In this second half of 2019 value for money, smartphones are dominating the scene. While the smartphone market returned to growth, most of the best-selling devices are midrange since people are mostly searching for the best device without spending a fortune. Among the latest smartphones with the highest value for money, there is definitely Realme X2 which hitten the global market a few days ago. In the past days, even Samsung Galaxy M30s made its debut in Europe, while last month we saw the so-called “affordable gaming phone” Redmi Note 8 Pro hitting the shelves. Here is a specs comparison between these three affordable alternatives to high-performance devices.
Realme X2 vs Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy M30s
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | Oppo Realme X2 | Samsung Galaxy M30s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 161.3 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm, 199 grams | 158.7 x 75.2 x 8.6 mm, 182 grams | 159 x 75.1 x 8.9 mm, 188 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED | 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 403 ppi, Super AMOLED |
| PROCESSOR | MediaTek Helio G90T, octa-core | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz | Samsung Exynos 9611, octa-core 2.3 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 9 Pie, Color OS | Android 9 Pie, One UI |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.3, f/2.4 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Triple 48 + 8 + 5 MP f/2.0, f/2.2 and f/2.2 16 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4500 mAh, fast charging 18W | 4000 mAh, fast charging 30W | 6000 mAh, fast charging 15W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot |
Design
None of these devices is very brilliant when it comes to aesthetics. My preference goes to the Realme X2 for various reasons. First of all, unlike the Samsung Galaxy M30s, it has a glass back (protected by Gorilla Glass 5) instead of a plastic body (only the frame is made of plastic). Further, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner unlike both its rivals, which makes the rear side much more elegant. It is even a more compact and more lightweight smartphone compared to Redmi Note 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy M30s.
Display
Redmi Note 8 Pro usually does not meet people’s expectations since it comes with an IPS display instead of an AMOLED panel like the ones found on the Realme X2 and Samsung Galaxy M30s. But you should also consider that Redmi Note 8 Pro is the only to support the HDR technology and it has a high 500 nits peak brightness. It even comes with a slightly bigger display that is better for advanced users and gamers. Despite these things, I still prefer the Realme X2 with its deeper blacks since it offers an in-display fingerprint scanner. But this does not mean anything, choose according to your tastes since there are no big differences.
Specs & Software
The Helio G90T chipset by MediaTek found on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is the most amazing if we only consider performance on the paper. It is not a case that Redmi Note 8 Pro is defined as an affordable gaming smartphone. But despite it does not overclass its performance, Snapdragon 730G looks more interesting because it is built at 8 nm (instead of 12 nm) and it has lower energy consumption. However, the Redmi Note 8 Pro has a way bigger battery than the Realme X2, so the gap is covered. Android 9 Pie is preinstalled on each of these phones.
Camera
Realme X2 is the smartphone with the most convincing camera department: on the rear side, it has a 64 MP quad-camera that is very similar to the quad-camera found on the Redmi Note 8 Pro. But on the front side, it has a way better 32 MP sensor for selfies. Samsung Galaxy M30s is way inferior with its 48 MP triple camera and a less bright focal aperture.
Battery
Samsung Galaxy M30s is the absolute winner of the battery life comparison. It sports a mammoth 6000 mAh battery and there is no way Realme X2 and Redmi Note 8 Pro can reach a similar battery life. But it will take a while to charge it since you do not get the blazing 30W fast charging technology of the Realme X2 which fully charges its 4000 mAh battery in just 35 minutes.
Price
Realme X2 launched in the global market for just €299/$333, while for both the Galaxy M30s and the Redmi Note 8 Pro you need €249/$278 or €259/$289 depending on the market. Overall, I would personally go for the Realme X2 due to its nice AMOLED display, under-display fingerprint scanner, great camera department, and very fast charging technology. But there are very marginal differences, Redmi Note 8 Pro offers a bigger battery and amazing performance, plus it costs less. Samsung Galaxy M30s only makes sense if battery life is your main concern.
Realme X2 vs Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy M30s: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
PROs
- Great graphics performance
- Nice cameras
- Good battery life
- Wide display
CONS
- IPS display
Realme X2
PROs
- Great performance
- Good AMOLED display
- Nice front camera
- Advanced rear cameras
- Faster charging technology
CONS
- Nothing particular
Samsung Galaxy M30s
PROs
- Huge battery
- Nice display
- Very efficient
CONS
- Plastic design
