Xiaomi presents the Redmi Note 10 as their champion in the mainstream class. this smartphone offers specifications above the average of its competitors including the screen sector, chipset, to fast charging capabilities. Are you curious about the sophistication offered by Redmi Note 10? Just take a look at our review.
Mobile that is comfortable to hold
From a design point of view, there were no significant breakthroughs. However, when compared to the Redmi Note 9, the most significant difference lies in the position of the camera and the loss of the fingerprint sensor on the back cover.
Yes, this time Xiaomi moves the camera to the top left corner, while the fingerprint sensor is immersed and becomes one with the power button on the side. The Redmi logo was changed from previously horizontal to now printed vertically. While at the front, the punch hole position is now in the middle.
The rest is nothing special. The quality of the design is quite good and there is absolutely no cheap impression with polycarbonate material. One thing I don’t like is its glossy finish which is easily dirty by finger marks or dust.
In terms of operation, Redmi Note 10 feels comfortable in my hand. The dimensions are just right, not too big but not too slim. The thickness is 8.3mm with a weight that is not excessive, which is around 178 grams. The combination that makes this phone fun enough to put in a trouser pocket.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 has adopted a USB Type-C port. It is located below, side by side with the 3.5mm audio jack and speaker holes. On the top side you will also find the other speaker holes along with the IR blaster. Regarding slot availability, Redmi Note 10 can accommodate two SIM-cards along with a microSD.
It should also be noted that Redmi Note 10 has IP53 certification which means it is resistant to dust and splashes of water. The sales package is also quite tempting for the size of a cheap smartphone. The reason is, Xiaomi immediately provides a 33W charger.
The first Redmi Note series with a Super AMOLED screen
This is what I think is a bit surprising. It has never crossed my mind that Xiaomi will present a cheap cellphone with a Super AMOLED screen in 2021. As is known, Super AMOLED is usually used by products that are more expensive.
Redmi Note 10 itself is the first Redmi Note series to feature a Super AMOLED panel. For those who don’t know, Super AMOLED is able to present content with a very good level of brightness and color reproduction, so that it looks more pleasing to the eye.
Generally smartphones with Super AMOLED panels are ideal for presenting a fingerprint sensor on the screen. Even so, Xiaomi may have their reasons available to keep relying on the side fingerprint sensor.
What is clear is that with the 6.43-inch Full HD + Super AMOLED screen, enjoying a variety of content such as watching movies, browsing, and playing games feels so satisfying. The refresh rate is still only 60Hz, but in my opinion it is not a significant drawback when compared to the advantages it offers.
Oh yes, Redmi Note 10 also has Widevine L1 certification and is able to play movies on Netflix up to Full HD resolution. And because it is Super AMOLED, you can also activate the Always-On Display mode. A little discussing audio, as mentioned above, the Redmi Note 10 has two speaker holes. That means it is stereo and the sound is loud too. Hi-Res Audio support is also available.
The camera is okay for a cheap smartphone
Xiaomi immerses four cameras consisting of a 48 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide lens, 2 megapixel macro and 2 megapixel depth. For video capture mode, Redmi Note 10 has several interesting features such as slow motion, night mode, time-lapse pro, and regular time-lapse. About selfies, there is a 13 megapixel camera on the front.
In my opinion, a camera configuration like this is reliable enough to simply capture everyday moments and upload them to social media. Photos presented in 12 megapixel resolution look sharp with high detail, colors that tend to be natural, and a wide dynamic range.
Xiaomi doesn’t forget to provide AI features for those of you who want to get photos with richer color contrast. But for me personally, I prefer this mode to be turned off because sometimes the photos that are presented just look too much …
If you need a higher resolution, you can activate 48 MP mode. To capture a wider image, immediately use an ultra-wide lens which in my opinion the results are also pretty good with detail and color accuracy that is only slightly below the main camera.
Shooting in low light conditions can rely on Night Mode. Noise canceling goes the extra mile so it’s no surprise that photo detail is reduced. Even so, the Redmi Note 10 camera is able to produce brighter photos while maintaining the night atmosphere.
For videography, Redmi Note 10 is capable of recording up to 4K resolution. But if you want a stable video with EIS, the resolution can only be up to 1080p. The EIS itself is decent, although you will still feel the shock when you move too extreme.
First with the Snapdragon 678
The performance sector is no less tempting. Redmi Note 10 is the first smartphone in Indonesia to be equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 chipset. The chipset with the Kryo 460 CPU and Adreno 612 GPU is claimed to have good performance for gaming and good battery efficiency.
In fact, playing games on Redmi Note 10 is quite fun. Popular games like Mobile Legends can run on high graphic settings with High Frame Rate mode active. PUBG Mobile is the same. I can play it quite comfortably in the Smooth-Ultra graphic settings. Gyroscope? Secure.
For gaming, there is no problem. Temperature management is still quite good even though it feels a bit warm in the area around the rear camera when invited to play with a rather long duration. At least, it doesn’t really interfere with playing comfort.
But in my opinion, the performance of the Redmi Note 10 sometimes feels less smooth when switching applications or scrolling pages. I am quite relieved that Xiaomi has finally released an update to optimize the performance of this phone. Compared to when I first opened it from the box, the performance is better, although I’m sure it can be optimized even more.
Fair enough because the chipset is relatively new. For your information, the Redmi Note 10 that I tested was the official Indonesian version. In its price class, maybe the Redmi Note 10 is one of the smartphones with the fastest chipset. Xiaomi only provides one memory variant, namely 4/64 GB with fast storage with UFS 2.2 technology.
Durable battery, fast charging
Then, what about the durability of the battery? Armed with a 5,000 mAh capacity, Redmi Note 10 can accompany my activities throughout the day from morning to night. Even when my wearing style is not that intense, this phone can last up to 2 days.
This durable battery is also supported by 33W fast charging technology, which is again considered the fastest in its price class. For your information, generally in the range of 2 million rupiah other cellphones still use 18W fast charging only, or even some are below it.
One other plus, of course, is the availability of a 33W charger in the sales package. Yes, you don’t need to buy a separate charger for maximum chaging performance.
A hardware offering that is hard to contend with
If you only compare the specs sheet, it is clear that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is difficult to resist. Super AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 678, 33W fast charging, up to 48 MP camera is a package that until now has not been able to offer by other brands in the same price range.
But of course the experience of using an Android phone cannot be concluded from the specification sheet alone. Even though it has many advantages, Redmi Note 10 doesn’t necessarily match your style. In essence, the experience of each user will be different. The thing to remember, MIUI has ads and maybe not everyone will understand it.
For those interested, the Redmi Note 10 is available in three color choices, including Onyx Gray, Pebble White, and Lake Green, and is sold for USD $167.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 is suitable for:
- Students / university students can make Redmi Note 10 as a daily driver. Apart from being ideal for online learning, this smartphone can facilitate entertainment needs such as watching movies or playing games. Plus, it’s cheap.
- Gamers with limited funds who want entry-level gaming devices are a category of users who will be suitable to propose to the Redmi Note 10. Snapdragon 678 is able to run various popular titles smoothly.
- Employees who need a device with high performance and a long battery life are also suitable for choosing Redmi Note 10. For WFH it is okay, to accompany extra mobile activities you can rely on.
- Housewives can choose Redmi Note 10 as a device for communicating, accessing social media, and capturing everyday moments with children.
- Users who need a second cellphone can make Redmi Note 10 a shopping target. For example an iPhone user who is looking for cheap Android.
The advantages of Xiaomi Redmi 10:
- Quite slim and light despite the large battery
- Super AMOLED display
- Powerful performance with Snapdragon 678
- UFS Storage 2.2
- The main camera is capable of producing photos with high detail and good color
- The results of the ultra-wide camera photos are quite good
- There is a Night Mode
- Video recording is quite stable at 1080p 30fps
- Long lasting battery
- 33W fast charging
- 33W charger is included in the sales box
- Stereo speakers
- Prices are relatively cheap
Disadvantages of Xiaomi Redmi Note 10:
- The back of the body gets dirty easily
- Performance can be optimized even more
- Macro cameras are still just a complement
