The Redmi Note 10 is the latest iteration in Xiaomi’s popular budget smartphone series, and while it may not have the groundbreaking features of its flashier siblings, the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Pro Max, it still packs a punch in terms of value. With an attractive starting price of ₹11,999, the Redmi Note 10 offers a surprising combination of premium features like a bright AMOLED display, stereo speakers, and an IP53 rating for splash and dust resistance, all without significantly sacrificing on performance and battery life. But does it stand up to the competition in a crowded sub-Rs. 15,000 market? Let’s dive into the details and find out.
Redmi Note 10 Design: A Fresh Take on Familiarity
Xiaomi has introduced a new "Evol" design language for the Redmi Note 10 series, offering a subtle but noticeable refresh. The standout design element is the rear camera module, featuring four lenses of varying sizes arranged in a chunky, rounded panel that protrudes slightly from the back. While the Frost White and Shadow Black options offer a clean, minimalist aesthetic, the Aqua Green variant adds a dash of vibrancy with its gradient effect. The flat top and bottom edges of the frame complement the curved sides, creating a comfortable grip.
The Redmi Note 10 boasts a 6.43-inch display with narrow borders, making it surprisingly easy to hold and handle. At 8.3mm thick and 178.8g, one-handed use is manageable. Compared to its predecessor, the Redmi Note 9, the Note 10 is not only more ergonomic but also incredibly convenient considering its price point.
However, the silver ring around the embedded front camera, while sleek in appearance, can be distracting during gaming or video playback. The integrated fingerprint sensor in the power button, though responsive and accurate, is small and might be accidentally triggered during handling.
Redmi Note 10 Specifications and Software: Power and Potential
The Redmi Note 10 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 processor, a slight upgrade over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 675. This chipset features two Kryo 460 Gold CPU cores clocked at 2.2GHz (up from 2GHz) and six Kryo 460 Silver cores running at 1.7Ghz for energy efficiency. The available RAM options include 4GB or 6GB of LPDDR4X, while storage comes in 64GB or 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage depending on the variant.
The 6.43-inch display boasts a full-HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. With a peak brightness of 1100nits, the Redmi Note 10 can display HDR videos with boosted brightness from apps like YouTube, despite the spec sheet not explicitly listing HDR support.
The device packs a 5000mAh battery, which supports 33W fast charging, and comes bundled with a matching USB type-C charger. Other notable specifications include dual-band Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth, dual simultaneous 4G, multiple navigation systems, and a Z-axis haptic motor for more nuanced vibrations.
Currently, the Redmi Note 10 runs MIUI 12 based on Android 11, which may not be the most up-to-date software version. While the company promises a significant update with MIUI 12.5, including the removal of advertisements and bloatware, the current unit only had the January 2021 security patch. Xiaomi also promises quarterly security updates for three years and one or two major Android version updates, although these are not guaranteed.
MIUI offers several features beyond stock Android, such as floating windows, Game Turbo mode, comprehensive home screen customization options, optional gesture navigation, and iOS-like UI shortcuts. However, the Redmi Note 10 lacks some features present in the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Pro Max, including the Second Space private profile and a smaller selection of creative camera modes.
Redmi Note 10 Performance: Everyday Powerhouse
The Redmi Note 10 delivers smooth performance, enabling seamless operation of everyday apps and tasks. It feels light and convenient to use overall. While the fingerprint sensor is responsive, its small size can lead to unintentional unlocking, which requires some conscious adaptation.
The bright and crisp screen offers rich colors, though the reflective ring around the front camera can be a nuisance. The always-on display feature, while not always consistently active, allows you to view time, battery status, and notifications with a simple tap. The Redmi Note 10 boasts Widevine L1 DRM certification, ensuring high-resolution streaming capabilities.
In gaming, titles such as Asphalt 9: Legends and Call of Duty Mobile ran smoothly on High graphics settings, with minimal stuttering. The rear of the phone did experience slight warmth after prolonged gaming sessions. The Redmi Note 10 also performed well in graphics benchmarks, achieving scores of 484 and 1,487 in 3DMark’s Wild Life and Sling Shot Extreme tests, while GFXBench’s T-Rex and Manhattan 3.1 scenes yielded 42fps and 15fps, respectively. General performance benchmarks, measured by AnTuTu and Geekbench, resulted in scores of 245,114, 543 (single-core), and 1,641 (multi-core), respectively.
Battery life is commendable. The Redmi Note 10 consistently delivers a full day of use, even with heavy usage involving streaming, web browsing, and camera usage. The HD video loop test lasted for an impressive 15 hours and 12 minutes. When charging with the included 33W adapter, the battery reached 66 percent in 30 minutes and 91 percent in one hour.
Redmi Note 10 Cameras: Capable But Unremarkable
Unlike the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max’s innovative 108-megapixel primary camera, the Redmi Note 10’s photography capabilities are fairly standard. It features a 48-megapixel f/1.79 main rear camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and, unfortunately, the common 2-megapixel macro and depth sensors that seem to be a staple in budget phone marketing.
The Redmi Note 10 misses out on several software features present in its pricier counterparts, including vlog, dual exposure, clone, dual video modes – likely due to the more modest processor, but still a surprise. However, the device is capable of recording 4K 30fps video with slow-motion capturing reaching 960fps at 720p.
Daytime Camera Performance
Daylight photography delivers good results with adequate sharpness and detail. Colors pop slightly, and exposures are generally well-balanced. Landscape shots are decent, although distant objects might appear a bit blurry. Close-up shots are typically crisp and detailed, as long as the subjects are not brightly colored, as strongly colored subjects can appear oversaturated and indistinct. Portrait mode performs well in blurring the background, enhancing the subject, and producing noticeably better compositions compared to standard close-ups. However, some overall detail is sacrificed.
While the wide-angle camera naturally delivers lower quality, the edge distortion is surprisingly minimal, making it useful for certain scenarios. The macro camera, as expected, serves mainly for novelty shots and lacks the quality needed for serious photography.
Low-Light Camera Performance
Low-light shots on the Redmi Note 10 often require multiple attempts to achieve crisp captures. While the phone usually produces decent results, blurring or out-of-focus shots occasionally occur. However, with sufficient artificial lighting, objects remain well-defined, and colors are adequately rendered. Night mode effectively enhances brightness and balances exposures, with success depending on ambient light and composition. The ultra-wide camera produces significantly poorer results in low light.
Selfie Performance
Selfies are satisfactory, but skin textures and details are less than ideal when examined at full magnification. Beautification is activated by default, impacting naturalness. Selfie portrait mode functions competently, effectively separating the background from the subject.
Video Recording
Daylight video recording is relatively smooth. The 4K mode, while delivering decent quality, tends to overexpose colors and produce an unnaturally warm tone. The wide-angle camera also performs adequately, although details are less crisp. Nighttime video recording exposes the lack of stabilization, evident in jittery footage when moving. However, detail within moving subjects is decent if the camera remains stationary. 4K video in low-light conditions maintains an overly warm tone and noticeable jitter. The wide-angle camera produces wobbly footage, with reduced brightness and detail.
Verdict: A Solid, If Not Spectacular, Budget Offering
While the Redmi Note 10 may not break new ground in the budget phone market, it remains a competitive option, especially considering the rising costs of manufacturing and taxes in India. It offers a compelling combination of value and features, including a striking design, robust daily performance, long battery life, and a capable main rear camera. The AMOLED display, stereo speakers, and IP53 rating are key differentiators from other budget phones. However, the promise of a clean and ad-free MIUI 12.5 software experience remains to be seen, as the current user experience is plagued by advertisements and spam, which negatively impacts the overall score.
The Redmi Note 10 will find itself contending with the Poco M3, Moto G10 Power and G30, Samsung Galaxy M12, and even the Redmi 9 Power, among other recent launches in the sub-Rs. 15,000 market. The Redmi Note 10 may not be the most exciting phone in the market, but it is poised to be a popular choice in its segment.
