The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is an affordable smartphone with impressive specifications on paper. From an OLED screen and powerful fast charger to a 108 megapixel camera; it’s all in the 279 euro phone. In this Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro review you can read whether the device is really that good.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro
MSRP From € 279, –
Colors Black, blue, gold
OS Android 11 (MIUI)
Screen 6.67 inch OLED (2400 x 1080, 120 Hz)
Processor 2.3 GHz octacore (Snapdragon 732G)
RAM 6 GB or 8 GB
Storage 64 GB or 128 GB
Battery 5,020 mAh
Camera 108, 8, 5 and 2 megapixels (rear), 16 megapixels (front)
Connectivity 4G (LTE), Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 5, GPS, NFC
Format 16.4 x 7.6 x 0.81 cm
Weight 193 grams
Other Infrared sensor, IP53 splash-proof
Website www.mi.com 8.5 Score 85 
- Pros
- Screen quality
- Battery life and fast charging
- Complete specifications
- Negatives
- MIUI software
- Not the fastest processor
The Redmi Note 10 series consists of four models, with the Note 10 Pro as the most expensive smartphone. And with a starting price of 279 euros, it is still very competitively priced. I tested the device for two weeks and in this review you can read what the pros and cons are of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro.
Design
With 193 grams and dimensions of 16.4 by 7.6 centimeters, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is a heavier and larger smartphone. This is due to its 6.67 inch screen. The phone is not ideal for one-handed use, but thanks to the rounded housing it is comfortable to hold. The plastic back discolours somewhat due to the light (cool) but attracts – less cool – fingerprints and dust. A special coating makes the housing IP53 splash-proof. A nice security during a rain shower.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro has a front-filling screen with a small hole for the selfie camera at the top. On the right side you will find the on and off button with integrated fingerprint scanner. The scanner is reliable and fast. Due to the large camera bulge on the back, the smartphone is not flat on the table. That is annoying when typing. So I pick up the device. Positive are the stereo speakers at the top and bottom. They produce clear stereo sound and can be quite loud. Just don’t expect a lot of bass.
Screen
A major selling point of the Redmi Note 10 Pro is its screen. This 6.67 inch screen uses an OLED panel, shows a sharp Full HD resolution and refreshes 120 times per second (120 Hz refresh rate). Full HD is common in this price segment, but the combination of OLED and 120 Hz is not. Many competing handsets, including the Poco X3 NFC, use an LCD screen with 60 or 120 Hz refresh rate. Samsung supplies comparably priced smartphones with an OLED screen, but uses a 60 Hz refresh rate. The Redmi Note 10 Pro therefore has a more complete and beautiful screen on paper.
The screen also looks very nice in practice. Sharp enough, with brilliant colors and a smooth image thanks to that high refresh rate. Interestingly enough, the 120 Hz mode is not on by default, probably to extend the battery life. In the settings you can switch between 60 and 120 Hz with one click. I would definitely try the 120 Hz mode, because the battery life remains very good. I’ll come back to this in a moment.
Specifications
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor. A remarkable choice, because we mainly know this chip from smartphones that are tens of euros cheaper. Think of the Poco X3 NFC of 229 euros. Although the Snapdragon 732G is smooth enough for a smooth user experience and simple games, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is not the fastest smartphone in its price range. The focus on the above-average screen presumably means that Xiaomi had to cut back on the processor.
Fortunately, the manufacturer has not skimped on the amount of working and storage memory. The entry-level model of the Redmi Note 10 Pro, which costs 279 euros, is equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage memory. For two tens more you can buy the 6/128 GB variant. A competitive extra for so much extra memory. A version with 8/128 GB memory costs 329 euros. Because the 6 GB version is fast enough, I would save that thirty euros and spend it on a good case.
The Redmi Note 10 Pro also has all kinds of useful functions. It supports nfc for contactless pin in shops and has an infrared sensor to operate suitable equipment. Think of an air conditioning or television.
Battery life and charging
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro contains a large 5020 mAh battery. As expected, it is easily able to power the smartphone for a long day. Even with the screen on the 120 Hz mode, I was unable to empty the battery before going to sleep with normal to more intensive use. At the 60 Hz setting, the battery lasts a few hours longer. If you slow down, the Redmi Note 10 Pro will last for two days without any problems.
Charging is via the USB-C port and a charger is ‘just’ in the box. This 33 Watt charger is more powerful than the 20 and 25 Watt chargers of the much more expensive iPhone 12 series and Samsung Galaxy S21. The Redmi Note 10 Pro needs half an hour to charge from 0 to 50 percent and a total of almost an hour and a half to fully charge.
Cameras
On the back of the Redmi Note 10 Pro you will find a large and striking camera island with four camera lenses. The marketing slogan ‘ultra premium’ could have been left out of my mind, but it doesn’t bother me. The smartphone has a 108 megapixel main camera that combines 9 pixels by default into one 12 megapixel photo. This should benefit the quality. The Redmi Note 10 Pro also has an 8-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel macro camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
Where most budget smartphones have many but mediocre cameras, the Xiaomi Redmi Note Pro usually takes very nice photos. The main camera is logically the best camera and shoots sharp images with realistic colors and the right lighting. The wide-angle lens is less accurate, but better than usual in this price segment. Also because the photos show less of a fishbowl effect (bulging on the sides).
The macro camera is also better than average in this price range, both in terms of color reproduction and sharpness. Many macro lenses have a resolution of 2 versus 5 megapixels. However, macro cameras don’t do well in the dark and the Redmi Note 10 Pro is no exception. I can say about the depth sensor that it works properly. If you activate portrait mode in the camera app, the person or object will remain clearly in the frame and the background will be neatly blurred. Haircuts and ears remain sharp in most cases – something unfortunately not all depth sensors understand.
Below you see two series of photos with from left to right the wide-angle camera, the normal camera and three times zoom.
Software and update policy
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro has Android 11 installed, the most recent version of the operating system at the time of writing. Xiaomi puts its signature MIUI software shell on top of this. If you are familiar with MIUI, you will quickly feel at home. Is the Redmi Note 10 Pro your first Xiaomi phone? Then you will have to get used to the appearance and additional functions of MIUI. Many things look and work slightly different, from the screen with notifications and the settings menu to a large number of included apps. Those apps feel intrusive, but luckily they can be removed.
Xiaomi’s update policy has been (unnecessarily) vague for years, and that is slowly changing. The manufacturer promises at least two years of Android updates and security updates for the Redmi Note 10 Pro. So you can count on Android 12 and 13 and regular security updates until the spring of 2023. The update policy is in line with most competing brands. Nokia and Samsung are rolling out security updates for three and four years, respectively, so those devices can be used safely for longer.
Conclusion: buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro?
Xiaomi delivers a particularly successful smartphone with the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The device has a better screen than the competition, lasts a long time on a battery charge, charges faster and has versatile and good cameras. Add to that excellent performance, many functions and two years of software updates and you have an excellent smartphone for 279 euros. Xiaomi once again lives up to its reputation as a price fighter. The Redmi Note 10 Pro is without a doubt one of the best smartphones under 300 euros and for many people a smarter buy than a more expensive model that is only slightly better.
Alternative smartphones that are worthwhile are the Poco X3 NFC (229 euros) and Poco X3 Pro (259 euros). Both devices have a 120 Hz LCD screen, a long battery life and similar functions. The Pro version is faster than the Redmi Note 10 Pro, but it lacks the OLED screen. Moreover, Poco does not guarantee a clear update policy. Other interesting devices are the Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 5G and Samsung Galaxy A42 5G.
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