-handed use and easier to carry around in a pocket.
- Slightly Higher Pixel Density: Offers a marginally sharper display, though not noticeable in everyday use.
- Reverse Charging: Can act as a power bank for other devices, a useful extra feature.
- Dedicated Wide Angle, Depth, and Macro lenses: Offers dedicated lenses for different photography styles.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Advantages:
- Significantly Superior Performance: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset offers top-tier performance for any use case, including demanding gaming and multitasking.
- Much Smoother Display: The 165Hz refresh rate provides a much better experience, especially for gaming and fast scrolling.
- Far Brighter Display: The 2500 nits brightness makes it much more usable outdoors in bright sunlight.
- Better Camera Quality: Despite lower resolution on the standard lens, the larger sensor provides better low-light performance. Overall it provides more features and better image quality.
- 8K Video Recording: Offers much higher video quality for professional content creators.
- Faster Charging: The 65W charging drastically reduces charging times.
- Larger Battery: Offers slightly longer battery life.
- More Advanced Connectivity: Newer WiFi and Bluetooth standards provide faster and more stable connections.
- Higher RAM: Offers more RAM for better multitasking.
- Superior Audio: DTS X audio and 3 microphones for better voice capture
Trade-offs:
- ROG Phone 8 is larger and heavier: This makes it less comfortable for prolonged use or in smaller hands.
- Redmi Note 10S lacks the performance of the ROG phone: This results in a noticeably less smooth and responsive experience.
- Redmi Note 10S screen is not as bright: Makes it difficult to use in bright conditions.
- Redmi Note 10S's camera struggles in low light: The smaller sensor struggles in low light conditions.
- ROG Phone 8 lacks reverse charging: Cannot charge other devices like the Redmi Note 10S can.
3. User Profiles & Recommendations
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Ideal User:
- Budget-Conscious Users: Seeking a capable phone at a lower price point.
- Casual Smartphone Users: Primarily use their phone for social media, browsing, and light media consumption.
- Users Prioritizing Comfort and Portability: Value a lightweight and compact design for everyday use.
- Users who don't require high performance: Users who don't play graphics intensive games.
Use Cases:
- Everyday social media browsing and messaging.
- Casual web browsing.
- Light media consumption (videos, music).
- Photography in decent lighting conditions.
- Occasional use of reverse charging.
Asus ROG Phone 8 Ideal User:
- Mobile Gamers: Seeking top-tier performance for demanding games.
- Power Users: Needing a phone that can handle heavy multitasking and resource-intensive apps.
- Multimedia Enthusiasts: Wanting the best display and audio quality for media consumption.
- Professional Content Creators: Requiring high-quality video recording and editing capabilities.
- Users who need the fastest charging: Users who want to top up the battery quickly.
Use Cases:
- Intense mobile gaming.
- High-performance multitasking with several apps simultaneously.
- Video and photo editing.
- High-quality video recording.
- Extended use with the large battery
- Using in bright conditions
- Using for complex GPS mapping and location
- Demanding applications that require a fast and reliable device
4. Decision Framework
Key Questions for Buyers:
- What is your primary use case for the phone? (e.g., gaming, photography, casual use)
- How much do you value performance and smoothness? (e.g., demanding games, general responsiveness)
- How important is budget compared to specific features? (e.g., top-tier performance vs. affordable value)
Scenario-Based Recommendations:
Scenario 1: Budget-conscious user:
- Recommendation: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S
- Reasoning: Offers decent performance and features for a lower price, ideal for general use.
Scenario 2: Demanding mobile gamer or power user:
- Recommendation: Asus ROG Phone 8
- Reasoning: Provides top-tier performance, a superior display, and advanced features for gaming and heavy use cases.
Scenario 3: All around user:
- Recommendation: Asus ROG Phone 8
- Reasoning: Offers a much better experience across all aspects of phone usage.
My Choice
I would choose the Asus ROG Phone 8. While the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S offers a more budget-friendly price and a lighter design, the ROG Phone 8 provides a far superior user experience in almost every aspect. The dramatically better performance, the significantly smoother and brighter display, much higher quality camera, along with its superior audio capabilities makes it the better choice for all of my use cases. The higher price is justified for the substantial improvements in performance and user experience, and I value long-term usability and performance over small cost savings. For anyone who does more than very basic usage with their phone, the ROG phone is far superior.
