Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 7 Pro is all everyone is talking about and for good reason. Specs like Snapdragon 675 and Sony IMX586 sensor will be extremely tough for other OEMs to match for under Rs. 15,000.
Xiaomi’s new note has a trendy design, glass body, a USB Type-C port, and a remarkable camera. In our Redmi Note 7 Pro review, we concluded that the experience was commendable, even if not expectedly perfect. However, If you have different specific requirements and do not want to go with a Xiaomi or Redmi phone for any particular reason, here are a few other options that you may consider.
Redmi Note 7 Alternatives
Kindly note that the list includes the alternatives for the ‘Pro’ variant. If you are looking for alternatives to the Snapdragon 660 powered base Redmi Note 7 model, you may consider phones like Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2, Xiaomi’s own Redmi Y3, or Realme 3.
1. Realme 3 Pro
The Realme 3 Pro (Review) retails for the exact same price as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and is also its closest competitor. The handset is powered by Snapdragon 710 octa-core chipset paired with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
The 4230mAh battery lasts long and the VOOC 3.0 fast charging further ensures a battery-anxiety-free existence. The 16MP primary camera is the same one that you’d find on OnePlus 6T, and the low light camera performance is indeed quite impressive.
Also Read: Realme 3 Pro vs Redmi Note 7 Pro comparison
Display: 6.2-inches, 1080 x 2340| Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC | RAM: Up to 6GB | Storage: up to 128GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) | Rear Camera: 16MP+5MP | Selfie: 25MP | Battery: 4230mAh
2. Samsung Galaxy A50
The Samsung Galaxy A50 (review) is the closest Redmi Note 7 Pro challenger at the time of writing. The A-series phone is so much more comfortable to hold and to operate and has a gorgeous AMOLED screen. Other benefits over Note 7 Pro include a fast charger bundled in the box, HD streaming support on apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime, better selfie camera and an additional wide-angle rear camera.
The Galaxy A50 is powered by Exynos 9610 chipset, which isn’t as powerful as the Snapdragon 675 on Note 7 Pro but is at par with Snapdragon 660 – which should be good enough for most of us. The phone also features on-screen fingerprint which Samsung’s first in the budget range. It comes in 4GB RAM with 64GB storage and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage options.
Detailed comparison: Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy A50 Comparison
Display: 6.4-inches, 1080 x 2340| Processor: 2.3GHz Octa-core Exynos 9610 SoC | RAM: 4GB/6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) | Rear Camera: 25MP (F1.7) + 5MP (F2.2) + 8MP (Ultra-Wide) | Selfie: 25MP | Thickness: 7.7mm| Battery: 4000mAh
3. Samsung Galaxy M40
Samsung M40 revamps the Galaxy M series with ingredients that would make you reconsider Redmi Note 7 challenger. It looks appealing thanks to its Infinity-O display and a slim and sleek form factor. This and a light build gives a better in-hand experience than the Note 7 Pro.
Under the hood, M40 also runs on Snapdragon 675 chipset. This is backed by RAM up to 6GB. You get a maximum of 128GB onboard storage expandable up to 512GB via a micro-SD card (hybrid). Like the A50 above, here also you get Samsung’s One UI software experience. Another reason to go for this would be its support for HD Streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Detailed Comparison: Samsung Galaxy M40 vs Redmi Note 7 Pro vs Realme 3 Pro comparison: Which one to buy?
Display: 6.3 inches, 1080 x 2340 px, Infinity-O LCD | Processor: 2.0 GHz, Octa Core, Snapdragon 675 | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 128GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) One UI | Rear Camera: 32MP (F1.7) + 8MP (f/2.2, 12mm ultrawide sensor) + 5MP (f/2.2, depth sensor) | Selfie: 16MP (F2.0) | Thickness: 7.9mm| Battery: 3500mAh, 15W fast charging
4. Vivo Z1 Pro (Upcoming)
Vivo Z1 Pro would release on July 3, 2019, and we have had hands-on experience with the phone. It would be powered by Snapdragon 712 chipset, a punch-hole camera with a 32MP selfie camera, and likely a whopping 5000mAh battery. These specs outnumber the ones in Redmi phone.
The triple camera rear setup could feature a 16MP (f/1.78) +8MP (f/2.2) ultrawide sensor +2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor combination. It is expected to bear 4/6/8GB of RAM and 64/128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. Once it arrives, this could be one attractive opponent for Note 7 Pro.
Display: 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2340 px, punch-hole LCD | Processor: 2.3 GHz, Octa Core, Snapdragon 712 | RAM: 4/6GB | Storage: 64/128GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) FunTouch OS | Rear Camera: 16MP (f/1.78) +8MP (f/2.2) ultrawide sensor +2MP (f/2.4) depth sensor | Selfie: 32MP (F2.0) | Battery: 5000mAh, 18W fast charging
5. Zenfone Max Pro M2
If you’d rather prefer stock Android software, Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 is a Redmi Note 7 Pro alternative for consumers interested in high-end gaming. And after the recent price cut, you could get the 6GB RAM variant for the same price as Redmi Note 7 Pro.
The Zenfone Max Pro M2 can’t match-up when it comes to the camera, but it still has a lot to look forward to. The handset is powered by Snapdragon 660, runs minimal stock Android software, enjoys Gorilla Glass 6 protection, and houses a beefier 5000mAh battery. The curvy glass-finish back also makes it look very elegant.
Display: 6.26-inches, 1080 x 2280| Processor: 1.9GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 660 SoC | RAM: Up to 6GB | Storage: up to 64GB | Software: Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Rear Camera: 12MP+5MP | Selfie: 13MP | Thickness: 8.5mm| Battery: 5000mAh
6. Oppo K1
The primary reasons for why you’d consider Oppo K1 over Redmi Note 7 Pro are its AMOLED display and decent in-display fingerprint sensor. It also benefits from a pretty good selfie camera and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.
The phone has a gradient back, a dedicated card slot and a modest 3500mAh battery. The Color OS software, however, is a drawback.
Display: 6.4-inches, 1080 x 2340| Processor: 1.9GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 660 SoC | RAM: Up to 4GB | Storage: up to 64GB | Software: Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Rear Camera: 12MP+5MP | Selfie: 13MP | Thickness: 8.5mm| Battery: 3500mAh
7. Nokia 6.1 Plus
Nokia 6.1 Plus (Review) doesn’t compare very well when it comes to specs, but the experience is pretty good. The primary highlight is its affiliation with Google’s Android One program. The Nokia 6.1 Plus offers true stock Android experience and comes packaged in a neat and delightfully compact glass body.
This is also one of the rare few affordable phones that supports HD streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. So, if you are not much into gaming, you could give this some thought.
The higher priced Nokia 7.1 is also an option. It offers a metallic side frame, HDR 10 compatible display, and slightly better camera with Zeiss optics.
Nokia 6.1 Plus Specs
Display: 5.8-inches, Full HD+| Processor: 1.8GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 636 SoC | RAM: Up to 4GB | Storage: up to 64GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) | Rear Camera: 16MP+5MP | Selfie: 16MP| Battery: 3060mAh
Nokia 7.1 Specs
Display: 5.84-inches, Full HD+| Processor: 1.8GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 636 SoC | RAM: Up to 4GB | Storage: up to 64GB | Software: Android 9.0 (Pie) | Rear Camera: 12MP+5MP | Selfie: 8MP | Battery: 3060mAh
8. Poco F1
The next Pocophone shouldn’t be right around the corner, but meanwhile, the Poco F1 (Review) remains a viable alternative to Note 7 Pro for users who’d want a top-notch chipset for high-end gaming.
Initially, the Poco F1 was plagued with several issues, but many of these have been fixed with consequent updates. In the recent OTA update, Xiaomi also added DRM L1 certificate for HD streaming support on streaming apps.
Display: 6.18-inches, 1080 x 2280| Processor: 2.5GHz Octa-core Snapdragon 845 SoC | RAM: Up to 8GB | Storage: up to 128GB | Software: Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Rear Camera: 12MP+5MP | Selfie: 20MP | Thickness: 9 mm| Battery: 4000mAh
8 Best Redmi Note 7 Pro Alternatives You Can Buy In 2019
These are some of the best Redmi Note 7 Pro alternatives that are currently available in India. The new Note has been utterly disruptive and we expect other OEMs will take some time catching up. We will add more options to the list as they surface.
List of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro alternatives in India:
Phone name | Price (in Rupees) |
Realme 3 Pro | 13,999 |
Samsung Galaxy A50 | 19,850 |
Samsung Galaxy M40 | 19,990 |
Vivo Z1 Pro | TBA |
Zenfone Max Pro M2 | 11,999 |
Oppo K1 | 16,990 |
Nokia 7.1 | 16,570 |
Nokia 6.1 Plus | 14,399 |
Poco F1 | 19,999 |
Most phones in your list barring Realme 3 pro are alternatives for RN7…And Poco f1 is price and specwise way ahead of everyother phone. Cmon man,you techies take brand loyalty to a whole new level. And alternatives?? An alternative should be of equal price,spec but of different brand… As of now, no phone can offer RN7pro features in the same price:spec ratio.
Hi Saravana, you make a valid point. But the way we see it, there are a few people who just don’t want to buy Redmi Note 7 Pro. Either for its UI ads, or for lack of availability, or because they already own a Xiaomi phone and want to upgrade to a different experience, or perhaps just because a few other people in their circle already have a Xiaomi phone or a Redmi Note 7 Pro. So these ‘alternatives’ are other options such people may consider. Most options can’t match Redmi Note 7 Pro in terms of specs or camera, but the experience comes close and based on what ranks higher on your priority list, consumers can decide between these options. In terms of experience, they all have something unique to offer over RN 7 Pro.