Xiaomi started the year 2021 with a very disruptive Mi 10i that includes a 108MP camera, Snapdragon 750G, and many other attractions at a very competitive price.
The Xiaomi Mi 10i joins the list of capable OnePlus Nord alternatives and will also be up against Samsung Galaxy M51 which is arguably the best affordable or mid-range phone ever presented by Samsung. If you are confused about which one to buy, this detailed comparison should help. Let’s get started.
Xiaomi Mi 10i vs Samsung Galaxy M51 vs OnePlus Nord: Specifications and Price
| Model | Xiaomi Mi 10i | Samsung Galaxy M51 | OnePlus Nord |
| Display | 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 x 1080), HDR 10, 120Hz, Gorilla Glass 5 | 6.7-inch, AMOLED, 1440 x 2400 (full HD+), Gorilla Glass 3 | 6.44-inch, AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, HDR 10+, 90Hz, Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 750G with Adreno 619 GPU | Snapdragon 730G with Adreno 618 GPU | Snapdragon 765G with Adreno 620 GPU |
| RAM | 6/8GB LPDDR4x | 6/8GB LPDDR4x | 6GB/8GB/12GB LPDDR4x |
| Storage | 64GB/ 128GB UFS 2.2; Hybrid card slot (512GB) | 128GB UFS 2.1; Dedicated card slot (512GB) | 64GB/ 128GB/ 256GB UFS 2.1 |
| Software | Android 10, MIUI 12 | Android 10, OneUI 2.0 | Android 10, Oxygen OS |
| Rear camera | 108MP Samsung HM2, 8MP (ultrawide-angle)2MP (depth sensor), 2MP (macro) | 64MP, f/1.8 (primary Sony IMX682),12MP (ultrawide-angle)5MP (depth sensor), 5MP (macro) | 48MP Primary (ultrawide-angle)5MP (depth sensor), 2MP (macro) |
| Selfie camera | 16MP, f/2.45 | 32MP, f/2.0 | 32MP + 8MP, f/2.0 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Capacitive (side-mounted) | Capacitive (side-mounted) | Optical In-display sensor |
| Battery | 4820mAh, 33W fast charging | 7000mAh, 25W fast charging | 4115mAh, 30W fast charging |
| Colors | Pacific Sunrise, Midnight Black, and Atlantic Blue | Celestial Black and Electric Blue | Blue Marble, Gray Onyx |
| Price | 6+64GB: INR 20,999 6+128GB: INR 21,999 8+128GB: INR 23,999 | ₹22,999 for 6GB + 128GB; ₹24,999 for 8GB + 128GB | ₹24,999 for 6GB + 64GB ₹27,999 for 8GB + 128GB ₹29,999 for 12GB + 256GB |
Design and Display
Of the three phones, the OnePlus Nord is the most ergonomic to handle. Samsung deserves some praise for housing a mammoth 7000mAh battery in a casing that still feels good to handle. Xiaomi Mi 10i, on the other hand, feels bloated and bulky in comparison.
As for the display, OnePlus Nord has an AMOLED display and also supports a 90Hz refresh rate. The Mi 10i has a 120Hz panel that can switch between 6 lower presets to conserve battery. The Galaxy M51 sticks to the regular 60Hz.
We do appreciate high refresh rate but not more than AMOLED awesomeness. And it’s really hard to tell difference between 90Hz and 120Hz. so, taking all that into account, we’d say OnePlus Nord works the best when it comes to design and display.
Check: Samsung Galaxy M51 Review
Performance and Software
Performance is similar on the OnePlus Nord and Xiaomi Mi 10i. Both of these phones can comfortably handle high-end mobile gaming and demanding loads.
In comparison, the Snapdragon 730G-powered Samsung Galaxy M51 falls behind but it’s still not a slow phone by any yardstick. OnePlus Nord and Mi 10i have 5G support which makes them more future proof.
The software is where you’d need to think long and hard before you decide. If you ask us, Samsung OneUI ranks better than Oxygen OS on OnePlus Nord, and both of these interfaces are better than Xiaomi’s MIUI 12. Your preference, however, may differ.
Also Read: Xiaomi Mi 10i Review
Camera and Battery
Xiaomi Mi 10i’s 108MP is really impressive considering the price. Xiaomi’s night mode is also quite smart and can salvage details without overexposing the scene. In comparison, Samsung Galaxy M51 has a more versatile camera system where the wide-angle and macro cameras don’t feel like an afterthought. The Nord’s camera is the least impressive of the three, especially when it comes to indoor photography.
All three of these phones offer wonderful battery experience and the convenience of fast charging, so you won’t be disappointed by either. Having said that, if you consider battery backup as your first priority, Samsung Galaxy M51 with its 7000mAh battery leads the pack.
Xiaomi Mi 10i vs OnePlus Nord Vs Samsung Galaxy M51: Which one to buy?
So, all of these are very capable mid-range phones. The Xiaomi Mi 10i is held back by its unergonomic design and IPS LCD display. The OnePlus Nord is held back by its camera. The Galaxy M51 is more of an allrounder that perhaps doesn’t quite match-up with specs, but sure does when it comes to the end-user experience.
Points in favor of Xiaomi Mi 10i
- The 108MP primary rear camera is quite good
- Stereo speakers get loud and the handset retains audio jack
Points in favor of OnePlus Nord
- Very comfortable to handle
- AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate
- Appealing software
Points in favor of Samsung Galaxy M51
- Versatile camera system
- Appealing software with auto call recording support
- Excellent battery mileage
