Realme has finally launched the much-anticipated Realme X2 in India, and Xiaomi may follow soon with the Redmi K30. Both the devices have readily been launched in various markets and are direct competitors to each other due to similarities in features and pricing.
It’s important to note that Redmi K30 comes in 4G and 5G variants with slightly different specifications. And since India isn’t yet ready for 5G, it’s likely to receive only the regular K30, unlike China and European markets.
Now, both the Redmi K30 and Realme X2 have certain similarities, including Snapdragon 730G chipset, 64MP Quad Cameras, and massive batteries. However, there are a number of differences between the duo. Let’s find out how these two premium mid-range phones stand against each other in our spec-based Realme X2 vs Redmi K30 4G comparison.
Realme X2 vs Redmi K30- What’s different?
Design: Water-drop Notch vs Punch Hole
Both the devices are quite different when it comes to their physical appearances. The Redmi K30 comes with a typical water-drop notch, while the Redmi K30 employs a dual punch-hole design, similar to the Galaxy S10+.
On the back, both the phones offer vertical-aligned quad-camera lenses but at different places. The cameras on Redmi K30 are placed in a gleaming circular module in the median, while it’s located in the top left on the Realme X2.
Moreover, the two phones have different technology and placements for the fingerprint scanner- the Realme X2 comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, while the K30 has one integrated within the power button placed to the side.
Overall, the Redmi K30 is not only the bigger, taller, and thicker but also heavier of the two at 208 grams, compared to the 182-gram weight of the Realme counterpart.
Display: 60Hz Super AMOLED vs. 120Hz LCD
The Realme X2 features a 6.41-inch Super AMOLED display with Full-HD+ resolution and 19:5:9 aspect ratio, making up for a 91.9% screen-to-body ratio. It flaunts Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and also gets support for the Always-on display feature.
The Redmi K30, on the other hand, gets a slightly larger 6.67-inch display with the same Full-HD+ resolution. However, it is using an IPS LCD panel with a higher 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the 60Hz AMOLED panel on the former.
Now, both the panels have their own perks. The Realme’s AMOLED screen gets an edge with vibrant visuals and deep blacks while the K30 hits right back with smoother graphics.
Performance: Same Hardware
The two phones have the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chip on offer. It is an octa-core chip built on 8nm that integrates fourth-generation Qualcomm AI engine and Snapdragon Elite Gaming suite for better gaming.
The processor employs two Kryo 470 Gold cores with the clock speed of 2.2 GHz and six Kryo 470 Silver cores with the clock speed of 1.8 GHz. For starters, the 730G offers up to 15% faster graphics rendering compared to Snapdragon 730 and 25% faster than Adreno 616 on the Snapdragon 710.
Software: ColorOS vs. MIUI
The Redmi K30 runs the latest MIUI 11, built on top of Android 10. Whereas, the Realme X2 runs on ColorOS 6.1 based on Android 9 Pie. That said, it will soon get the new Realme UI based on ColorOS 7, which itself is built on top of Android 10.
Both the UIs are highly skinned versions of Android and offer tons of features for people who love customization. So it’s entirely on you what to go for. Anyway, the K30 is likely to have an edge in terms of developer community support.
Cameras: 64MP Quad Array, Different Sensors
The Realme X2, as well as the Redmi K30, tout a quad-camera setup at the rear. The X2 gets a 64-megapixel primary Samsung GW1 sensor with f/1.8 aperture, coupled with 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle shooter, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and a dedicated 2-megapixel macro snapper. For selfies, there’s a 32-megapixel snapper housed in the notch upfront.
Just like the X2, the Redmi K30 gets a 64-megapixel primary camera. However, it uses the just-unveiled Sony IMX686 camera sensor, which is a successor to the 48MP Sony IMX586. It is further assisted by an 8 -megapixel wide-angle snapper with a 120-degree field of view, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The selfie department is handled by a dual 20-megapixel + 2-megapixel setup.
On paper, the Sony IMX686 has a clear edge over the Samsung GW1 due to better sensor size. However, it would be wrong to draw conclusions without testing both of them side by side, due to the apparent influence of software optimization in the end result.
Battery & Charging: Redmi has an edge!
Things get quite obvious when the two phones are pitted against in the battery department. The Realme X2 gets a 4,000mAh battery with support for 30W VOOC flash charge 4.0.
The Redmi K30, on the other hand, gets a larger 4,500mAh cell with proprietary 30W fasting charging. Since the charging capabilities are similar on paper, the K30 gets a clear margin with a larger capacity.
Other Aspects
Both phones support all the necessary connectivity options and sensors. However, Redmi K30 4G gets an additional IR blaster, which would benefit people who want to control electronic appliances using their phones.
Realme X2 vs Redmi K30: Verdict
As evident, neither of the duos is inferior- both are value-for-money propositions with an excellent price to performance ratio. Talking of price, the Realme X2 starts at Rs. 16,999 in India for the 6/64GB model while the Redmi K30 in China costs 1,999 Yuan (around Rs. 20,000) for the same configuration.
In the end, it all boils down to your priorities- if you prefer a phone with a larger display, better cameras, and smoother gaming performance, we’d recommend the Redmi K30. However, if you prefer AMOLED display, light-weight profile, and better selfies, Realme X2 is the way to go. Anyways, what’s your pick? Let us know in the comments below.