SUMMARY
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Xiaomi has launched another variant of the well-received Redmi Note 10 on Thursday, June 3, and it’s, as of writing, the most accessible 5G device we’ve gotten our hands on yet. We’re, of course, referring to the Redmi Note 10 5G, an entry-level device with some relatively decent specs.
So how well does it stack up against other phones in the series? Not too bad, I think. The Note 10 5G covers all the basics of what you expect from a P9,990 phone, packing a pretty capable chipset, a triple-rear camera setup, a big battery, and – the cherry on top – 5G network connectivity.
The only caveat is that it belongs in an extremely competitive price segment, where there are arguably better options.
The first thing we noticed about the phone is that the plastic back has a sleek matte finish with a two-tone colorway that’s attractive and premium-esque. It’s not completely fingerprint- or smudge-proof, but the feel makes for a more natural and smooth grip.
Holding it in hand, the build feels just about right for the price. You get the usual glass-plastic hybrid frame with curved edges. The body is a bit thick and there’s definitely some heft to it. Yet, it’s actually still quite ergonomic, which I really like. The design itself is not eye-catching or striking in any way, but it’s a good-looking phone nonetheless.
The 6.5-inch screen here is particularly noteworthy, too. Not only is it fairly sizable, it also supports 90Hz refresh rate, a feature that just a couple of years ago was unique to premium flagships. Refresh rates in phones have since pushed up to a maximum of 120Hz. That, however, doesn’t take away from the inclusion of a 90Hz setting here. You can still enjoy that silky smooth scrolling effect the same as any other phone with variable refresh rate settings. So it’s still a win.
One thing I should mention is that the 90Hz refresh rate doesn’t appear to be dynamic. By that, I mean that it’s not capable of switching between refresh rates for different use cases. For example, you don’t really need a high refresh rate to view a static image. So a dynamic refresh rate automatically lowers the setting back down to 30Hz to save power. That doesn’t seem to be present here.
Another thing about the display is that it’s an LCD screen and not an LED. I usually prefer the richer colors and stronger contrast of the latter over the former. Then again, it can just be a matter of taste. And I think that settling on an LCD screen is a good trade-off to fit in that 90Hz refresh rate option.
When it comes to performance, the MediaTek Dimensity 700 here works just about as well as you might expect from a phone in this price range. It obviously won’t wow you, if you’ve used workhorses or premium flagships before. Still it can run all apps you’ll need just fine. Popular games like Call of Duty Mobile, PUBG, and Mobile Legends run at acceptable levels. Just don’t expect high graphical settings and frame rate numbers.
The MIUI 12 software can sometimes feel a tad bit slow. But that problem can be attributed more towards the phone’s hardware rather than the software itself. Despite this, the MIUI remains as one of my favorite Android skins. I could use a few less bloatware, though.
The phone also comes with 128GB of internal storage, along with a choice between 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
As for the battery, the Redmi Note 10 5G houses a massive 5,000mAh pack that can power through an entire day on moderate to heavy usage. While that sounds good, it’s not as impressive anymore when you compare it to other phones in the segment that can sometimes last between 2 to 3 days.
This is probably due to the chipset not being so energy-efficient. The above-average battery capacity at least partly makes up for that shortcoming. And the 18W fast-charging also helps a bit in ensuring you don’t spend too much time plugged-in.
The phone also sports a triple-rear camera setup, consisting of a 48MP primary lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth lens. This is about standard fare for phones in this segment now. But camera performance is above standard. It’s excellent actually.
Photos come out sharp, detailed, and with natural colors. I really appreciate when a phone’s cameras, especially in this price segment, can produce good-looking photos without the AI dialing up contrast or saturation. And that’s definitely the case here. The 8MP selfie lens can similarly come out with high quality photos.
There are only a couple of things that I think that hinder the cameras from being truly amazing: the night mode performance and the lack of 4K video recording. In Night Mode, I think a lot of the details are usually lost and contrast is not so great. The absence of a 4K video recording option is also a bummer. Again, though, I don’t mind these trade-offs for the other things I’m getting in this package.
All in all, if you want a budget phone with 5G network connectivity, this is the most affordable option. Xiaomi deserves some credit for managing to fit a 5G modem in a sub-P10,000 package. But if you have more cash to spare, you might want to also consider the OnePlus Nord N10 5G, which is priced at P14,990. That extra P5,000 gets you almost the same specs, along with a faster chipset and higher camera megapixel counts.
If forking another P10,000 is not an issue for you, Xiaomi also has the Mi 10T, which is easily one of the best bang-for-your-buck phones available right now. It has a high-performing Snapdragon 865 chipset and a screen with a dynamic refresh rate setting that tops out at 144Hz.
The Redmi Note 10 5G is available now in Xiaomi retail outlets nationwide. – Rappler.com
Get discounts on the new Redmi phones using this Lazada voucher.
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