Xiaomi Mi 10 Review: An In-Depth Look at the Premium Flagship
Xiaomi has entered the premium segment in India with its most expensive smartphone, the Mi 10. This device is positioned as a next-level phone, boasting a powerful camera, top-tier features, and a high-end processor. Featuring a 108MP camera and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, the Mi 10 is another 5G-ready phone launched in India. Here is a detailed look based on its unboxing and first impressions.
What’s Inside the Box?
Upon opening the box, the first thing to note is a small drawback: the phone does not have a 3.5mm jack. To compensate, a dongle is provided in the box. Along with that, you will find the standard documentation and a nice, good-quality hard case. The phone itself is accompanied by a USB Type-C cable and a 30W fast charging brick. It’s also worth mentioning that the phone supports 30W wireless charging, which is an available accessory.
Design, Build, and In-Hand Feel
The Mi 10 immediately presents a premium design. It features curved glass on the front, reminiscent of devices like the OnePlus 8 Pro or Samsung S20 series. This curved display, protected by Gorilla Glass on both the front and back, gives the phone a premium look. The frame is metal, adding to its sturdy construction. The included case is of surprisingly good quality, offering better protection than the typical TPU cases that come with Xiaomi phones.
In hand, the phone feels excellent. The curves on the side allow it to sit comfortably in the palm. Despite its premium build, it is a bit hefty, weighing in at 208 grams.
Ports and Layout
Looking around the device, the bottom houses the SIM tray, a USB Type-C port, a microphone, and a speaker grille. The left side is completely clean. The top of the phone features another speaker grille, an IR blaster, and a noise-canceling microphone. On the right side, you’ll find the power and volume buttons. The SIM tray can hold two nano-SIM cards, but there is no slot for an SD card.
A Stunning Display Experience
The screen on the Mi 10 is absolutely stunning. It features a 6.67-inch E3 AMOLED display, which is the latest generation of AMOLED technology. The screen is incredibly bright, even at 25-30% brightness, and becomes exceptionally bright at its maximum setting. The display also comes with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 180Hz touch sampling rate, making interactions smooth and responsive. In terms of display quality, the Mi 10 is right at the top.
Flagship Performance and Specifications
Under the hood, the Mi 10 is powered by the flagship-level Snapdragon 865 processor. This is paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage. The phone delivers top-tier performance, scoring over 5,63,000 on AnTuTu benchmarks. Whether you are swiping, opening heavy apps, or gaming, the phone handles everything without any issues.
For gaming, you can play titles like PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, and Call of Duty: Mobile at their highest settings. The device also supports a variable refresh rate, meaning the screen’s refresh rate adjusts based on the application you are using to optimize performance and battery life. An update to MIUI 12 is also expected to arrive soon.
Battery and Charging Capabilities
The Mi 10 is equipped with a large 4,780 mAh battery. It supports 30W wired fast charging, 30W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging, placing it at the top in terms of charging options.
Software and User Experience
The phone runs on MIUI 11, which is based on Android 10. While the interface is feature-rich, a significant downside for a premium phone is the amount of bloatware. The device comes pre-installed with numerous apps and games like Bubble Shooter and Fruit Ninja. While these can be uninstalled, their presence on a 50,000 rupee phone is questionable. On a positive note, the phone uses Google’s own Dialer and Messaging apps. It is important to clarify that this is not stock Android; it is purely a MIUI experience.
Security: Fingerprint and Face Unlock
For security, the Mi 10 has an in-display fingerprint sensor and supports face unlock. The fingerprint sensor works very well and is fast, with options to change the unlocking animation. The face unlock is also definitely fast, offering two reliable and quick ways to access the device.
Audio and Connectivity
The audio experience is a standout feature. The Mi 10 has dual stereo speakers, one on the top and one on the bottom, which produce absolutely great sound. This makes the phone an excellent choice for multimedia consumption.
In terms of connectivity, the phone is future-proof with 5G support. It also includes NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1. Wi-Fi calling is supported right out of the box. Additionally, the phone has Widevine L1 support for HD streaming on platforms like Netflix and Camera2 API support, which means Google Camera can be used.
A Closer Look at the 108MP Camera Setup
The Mi 10 features a quad-camera setup on the back. The main sensor is a 108MP lens, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. The other two lenses are a 2MP macro sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. A point of criticism is the 2MP macro camera; on a flagship device, a sensor of at least 5MP would have been more appropriate. The setup also includes an anti-flicker sensor to prevent flickering when shooting under artificial lights. For selfies, there is a 20MP punch-hole camera on the front.
The camera app is feature-rich with modes like Vlog, Pro Mode, and Kaleidoscope. The phone supports 8K video recording, though be mindful of file sizes—a 24-second clip can take up around 300-350MB. When shooting in the 108MP mode, it takes a moment to save the photo, so you cannot take multiple high-resolution shots in rapid succession.
Final Thoughts on the Xiaomi Mi 10
The Xiaomi Mi 10 is an impressive first major flagship from the company. The audio and display are truly excellent, and the performance is top-notch. However, it’s not without its flaws. The amount of bloatware is a significant letdown for a device in this price category. Furthermore, the 2MP macro sensor feels like a compromise; a telephoto lens for better zoom capabilities would have been a much better choice. The key question will be how the Mi 10 competes against other upcoming flagships in its price range from brands like OnePlus and Samsung.
