Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 review
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a budget-friendly mid-ranger that brings a similar design language as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, with a glossy back and curved edges. However, it's slightly smaller and lighter in hand, and the plastic back lacks Gorilla Glass protection. Despite this, the device still offers IP53 dust and splash resistance, which is uncommon at this price point. The phone features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. While it doesn't have a high refresh rate like the Pro model, the screen is still quite nice, offering good sharpness, deep blacks, and accurate colors. The device also boasts stereo speakers that are well-balanced and loud enough, although not as loud as those on the Pro version. The Redmi Note 10 runs on Xiaomi's MIUI interface, which is based on Android 11. Performance-wise, it's decent but can feel slow at times due to the Snapdragon 678 chipset, which is a step down from the Pro model. Battery life is great, with an endurance rating of 110 hours in our tests, and charging speed is fast, taking just half an hour to reach 65% from zero. The camera setup includes four cameras: a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera, and a depth sensor. In good light, the main camera takes sharp and detailed photos with impressive dynamic range and true-to-life colors. However, low-light performance is somewhat lacking, and night mode helps restore details. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 offers great value for its price, with a solid design, bright OLED screen, excellent battery life, and decent camera performance. While it misses out on some features like high refresh rate, more powerful chipset, and higher-res camera compared to the Pro model, it's still worth recommending for those on a budget.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 boasts a similar design to its pricier counterpart, the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The glossy back, curved at the edges, exudes a premium feel, while the snazzy camera arrangement is sure to turn heads. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that this "cheaper" version is made from plastic, rather than Gorilla Glass. Despite this, the Redmi Note 10 still manages to offer IP53 dust and splash resistance, a feature often reserved for more expensive devices. This adds a welcome layer of protection against everyday wear and tear. The front of the device features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The screen itself is quite nice to look at, offering good sharpness and deep blacks typical of OLED panels. Colors are accurate and can be tweaked depending on your preferred color setting. One notable omission from the Redmi Note 10's design is the lack of a high refresh rate, which might be a disappointment for those seeking a smoother visual experience. However, this device still feels well-made in the hand, with a compact size and light weight that make it easy to carry around. In terms of build quality, the Redmi Note 10 fares reasonably well, offering a solid and sturdy feel that belies its relatively affordable price tag. While it may not be as premium as some other devices on the market, it's still a pleasant device to hold and use. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10's design and build quality are satisfactory, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and feature-packed mid-ranger.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is an affordable mid-ranger that offers impressive battery life, making it a great option for those who need a device that can last all day. The phone features a large 5,000mAh battery that has been designed to provide extended usage time. In our tests, the Redmi Note 10 scored an endurance rating of 110 hours, which is quite competitive in its class. This means that you can expect around 3-4 days of regular use before needing to recharge. What's more impressive is the charging speed of the phone. The bundled 33W charger takes the battery from zero to 65% in just half an hour, making it quick and convenient to top up when needed. We were also pleased with the overall performance of the battery during our testing period. It handled heavy usage with ease, including gaming and video streaming, without showing any signs of strain or degradation. While not the most powerful battery on the market, the Redmi Note 10's power cell is certainly one of its highlights, making it an excellent choice for those who want a device that can keep up with their daily needs.
Display
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 boasts a stunning 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080p. This screen is truly impressive, offering sharpness and deep blacks that are typical of OLED panels. Colors on the display look nice and can be quite accurate depending on your color setting. One notable aspect of this display is its decent brightness output, reaching up to 475 nits in slider mode and a maximum of around 680 nits in auto mode when exposed to bright conditions. This makes it suitable for outdoor use and general viewing. Additionally, the Redmi Note 10 features Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front, providing a layer of durability against scratches and drops. The display's performance is well-balanced, with good color accuracy and decent brightness making it enjoyable for both gaming and multimedia consumption. One feature that's noticeably missing from this display is a high screen refresh rate, which is a downer considering its sibling, the Redmi Note 10 Pro, offers this feature. However, overall, the AMOLED display on the Redmi Note 10 is an excellent value proposition for its price point. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10's display is a highlight of the device, offering good sharpness, deep blacks, and decent brightness output. While it may lack some premium features, such as a high screen refresh rate, it still provides an enjoyable viewing experience. This AMOLED panel is one of the best you can find in this price range, making the Redmi Note 10 a great choice for anyone seeking a budget-friendly option with a quality display.
Camera
The camera setup on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is quite impressive for its price point. The device features a quad-camera setup at the back, consisting of a 48-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a depth sensor. In good lighting conditions, the 12-megapixel shots from the main camera are very sharp and detailed for the class. The dynamic range is impressive, and the colors are true to life. The device also excels in taking portrait photos, with excellent edge detection and a convincing bokeh effect. The level of detail and natural-looking skin tones are also noteworthy. The ultra-wide-angle lens performs well too, producing decent photos with good color reproduction. However, its images are slightly softer than those from the main camera. Close-up shots taken with the macro camera are just okay, as there is no autofocus feature like on last year's model. Getting a sharp photo takes some trial and error, but the colors do look nice. At night, the main camera does a decent job in capturing photos with good contrast and colors. However, the fine details are often lost due to heavy noise suppression. Turning on Night mode improves the situation, restoring finer details while maintaining balanced shadows and highlights. The processing time is still relatively fast compared to other modes. Low-light performance from the ultra-wide-angle camera is subpar, with soft and noisy images featuring narrow dynamic range. Unfortunately, there's no support for Night mode on this particular camera either. Selfies are taken using a 13-megapixel front-facing camera, which performs well in exposing the subject's face regardless of background conditions. There's also a decent amount of fine detail present. In conclusion, while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10's camera setup has its strengths and weaknesses, it still manages to deliver decent performance for its price point. The main camera excels in good lighting, but struggles with noise suppression at night.
Price and Value
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is a very affordable mid-ranger that packs a punch in its price segment. Priced at an attractive value, this device offers a similar design to the more premium Redmi Note 10 Pro, with a glossy back and curved edges. The note 10 feels lighter in the hand compared to its sibling, but still boasts IP53 dust and splash resistance, which is uncommon at this price point. One of the standout features of the Redmi Note 10 is its 6.43-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. While it may not have a high refresh rate like some other devices in this class, the screen is still quite nice, offering good sharpness and deep blacks. Colors are accurate, and max brightness is decent, making this device suitable for everyday use. The Redmi Note 10 also offers expandable storage through a dedicated slot on top of its 64 or 128 GB onboard storage. However, it misses out on NFC support, which is available in the Pro version and some competitors. In terms of value, the Redmi Note 10 offers an excellent balance between price and features. It's a great option for those who want a reliable mid-ranger without breaking the bank. The device's performance is decent, but not exceptional, thanks to its Snapdragon 678 chipset. Battery life is great, with fast charging support that can take this big battery from zero to 65% in just half an hour. Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 offers a solid package at an attractive price point. It may not be the most powerful device in its class, but it's a great value for money and definitely worth considering if you're on a budget.
Performance
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 chipset, built on an 11nm process. This processor is similar to the Snapdragon 675 seen in other mid-range devices, but with a slightly higher CPU clock speed. Performance-wise, it's a bit better than its predecessors, but still lags behind more powerful chipsets like the Snapdragon 700 series. In benchmark tests, the Redmi Note 10's performance scores are decent but not impressive. The device feels sluggish at times, and tasks that require more processing power can take longer to complete. This is due in part to the chipset's lower clock speed and slightly outdated architecture. The 4GB of RAM on board helps to alleviate some of these issues, but it's clear that the Redmi Note 10 is not a powerhouse when it comes to performance. Multitasking and demanding tasks are handled reasonably well, but the device can still stutter and slow down at times. Battery life, however, is a different story. The large 5,000mAh battery provides an Endurance Rating of 110 hours in our proprietary tests, making it one of the longest-lasting batteries in its class. Charging speed is also impressive, with the bundled 33W charger taking just half an hour to reach 65% capacity. Overall, while the Redmi Note 10's performance is decent, it falls short of expectations. The device struggles with demanding tasks and feels sluggish at times. However, battery life and charging speed are definite strengths, making this phone a solid choice for those on a budget.