In the fiercely competitive smartphone market, Xiaomi has carved out a formidable reputation for disrupting the status quo. Their strategy is simple yet powerful: pack premium features into a budget-friendly device, forcing competitors to play catch-up. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is arguably the quintessential embodiment of this philosophy. Upon its release, it made headlines by bringing features like a 120Hz AMOLED display and a 108MP main camera to a price point where they were previously unheard of.
But does a stellar spec sheet translate to a stellar user experience? And in a market that's constantly evolving, does the Redmi Note 10 Pro still hold its own against newer rivals? This comprehensive review will answer all your questions. We’ll take a deep dive into every aspect of the phone, from its design and performance to its camera prowess and battery life, to help you decide if this phone truly is the budget king and the right choice for your next purchase.
Design & Display: A Premium Feel at a Budget Price
The first thing you’ll notice about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is that it doesn’t feel like a budget phone. While its frame is made of plastic, the front and back are protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which is a rarity in this price category. The frosted glass finish on the back feels great in the hand and is remarkably resistant to fingerprints. The phone is a bit on the large side, which is to be expected for a device with a massive screen, but it’s still comfortable enough for single-handed use for most people.
However, the real star of the show is undoubtedly the display. The Redmi Note 10 Pro features a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. In a world where many phones at this price still ship with 60Hz LCD screens, this is a game-changer. The AMOLED technology delivers incredibly vibrant colors and perfect, inky blacks, making content consumption a pure joy. The 120Hz refresh rate makes everything feel silky-smooth and responsive, from scrolling through social media feeds to navigating the user interface. It’s a feature that you simply won't want to go without once you've experienced it.
The display also gets incredibly bright, with a peak brightness of 1200 nits, which is more than enough for comfortable outdoor viewing even on the sunniest days. The phone also supports HDR10, which means you can enjoy HDR content on streaming services like Netflix and YouTube with enhanced contrast and colors. In this price segment, the display on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is simply unmatched and remains one of its most compelling selling points.
Performance & Software: The Engine Under the Hood
Underneath that beautiful display, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 732G processor, paired with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 732G is a solid mid-range chipset that handles everyday tasks with ease. Scrolling, app switching, and Browse the web are all smooth and fast, thanks in part to that high refresh rate screen.
For gamers, the performance is respectable but not class-leading. The phone can handle popular games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG Mobile at medium to high settings, but you may experience occasional frame drops in graphically intensive games. For the vast majority of users who are not hardcore gamers, the Snapdragon 732G is more than sufficient and provides a stable, reliable user experience.
On the software front, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro shipped with MIUI 12, based on Android 11. MIUI is a heavily customized Android skin known for its rich feature set and extensive customization options. It offers a lot of useful features like a built-in screen recorder, a customizable always-on display, and a powerful dark mode. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. MIUI can sometimes come with a fair amount of pre-installed bloatware, and it can be a little inconsistent with push notifications. While Xiaomi has improved greatly in this area, it’s something to be aware of. Overall, the software experience is feature-rich and enjoyable, though some users might prefer a cleaner, more stock-like version of Android.
The Camera Experience: A 108MP Sensor in a Budget Phone
For many, the camera is the single most important feature of a smartphone. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro made a huge splash with its 108MP main sensor, a feature typically reserved for flagship phones. But how does this translate into real-world performance? Our detailed Redmi Note 10 Pro camera review found that the results are impressive, with a few caveats.
The Main 108MP Sensor
In good lighting conditions, the 108MP sensor, which uses pixel-binning technology to produce highly detailed 12MP photos, captures stunning images. The photos are sharp, with a lot of detail and accurate color reproduction. The dynamic range is also excellent, and the phone does a great job of balancing highlights and shadows. Even when you zoom in on a photo, the detail is maintained, which is a testament to the high-resolution sensor.
In low-light situations, the camera holds its own, but it’s not perfect. The dedicated Night Mode does a decent job of brightening up photos and reducing noise, but the images can sometimes lose fine details. While it can’t compete with the low-light performance of a flagship phone, it is still one of the best cameras in its class.
The Other Lenses
The Redmi Note 10 Pro features a versatile quad-camera setup. In addition to the main sensor, it has an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP telemacro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.
Ultrawide Lens: The 8MP ultrawide lens is a great addition for capturing landscapes and group shots. It does a good job of maintaining color consistency with the main sensor, though the images aren't as sharp and the dynamic range is not as wide.
Telemacro Lens: The 5MP telemacro lens is a highlight. Unlike the low-quality macro lenses found on many other phones, this one captures surprisingly sharp and detailed close-up shots. It’s a fun and useful lens that sets the Redmi Note 10 Pro apart from its competitors.
Depth Sensor: The 2MP depth sensor is used to assist with portrait mode, and it does a decent job of creating a natural-looking bokeh effect.
Overall, the camera system on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is one of its strongest features. While the 108MP sensor is the headline-grabber, it's the combination of versatile lenses and the excellent telemacro lens that makes it a great camera phone for its price.
Battery Life & Charging: Powering Through the Day
A powerful phone is only as good as its battery life, and the Redmi Note 10 Pro does not disappoint in this regard. The phone packs a massive 5020mAh battery, which is more than enough to get you through a full day of heavy use. In our testing for this Redmi Note 10 Pro battery life review, we found that with moderate use, including Browse, social media, and some streaming, the phone could easily last for a day and a half on a single charge. Even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled, which is a known battery drainer, we were consistently able to get a full day's use without needing to top up.
When you do need to charge, the Redmi Note 10 Pro comes with a 33W fast charger in the box. This is a huge plus, as many other manufacturers have stopped including chargers with their phones. The 33W charger can take the phone from 0% to a full charge in a little over an hour, which is incredibly fast for a battery of this size. This combination of great battery life and fast charging means you won't have to worry about running out of juice during the day.
The Value Proposition: Is It the Best Buy?
The ultimate question for any potential buyer is: how does the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro stack up against the competition? In a crowded market with offerings from Samsung, Motorola, and others, where does it stand?
The answer is that the Redmi Note 10 Pro vs competition isn't really a fair fight. For its price, the phone offers a feature set that is simply hard to match. Its combination of a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 108MP main camera, and a massive battery is a trio of premium features that you won't find on many other phones in the same price range.
For example, while a competing Samsung Galaxy A-series phone might offer a beautiful AMOLED screen, it will likely be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. A Motorola G-series phone might offer excellent battery life, but it won't have the same camera versatility or the high-resolution display. The Redmi Note 10 Pro price makes it a value leader. It’s a phone that punches well above its weight class. It’s perfect for the user who wants a premium experience without the premium price tag.
Final Verdict: The Budget King Reigns Supreme
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro is a truly remarkable smartphone. It embodies Xiaomi's strategy of delivering incredible value to consumers, and it succeeds on almost every level. The beautiful 120Hz AMOLED display is a joy to use, the performance is more than adequate for daily tasks, the battery life is excellent, and the camera system is incredibly versatile for the price. While the software may not be to everyone’s taste and the gaming performance is not the best, these are minor compromises for a phone that delivers so much.
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone and your budget is in the mid-range, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro should be at the very top of your list. It sets a new standard for what a budget-friendly smartphone can be, offering a premium user experience without a premium price tag. It may not be perfect, but its combination of features and value solidifies its place as one of the best phones in its category.