The Xiaomi Redmi 10 is a low-priced smartphone with a fantastic design and adequate functions for the price. Just don’t expect it to perform excessively well.
Xiaomi has quietly become a force to be reckoned with in all price ranges, and with the Redmi 10, the company offers a competent mid-range phone at an astonishingly low cost.
It’s also a good-looking phone, with a glossy finish that seems more premium than the majority of phones under £180/$250. It has a fingerprint sensor in the power button, a nearly all-screen front, and it runs adequately considering the components.
Regrettably, however, its 90Hz screen employs LCD technology, making it feel more than a bit sluggish in comparison to smartphones employing more contemporary OLED technology. Yet, at the price, it is difficult to argue.
1. Design
There is no disputing that the Xiaomi Redmi 10 looks and feels amazing despite its inexpensive price.
Due to a matte finish on the rear (my review unit is Sea Blue, but Pebble White and Carbon Gray are also available), it reflects light beautifully and appears to be a quality item. In contrast to the Redmi Note 10 5G, however, its rear panel is glossy, meaning it gathers a large number of fingerprints and is not as comfortable to grasp as its stablemate.
On the front, it’s all business and nearly all display. There are bezels present, and they may be more obvious with the LCD screen (which will be discussed shortly), but a “hole-punch” selfie camera replaces the notch.
The phone charges through USB-C on the bottom, while the right-hand side features a volume rocker and a sleep/wake button that also activates the Google Assistant. The button also has a fingerprint sensor, though the Redmi 10 may also be opened via a passcode or pattern if desired.
Lastly, there’s an IR blaster on the device’s top, which Xiaomi has been including for some time now — although I have yet to find a practical application for it. I would prefer water resistance or proofing, but none is present.
2. Screen
The LCD display on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G is 6.5 inches, indicating that it is quite large. This canvas allows consumers ample opportunity to interact with apps, but it lacks the vibrancy of an OLED display.
The Full HD+ 10802400 display has a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz, but the majority of its competitors have a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz. As seen on the Honor 50 Lite, it’s excellent to be over 60Hz as a new standard, as it provides a nicer experience.
The phone’s AdaptiveSync is set to 45Hz while static, while videos stream at 60Hz. Using social media or playing video games will increase the refresh rate to 90Hz. It’s a clever approach to ensure that the screen doesn’t consume too much power when it’s not necessary and helps preserve battery life.
Yet, the LCD panel’s lack of contrast is more noticeable. Pictures are rarely vibrant, and I frequently wished for a bit more color – even the icons on the home screen are drab.
In direct sunlight, legibility is compromised, and viewing angles are poor unless you’re staring at it directly. With the size of the display, it would be a shame not to be able to display movies, television, or even just your finest camera shots.
3. Performance
Aside from the display quality, the Redmi 10’s MediaTek Helio G88 processor is the biggest evidence of the sacrifices made to achieve such a low pricing.
The average results for Geekbench 5 and other benchmarks are displayed below. It performs similarly to the more costly Poco M4 Pro and nearly equals the Moto G9 Power in battery tests.
In real-world terms, that is just enough power to play a match of PUBG Mobile (at mid settings at most) or multitask between a few of Google’s apps such as docs and sheets while checking email, but anything beyond that seems excessive.
This is partially due to the 4GB of Memory, which necessitates closing demanding applications before launching others. A 6GB variant is available in select areas. There are 64GB or 128GB of storage, as well as a microSD card slot.
The Xiaomi Redmi 10 features a 50-megapixel back camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing sensor embedded into the display.
On the rear, it lacks excitement and is a little too practical for my taste. The clarity and lack of vibrancy of the images is not improved by viewing them on a simple LCD screen. The lack of contrast across the board, coupled with the screen, causes all photos to appear washed out.
The colors are very true throughout the day, but if you’re looking for a phone for photography, seek elsewhere. A quad array on the rear may sound amazing, but the dual 2Mp sensors, as we’ve seen countless times, are only there to increase the number.
As you can see from the image of the toys on the shelf, the backdrop is not as sharp due to the bokeh effect. Night mode performance is also unremarkable, with the Redmi 10 capturing the moment but providing little to work with when seen later.
Verdict
The Xiaomi Redmi 10 is a reliable smartphone that won’t blow your mind but also won’t break the bank.
It has a basic camera and display technology, but it has a large screen with an adjustable refresh rate of up to 90Hz, decent battery life, and an attractive design.
Price-appropriately, there is no 5G, performance is limited, charging is slow, and the device is not waterproof. But, if you don’t need a phone that can sing and dance, this is now one of the finest options for around £200.
