Xiaomi Redmi 10 review

Competition

It's not easy to match the Redmi series when it comes to value for money in the low-end segment, and it's no surprise that most of the competitors we've picked are Redmi 10's close relatives from Xiaomi's own portfolio. And even then, the Redmi 10 has some tricks up its sleeve that can easily persuade someone still wondering if the handset is worth it.

Let's start with the most obvious option - the Redmi 9T. This device was released earlier this year as a refresh of the original Redmi 9 but with a Snapdragon 662, which offers about the same horsepower and a large 48MP sensor. The Redmi 9T is rocking a set of stereo speakers as well and is paired with a similar 6.5-inch IPS panel, although capped at 60Hz. It edges out with a bigger 6,000 mAh battery, and the higher endurance rating can give you an idea of how much more battery life you'd be getting (127h vs. 150h).

In the end, there's little difference between the two phones, so you might have to decide on your own whether the smoother and brighter 90Hz display is worth it over the larger battery in the Redmi 9T.

Xiaomi Redmi 9T • Xiaomi Poco M3

The Poco M3 is another Xiaomi phone that pops up in our search for handsets around the €150 mark. With its unusual design, the M3 is definitely a looker, but just like the Redmi 9T, it has little to no difference compared to the newer Redmi 10. Similar display (minus the 90Hz refresh rate), similar performance, a set of stereo speakers and familiar camera experience and performance. The ultrawide unit has been left out, though. The bigger 6,000 mAh unit inside the Poco M3 could be the one thing that tips the scale for most users.

Perhaps the Realme 8 is the equalizer in this selection. Costing just as much, it offers a marginally faster Helio G95 chipset, the same battery with considerably faster charging at 30W, an impressive 64MP main camera with good real-world performance, and an unrivaled 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with HDR10 support and 657 nits of peak brightness according to our tests. Or in other words, the 90Hz refresh rate and the stereo speakers are the only things that the Redmi 10 has against the Realme 8.

Realme 8 • Motorola Moto G30

Another worthy opponent would be the Motorola Moto G30 - a recent phone with a big main camera sensor, good camera performance overall and a similar 90Hz display. However, it settles for a less than ideal 720p resolution in the same 6.5-inch diagonal. Battery life is comparable, but no stereos speakers either. We've included the Moto G30 because it's one of the few handsets to run on clean Android, so if that's your thing, the Moto G30 is pretty much your only option in most markets.

With all being said, the Redmi 10 may often miss from one's potential shopping list due to its rather limited availability. At the time of this review, the Redmi 10 is available only to select markets and is sold via AliExpress. Not to mention the base 4GB/64GB memory variant is almost always out of stock. The phone also lacks NFC in some markets, so contactless payments are a no-go.

Verdict

Redmi phones have always been an easy recommendation, especially the ones from the vanilla Redmi series. And it's hard not to like a phone like the Redmi 10, which ranges between €160 and €200 and offers a relatively bright 90Hz IPS display, a long battery life, a set of dual speakers, good camera performance, and doesn't miss on any essential features (at least for some users) such as IR blaster, 3.5mm audio jack, dedicated microSD card slot and reverse charging.

Nonetheless, things are changing, and more challengers worth considering are emerging. The limited availability of the Redmi 10 can be a setback for its success too.

The Redmi 10 is a pretty capable budget phone. It's just that it's not the clear-cut go-to phone to get for affordability like the Redmi 9 was. This time around, there might be some better options out there, depending on your needs.

Pros

• Bright, 1080p, 90Hz LCD with good colors and contrast ratio.
• Stereo loudspeakers.
• Solid battery life.
• Main camera can take good low-light photos thanks to Night mode.
• Ultrawide camera is better than average for the class.
• Standalone microSD, IR port, FM radio, reverse wired charging.

Cons

• Occasional UI lag.
• Slow charging.
• Underwhelming daylight main camera photos and night-time ultrawide camera photos.
• Video recording is only 1080p, not very good and lacks stabilization.
• Limited market availability at launch.
• No NFC for some markets.

Special thanks to 'Xiaomi official store' on Aliexpress for supplying the review unit!