OnePlus 8 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 vs OnePlus 8 Pro - Which one should you buy - Android

The Xiaomi Mi 10 is an interesting phone. In our Xiaomi Mi 10 review, we called it a premium piece of kit that can hang with the competition. The real competition for the phone, however, is the OnePlus 8 series.

The OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro pack a one-two punch to tackle the affordable flagship and premium ends of the market. Slotting right between the two, the Xiaomi Mi 10 offers a compelling package that will be intriguing to many a buyer — especially those put off by the higher-priced Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

If you are in the market for a new flagship killer without spending absolute top dollar, which one of these three should you get? Find out in this OnePlus 8 vs Xiaomi Mi 10 vs OnePlus 8 Pro face-off.

OnePlus 8 vs Xiaomi Mi 10: Specs

Design

All three phones take a step towards minimalism with clean lines and subtle gradients. The Mi 10, in particular, has a glossy look and premium build that oozes sex appeal and is befitting of a device that ranks among the best Xiaomi phones to date.

The OnePlus 8 is a significant evolution over the previous year’s model. Gone is the polarizing circular camera island. Instead, you get a centrally mounted camera array that is similar to the one on the Pro line.

While the Mi 10 and OnePlus 8 both have relatively flat back panels, the OnePlus 8 Pro opts for a curved glass back that is much more comfortable to hold. Keeping the glossy OnePlus 8 and Mi 10 clear of fingerprints is an exercise in frustration. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 8 Pro fares better with its use of matte glass, and that new glacial green looks particularly fetching.

With the industry at large shifting towards camera cutouts, it’s no surprise that the front of all three devices are aesthetically similar. They all have a camera hole on the left. Screen size is the most significant differentiator.

The three phones are an exercise in minimalism, with gentle gradients and similar looking fronts.

The OnePlus 8 Pro packs a 6.78-inch screen and simply cannot be used in a single hand. The Xiaomi Mi 10 fares a little better due to its excellent weight distribution and smaller 6.67-inch panel. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 8 with its 6.55-inch display is borderline diminutive in comparison.

While on the topic of ergonomics, predictably, the OnePlus 8 pulls far ahead. Clocking in at just 180g, the phone doesn’t weigh you down. OnePlus managed to trim the OnePlus 8 Pro as well, and it weighs a comparatively light 199g. The Mi 10 is much heftier at 208g; you will definitely feel the weight if you find yourself playing games for hours on end.

Related: These 6 flagship killers are the best alternatives to the OnePlus 8 series

The button layout is similar enough across all three phones, but the OnePlus 8 series adds the company’s trademark alert slider that lets you easily switch profiles. None of the phones have a headphone jack, and instead stick with a USB-C port on the bottom.

Related: The best OnePlus 8 cases you can buy | The best cases for the OnePlus 8 Pro to get

Stereo speakers on the Xiaomi Mi 10 stand out as some of the best in the business. Cranked up loud, music sounds clear with even a hint of bass. The OnePlus 8 series doesn’t fare too badly either, but the Mi 10 stands apart. The same can be said for haptic feedback. OnePlus has made big strides here, but the typing experience on the Mi 10 is exemplary.

On the display side of things, the Mi 10 and OnePlus 8 are similarly equipped. The OnePlus 8 opts for a slightly taller 20:9 aspect ratio over the 19.5:9 aspect ratio of the Mi 10 that makes the former a bit more comfortable. The AMOLED displays on both the phones sport Full HD+ resolutions, however, the Mi 10 manages a peak brightness of 800nits, which I found to be very useful when viewing outdoors. The refresh rate on both phones is 90Hz, which adds fluidity to the interface.

The 120Hz display on the OnePlus 8 Pro is a standout feature that makes navigating the interface silky smooth.

The OnePlus 8 Pro takes it a step further with a larger AMOLED panel and Quad HD resolution. While the added resolution isn’t always noticeable, the 120Hz refresh rate certainly is. It adds an extra degree of smoothness to the experience. In our objective testing, we found the display on the OnePlus 8 Pro to be one of