Pros, cons and features of a smartphone that looks like a simplified version of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10
Six months ago, Xiaomi released one of the most interesting smartphones of 2022. Mi Note 10 (review) broke all the molds: an excellent camera, a fast processor, a catchy design - and all this for ridiculous money for such a device (and at the start of sales, you won’t believe it, they also gave the excellent Redmi Note 8T (review) as a gift ).
And now, six months later, the company releases Mi Note 10 Lite, which is only slightly cheaper than its older brother, and if you catch a sale or wait for a package from Aliexpress, you can get the older version for the same price as the Mi Note 10 Lite.
If we compare the characteristics, the Mi Note 10 Lite is a simplified copy of the Mi Note 10 in everything except cameras - their set and characteristics are much more modest, there is no 108 megapixel module, and the telephoto modules have been replaced by macro ones. But maybe we're wrong and there's something more? To understand this, we decided to make this review of Mi Note 10 Lite.
Appearance of Mi Note 10 Lite: find 10 differences
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- Dimensions : 157.8 × 74.2 × 9.67 mm
- Weight : 204 grams
- Body colors: black night, white snow, lilac sky
- Case material: glass, aluminum frame
- Connector: Type-C
- SIM card slot: yes
- Memory card slot: none
- 3.5 mm jack: yes
At first glance, Mi Note 10 Lite looks almost the same as its predecessor, but there is still a difference, it is in the design of the main camera. The new smartphone has 4 camera modules, instead of five, so they were combined in one block. So the back of the Mi Note 10 Lite looks more elegant than that of “just a dozen”.
And by the way, now we know how much one smartphone camera module weighs - after all, the weight of Mi Note 10 Lite is 4 grams less than that of Mi Note 10, despite the fact that the rest of the set of components has not changed.
Otherwise, the smartphones look like twins - graceful curves of the body, a well-rounded display with a waterdrop notch. The look of the Mi Note 10 Lite is quite flagship, this is emphasized by the materials chosen for the smartphone - glass and aluminum, and thin frames, but not too thin to avoid accidental clicks. The cover of the Mi Note 10 Lite still collects fingerprints just as quickly, but slides off on an uneven surface without a cover.
Nothing has changed in the arrangement of buttons and connectors. The working edge of the Mi Note 10 Lite is only on the right, there is a power button and a volume rocker, below is a card slot (alas, but only for SIM cards). On the bottom edge there is a speaker, microphone and headphone jack (a vanishing detail in many smartphones in this price category), on the top edge there is a second microphone and an infrared port.
Like the older version, Mi Note 10 Lite is a rather large smartphone, but due to its rounded display and good balance it fits well and comfortably in the hand , although it slips a little due to the glass case if you leave the smartphone without a case. The Mi Note 10 Lite's cameras do not protrude, so it lies perfectly on a flat surface, without shaking or scratching the lenses.
In addition to the case (made of high-quality and thin silicone), the Mi Note 10 Lite includes a charging block for an honest 30 W, but you won’t find headphones there.
Sound and multimedia
The only speaker of the smartphone is not able to produce high-quality sound that you could listen to. There is an imbalance of frequencies, wheezing at high volumes and other delights. But the maximum volume is such that the signal can be heard even on a busy street during rush hour or in the subway. Don't miss an important call.
There is a 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones with wires: they will a priori provide high-quality sound. But the wireless headset will not lose face, since it supports the necessary Apt-x codec. The smartphone supports a large number of audio and video out of the box, so there is no need to install any third-party player.
| Speakers | Mono |
| 3.5 mm jack | Yes |
| FM radio | Yes |
| Dolby Atmos | No |
| Sound formats | MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, APE, AAC, OGG Vorbis, AMR |
| Video formats | MP4, MKV, AVI, 3GP, WEBM, ASF |
Mi Note 10 Lite display: no worse than its older brother
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- Diagonal : 6.47 inches
- Matrix : 3D AMOLED
- Resolution : 2340 x 1080 FHD+, 398 PPI
- Brightness : 600 nits (HBM) / 430 nits (typical)
- Blue light reduction mode: TÜV Rheinland
- Flicker reduction mode: yes
- Glass: Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Mi Note 10 Lite has the same wonderful display as Mi Note 10 - contrasty and bright. The declared brightness values correspond to the real ones, and there is no doubt that you will enjoy using this smartphone in any conditions.
The developers also did not forget about the flicker reduction mode ; it is disabled by default, so do not forget to find and enable it in the settings if you want to protect your eyes.
Initially, Mi Note 10 Lite has an auto-adjust color scheme, when the smartphone itself adjusts colors and contrast depending on the lighting. In the same mode, you can customize the color rendering to suit yourself by moving the circle on the color wheel. In the other two modes - saturated and standard - the color balance is adjusted automatically.
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Laconic design
The modification is presented in three colors: blue, white and black. The case is made of fifth-generation tempered Corning Gorilla Glass; the back and front surfaces are connected by a metal frame. The edges are strongly rounded, thereby achieving the effect of an infinite display module.
The fingerprint scanner is located on the screen surface; the sensor responds quickly on dry and wet hands. A 3.5 mm audio port is used to connect a headset, and an infrared module is used to control household appliances, which acts as a remote control.
The camera sensors are housed in a single sensor, which is located on the left side of the back cover.
Cameras and photo quality of Xiaomi Mi Note 10: closer, not further
Main camera:
- module with a resolution of 64 megapixels, Sony IMX686, 0.8 micron with Super Pixel technology “4 in 1”, 1/1.73 and f/1.89 aperture
- ultra-wide-angle module 8 MP, 1.12 µm, 1/1.4, f/2.2 aperture
- 5 MP depth sensor, 1.12 µm, 1/1.5, f/2.4 aperture
- macro module 2 MP, 1.75 µm, 1/1.5, f/2.4 aperture
- Front camera: 16 MP, 1.0 µm, 1/3.06, f/2.48 aperture
- Video recording with the main camera: in 1080P format - 60 fps /, Shooting in 4K format - 30 fps
- Video recording with front camera: 1080P format - 30 fps
How is the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite camera worse than the Xiaomi Mi Note 10? Firstly, the main module itself is simpler. Not only has the resolution decreased from 108 to 64 megapixels, but the physical size of the matrix has also decreased. But if we forget about the numbers, we must admit that the Mi Note 10 Lite takes good pictures. We see here adequate color rendition, wide dynamic range, and correct autofocus.
Pictures taken on Mi Note 10 Lite are well detailed, details are not lost in the shadows
Color reproduction is generally correct, but colors are slightly oversaturated
With AI support, color saturation is enhanced, notice how the yellow and blue colors have changed
Distortion correction when shooting wide works well, but detail is expectedly reduced
The macro module provides decent detail, but when shooting at 2 centimeters, the camera cannot really focus
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The set of modules has also changed, and it is not as interesting as that of Xiaomi Mi Note 10 . The telephoto module has been removed, so now there is the usual set of cameras for a 2022 smartphone, including a wide camera, a depth sensor and a macro camera. This means that the maximum zoom is smaller, now 10x rather than 50x, and the optical zoom is now 2x rather than 5x, so the quality of close-up shots has expectedly dropped.
Shooting without zoom in auto mode
2x zoom
Maximum zoom
Shooting in 64K resolution
Shooting in 64K resolution
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Night photography, as usual with mid-range smartphones, is not of high quality, and the special night mode does not improve the situation. The shutter speed increases from 1/20 to 1/13, the photos become only slightly lighter and more contrasting.
Shooting in auto mode
Shooting with a wide-angle lens in auto mode
Shooting in 64 MP mode
Shooting in night mode
Shooting in night mode
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The front camera has also become more modest, its resolution has been halved, but you shouldn’t be upset about this: you won’t notice the difference in image quality. One of the interesting features is an advanced beauty mode, where you can correct your face and add makeup. Most beauty settings don't work in portrait zoom, but you can adjust the amount of background blur and add studio color effects. The Mi Note 10 Lite copes well with blur, separating the subject from the background quite accurately.
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The camera app is still good, one of the best available in smartphones in 2022. The interface is very convenient, you can quickly get to any setting, the Pro mode pleases with its functionality, there is RAW support. The wide-angle distortion corrector is enabled by default, but for some reason the face corrector is not.
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Example of video shooting on Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
What the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite cameras can do
The numbers on paper gave me serious hopes of getting quality pictures. The main module from Sony is 64 megapixels, the rest are 8, 2 and 5 megapixels. These are wide-angle, macro and depth sensors. The modules have different apertures: from f/1.9 to f/2.4.
There is no optical stabilization. There is a 2x zoom and a feature of this model – two LED flashes. In the camera interface, you can choose which one to use - with soft or standard light.
The portraits are detailed, but not perfect. The color rendition is close to natural, but the highlights on the face are still too cold, and the skin color is slightly whitish.
Landscapes shot in 64 MP resolution are good. Level of detail.
The wide-angle module also did not disappoint, but the resolution is not high enough, so it is better not to view the final frame on a large screen if you do not want to be disappointed in the quality of the photo. There are also noticeable perspective distortions here – after all, artificial intelligence is not yet good enough at correcting them.
The front camera is just normal: it is a 16 megapixel module and standard software enhancements.
Performance of Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite: strong average
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- Processor : eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, (2×2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6×1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver)
- Graphics : Adreno 618
- RAM: 6 GB
- Built-in memory: 128 GB (UFS2.1)
Despite the fact that there are three configurations of Mi Note 10 Lite, only one, 6/128 GB, is sold in Russia. Perhaps this is the best choice: 8 GB of RAM would be redundant, and 64 GB of memory is not enough, given that there is no memory card slot in the Mi Note 10 Lite.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G installed in the Mi Note 10 Lite is not the most powerful and is no longer the newest processor. Don’t be fooled by the letter G in the name of the processor, which is supposed to stand for “Gaming”: with all its advantages, neither the Mi Note 10 Lite, nor the Mi Note 10, can be classified as a true gaming smartphone. And the curved screen makes it difficult to play many games normally.
In synthetic tests, the smartphone shows fairly average results for 2022. They are not bad, but still did not allow it to enter the TOP-50 of the Antutu rating.
But in everyday life, the smartphone will not disappoint you. It works stably, without subsidence or noticeable heating. The Mi Note 10 Lite throttling test results look good.
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Specifications
| Display | 6.47″, 3D AMOLED, FullHD |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |
| Graphics accelerator | Adreno 618 |
| Main camera, MP | 64+8+5+2 |
| Front camera, MP | 16 |
| RAM, GB | 6/8 |
| ROM, GB | 64/128 |
| Battery, mAh | 5260 |
| Weight, gr. | 204 |
| Dimensions, mm | 157.8x74.2x9.67 |
Mi Note 10 Lite Software: Hello Advertising!
- OS : Android 10
- Firmware : MIUI 11 Global
Like Mi Note 10, the Lite version received Android 10 out of the box. At the time of writing the review, the smartphone was running the stable version of MIUI Global 11.0.1.
You will not be pleased with the huge amount of advertising that comes literally from everywhere. If earlier we justified this by the low price of new Xiaomi smartphones, then in 2022 this can no longer be justified by anything. Yes, you can turn off these ads (here we told you how), but the aftertaste remains.
With the exception of advertising and replacing the usual dialer with a standard one from Google, there are no complaints about MIUI 11. It is still a very fast, convenient and pleasant system in all respects, one of the best on the market.
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Battery
Xiaomi RN10 Lite has a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 5020 mAh. In theory, this is enough to ensure continuous operation of the phone for a day and a half in theory. Unfortunately, there is no official data regarding battery life in different modes, but appropriate assumptions can be made based on the installed components of the hardware platform.
The phone's battery supports fast charging, which significantly reduces the time spent near a power outlet. To activate fast charging, you will need an 18 W power supply (included). There is no support for such useful options as fast or wireless charging. But this is normal, since such options are typical only for flagships.
| Battery capacity | 5020 mAh |
| Battery type | Lithium polymer (Li-pol) |
| Fast charging | Yes, 18 W |
| Wireless charger | No |
| Reverse charging | No |
Communications and multimedia in Mi Note 10 Lite: turn up the volume
- Networks : GSM:2/3/5/8, WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B6/B8/B19, LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B18/B19/B20 / B26 / B28, LTE TDD: 38/40/41(2535–2655 MHz)
- Wi-Fi: dual band, 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz
- Bluetooth: 5.0
- Codecs: AAC/LDAC/aptX/aptX-HD/aptX-adaptive
Mi Note 10 Lite has only one speaker, it is quite loud, but the sound quality is not amazing . Of course, there is no stereo here.
Xiaomi also did not solve the problem of voice transmission: when talking, the interlocutor is not heard very well, the sound is still localized, and it can be difficult to make out words.
Otherwise, there are no problems: Mi Note 10 Lite picks up the signal perfectly, does not lose connection and generally works flawlessly.
Communications
Xiaomi RN10 Lite is equipped with a standard communication modem that is capable of working with cellular networks of the second, third and fourth generations. All necessary frequencies are supported. The phone is also capable of working with navigation systems such as GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC System. An option for precise coordinate determination is available.
The phone has a Wi-Fi 5 transmitter that can work with Dual Band, Wi-Fi MiMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Display profiles. There is a Bluetooth adapter version 5.0 that supports A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC profiles. An NFC module is installed for contactless payment, as well as an infrared port for controlling household appliances.
| SIM cards | Nano SIM + Nano SIM |
| eSIM support | No |
| Wi-Fi version | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Dual Band, Wi-Fi MiMO, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Display |
| Bluetooth version | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Profiles | A2DP, LE, APT-x, LDAC |
| USB type | USB Type-C |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, NavIC System |
| 5G | No |
| 4G/LTE | Yes, B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B3 (1800), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B20 (800), B28b (700) , B28a (700), B38 (TDD 2600), B40 (TDD 2300), B41 (TDD 2500) |
| 3G | Yes, B1 (2100), B2 (1900), B4 (1700/2100 AWS AF), B5 (850), B8 (900) |
| 2G | Yes, B2 (1900), B3 (1800), B5 (850), B8 (900) |
| Infrared port | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
Battery, charging speed and battery life of Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
- Battery capacity: 5260 mAh
- Fast charging: supported
- Charger included: 30 W
A capacious battery is one of the biggest advantages of Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite . Even taking into account the rather large screen of the smartphone, its power is enough to ensure the operation of the smartphone for one and a half to two days (or even more).
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The second advantage is fast charging. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite charges 53% in just half an hour, and the smartphone takes a little over an hour to reach 100 percent charge.
Iron
In terms of basic hardware, there are no reliefs here. The smartphone received the same Snapdragon 730G processor as the older model. In Russia, only one version is officially sold - 6/128 GB. In Europe you can buy the 8/128 GB version.
In general, the smartphone is enough for everyday tasks. He handles games well. For example, I played PUBG, which had finally come out of beta, and was pleased.
And here are the numbers for numbers lovers. By tradition, I conduct two throttling tests in a row to understand how the processor behaves during half an hour of active load:
A drop in performance of up to 80% is a normal indicator of throttling. Moreover, it happened in the second test in a row.
The battery is especially worth noting: 5260 mAh is simply top! People write that it lasts for two days of active use, and I am inclined to trust them in this matter - in my “second phone” mode it lasted for three days. A very good indicator!
Zhenya noticed that he was very pleased with the fast charging included in the kit. According to his feelings, the smartphone charges in about forty minutes. Here he, of course, is deceiving himself - the supplied 30 W power supply charges such a capacious battery to 100% in about seventy minutes. But just think about it: 5260 mAh in 70 minutes. Isn't that cool?
But what Zhenyok noticed was the proximity sensor. He says he doesn’t work well and constantly misses the mark. With these words, I remembered my old Xiaomi Redmi 3, which had exactly the same problem. Well Xiaomi! It's time to get rid of this old disease!
Owner recognition in Mi Note 10 Lite: three options
- Fingerprint scanner: yes, under the screen
- Face recognition: yes
- Bluetooth recognition: yes
The fingerprint scanner on the Mi Note 10 Lite is located below the screen and is not very responsive. If you are used to barely touching the sensor on the back, you will have to learn to do this with more effort. It takes a couple of seconds to recognize. At the same time, the scanner itself is located well, it fits exactly under the thumb. You can also change the scanner backlight; there are four animation options to choose from in the settings.
Facial recognition in Mi Note 10 Lite works well. To recognize the owner, a smartphone takes about the same time as to recognize a fingerprint. In the dark, Face ID also works; here the smartphone camera is helped by the screen backlight.
And the third option for quick unlocking is using Bluetooth. It will come in handy if you use other Xiaomi devices, such as a bracelet.
And answers to several popular questions about Mi Note 10 Lite, not mentioned in the review or mentioned in passing.
What to buy instead of Mi Note 10 Lite?
The most obvious option is Mi Note 10 . For almost the same money you will get the same smartphone, but with a much more advanced set of cameras.
The second option, if you definitely want a Xiaomi smartphone, but for less money, is Redmi Note 9 Pro . By sacrificing an AMOLED screen (Redmi has an IPS matrix), you will get a card slot in return and save almost 10,000 rubles. Yes, the processor in Redmi Note 9 Pro is a little worse, and the battery is slightly smaller, but you are unlikely to notice the difference in performance and battery life. But note: Redmi Note 9 Pro is noticeably larger and heavier than Mi Note 10 Lite, so be sure to check out both smartphones in person.
If you're willing to consider other brands and still aren't happy with the lack of a memory card slot, the Samsung Galaxy A51 might be a good option. This is one of the most price-balanced smartphones on the market, which buyers favor not only because of the magic of the brand. The weak point of the Samsung Galaxy A51 is the cameras and battery life, here the Mi Note 10 Lite still wins, but now this Samsung smartphone can be purchased for 16,000 rubles, and this is a very interesting offer for a fast smartphone with an AMOLED display.
Color rendering level
The Mi Note 10 Lite has a 6.47-inch AMOLED matrix with a 3D effect. The maximum brightness level reaches 600 nits, so in the sun the contrast remains high and the picture maintains good visibility. Usable area reaches 91.4%.
The screen resolution is 2340x1080 with a density of 398 ppi, DCI-P3 color gamut is supported. Basic options have been implemented, including support for HDR 10 for image realism, sunny/night modes, blue light neutralization with a TÜV Rheinland safety certificate.
Brief review of Mi Note 10 Lite
Reviews of the Mi Note 10 Lite smartphone are full of exclamations of “why is it so expensive?” and “why is it needed if there is Mi Note 10?” And yet, putting aside comparisons, we see that this is a very successful smartphone with the only serious drawback - the lack of a memory card slot. So, if you choose Mi Note 10 Lite, you will not be disappointed. Well, maybe just a little bit.
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