Xiaomi has just released two new flagship smartphones, but which one is the right one for you? Here’s our advice on whether or not you should go Pro.
Despite the “Pro” moniker usually heralding a qualitative difference between a premium smartphone and the rest of the range, in this case the two devices – the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro are remarkably similar except for the camera set up. Here’s a comparative analysis of the two handsets so you can make up your mind which one to choose.
Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro – At a glance
- The Xiaomi Mi 10 series is the follow-up to successful handsets such as the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, both of which we praised very highly in our reviews for their winning combination of low price but high specs
- Both of the new phones boast impressive specifications, including the Snapdragon 865 chipset, 90Hz display refresh rates, and quadruple cameras led by a 108-megapixel sensor
- The Pro boasts an improved camera set-up over its sibling, but a slightly smaller battery
Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro – Specs and screen
The camera is the area where the two devices differ most significantly. Both share the same main camera, the impressive 108-megapixel sensor that made its debut with the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and is also present on the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
From there, however, its an entirely different set-up for each phone. The standard Mi 10 has a 13-megapixel ultrawide accompanied by two 2-megapixel sensors, while the Mi 10 Pro joins its main sensor with a 20-megapixel ultrawide lens, a 8-megapixel telephoto sensor, and another 10-megapixel camera.
From this offering it looks as if the Mi 10 Pro has the more versatile set-up, but we still expect a very strong showing from the Mi 10, due to that high megapixel sensor alone.
One of the most impressive features of this series is the screen, and it seems that the two variants don’t differ in this regard. Both have 6.67-inch AMOLED displays with a Full HD+ resolution. More impressive still is that they offer a 90Hz display refresh rate (matching the OnePlus 7T and the Google Pixel 4), but augment this with a 180Hz touch sampling rate for more responsiveness – a feature that should be ideal for gamers looking for a competitive edge.
The phones are very similar when it comes to performance specifications, as both boast the Snapdragon 865 chipset, with 5G connectivity coming courtesy of the X55 modem. As you’d expect, they both run Xiaomi’s latest user interface, MIUI 11, which is based on the Android 10 operating system. There looks to be little to choose from between the two handsets on this front.
Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro – Battery and Charging
In an unusual turn of events, the Mi 10 actually has a slightly larger battery capacity than the Pro version; the Xiaomi Mi 10 has a battery capacity of 4780mAh while the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro has 4500mAh. Both capacities are considerable – and you’ll probably need every last drop thanks to the demanding specs – but the Pro pulls away from the standard version when it comes to charging speeds.
The standard Mi 10 supports 30W charging, both wired and wireless, and it can also provide 10W reverse wireless charging. However, the Mi 10 Pro does slightly better, matching the Mi 10 for wireless and reverse wireless charging, but ramping up wired charging to a blistering 50W.
Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro – How much do they cost?
There’s a signififcant differen between the starting price of each device, but that narrows somewhat when you consider the different storage options on offer. Below is the full pricing breakdown, but bear in mind that the official UK and US prices are likely to differ from just direct currency conversion.
Xiaomi Mi 10 Prices:
- 8GB RAM & 128GB storage: ¥3,999 (~£440)
- 8GB RAM & 256GB storage: ¥4,299 (~£475)
- 12GB RAM and 256GB storage: ¥4,699 (~£515)
Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Prices:
- 8GB RAM & 256GB storage: ¥4,999 (~£550)
- 12GB RAM & 256GB storage: ¥5,499 (~£600)
- 12GB RAM & 512GB storage: ¥5,999 (~£660)
Xiaomi Mi 10 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro – Early Verdict
Essentially the choice seems to come down to whether it’s worth £100 to you for an improved camera set-up. If you like shooting under different circumstances and take advantage of the different lenses on offer on your current phone then it’s worth considering (although we haven’t yet definitively judged camera quality on either phone). But it may well come as a slight kicker that the battery is lesser on the Pro edition. So far, from a glance at the specs sheet, it seems like the standard Mi 10 might actually be the best option for most users.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
