Xiaomi is a tech manufacturer that specializes in bringing capable specs to devices that won’t leave you crying over a drained bank account. It’s an area the company comfortably plays around in, and the result is we get more value for our money. The subject of this review is no exception to that philosophy.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 can offer the right kind of user everything you’ll need in a smartphone. If the reasons listed below are essential to you, then you should check out this Xiaomi handset.
It’s thin and light
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is how thin and light it is built. Its plastic back helps keep the weight down. At 8.29mm thin and 178.8g light, you can comfortably hold this handset in one hand. Typing is still a two-handed affair, but Xiaomi does have a one-handed mode for those who want it. It also has options for how small the screen should be. I like that it doesn’t get uncomfortable to hold during extended use.
The Redmi Note 10 has a shiny finish on the Onyx Gray variant I’ve tested, giving it a bit more stylish, high-end look. If you find the shade too dark, the Redmi Note 10 also comes in Pebble White and Lake Green. It is a fingerprint magnet, though, so have a microfiber cloth on hand at all times. Or take advantage of the jelly case that comes with the phone. I do like that the phone’s finish doesn’t feel slippery, though, so I was not worried that it would slip from my hands when I used it without the case.
As for protection for this device, it can handle some accidental splashes and minor scratches with an IP53 splash resistance rating and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front.
You can unlock the phone via facial recognition or the fingerprint scanner on the power button, which is my favorite placement for that sensor since it’s easy to access.
It’s built for entertainment lovers
With the launch of the Redmi Note 10 series, Xiaomi brings AMOLED displays to this lower-tier midrange market. And it’s one of the best things about the Redmi Note 10. The 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay on this handset shows bright colors, excellent contrast, and deep blacks. I would’ve wanted thinner bezels, but it’s a tradeoff I can work with when there’s a quality display that comes with this phone. There’s a hole punch for the camera, but that tends to disappear for me once I get into using the phone.
It’s a treat to watch content on the Redmi Note 10, especially since it comes with loud and decent dual speakers. I don’t have to worry about hearing what I’m watching, even if I don’t plug in a pair of headphones into the 3.5mm audio jack. This phone also has the Widevine L1 certification, which means you can watch Netflix videos in Full HD resolution.
Having dual speakers is excellent for playing games, too. You don’t have to worry about blocking audio when you’re playing.
I’ve had no problem using this handset out on bright summer days, either. I could use and see the Redmi Note 10’s display just fine.
Pro tip #1: There is a Sunlight Mode in the Display settings (Display > Brightness Level > Sunlight Mode) that will adjust the display’s brightness when it detects strong ambient light. It’ll be helpful if you spend a lot of time outdoors. You will need to turn off Automatic Brightness to use this feature.
Pro tip #2: Check out Sound assistant in the Sound & vibration settings. It will allow you to adjust the sound for individual apps playing simultaneously and toggle multiple audio sources. The latter option won’t adjust media volume when a notification comes in or while audio plays from another source.
You get an entire workday with fast-charging support
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 comes equipped with a decently sized 5,000mAh battery. I wasn’t too worried about quickly draining the battery, and typically that’s true. If I wasn’t constantly using the phone for work or play, I could get a day and a half’s use on a single charge. A hectic workday would drain the battery by its end, leaving me in the single digits and the need to charge first thing in the morning.
It’s good news that Xiaomi ships the 33W charger with the Redmi Note 10, and the device takes full advantage of that charging speed. What about wireless charging? Don’t expect wireless charging at this price point.
Pro tip #3: Charge the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 while it’s turned off. I can fully charge it from 0% to 100% at around an hour and 20 minutes when I leave it off to charge. Maybe indulge in a hobby or task that doesn’t require you to be glued to your phone.
It has the basics covered
Xiaomi gives many users adequate performance with this handset’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 chipset. The Redmi Note 10 is the only other phone besides the Moto G Stylus 2021 to come equipped with this processor. I hardly had any trouble with it during my month with the device. When I switch too quickly between apps, there will be instances that it’ll freeze for a second or two, but that happened too infrequently to cause alarm.
I had the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant on hand, and it could handle the casual games I enjoy like Cooking Battle and Alto’s Adventure, as well as the games that require a bit more power like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty. I could play the last two games in their highest settings without any issues.
Xiaomi also equips this phone with a Game Turbo mode, where you can tweak settings and performance on the phone to work at its best while you game.
If you’re looking for features like Dark Mode and an Always On Display, those are available on the Redmi Note 10, too. With Android 11-based MIUI 12, Xiaomi offers you many customization options, including a theme store, the ability to tweak your notifications and control center, whether you have an app drawer or not, and more.
Pro tip #4: One of my favorite features of the Redmi Note 10 is the shortcut to the Do Not Disturb mode. It’s easily accessible through the volume controls. All you need to do is press on the volume keys and the three dots. There’s a shortcut to Do Not Disturb there with a slider letting you choose between 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, or eight hours. It’s a feature I always enable when I turn in for the night.
Pro tip #5: Take advantage of the Privacy Protection options in your settings. It gives you a quick view of what apps access the sensors and components on your phone.
You get flexibility with its cameras
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 offers a quad-camera setup at the back paired with a 13-megapixel selfie shooter. You get a capable 48-megapixel primary lens at the back of the phone, paired with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 2-megapixel macro, and 2-megapixel depth sensor.
Unsurprisingly, I’ve found the most use out of the 48-megapixel primary lens. You have the option to get the full 48-megapixel resolution; otherwise, you get 12-megapixel resolution pictures by default. The 48-megapixel mode is helpful if you want to crop into images and still get details.
You can get some natural bokeh from the main sensor, but you do get a Portrait mode if you want to tweak the intensity of the background’s blurriness. Tweaking the bokeh is possible before and after you shoot.
You can get good images in great lighting, but it will take some time to focus when it gets darker. You lose a bit of the detail, and the photos soften a bit more in low light, especially with the front-facing camera.
Portrait works on inanimate objects
On pets, too
I’ve found it more useful to play around with the Pro mode when I want to shoot in low light. It does have a Night mode, but you have better luck getting images when you tinker around with the Pro mode.
For my Instagram and TikTok use, I’ve loved using the Short Video mode on the Redmi Note 10. You get up to 1080p at 30 frames per second videos in this setting. But it’s helpful to work within the constraints of the short 15 second clips. If you want to use the Video mode, you can record up to 4K at 30fps. For handheld use, your best bet for stable videos is in 1080p at 30fps.
Slightly related to that, you can zoom in up to 10x digitally, but if you want more detailed, usable shots, you can hover between 2x and 4x. It’ll get a bit more pixelated the more you zoom in.
Pro tip #6: If you take multiple pictures of your subject (say your kids/nieces and nephews or pets), MIUI can highlight your best photos for you. Just head to the three-dot menu on the upper right corner of the Gallery and toggle Select best photo. When you select an image in your Gallery, the best photos will be marked with a blue flag with a star.
Pro tip #7: On the privacy front, you can also keep the metadata and location on your pictures safe with Secure sharing. It’s also accessible through the Gallery settings menu (under the Send section). You can choose to not share your location info or metadata, or both.
You can also check out Isa’s thoughts here:
Final thoughts
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is an all-rounder that’s easy to recommend to many people. It works as a daily driver, a handset to enjoy content on or play games on, and can handle some of your photography needs (it shines the best in bright environments). For a phone that costs less than PHP 10k, it gives you a lot more than you pay for, and that’s something I always hope to get from any purchase I’ve made.
The standard Redmi Note 10 is available in the 4GB + 64GB for PHP 8,490 and the 6GB + 128GB for PHP 9,990.
Buy the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 HERE. *
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