The 2021 Redmi Note 10 Pro from Xiaomi is a beast on paper, the smartphone boasts a 120 Hz OLED panel in a mid-range phone with a powerful Snapdragon SoC and a 108 MP camera for about Sh27,500 for the base model.
Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 and Redmi Note 10 Pro Officially Launched, Availability and Price in Kenya
A few years ago these were features only found in top-of-the-end premium flagship smartphones. Our review of the Xiaomi smartphone reveals how the affordable Redmi Note 10 Pro fares in day-to-day usage.
Performance
Let’s start with how the phone performed, I have used the phone as my daily driver for more than two weeks now and the Snapdragon 732G held up just great. The Redmi Note 10 Pro breezes through simple daily tasks like social media scrolling and handles hard tasks like playing demanding games like Ark Survival Evolved, and Call Of Duty Mobile like a champ. There were occasional stutters here and there but only after a decent amount of usage and playing demanding games like Genshin Impact.
You also get stereo speakers set up, dependable Bluetooth as well and even a headphone jack to complement consumption on the Redmi Note 10 Pro.
How well you’ll actually get on with the Redmi Note 10 Pro depends on your view of Xiaomi’s MIUI launcher which is in its 12th iteration right now. I was skeptical at first, bloatware, ads however, I’m really really embracing the UI which has a stock Android feeling with a veritable feast of bonus features chopped on top like the control center and a proper one-handed mode as well as the ability to stream YouTube audio while the screen is hibernating. I also did not experience any ads on my Redmi Note 10 Pro.
In general customization, MiUI is a lot easier than the stock Android as well, but of course, it can be a bit junky in places here and there
Display
The Redmi Note 10 Pro has a rather sizeable 6.67 inch AMOLED 1080p display which for the price is amazing. You can stream your HDR Netflix titles on the beautiful screen giving you crisp contrasts and lifelike visuals. This display also supports a smooth 120Hz maximum refresh rate which for an AMOLED screen at this price point is just stunning.
Camera
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro has a quad-camera set up at the back, a 108MP main sensor, a secondary 8MP ultra-wide angle shooter with 118° FoV, a tertiary 5MP macro, and a Quarternary 2MP depth sensor.
By default you don’t get 108MP photos, The Redmi Note 10 Pro uses nine in one pixel binning to ensure you get bright good looking pictures that still pack plenty of detail while saving on storage space. The pixel binning really helps when you’re shooting against the light keeping that color detail in check and avoiding oversaturation.
However, if of course if you’d rather snap your photos on the maximum resolution 108-megapixel photo on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, that’s perfectly possible and also surprisingly quick too and you’ll certainly notice the difference in detail when you blow that picture up onto a big screen but this feature only proves competent if your subject is well lit.
Speaking of which when the lighting is rather dim the dedicated night mode here can help to sharpen up your image. The second lens on the Redmi Note 10 Pro is a depth sensor that helps out with those portrait bokeh shots which look amazing even with subjects not standing still at all, you’ve also got an ultrawide angle lens and once again the results are solid, photos do suffer from the usual slight distortion, but colors are close to what you get with the primary shooter, even if the detail levels are of course nowhere near as strong.
Here are a few samples taken on the Redmi Note 10 Pro.
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Battery Life
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is powered by a 5,020 mAh lithium-polymer battery that charges up to 100pc in exactly 90 minutes with the included 33-watt power adapter when it’s completely drained.
While on idle mode or on 60Hz, the Note 10 Pro’s power consumption is low, as expected the 120Hz takes up a huge chunk of battery life but overall, power consumption is okay.
The Note 10 Pro comfortably lasted more than 10 hours on screen time with heavy usage through the day. If by some chance your battery capacity is running low at the end of the day, switching to 60 Hz mode can still squeeze a few hours out of the phone.
Caveats
While using the Redmi Note 10 Pro, I frequently noticed the AMOLED display flickering a lot while in the 120Hz mode. The flickering is especially noticeable when the dark mode is toggled on. Xiaomi has reportedly told journalists that it is aware of the issues that some users are facing and is working on a fix.
Verdict
Is the phone worth it? absolutely! Good luck finding another budget/midrange smartphone with these kinds of specs at this price point. Xiaomi has managed to create an all-around successful mid-range phone with a convincing 120 Hz panel a capable camera and absolute killer performance, compared to paper, the device lives up to expectations.