The Redmi 10 Prime: Is Xiaomi’s New Budget King Ready to Reign?
The sub-Rs. 15,000 smartphone segment is a battlefield, with countless contenders vying for a place in your pocket. Xiaomi, known for its value-driven offerings, throws its hat into the ring with the Redmi 10 Prime, the successor to the popular Redmi 9 Prime. But will this new model be enough to solidify Xiaomi’s dominance in this competitive segment? I got my hands on the Redmi 10 Prime, and here are my initial observations.
Redmi 10 Prime Price in India
The Redmi 10 Prime comes in two variants: a base model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage priced at Rs. 12,499, and a higher-end model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage priced at Rs. 14,499. It’s available in three color options: Bifrost Blue, Astral White, and Phantom Black, and went on sale starting September 7th.
Design and Display: A Familiar Face but with a 90Hz Twist
The Redmi 10 Prime sticks to the familiar ‘Evol’ design language popularized by the Redmi Note 10 series. It’s a familiar look, with a large 6.5-inch display, a plastic frame, and a polycarbonate back. Xiaomi opts for a full-HD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, a welcome upgrade for smooth scrolling and animations. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects the display from scratches.
While the display itself is impressive, you’ll notice a thick chin at the bottom and a hole at the top for the 8-megapixel selfie camera. Despite this, the display offers decent viewing angles and is bright enough for indoor use.
Ergonomics and Fingerprint Scanner:
The Redmi 10 Prime embraces the trend of side-mounted fingerprint scanners, placing it on the right side for easy reach. The volume buttons are located just above it, which might require a bit of a stretch for some users. The left side houses the SIM tray that accommodates two Nano-SIMs and a microSD card.
Xiaomi has curved the frame along the sides for a comfortable grip. The top and bottom of the frame are flat, reminiscent of the Redmi 9 Power. Dual speakers are strategically placed – one at the top along with an IR emitter and a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the other at the bottom alongside the primary microphone and USB Type-C port.
Camera: Is Quad Better than One?
The Redmi 10 Prime boasts a quad camera module at the back, which protrudes slightly. These four cameras are comprised of a 50-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
My initial impressions of the Bifrost Blue variant are that it’s aesthetically pleasing, but the glossy finish attracts fingerprints easily – requiring frequent cleaning to maintain that pristine look. At 192 grams, the phone definitely has a noticeable weight.
Battery & Charging: Long-Lasting Power, Fast Recharge
Xiaomi has equipped the Redmi 10 Prime with a large 6,000mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging. Even better, the box includes a 22.5W charger for quicker top-ups. The Redmi 10 Prime also boasts 9W reverse charging for wirelessly charging other devices.
Performance: New Processor, Performance Promise
Under the hood, you’ll find the MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, a relatively new processor for this price segment. The phone is available in two variants: 4GB RAM with 64GB storage, and 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. Xiaomi introduces an interesting feature called "Extendable RAM," which taps into a portion of storage as additional RAM. The base variant gets an extra 1GB, while the higher-end model receives 2GB of virtual RAM.
Software: MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11
The Redmi 10 Prime runs MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11 and comes with the July Android security patch. It’s preloaded with several apps, including Amazon, Netflix, Mi Pay, GetApps, and a handful of Google apps. A positive note is that Xiaomi states that some preinstalled apps can now be uninstalled, which is certainly a welcome change.
First Impressions: A Promising Upgrade, But Competition is Fierce
The Redmi 10 Prime appears to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Redmi 9 Prime, across the board. However, the competition in the sub-Rs. 15,000 segment has ramped up immensely. The Redmi 10 Prime’s pricing brings it closer to the Realme Narzo 30, which offers superior hardware at a slightly higher price point.
Is the Redmi 10 Prime a better alternative to the Narzo 30? Can it carve out its own space in the crowded sub-Rs. 15,000 segment? Only a comprehensive review will reveal the definitive answers. Stay tuned for our in-depth analysis of the Redmi 10 Prime, coming soon.
