Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 vs ASUS ZenFone 5 vs Huawei P20 lite - Quick Photography Comparison

Xiaomi dubbed the promising Redmi Note 5 as the "Camera Beast" in the mid-range smartphone market. But can it really compete with some of the pricier mid-rangers today?

Can the new Redmi Note 5 compete with the other proven camera-centric mid-range phones?

To check that out, let's compare the photography capabilities of the Redmi Note 5 with two other mid-range camera-centric phones, the ASUS ZenFone 5 and the Huawei P20 lite.

The selfie cams

All three phones are packed with a dual camera setup. Let's take a look at their camera specs first.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 vs ASUS ZenFone 5 vs Huawei P20 lite Camera Specs

The Redmi Note 5 comes with a 12MP f/1.9 + 5MP f/2.0 dual cameras w/ Dual Pixel PDAF and dual tone LED flash at the back and a 13MP selfie camera with A.I. and softlight LED flash. The A.I. helps in making the photos look better overall.

The ASUS ZenFone 5 boasts a 12MP f/1.8 Sony IMX363 + 8MP f/2.0 OV8856 dual cameras w/ Tri-tech AF, Dual Pixel, 120-degree wide-angle, OIS, EIS, and dual tone LED flash. For selfies, it goes with an 8MP f/2.0 OV8856 single sensor w/ 83-degree wide-angle lens.

The Huawei P20 lite arrived with a 16MP + 2MP f/2.2 dual cameras at the back with PDAF focus and LED flash. In front, it has a 16MP f/2.0 w/ screen flash.

On paper, the Redmi Note 5 has the cameras specs that can compete with the two other mid-range phones.

Settings: Auto, no HDR, point and shoot.
Scoring: 1 point = 1st place or tie, 0.5 point = 2nd place, 0 points = 3rd place

Let's start!

Scene 1 - Gloomy daylight 1

Redmi Note 5 gloomy daylight 1

Zen 5 gloomy daylight 1

P20 lite gloomy daylight 1

All 3 phones delivered good looking shots even if the weather is a bit gloomy. The Zen 5 got the image with the brightest looking image with a bit wider dynamic range.

But, the contrast and details captured by the Redmi Note 5 and P20 lite are better. The colors are also more accurate on the Redmi Note 5 and P20 lite. The sky is blown out on the Zen 5 as well.

The winner here by a hair in this scene is the Redmi Note 5. It has a tad more details than the P20 lite in the sky.

Redmi Note 5 - 1 point, ZenFone 5 - 0 point, P20 Lite - 0.5 point

Scene 2 - Gloomy daylight 2

Redmi Note 5 gloomy daylight 2

Zen 5 gloomy daylight 2

P20 lite gloomy daylight 2

The camera performance of the Redmi Note 5 and Zen 5 are identical in this scene. Both has good colors, nice dynamic range, and good contrast.

On the other hand, the P20 lite got the brighter image. Its details are also good. But, the colors are not that accurate and it has more grain than both the Redmi Note 5 and Zen 5.

The Zen 5 made a successful comeback in this scene. Its colors are a bit more accurate than the Redmi Note 5 too.

Redmi Note 5 - 1.5 points, ZenFone 5 - 1 point, P20 Lite - 0.5 point

Scene 3 - Daylight close-up

Redmi Note 5 daylight close-up

Zen 5 daylight close-up

P20 lite daylight close-up

The Redmi Note 5 got the most accurate color and exposure in this scene. The Zen 5 is a bit more saturated than Redmi Note 5 and P20 lite. The P20 lite got the brighter exposure again, but color accuracy is a bit off.

Sadly, the subject on both the Redmi Note 5 and Zen 5 are softer versus the P20 lite. So P20 lite is the winner here.

Redmi Note 5 - 2 points, ZenFone 5 - 1 point, P20 Lite - 1.5 points

Scene 4 - Indoor close-up

Redmi Note 5 indoor close-up

Zen 5 indoor close-up

P20 lite indoor close-up

A very close fight between Redmi Note 5 and P20 lite. Details and the background blur are about the same. Redmi Note 5's shot is a bit warmer while the P20 lite is on a kinda cooler side. I like the color of the Redmi Note 5 a bit better, but the exposure of the P20 lite is brighter.

The shot taken by the Zen 5 is soft and underexposed in comparison.

It's a tie between Redmi Note 5 and P20 lite in this scene.

Redmi Note 5 - 3 points, ZenFone 5 - 1.5 point, P20 Lite - 2.5 points

Scene 4 - Lowlight

Redmi Note 5 lowlight

Zen 5 lowlight

P20 lite lowlight

Surprisingly, all three phones did well in lowlight. But, the P20 lite is a bit lesser in quality and detail versus the Zen 5 and Redmi Note 5.

The dynamic range and contrast between the Redmi Note 5 and Zen 5 are about the same.

The exposure, dyanmic range, and colors are a tad better and wider on the Zen 5.

Redmi Note 5 - 3.5 points, ZenFone 5 - 2 points, P20 Lite - 2.5 points

Scene 6 - Selfie daylight

Redmi Note 5 daylight selfie

Zen 5 daylight selfie

P20 lite daylight selfie

Redmi Note 5's selfie is soft in this scene. The selfie captured by the Zen 5 is much better. But, the P20 lite clearly delivered the best daylight selfie among the three. It has the more natural looking colors and the better background too.

Redmi Note 5 - 3.5 points, ZenFone 5 - 3 points, P20 Lite - 3.5 points

Scene 7 - Selfie indoor

Redmi Note 5 indoor selfie

Zen 5 indoor selfie

P20 lite

This time, the Redmi Note 5 competed well with the Zen 5 and P20 lite. It's a very close match overall. Some may like the color of the Zen 5 better, but it is softer in comparison.

The colors of details of the P20 lite and Redmi Note 5 is a bit nicer.

It is a tie between the P20 lite and Redmi 5.

Redmi Note 5 - 4 points, ZenFone 5 - 3.5 points, P20 Lite - 4 points

Verdict

The Redmi Note 5 is Xiaomi's best Redmi phone for photography yet.

In our quick camera comparison, it proved that it can go toe to toe with the pricier phones like the ASUS ZenFone 5 and Huawei P20 lite.

The cameras of the Redmi Note 5 is much better than the "below-average" cameras of the Redmi 5 and Redmi 5 Plus.

Good job Xiaomi!

Do you agree with the results?