Xiaomi advertised the Redmi Note 8 Pro as a gaming phone despite it is definitely not a flagship device, and not only for its affordable price tag. But does it really have flagship-class features and components? Is it really a flagship killer when it comes to performance or it is still far from high-end devices? Does it have a higher value for money than affordable flagships? We decided to answer all of these questions by comparing it to one of the latest and most amazing affordable flagships in China: the Oppo Reno Ace. Unlike the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it is a real high-end phone, but is it worth spending more for it? Let’s find it out together.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | Oppo Reno Ace | |
|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 161.4 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm,
200 grams |
161 x 75.7 x 8.7 mm,
200 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Helio G90T, octa-core 2.05 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD card slot | 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB |
| SOFTWARE | 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 |
| CAMERA | Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9 and f/2.2 and f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Quad 48 + 13 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.7, f/2.4, f/2.2 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.2 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4500 mAh Fast charging 18W |
4000 mAh, Fast Charging 65W with Super VOOC Flash Charge |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
There is no doubt about the fact that Oppo Reno Ace has a more premium design than Redmi Note 8 Pro. Indeed, it sports a glass back paired with an aluminum frame, it has a cleaner glass back thanks to the in-display fingerprint scanner, and it is even more compact. It should also be a more resistant phone due to both its metal frame and the Gorilla Glass 6 protection. The Oppo Reno Ace is even more beautiful, at least according to my tastes.
Display
The display of the Oppo Reno Ace is infinitely superior to the one of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. First of all, it is an AMOLED screen unlike the IPS panel of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. Further, it supports both full DCI-P3 coverage and a higher 90 Hz refresh ratio, while Redmi Note 8 Pro does not. It also comes with a slightly taller aspect ratio and stereo speakers which improve multimedia and gaming experience. Given that it sports an AMOLED panel, Oppo Reno Ace also comes with an in-display fingerprint reader, while the biometric sensor of the Redmi Note 8 Pro is placed on the back. Both Oppo Reno Ace and Redmi Note 8 Pro support HDR.
Specs & Software
Despite it is just a midrange smartphone, Redmi Note 8 Pro sports a high-end SoC. There is no midrange chipset that can achieve the same graphics performance as the MediaTek Helio G90T. That is why it is a perfect chipset for gaming. But is it able to reach the flagship Snapdragon 855+ which is currently the best Qualcomm’s chipset? The short answer is no. The long answer is: even though it has high-end CPU and GPU performance, Helio G90T is far from being a top-tier chipset. And it even has a high energy consumption, given that it is built at 12 nm while most of the current flagship chipsets are built at 7 nm. Another component making the Oppo Reno Ace better than Redmi Note 8 Pro in every configuration is the UFS 3.0 internal storage, while Redmi Note 8 Pro has UFS 2.1 storage. Last but not least, Oppo Reno Ace is available with up to 12 GB of RAM, while Redmi Note 8 Pro stops at 8 GB.
Camera
Redmi Note 8 Pro has a quad camera with a higher resolution for the main sensor, but this does not mean it is a better camera phone. Oppo Reno Ace has a better 48 MP sensor with a brighter aperture and even OIS in its dual camera. Unlike the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the Oppo Reno Ace has an ultrawide lens which is currently one of the most wanted camera features. So, Oppo Reno Ace wins even when it comes to cameras.
Battery
Redmi Note 8 Pro has a way bigger battery than Oppo Reno Ace, but it does not mean that it always provides a longer battery life. With an intensive usage, Oppo Reno Ace is superior because it has more efficient components. Further, the Oppo Reno Ace has a lot faster charging technology: with its 65W SuperVOOC Flash Charge, it can fully charge in just 30 minutes.
Price
In China, Redmi Note 8 Pro starts from just €177/$200, while Oppo Reno Ace starts from about €380/$425. Oppo Reno Ace is a superior phone in almost every aspect, but if you can not afford a so expensive device, Redmi Note 8 Pro is the best mid-ranger you can buy if you are looking for the best performance and long battery life.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Oppo Reno Ace: PRO and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
PRO
- High graphics performance
- Advanced cooling system
- Bigger battery
- Affordable price
CONS
- Midrange specifications
Oppo Reno Ace
PRO
- Better display
- Better cameras
- Flagship-class hardware
- Faster charging tech
CONS
- Limited availability
- Higher price
