Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (Max) review

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Introduction

We have the Redmi Note 10 Pro for review, and this is the global version of the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max - an India-exclusive model. There are only two differences - the Indian version omits NFC and it is not listed as IP53-rated. Here's a direct link to compare the two.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro • Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max

It's been exactly one year since the first Redmi Note 9 phones came to be, and the updates arrive right on schedule. The Redmi Note 10 Pro is spearheading the next generation of affordable mid-rangers, and it brings one of the most requested fan-favorite features - a 120Hz OLED screen.

Xiaomi has been offering HRR screens on the cheap. The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G and multiple Redmi K30 phones had 120Hz and even 144Hz LCD panels. These devices became quite popular for that reason, and a lot of people, we included, were hoping for an OLED upgrade and that this premium feature would become a standard for the Redmi Note 10 series. Talk about a wish come true!

The Redmi Note 10 Pro builds on top of the limited Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G, also known as Mi 10i 5G in some markets, both released a few weeks ago. It offers a better HRR OLED screen but comes with the inferior Snapdragon 732G chip instead of the more premium Snapdragon 750G 5G. The rest is mostly the same - camera, speakers, battery, fast charging.

Indeed, the new Redmi Note 10 Pro may not be packing the best mid-range SoC, but it sure impresses with an interesting quad-camera on the back. The main shooter uses a 108MP Samsung sensor, then comes the 8MP ultrawide snapper, followed by a 5MP cam with telemacro lens, and finally, there is a 2MP depth sensor.

The other interesting bits about the Redmi Note 10 Pro include the dedicated symmetrical speakers - yet another feature that's not widely available even on the most expensive phones (the flagships usually favor hybrid setups). There is also a nicely fat battery with a 5,020mAh capacity that's capable of 33W fast charging, and the corresponding power adapter is included with the phone. Some people will appreciate the presence of NFC, FM radio, IR blaster, a 3.5mm jack, and the microSD expansion.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro specs at a glance:

• Body: 164x76.5x8.1mm, 193g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame; IP53, dust and splash protection.
• Display: 6.67" AMOLED, HDR10, 120Hz, 450-700 nits (typ), 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 395ppi.
• Chipset: Qualcomm SM7150-AC Snapdragon 732G (8 nm): Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver); Adreno 618.
• Memory: 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC (dedicated slot).
• OS/Software: Android 11, MIUI 12.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, f/1.8, 25mm, 1/1.52", 0.7µm, PDAF; Ultrawide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚, 1/4.0", 1.12µm; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4; Depth: 2 MP, f/2.4.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.
• Battery: 5,020mAh; Fast charging 33W.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; FM radio, Infrared port; 3.5mm jack.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro is IP53-rated for dust and water protection - a very nice touch. This means the phone is dust-proof and can endure light splashes or rain. The phone sounds like an increasingly better proposition with each new feature we spot, so let's cut to the chase and pop this Note out of its box.

Unboxing the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

The Redmi Note 10 Pro ships within a regular paper box, and it packs everything you may need but a pair of headphones. The retail bundle contains a 33W power adapter and a 3A-rated USB-A-to-C cable.

You also get a transparent silicone case with a cover lid for the USB-C port. And you will find one thin screen protector that's already applied to the phone's display. We peeled that off; sorry, Xiaomi, it was way too cheap.