All the main Chinese manufacturers launched some very affordable 5G phones in China. You can actually get 5G-ready handsets by spending a very low amount of money, and you actually have a lot of choices. And you do not have to necessarily choose devices with entry-level specifications. If you want a pretty nice mid-range phone sold at a very affordable price, you can choose something like the Realme V15 5G, the Redmi Note 9 5G, or the ZTE Blade V2020 5G. They are all sold with listing prices below €200 or $250 in the Chinese market. This comparison will highlight the differences between their specifications.
Realme V15 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs ZTE Blade V2020 5G
| Realme V15 5G | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G | ZTE Blade V2020 5G | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 160.9 x 74.4 x 8.1 mm, 176 grams | 162 x 77.3 x 9.2 mm, 199 grams | 162.7 x 76.3 x 8.8 mm, 184 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, IPS LCD | 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 395 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, LTPS IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz | Mediatek Dimensity 800U, octa-core 2.4 GHz | Mediatek Dimensity 800, octa-core 2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 10, Realme UI | Android 10, MIUI | Android 10, MiFavor |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 64 + 8 + + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.3 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.5 front camera |
Triple 48 + 8 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2 and f/2.4 13 MP f/2.3 front camera |
Quad 48 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 16 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 4310 mAh, fast charging 50W | 5000 mAh Fast charging 18W |
4000 mAh, Fast charging 18W |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, 5G | Dual SIM slot, 5G |
Design
If you look at these devices from the front side, the ZTE Blade V2020 5G is undoubtedly the most attractive one because it features a higher screen-to-body ratio. The bezels around its display are narrower than Realme V15 5G and Redmi Note 9 5G. But the Realme V15 5G looks more attractive if saw from other sides: it is thinner than ZTE Blade V2020 5G and Redmi Note 9 5G, it is lighter and the rear panel is cleaner (especially thanks to the in-display fingerprint reader), with better color variants.
Display
If you need the best display in terms of image and color reproduction, then you should go for the Realme V15 5G. It is the only one sporting an AMOLED panel and it is one of the most affordable phones with an AMOLED display. It shows more vibrant colors and deeper blacks, and it includes an in-display fingerprint reader. But you should not underestimate the LTPS display of the ZTE Blade V2020 5G: it does not provide the quality of an OLED panel, but it is still a very nice screen. Redmi Note 9 5G has an average IPS panel.
Hardware/Software
You can get the best hardware department with the Redmi Note 9 5G. We are not talking about huge differences, but it is actually superior as it features UFS 2.2 internal storage instead of UFS 2.1. Further, it has more internal storage in its most expensive variant: up to 256 GB. Right after, we got the Realme V15 5G with the same Dimensity 800U chipset, up to 8 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of UFS 2.1 storage. With the ZTE Blade V2020 5G you only get 6 GB of RAM and Dimensity 800. Despite they are recent phones, all of them run Android 10 out of the box, but they will be updated to Android 11.
Camera
The Realme V15 5G has a lower amount of camera, but a better camera department thanks to a better main sensor. We are talking about a 64 MP lens with an f/1.8 focal aperture. On the paper, the silver medal goes to the ZTE Blade V2020 5G sporting a 48 MP quad-camera and a great 16 MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The Redmi Note 9 5G disappoints with its 48 MP triple camera and an inferior 13 MP selfie snapper.
Battery
The Redmi Note 9 5G wins the battery comparison because it is equipped with a bigger 5000 mAh battery. Its battery life is longer in all of the scenarios. Right after, we got the Realme V15 5G: it has a smaller battery but a way faster charging technology with 50W power. ZTE Blade V2020 5G is inferior again with its 4000 mAh battery and just 18W fast charging.
Price
Redmi Note 9 5G starts from €165/$200, ZTE Blade V2020 5G is priced at €180/$220, and Realme V15 5G costs €190/$231 in its base variant. The winner of this comparison is the Realme V15 5G due to its better main camera, AMOLED display, and sleeker design. But the Redmi Note 9 5G provides a bigger battery and stereo speakers, unlike its rivals. With the above-mentioned prices, it does not make a lot of sense to choose the ZTE Blade V2020 5G.
Realme V15 5G vs Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G vs ZTE Blade V2020 5G: PRO and CONS
Realme V15 5G
PROS
- Super AMOLED display
- 50W fast charging
- Better main camera
- In-display fingerprint reader
CONS
- No micro SD
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 5G
PROS
- Stereo speakers
- Up to 256 GB storage
- Water-repellent
- IR blaster
- Bigger battery
- Micro SD slot
CONS
- Inferior cameras
ZTE Blade V2020 5G
PROS
- Higher screen-to-body ratio
- Good price
- Micro SD slot
- Nice front camera
CONS
- Smaller battery
