Xiaomi Redmi Note 10: two mid-range models
The Xiaomi Redmi Note phones may not have a stylus, but they have a clear goal: to offer you the most bang for your buck. There are two new models to choose from: one with 5G, the other for gamers.
Xiaomi not only presented the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra at its press conference, but also two models by its subsidiary brand Redmi. The Redmi Note 10S and the Redmi Note 10 5G. As Xiaomi’s vocabulary has stopped following any logic over the years, here’s most important information in a nutshell:
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is the more expensive version of the two presented phones
- Although the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 5G has a 5G system-on-a-chip (SoC) installed, it doesn’t perform as well as the 10S
- The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S doesn’t have a 5G SoC, but takes better pictures in return
- Both phones are positioned in the midrange and priced at the lower end of the midrange
- Neither of the two phones includes a stylus – despite the «Note» in the name
Now that’s out of the way: what are these smartphones all about?
Redmi Note 10 5G: More data processing performance for little cash
The Redmi Note 10 5G comes with a claim. To make 5G so well priced that everyone can afford the high-speed Internet connection. Good stuff. Otherwise, the Note 10 5G has little to nothing to offer flagship enthusiasts. However, if you’re after a solid phone for little money, it does.
A MediaTek MT6833 Dimensity 700 is tucked away behind the 6.5-inch diagonal 90 Hz display. Manufacturer MediaTek was all about having 5G when it was built. And cheaply at that. For this reason, trade-offs are to be expected everywhere else. While the processor cores sound OK with their 4×2.2 GHz and 4×2.0 GHz, camera data processing is weak. Especially when it comes to videos, you can only have FullHD, or 2K as MediaTek calls it, and photos go up to 64 megapixels.
Accordingly, the camera hardware of the Redmi Note 10 5G takes this into account:
- 48-megapixel wide-angle, f/1.79, PDAF
- 2-megapixel macro camera, f/2.4
- 2-megapixel depth sensor, f/2.4
- 8-megapixel selfie cam, f/2.0
The battery that powers it all is 5000 mAh and can be charged with Quick Charge 3.0. Simply put: max 18 watts. The fingerprint sensor is located on the side of the power button, but Face Unlock is also possible.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S: Helio for improved images
With a 6.43-inch screen diagonal, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S is slightly smaller than its 5G sibling. The screen also only delivers a refresh rate of 60 Hz. However, a stronger SoC is installed in the background. According to the manufacturer, the MediaTek Helio G95 powers «premium 4G gaming smartphones with MediaTek HyperEngine». This is supposed to be made possible thanks to an octa-core SoC with up to 2.05 GHz performance and a screen resolution of 2400×1080 pixels. Xiaomi has also given the 10S up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of internal storage.
This makes the camera system a bit better than the 5G version’s one:
- 64-megapixel wide-angle, f/1.79, PDAF
- 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, f/2.2, 118-degree field of view
- 2-megapixel macro camera, f/2.4
- 2-megapixel depth sensor, f/2.4
- 13-megapixel selfie cam, f/2.45
The battery also features 5000 mAh and can be charged with Mi Fast Charge, which is a maximum of 33 watts.
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