An article comparing the TECNO Phantom X and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro was inevitable for me, as soon as I had spent a few hours with the Phantom X. It got clearer and clearer how similar the two premium smartphones were. Premium smartphones, yes; yet with more budget prices below premium flagships.
I have owned a Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro for over a year now (it was released in November 2019), and I have had the Phantom X for about two weeks. The more I used the Phantom, the more I wondered if TECNO did not dissect the Mi Note 10 Pro to arrive at the features, specs, and price for their first premium Phantom smartphone.
In summary, what are the similarities between these two phones? One, both have AMOLED displays. Two, both have premium designs and bodies. Three, both have flagship-grade cameras, one with a 50-megapixel sensor, and the other with a 108-megapixel sensor. Four, they both have big batteries and 33W fast charging. Five, they both have mid-range processors. In addition, they share the same RAM and internal storage. And they are both 4G LTE devices. Lastly, their prices are in the same range (the Phantom costs ₦228,000, while the Mi Note 10 Pro is a little above ₦250,000 now).
Fantastic similarities there. Uncanny. Like I already said, conspiracy theorists could argue that the Mi Note 10 Pro inspired the Phantom X. When you hold both in the hand, you feel the same premium glass back panel (both are protected with Gorilla Glass 5).
Effectively, both TECNO Phantom X and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro belong to a new class of devices called premium mid-range smartphones. They deliver flagship grade photography in flagship-grade bodies, all at half the prices of premium flagships.
TECNO Phantom X vs Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro: Quick Comparison
| TECNO Phantom X | Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro |
| 6.7 inches, 1080 x 2340 pixels, AMOLED, 90 Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Always-on Display | 6.47 inches, 1080 x 2340 pixels, AMOLED, Corning Gorilla Glass 5, Always-on Display |
| 163.5 x 73.8 x 8.7 mm | 157.8 x 74.2 x 9.7 mm |
| 201g in weight | 207g in weight |
| Dual SIM; 4G LTE | Dual SIM; 4G LTE |
| Android 11 + HiOS | Android 9 (upgraded to 11) + MIUI |
| In-display fingerprint scanner | In-display fingerprint scanner |
| Octa-core, Helio G95 (12 nm), 2.05 GHz | Octa-core, Snapdragon 720G (8 nm), 2.2 GHz |
| 48 MP + 8 MP selfie camera + dual LED flash | 32 MP selfie camera |
| 50 MP + 13 MP telephoto + 8 MP ultrawide angle rear triple camera with quad LED flash | 108 MP + 12 MP telephoto + 8 MP telephoto + 20 MP ultrawide angle + 2 MP macro rear penta camera with quad LED flash |
| 256 GB internal storage + dedicated microSD slot | 256 GB internal storage + dedicated microSD slot |
| 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| 4700 mAh battery + 33W quick charging | 5260 mAh battery + 33W quick charging |
Looking at the above table, you should see all there is to see, actually. Wile there are some differences in execution, the similarities in concept are huge.
TECNO Phantom X and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro: A Deeper Look
TECNO Phantom X and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro are birds of the same feather. While the Xiaomi is a few years old now, it is still a solid choice today if you are looking for premium flagship-grade build and photography experience without spending premium flagship money (the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro was the first mid-ranger with a premium flagship camera). Also see my more recent Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro long-term review. The Phantom X is a 2021 release, and it is an impressive piece of work.
Having used and reviewed the two, I am of the impression that the Xiaomi is the better camera phone. But it falls behind in areas like display (the Phantom X has a 90 Hz refresh rate). I would include software (the Phantom runs Android 11 out of the box), but the Mi Note 10 Pro has since been updated to Android 11 as well. I do prefer MIUI, Xiaomi’s custom UI, to HiOS, TECNO’s proprietary UI, though both of them can be annoying with ads. MIUI feels more refined.
Another advantage that the Phantom X has over the Xiaomi is how much more lightweight and comfortable it is in the hand. The Mi Note 10 Pro feels like a tank (I regularly feel like I am carrying a mini-dumbbell when I pick it up to use).
Whichever you choose between TECNO Phantom X and Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro will boil down to minute specifics, because these two are premium medium range devices offering a unique combination of premium and mid-range features at more pocket-friendly prices than you’d be required to pay for available premium flagship smartphones.
Do check out my Phantom X review, as well as my Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro review. Let’s have your comments, and do not forget to share the article.