Redmi Note 10 5G review

The Redmi Note 10 5G combines low-cost 5G, a no-frills camera, and stonking battery life

Redmi Note 10 5G
(Image: © Basil Kronfli/Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Redmi Note 10 5G is one of the cheapest 5G phones you can buy, and you can see where Xiaomi cut back to hit its price. With only one usable camera, it should be on the back foot, but practically speaking, it takes decent photos for the price. From £199 (roughly US$280), the 48MP main camera is competitive, the phone supports blazingly fast 5G download speeds, and day-to-day performance is on the money. It is a shame, that Xiaomi removed some of the shooting modes that make its other low-cost phones so versatile, but the Note 10 5G’s saving graces are still its superior design and fuller feature-set.

Pros

  • +

    Low-cost 5G download speeds

  • +

    Capable primary camera for the price

  • +

    Fantastic battery life for a 5G phone

Cons

  • -

    No ultra-wide or telephoto camera

  • -

    Poor macro camera performance

  • -

    No Pro mode (available on Realme 8 5G)

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The Redmi Note 10 5G (made by Xiaomi) feels like a direct response to the Realme 8 5G, given the fact both phones carry forward the same ethos – low-cost 5G with just one usable camera. There’s a lot more to them than just secondary camera sacrifices and fast mobile data though. 

The Redmi Note 10 5G is a big-screened smartphone with a smooth, 90Hz refresh rate display and some fun quirks you don’t usually see at the price, including an IR blaster for changing TV channels. Launching alongside a slew of low-cost 5G phones, including the OPPO A54 5G as well as the Realme 8 5G, it’s got some tough competition out of the gate. 

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Basil Kronfli

Basil Kronfli is a freelance technology journalist, consultant, and content creator. He trained in graphic design and started his career at Canon Europe before moving into journalism. Basil is also experienced in video production, independently running the YouTube channel TechEdit, and during his time at Future, he worked alongside the Digital Camera World team as a senior video producer.