Never listen to people who say you need a flagship to get everything you need from a smartphone. A lot of users can grab the perfect device without spending a lot of money, thanks to actual mid-rangers. Among the latest high value for money, smartphones announced there are Samsung Galaxy A51 and Redmi K30. Given their well-balanced specs sheets, we think it is worth including them in a comparison to establish which one is the best. We also added Redmi Note 8 Pro to the comparison since we believe it is one of the most amazing smartphones you can get at a very affordable price.
Samsung Galaxy A51 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi K30
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Xiaomi Redmi K30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 161.3 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm, 199 grams | 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm, 172 grams | 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm, 208 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, LTPS IPS LCD | 6.5 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 405 ppi, Super AMOLED | 6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Helio G90T, octa-core | Samsung Exynos 9611, octa-core 2.3 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, octa-core 2.2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot | 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 10, One UI | Android 10, MIUI |
| 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 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP front camera |
Quad 48 + 12 + 5 + 5 MP f/2.0, f/2.4, f/2.4 and f/2.2 32 MP f/2.2 front camera |
Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 Dual 20 + 2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4500 mAh, fast charging 18W with Quick Charge 4+ | 4000 mAh, fast charging 15W | 4500 mAh, fast charging 27W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Hybrid Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
While Redmi Note 8 Pro comes with a classic waterdrop design, Redmi K30 and Samsung Galaxy A51 offer something more innovative. They come with punch-hole notch-less displays. I personally prefer the Samsung Galaxy A51 because it has a single punch hole, a thinner profile, more compact dimensions, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Both the fingerprint scanners of the Redmi Note 8 Pro and Redmi K30 are side-mounted.
Display
A lot of people might initially think that Samsung Galaxy A51 has a better display since it is the only one sporting an AMOLED panel in this trio. But despite having an LCD display, Redmi K30 is way more interesting as it features both the HDR10 certification and a high 120 Hz refresh ratio. And actually there is just a limited amount of mid-rangers with a 120 Hz display. The 120 Hz refresh rate provides smoother user experience and it is amazing for gamers. Further, Redmi K30 has a wider display diagonal.
Specs & Software
On the paper, the most powerful hardware department is on board of the Redmi Note 8 Pro. The device boasts an Helio G90T chipset paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage. The silver medal goes to the Redmi K30 with its Snapdragon 730G, despite a lot of people actually prefer to buy a device with a Qualcomm’s chipset due to the higher reputation of the San Diego-based chipmaker. Android 10 is installed out of the box on Redmi K30 and Samsung Galaxy A51, while Redmi Note 8 Pro is based on Android 9 Pie. Samsung Galaxy A51 has a lower-end chipset and it only comes with 6 GB of RAM in its most expensive variant.
Camera
While there is no way Samsung Galaxy A51 can compete with its opponents in terms of hardware and performance, its cameras are all but bad. But we will have to test them thoroughly to give a definitive opinion, as the device is still not in the market. Redmi K30 and Redmi Note 8 Pro come with the same rear camera department, but Redmi K30 is the only with a dual front camera including a depth sensor.
Battery
The best battery phone here is the Redmi K30 and the reason si very simple: it has the biggest battery with a 4500 mAh capacity and the most efficient chipset. Further, it even features a faster charging technology.
Price
Samsung Galaxy A51 is going to hit the global market with a €379,90 price tag, Redmi Note 8 Pro actually costs less than €250 globally, while Redmi K30 is available for €255, but only in China. The amazing, wider display, the good hardware department and the long-lasting battery would let me go for the Redmi K30 which we choose as the winner of this comparison.
Samsung Galaxy A51 vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro vs Xiaomi Redmi K30: PROs and CONS
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
PROs
- Higher performance
- Affordable
- Big battery
- Liquid cooling
CONS
- Nothing particular
Samsung Galaxy A51
PROs
- Nice cameras
- Micro SD dedicated slot
- AMOLED display
- More interesting design
CONS
- Lower performance
Xiaomi Redmi K30
PROs
- 120 Hz display
- Dual front camera
- Big battery
- Wider display
CONS
- Nothing particular
