Xiaomi has recently launched a new budget phone in Nepal – the Redmi 10. I am testing this device just after its launch and I will be sharing my experience of using the Redmi 10 in this review.
Let’s talking its pricing first. Redmi 10 is priced similarly to the Samsung Galaxy F22 and other devices like Realme C35 and Realme Narzo 50A. You can purchase the Redmi 10 at NPR 18,999 for the 4/64GB variant and NPR 21,999 for the 6/128GB model.
Redmi 10 Specifications
| Display | 6.71 inches LCD, 60Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | HD+ , 720 x 1600 pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (4×2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 |
| RAM | 4/6GB |
| Storage | 64/128GB UFS 2.2 (expandable) |
| OS & UI | Android 11, MIUI 13 |
| Rear Camera | Dual-Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8 aperture (wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 aperture (depth) Video recording: 1080p@30fps |
| Front Camera | 5 MP, f/2.0 aperture Video recording: 1080p@30fps |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone jack, Single Speaker |
| Security | Fingerprint (Rear-Mounted) & Face Unlock |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5Ghz) Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB Type-C 2.0 port |
| Battery | 6000mAh |
| Charging | 18W (10W Charger Inside the Box) |
| Colors | Black, Blue, and Green |
Redmi 10 Review
Redmi 10 is the successor of the Redmi 9 launched last year in Nepal. With the successor, the company is looking to continue the same dominance in the budget segment. However, there are a few upsets with this device which we will discuss in the detail in a few minutes. That being said, the device has already made its way to our list of best mobile phones under 20000 in Nepal. Now, let’s move towards our Redmi 10 review.
Design and Build Quality
- 169.6 x 76.6 x 9.1 mm, 203g
Redmi 10’s body is made up of plastic which is not a thing to complain about in budget phones as some premium midrange phone from other companies also has plastic back and frames. However, due to its big-sized display, it was a little uncomfortable on my hand.
The back panel has a big compartment for the housing camera module, fingerprint scanner, and Redmi branding. Otherwise, the back panel is completely clean. It comes with a textured finish that gives a good grip while holding the phone. Likewise, it doesn’t catch too many fingerprints as well.
It would have been better if the company has included the side-mounted fingerprint scanner as other devices from Xiaomi in the same price category are featured with the side-mounted scanner. However, the fingerprint was working perfectly fine but its placement was a bit higher so the person with a small hand may struggle a bit.
Display and Audio
- 6.7-inch IPS LCD, 400 nits
- HD+, 60Hz
- Gorilla Glass 3
Redmi 10 sports a 6.7-inch IPS LCD display that has a waterdrop notch for housing a selfie snapper. It comes with an HD+ resolution which is a downgrade from its predecessor. Also, there is no support for a high refresh rate despite having a low-resolution IPS LCD panel.
Its big display makes it an ideal option for watching movies and online shows. However, its colors and contract are not the best in the segment as some other phones pack an sAMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate if you add just an NPR 1,000 more. That being said, it has a great viewing experience and you won’t face any brightness issues even in direct sunlight. Moreover, the panel is Widevine L1 certified which means you can enjoy HD content on different video streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
The display features a waterdrop notch at the top and has thick bezels around the display which most the budget phone has. Its display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and I didn’t find any scratches during my review period.
The device includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and a single bottom-firing speaker. Its single speaker is enough for indoor conditions but not outdoor conditions. Also, it misses out on a secondary mic that reduces that background noise while recording and calling.
Camera
- 50MP (Primary) + 2MP (Depth)
- 5MP Front
Redmi 10 comes with a dual-camera setup at the back. It consists of a 50MP main camera and a 2MP depth camera.
The primary produces 12.5MP images by default using pixel-binning technology. There is a dedicated 50MP model to get that high-resolution image. By default, it enables the beauty mode which can be turned off. It produces saturation-balanced images with enough details and dynamic range considering its price. Sometimes it overexposes the subject to the direct sunlight condition while taking the portrait shot.
I was impressed with its portrait mode performance. It got good edge detection and the background blur effect also looks close to natural. Just look at these images, they got a good amount of details, and also the edge detection is absolutely fine for the price.
The device can capture up to 1080p@30fps from the rear camera. It lacks EIS and the footage is decent but not the best among its competitors. It also features different features like TimeLapse and Slow motion which were quite fun to use but they also lack details and the slow-motion has focusing issues.
On the front, it flaunts a 5MP selfie snapper. It gets the work done but still needs some improvements. Due to its low-resolution sensor, it doesn’t pack details, and by software, it smooths the images which cannot be turned off.
Performance and Software
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm)
- 4/6GB LPDDR4X, 64/128GB UFS 2.2
- Android 11, MIUI 13
Redmi 10 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chipset manufactured on 6nm architecture. It is paired with 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM and 64/128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. It features a dedicated MicroSD card slot for expanding storage.
The phone runs every day to day with ease. Browsing through social media and browser has no issues. But, something some apps stuck for some second or even minutes. That may be the issue with the software which I am hoping to get fixed with a new software update.
When it comes to gaming, Redmi 10 supports PUBG Mobile up to balanced setting up to 25fps. Switching to Smooth graphics you get an option to go up to 30fps. I tried playing PUBG at 30fps where the phone started to lag after around 10 minutes of a gaming session. BTW, I am so used to playing games with a gyroscope and I missed it so much on the Redmi 10. The phone can play fewer graphics demanding games like Free Fire, and Clash Royale without any issues.
Moving to benchmarks, Redmi 10 scores 234718 on the Antutu Benchmark (v9.3.8). Similarly, it got 374 Single-core and 1487 multi-core Geekbench 5 scores.
Redmi 10 runs on the old Android 11 with MIUI 13 skin on top. The company should have included the latest Android 12 as most of the device launching these days packs the latest Android 12. Like other devices with MIUI, it also has a few bloatware and most of them are uninstallable. A thing to note is that I didn’t find any ads during my usage. Moreover, the UI has some minor lags and shutter issues but there are no major software issues with the device.
Battery and Charging
- 6000mAh
- Single Speaker
Redmi 10 gets a massive 6000mAh battery that comes with 18W fast charging support. However, the company has only included a 10W charger inside the box.
The phone has amazing battery endurance. I am not a heavy smartphone user. Normally, the screen ON time of the smartphone is something around 3-4 hours a day. Since Redmi 10 was my primary phone during my review period. It lasted for over 3 days on a full charge which is just amazing.
If you are a heavy user, it should be for at least 1 and half days. There are a few more devices at around 20000 in Nepal which also feature a 6000mAh battery but Redmi 10 with its 6nm chipset lasts However, it takes over 3 hours to get fully charged which is a little annoying.
Final Thoughts: Redmi 10 Review
Redmi 10 being a successor to the Redmi 9 brings some good improvements in Camera, battery, performance, and design. But, it gets downgraded in the display as it features an HD+ panel while its predecessor was packed with a 1080p panel. Overall, Redmi 10 is a strong contender for the best smartphone under 20000 in Nepal.
Pros:
- 50MP Primary Camera with Good Optimization
- Snapdragon 680 under 20K budget
- Long-lasting battery life
Cons:
- HD+ 60Hz Display
- Android 11
- Poor Selfie Camera
- No Fast Charger Inside the Box
