Affordable flagships are back! After a period in which prices kept raising every day more, it is good to see that there are still companies trying to offer smartphones with the best hardware at a modest price. One of the latest ones is the impressive Lenovo Z6 Pro which comes with up to 12 GB of RAM and a price inferior to €400 at the actual change! Here is a comparison between the new flagship-killer and two other affordable flagships of 2019 which are catalyzing the attention of the public: Xiaomi Mi 9 and Oppo Reno in its 10x zoom variant!
Lenovo Z6 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Oppo Reno 10x Zoom
| Lenovo Z6 Pro | Xiaomi Mi 9 | Oppo Reno 10x zoom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 157.5 x 74.6 x 8.7 mm, 185 g | 157.5 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm, 173 g | 162 x 77.2 x 9.3 mm , 210 g |
| DISPLAY | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.6 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.84 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, octa-core 2.8 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB, micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, ZUI 11 | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 9 Pie, Color OS |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 48 + 16 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/1.8 32 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Triple 48 + 16 + 12 MP, f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.2 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Triple 48 + 13 + 8 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4000 mAh, fast charging 27W | 3300 mAh, fast charging with Quick Charge 4+, wireless charging | 4065 mAh, fast charging, 20W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
If you are looking for the best aesthetical innovation and for the most amazing design, you should choose the Oppo Reno 10x zoom without thinking twice. It is the only to come with a screen-to-body ratio close to 100 percent and no notch. The secret is its shark fin-like pop-up camera which comes out thanks to a motorized slider on the upper part of the device. And the under-display fingerprint reader makes the rear design clean and very attractive, alongside the innovative the vertical stripe under the rear cameras. It is definitely my favorite one, while I am less attracted from the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Lenovo Z6 Pro which come with a traditional waterdrop notch.
Display
While the Oppo Reno 10x zoom has the most innovative and original design, Lenovo Z6 Pro and Xiaomi Mi 9 should be able to offer something more in terms of display quality. Indeed, they come with both the HDR10 technology and the DCI-P3 coverage, so its color reproduction should be amazing and better than Oppo Reno 10x zoom. On the other hand, the Oppo Reno 10x zoom has a bigger 6.6-inch panel which may be more comfortable for productivity and multimedia users, even though it makes the phone bulkier and harder to use with one hand.
Hardware/Software
The processor is the same for each of these devices, and it is the best you can expect in 2019. We are talking about the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 running at a max frequency of 2.84 GHz. Despite they all got the same processor, there is a difference in the performances of these devices, at least in their most expensive variants. Indeed, the Lenovo Z6 Pro comes with up to 12 GB of RAM, while Oppo Reno 10x zoom stops at 8 GB and Xiaomi Mi 9 has just 6 GB. Even the internal storage is different in the top-end variants: while Lenovo Z6 Pro arrives at 512 GB of internal storage, the Oppo Reno 10x zoom goes up to 256 GB and Xiaomi Mi 9 stops at 128 GB. The internal storage of the Mi 9 is not even expandable.
Camera
In each case, you will get an amazing camera setup and only a thorough test of each device will tell us which one clicks the best photos. Lenovo Z6 Pro has the highest number of rear cameras: a quad setup including a 48 MP main sensor, an ultrawide lens, a telephoto lens, and even a TOF 3D camera. Despite having just three cameras, Xiaomi Mi 9 remains amazing due to its awesome photo quality, even in the dark. And Oppo Reno 10x zoom is even more interesting as it features OIS on two sensors and a periscope lens with 10x hybrid zoom technology.
Battery
Xiaomi Mi 9 loses this comparison because it has just a 3300 mAh battery, while the real challenge is between the Lenovo Z6 Pro and Oppo Reno 10x zoom equipped with 4000 and 4065 mAh batteries. Given that the differences in terms of battery life are marginal, I would go for the Lenovo Z6 Pro because of its faster charging technology.
Price
Lenovo Z6 Pro starts from about €400/$447 in China, Xiaomi Mi 9 costs €450/$505 globally and Oppo Reno 10x zoom starts from €550/$615. At the end of the day, with the actual prices, Lenovo Z6 Pro has the highest value for money, and that is the most important thing for an affordable flagship.
Lenovo Z6 Pro vs Xiaomi Mi 9 vs Oppo Reno 10x Zoom: PRO and CONS
Lenovo Z6 Pro
PROS
- Faster charging technology
- Great hardware
- Big battery
- Affordable price
CONS
- Nothing particular
Xiaomi Mi 9
PROS
- Wireless charging
- Great build quality
- Good cameras
- Affordable price
CONS
- No micro SD
- Smaller battery
Oppo Reno 10x zoom
PROS
- Bigger display
- Innovative cameras
- Big battery
CONS
- Costlier
