Mid Range King: Redmi Note 10 Pro vs. realme 8

With the mid-range segment being saturated with so many devices, it can be quite confusing as to which one you should get. After all, the last thing you would want to happen is spend your money on a device that is not fit for your needs.

As such, we have decided to help you just a little bit by slightly narrowing your search. We have pitted two of today’s hottest mid-range phones for a comparison – the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the realme 8.

Before we even get to the nitty-gritty, here is a breakdown of each device’s specifications.

Right off the bat, the Redmi Note 10 Pro seems to be the better device on paper, sporting a high-refresh rate display with HDR10 support, theoretically faster storage, a better set of cameras, a slightly larger battery, and a more affordable price tag.

But then again, what is on paper does not always translate to the actual experience, so we have decided to take closer look on both devices from four aspects – Display, Performance, Camera, and Battery.

Display

If you are a fan of saturated colors and a very lively vibe, both the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the realme 8 will do a good job. As for the display size, it is a matter of preference. Both have enough real estate so you can enjoy your favorite videos.

Whereas the realme 8 has a typical refresh rate of 60Hz, the Redmi Note 10 Pro takes it up a notch to not just 90Hz, but 120Hz. This even makes tasks like scrolling through menus much smoother and fluid. It also supports HDR10, which mean you can get brighter images with improved contrast.

It can also add to the immersion when it comes to playing games, or at least those that support it, as animations appear snappier, and the screen feels more responsive in general.

As far as customization is concerned, both devices offer the option to change the color temperature, enable or disable dark mode, and for selecting a specific color mode or profile.

Performance

Redmi Note 10 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 732G, while the realme 8 packs an Helio G95 SoC.

In Geekbench 5, which measures CPU performance, the Redmi Note 10 Pro came out on top on both Single and Multi-Core tests.

While it is not always noticeable, what this means is that for everyday use, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is generally better at running typical apps that only utilize one core of its processor, as well those optimized for using multiple cores for better performance and when doing multiple things at the same time (multi-tasking).

We also pitted the two devices in several games:

• Real Racing 3
• Call of Duty Mobile
• League of Legends: Wild Rift
• Genshin Impact

Surprisingly, both devices managed to output a similar level of performance, with a difference of around 1 to 2 fps in some instances.

Camera

Both devices are equipped with four rear cameras, though in different configurations – Redmi Note 10 Pro uses a Wide + Ultra-Wide + Telemacro + Depth setup, while the realme 8 uses a Primary + Ultra-Wide + Macro + Black and White configuration.

Redmi Note 10 Pro 108MP rear camera system uses 9-in-1 pixel binning and Dual Native ISO technologies to capture stunning images with improved processing and dynamic range. It also features Night Mode 2.0,  and uses an advanced RAW multi-frame algorithm to improve image quality.

What is cool about this device is it also lets you be creative with your video content – thanks to features like Pro-timelapse mode, Dual Video, Long Exposure, its telemacro camera that lets you capture great close-up shots, and ShootSteady.

Both are flexible enough to take on most shooting situations, but which one takes better photos? Be the judge:

In this photo of a flower, the photo taken by the realme 8 shows slightly boosted colors which certainly makes the image pop out, but the photo taken with the Redmi Note 10 Pro showcases a more natural tone.

While there is no unwanted distortion from both photos, the Redmi Note 10 Pro manages to capture the more accurate colors of the wall on the lower left.

In this photo of a calamansi plant, both devices managed to capture a great level of details, especially the texture in the fruit itself and the leaves. The depth of field effect on both photos also looks refined. As far as color is concerned though, I am leaning towards the more muted tone of the Redmi Note 10 Pro.

While both phones managed to capture the fine details of my face, I prefer the more balanced exposure on the realme 8.

In this portrait shot, the realme 8 manages to get a better exposure, the everything else, including depth of field effect, texture, and details are the same.

Overall, it was a close fight, but I would give the advantage to the Redmi Note 10 Pro, as its AI is not too aggressive in boosting colors, often leaving a more natural tone.

Battery Life

Using PCMark’s new Work 3.0 benchmark which simulates tasks such as basic video and photos editing and data manipulation, the Redmi Note 10 Pro managed to score 15 hours and 48 minutes when at 60Hz, a clear win over the realme 8’s 14 hours and 8 minutes.

On the flipside, the realme 8 managed to get back in the battle by beating the Redmi Note 10 Pro in charging time. Using the supplied charger, zero to full took around 1 hour and 4 minutes, while the later did it in an hour and 17 minutes. A close fight.

Verdict

Both the realme 8 and Redmi Note 10 Pro are spectacular devices on their own right, but which one is the better buy?

Judging from the results, it is the Redmi Note 10 Pro. It offers more to the table for what you pay, having both an AMOLED display and a high refresh rate plus HDR10 support as bonus, gaming performance that is on par with the realme 8, extremely competitive cameras, and great battery life.  

Redmi Note 10 Pro’s base 6GB+128GB variant is priced at PhP12,590, which gives it even better value.

Emman Tortoza

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Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.